I departed Nova Petropolis at 6:30 am. There were so many more things to see in Rio Grande do Sul, of that I was sure. But I had to get on the road, appreciate the tight curves and tailgaters for one last time. The nearly two hour drive back to the airport in Porto Alegre was relatively uneventful, fortunately. I’d chosen to fly with Gol for my entire trip, though I realized after I bought my tickets that it might have been better to mix up my … [Read more...]
Leisure Time in Vinales, Cuba
Needing the spirit and calming influence of the countryside, I left Havana pinched between the driver and an accompanying passenger in the front seat of a green 1950s Chevrolet. Beautiful from the outside but quite uncomfortable on the inside - 6 or 7 of us were crammed like sardines in a tin can. Hard seats, no air conditioning, a middle front seat on the 'hump' with no leg room whatsoever and a suspect suspension system all made for an … [Read more...]
5 Essential Things to Do In Downtown LA
Downtown fortunes seem to blow in the wind like so many jazz trumpets. Famous for being as noir as this previous sentence, downtown Los Angeles has seen its share of ups and downs. A formative force in the birth and development of the city, downtown fell into obscurity as places like Hollywood and Venice bloomed thanks to urban sprawl amid growing demand for housing in the city of dreams. In the first part of this millennium, downtown L.A. … [Read more...]
Brazilian Cachaça trip Day Two-Rio Grande do Sul: Casa Bucco and beyond
I bounded out of bed on that second day. It was after 7, later than I’d expected to sleep. I opened the curtains in my room to let in the bright sun. A bright blue, cloudless sky greeted me. Breakfast at the pousada was traditional: a range of cakes, breads, and sandwich makings, as well as fresh fruit, juice, and coffee. With an urge to get on the road, knowing that it would take me almost two hours to reach Casa Bucco, I ate with … [Read more...]
Brazilian Cachaça Trip–Rio Grande do Sul, Day One (cont.): Nova Petropolis
It was late afternoon when I left Weber Haus. On the twisting roads, cars tailgated me. Geez, I get it. You guys like to go fast around tight curves. Small towns appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, with homes and other buildings popping with bright pastel colors. Unfortunately, I couldn’t much turn my head to get a clear glimpse at most of these places, because if I had, I probably would have either gotten rear-ended, or run off the road. It … [Read more...]
The Best of Stowe Vermont at Topnotch Resort
Vermont's Stowe region embodies what comes to mind when envisioning a quintessential Green Mountain getaway. Beyond its renown as “ski capital of the east" surrounded by wide open meadows and working farms nestled among rolling mountains that rise up in every direction, this region is the epicenter of VT craft food producers ranging from household names like Cabot and Ben & Jerry's to local favorites like Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Vermont … [Read more...]
Cachaça Trip, Day One, Part One—Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Ivoti
I awoke as the orange rays of the sun bled through my bedroom window. Nerves always eat at me before I travel, and so it wasn’t surprising for me to rise early. Day one of my cachaça trip. There were so many unknowns. I shuffled around my apartment, ensuring my belongings were together, made my coffee, and ate a bit of breakfast. By the time that was done, my wife and kids were up. Besides being a travel day, it also happened to be my kids’ … [Read more...]
4 Days in San Miguel De Allende
In the July 2018 edition, Travel and Leisure voted the charming Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende the best city in the world for the 2nd year in a row! I’ve been dying to visit San Miguel de Allende and when I recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend a destination wedding on New Year’s Eve in this city, I couldn’t refuse! It was a blessing to be able to celebrate a dear friend and her fiance in one of the best cities in the world! So … [Read more...]
High-Speed Train Europe
It has been 25 years since the last time I was backpacking through Europe. At the time I bounced through 18 countries with little more than clothes and a tattered Let’s Go guide for the better part of a year. Looking back, most of what I brought with me was easily replaced. Well, except for one thing. That was my Eurail Pass. I held onto it like glue and hopped on and off trains with abandon through 18 countries and had a life-altering … [Read more...]
The Power of New Experiences
Xin Chao, Hello Looking for a mind-blowing destination to travel? Consider putting Vietnam on the top of your bucket list! Vietnam is a Southeast Asia gem that exudes an immersive cultural experience, stunning landscapes, captivating history, and ridiculously delicious food - pho real. Whether traveling on a tight budget or wanting to live your best life in luxury, Vietnam is an affordable destination that has a place for every type of … [Read more...]
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