"Sure," I said, waving goodbye. I hadn't the heart to remind her that the film was shot on a Hollywood sound stage in the 1940s and that Rick's Cafe opened in Casablanca only three years ago. Nine short miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Southern Coast of Spain, Morocco, the world's westernmost Arab country, looks both ways'to its ancient roots in the Middle East and north to its European neighbors. Long an outpost of the Roman … [Read more...]
The Alternative to Inca Trail
It isn't lined with Inca stones, it is a rough mountain path, but in many ways it takes you to a much deeper, more real Peru. You may not see ruins three times a day but you go through two magnificent lost cities and some genuine untouched Quechua villages, not to mention the most incredible mountain views. What's more - this trail is not for everyone, it is for those who can take it. The trail takes you from Cachora village (three quarters of … [Read more...]
Isleton Crawdad Cajun & Blues Festival California – May 2007
Isleton Crawdad Cajun & Blues Festival California - The Crawdad Festival, an annual event held since 1986, is a real party! This is the largest single event consumption of crawdads outside of the godfather state of Crawfish, which of course is Louisiana. Literally tens of thousands of people converge on this very small town which has a population of under 1000 people (California's Delta Region - east of the San Francisco Bay Area). Over 24,000 … [Read more...]
Falling for Africa
"Only two of us have had malaria so far," said Heidi as I joined the group of seasoned overlanders in their fifth week on a truck safari from Nairobi to Cape Town. "Weren't you taking malaria stuff?" I asked naively. "Yeah, but it doesn't always work," was her heart-stopping response. I added 'contracting permanently-relapsing malaria' to my list of African hazards to watch out for - something I thought I'd taken care of with a quick trip to … [Read more...]
Lapland Polar Dreams -January Site Inspection
My love affair with Finland began the moment I stepped off the Finnair plane. My ancestry is Norwegian and I guess something primal in my Viking genes bonds me in kindred spirit with this unique Nordic land. Having toured over a hundred countries, this is virgin territory for me and what an utterly cool place to visit in January. I've packed enough thermal gear to survive the most brutal blizzards but on arrival in Helsinki today, there is no … [Read more...]
Chocolates, Beer, Bikes & Barges: Adventures for Singles, Belgium & Holland 2006
We arrived to cosmopolitan Brussels with 3 lost bags and 1 missing person. One suitcase went to Moscow but all caught up eventually. Janice and I are led a perfect size group of 39, not too big to get lost in or too small for comfort. Each July trip draws school teachers who have loyally followed me around the world and they do love Europe. We began with a light orientation tour in the historic heart of this capital, followed by a tour of the … [Read more...]
AFS December Christmas Markets Germany
We arrive in Munich and our guide makes it clear this is Bavaria. This trip Bavarians favor autonomy from Germany and even have their own language. I've been here many times but looking through sober eyes now, I find it more vibrant, clean and sophisticated. We spend 2 days with Nancy, an excellent guide who has already emailed me to remain in touch. I have a mini-group of just 26 so this is like a vacation for me. It's a first time abroad … [Read more...]
Walking with Ghosts
Hurricane Katrina had no favorites. She picked equally on the weak and the strong, black and white. She stomped on the rich and the poor and she stopped life in its tracks. Imagine life with all your possessions in the front yard or in the gutters. Worse yet, imagine you have no possessions, no house. Imagine searching for your friends, your family or your pet weeks after they disappeared. Yes, just imagine! This is the reality for thousands … [Read more...]
LA Freeways, Los Angeles Freeways
Los Angeles, CA – LA Freeways, Los Angeles Freeways - The freeways of Los Angeles and Orange County. The people of Southern California are in a love hate relationship with their freeways. The logo of Los Angeles could be a number of things, but it might very well in fact be one of the automobile. There is an intensity and power found on Los Angeles freeways rarely found in other big cities. The freeways in Los Angeles were among the first and … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Arts District
Vineyards - lots of them, planted to Sauvignon blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon grew on the north east fringes of what is now the Arts District along the edge of the Los Angeles River. The years were the 1830's and the 1840's and the man responsible for these vines was Jean Louis Vignes, a french immigrant who came to California in 1831. By the way, a street near downtown still carries his name. By 1849 his 'little' vineyard called El Aliso was … [Read more...]
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