Sipping my coffee by the lake, I could just make out a tiny dark speck in the water. Eagerly grabbing my friend’s binoculars I trained them onto the black dot, and as it slowly came into focus, resembling a small beaver with a rat like tail, I realised that I was looking at a coypu… We were in La Brenne National Parc, in the Indres Department of Central France, named after the river Indre that flows through the region. Seeking a taste of rural … [Read more...]
Jackson Hole’s Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017
Ah, the beauty of Wyoming and the awesome splendor of a total solar eclipse -- what more could one ask for on a summer vacation? Last August, I finally checked these two long-standing items off my bucket list. From the time I was young, solar eclipses have captivated my imagination, and I have been intrigued about Jackson Hole ever since I did some internet marketing work for a couple of hotels there several years ago. I just never seemed to … [Read more...]
New Travel Advisories for U.S. Travelers
On January 10, 2018, the Department of State launched improvements to how we share information with U.S. travelers. These improvements will provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable safety and security information worldwide. Under the new system, every country will have a Travel Advisory, providing levels of advice ranging from 1 to 4: Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and … [Read more...]
Je Me Souviens Quebec / I Remember Quebec
“Quebec is the most beautiful city in North America I’ve seen.” – Sebastian Bach Leaving aside that Sebastian has quite clearly never been to Puebla, Mexico, I am inclined to agree with him. Quebec, indeed, is a most fanciful city, romantically trapped in an era long gone and full of Old World charm. I first visited it on a day trip from Montreal with my dad fifteen years ago. Dare I steal Quebec’s honored motto of “Je me souviens” (I … [Read more...]
Pow Wow of the Northern Cree
"Under the reflection of the northern lights, we see the head of Ciiwetinustikwaan, the man of the north." - saying of the Northern Cree After days of adventure travel in the Saguenay-Lac-St Jean area come to a close, I let my fingers meander across the map to find my next would-be destination. This is actually one my of favorite activities: simply pick a remote location on a map and make my way there, never really knowing what I’ll find. I … [Read more...]
Enjoying an Elvis Extravaganza at Graceland in Memphis
No trip to Memphis, Tennessee, is complete without a visit to the Graceland home of Elvis Presley, and with over 650,000 visitors each year, this National Historic Landmark is the second most visited house in America, only surpassed by the White House residence of the US President in Washington. Of course, for many fans of Elvis and his remarkable musical career, a visit to the Graceland mansion is almost like a pilgrimage, or even a once in a … [Read more...]
Curacao, One of my Favorite Islands in the Caribbean
Our introduction to Curaçao wasn't an awe inspiring inspirational place of stunning natural beauty (for instance a secluded white sand beach framed by a crescent shoreline and aquamarine waters). Rather it was in a rough part of Willemstad, the capital city. A friend and I found ourselves wandering around the dark streets late at night in search of food in a neighborhood near our hostel. We passed walls topped with razor sharp barbed wire - … [Read more...]
Peru’s Inca Heartland: An Experiential Vacation With Kuoda Travel
I’m in a remote Peruvian village in the Sacred Valley, deep in the heart of the Inca world. Surrounded by mist-shrouded mountains and cobalt blue lakes, agrarian rhythms define life here, just as they have for centuries. I feel as far off the beaten track as I can possibly get. I’m spending the afternoon with the women of the village. Traditionally dressed with their long black hair in precise plaits, it’s as if time has stood still. They … [Read more...]
Isn’t it Iranic?
The taproot of the tree of civilization, Iran. While the USA is an entity less than a quarter a millennium young, Iran’s recorded history bows back 5000 years. At its height, about 500 B.C., Persia controlled more than 2.9 million square miles of land spanning three continents, east into India, south to Egypt, westward to Greece. It reigned over roughly 44% of the world’s population, making it the largest world power ever by population … [Read more...]
All-in Tickets from KLM Airlines
I have flown my share of budget airlines (mostly in Europe as they are often reasonably priced and quick way around the continent) but you always get what you pay for: a basic seat, very limited carry-on luggage allowances and generally no food or drink. Often the flights are to secondary airports that aren't always central to your final destination. While these in continent flights are typically only a few hours at most, there are certainly also … [Read more...]
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