Horse hooves are pounding the ground at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival! Then- BAM! A wooden lance strikes armor, wood splinters fly and both knights are layed-out on the ground. I hear a member of the audience ask someone, "Ya think this is fake?" This is asked as the wobbly knights stand up, wood splinters from the lances are scattered on the ground and the sand and dirt pour from the suits of armor. It is a performance, some of it may be … [Read more...]
Tofino, British Columbia: Eating on the Edge of the Earth
Tofino is a community on Vancouver Island’s unspoiled West Coast. Pristine Pacific waters are a thriving habitat for orcas, grey and humpback whales, seals, puffins and sea lions, while it’s old-growth forest is lush with plant and animal life. Adventure seekers come to surf the waves, fish for abundant salmon and hike to hidden hot springs. At first glance, this stunning little town with around 2,000 year-round residents appears to be an … [Read more...]
Sweet dreams are made of this: From Russia (with love) to South Korea by ferry
Sweet dreams are made of this. From Russia (with love) to South Korea by Ferry I get a good night's sleep after the wonderful exploration of Vladivostok yesterday. I think about taking a bus to the funicular railway, one of only two in Russia. The second one has just been built in Sochi for the recent Winter Olympics. However, I choose a lie-in and a good breakfast instead. The warmth of the hotel compared to the freezing temperatures outside … [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...]
Fall in Vail, Colorado
I am careening downhill on my rented cycle, hair streaming behind me, the cool September air of the Colorado mountains rushing past my face. I’m grinning. Biking is exhilarating, I realize, especially when you’re on a paved path weaving through stunning fall scenery. Yup, I'm in Vail, Colorado to experience adventure, romance, and world-class cuisine with my husband, courtesy of Vail Tourism. Growing up in the Bay Area, Vail and Aspen to me … [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...]
Good Beer, Good Cheer: 200 Years of Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest
It’s a fine feeling to be a stranger at a big party and feel fully welcome. It’s an even better feeling when everybody at the party seems like they are having the time of their lives. And if the party goes on for 17 days straight, well, I guess that’s 17 days of good feelings—though you might want to nap now and then. In Stuttgart, Germany, they’ve been having a whale of a party for a mere 200 years or so. I was just at the 199th year, and … [Read more...]
Is There Life Beyond Prague?
The short answer to that question is a resounding YES! For most of us, the Czech Republic begins and ends with the beautiful city of Prague. I recently had the amazing opportunity to visit three lovely towns in the Moravian region of Czech Republic: Brno, Kromeriz, and Telc.. In this article, I walk you through the highlights and explain why you should consider exploring beyond the well-trodden city of Prague. GETTING IN From … [Read more...]
Exploring Russia on a Viking River Cruise
This was my first river cruise with Viking Cruises, a trip I'd dreamt about for weeks! Russia, the world's largest country, takes up an eighth of the world's surface, borders 14 different countries, 12 oceans and seas and spans 11 time zones. Getting Ready to Cruise Through Russia Including start and end points St. Petersburg and Moscow, our cruise includes seven stops with optional offshore excursions, some included in the fare, others … [Read more...]
Mushroom Madness in Mendocino County
MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIF. – As the flavors of fall arrive in Northern California's Mendocino County so does the annual crop of coveted candy cap, chanterelle, porcini and hedgehog mushrooms. Straddling historic Highways 1 and 101 with nearly 2,500 sq. miles of live oak and stately redwood groves, the region is a natural hotspot for some 3,000 mushroom varieties, 500 of which are edible. The annual haul is nothing short of historic, nurturing … [Read more...]
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