Annea Lockwood is an Aotearoa New Zealand-born composer and sound artist known for turning natural environments into immersive sound art. In her “Sound Map” projects, where she captures the sound of rivers, including the Danube, she records everything from flowing water to everyday human activity, revealing the river as a constantly shifting and living soundscape. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and taught at Vassar … [Read more...]
The Perfect Weekend Road Trip Through Albania
If you’re dreaming of a compact but adventure-packed weekend getaway, Albania is one of Europe’s most underrated road-trip destinations. With dramatic coastlines, historic towns, and towering mountains, you can cover an incredible amount in just 1 - 2 days. This itinerary highlights a scenic loop beginning and ending in Tirana, offering culture, nature, and plenty of hidden gems along the way. Before you hit the road, secure your … [Read more...]
Why Albania’s Slow-Paced Lifestyle Appeals to Expats
In a world where the rush of urban life often overshadows the simplicity of living, Albania stands out as a haven for those seeking a slower-paced lifestyle. Nestled in the heart of the Balkans, this small yet culturally rich country is increasingly becoming a favored destination for expats. But what makes Albania’s relaxed way of life so appealing? Let’s dive into the key aspects that make it a magnet for those yearning for a change of … [Read more...]
Exploring Slovenia by Car: The Perfect Gateway to a Balkan Adventure
Nestled at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Balkans, Slovenia offers a captivating blend of Alpine scenery, Mediterranean coastline, and rich cultural heritage. While often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, this small country packs a mighty punch when it comes to natural beauty and diverse experiences. One of the best ways to uncover Slovenia's hidden gems is by car. Renting a car in Slovenia not only gives you the freedom to … [Read more...]
Into Hell’s Fire by Douglas Cavanaugh
This fictional account is an intense war story and often reads like reality. The book follows Lucas Martin, an experienced war time veteran and retired agent of the US government. He is 'retired' in Thailand when he receives a call to return to service to serve his country in and around Sarajevo, just before the siege of this historic city during the war that devastated this part of the world in the early and mid 1990's. He is hired to gain … [Read more...]
Vulgar Wheat: A Trace of Thrace Bugaria
John M. Edwards chows down on subpar "Vulgarian" grub and survives a dangerous dispute over a restaurant bill in the Balkans. Oh well, there is always the region's lip-smacking yogurt. . . . Bulgaria has by far the best yogurt in the world, partly because they invented it. They also are (supposedly) responsible for the regional cuisine shared by many of its neighbors: Bulgar wheat, stuffed grape leaves, baklava, kebabs, goat cheese, and … [Read more...]
A Trace of Thrace: Balkan Adventure
In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, John M. Edwards snitches on the mystery-shrouded Balkans’ best-kept secret: an ancient (and enduring) heresy I was on the way slow train from Budapest through the Balkans, on my way to Bulgaria, chainsmoking and guzzling Egri Bikavier (Bull’s Blood) wine, when the train came to a juddering halt and was boarded by heavily armed Serbian soldiers. A Serb with an impressive handlebar moustache and an assault rifle demanded … [Read more...]
Bring Adventure Back to Europe
This was Richard's Keynote to The European Travel Commission, presented on May 9, 2013. This also took first place in our 2013 travel writing competition. I once ran with the bulls of Pamplona....by mistake, involuntarily. I was at Microsoft, where we were developing a new travel product that would become Expedia, and we had the idea to use a new web technology called Live Chat to convey from the field the adventure of travel. I had the idea … [Read more...]
Select Highlights of South East Europe
These are some of the highlights of visiting select locations in Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro and Serbia. This trip was totally unscripted and unplanned. All we had were our plane tickets to Europe. We used public transportation to get around - buses, trains, city trams and metros where available. Note that while distances on the map don't look that far from each other especially along the Dalmatian Coast, the roads are narrow, windy and very … [Read more...]
Dave’s Travel Corner Announces Annual Travel Essay Contest
A big thanks to everyone who submitted their journals and travel writings for our annual travel writing contest. We had a lot of great submissions. Also thanks for our great sponsors: Motorola Mobility, Lock-A-Bye and the Allegany National Forest. The winners are listed directly below. We look forward to holding this again next year :) Congratulations to Kelly, our first place winner of our annual travel writing … [Read more...]