I was lucky enough to visit Valencia during its traditional Falles celebrations; it was a fantastic experience. Falles is a wild five-day fiesta held in commemoration of Saint Joseph. The celebration is citywide and involves the entire community. Each neighbourhood has an organisation, thecasal faller, that work year long to support the celebrations. Each casal faller produces a construction known as a falla, which is eventually burnt. The … [Read more...]
Notes from Latest Trip to Thailand
I hopped on the skytrain at Victory Monument in Bangkok sporting my "Tintin in Vietnam" shirt and a camera holstered around the neck and was quickly greeted with an old expat standing next to me who said out loud to no one in particular, "there are so many F*(&&ing tourists in town right now". This was the same expat who then pushed out a rather large chubby boy when a seat opened up as both were heading towards one of the empty seats. The young … [Read more...]
36 Hours In Downtown Napa City #DoNapa
California’s most famous wine region, Napa Valley beckons oenophiles and outdoor enthusiasts alike due to the beautiful landscapes and year round temperate climate, not to mention world renowned wines. It’s also relatively accessible due to two major airports within a sixty to ninety minute drive of the Valley. For visitors who would like to avoid a holiday spent driving, downtown Napa City is the perfect stopping off point. You may recall … [Read more...]
Harar, Ethiopia
Harar is undoubtedly Ethiopia’s brightest flower. If a jewel, she may be slightly chipped around the edges, though her centre continues to shine with undiminished brilliance. Of course, like most places on the continent – which Paul Theroux encapsulates as ‘a Dark Star’ – everything is a bit messed up. Located on the border of the far eastern Somali region, French-imported blue and white vintage Peugeot taxis cruise beneath Italian-built colonial … [Read more...]
From Camping with Nomads to Exploring Tehran
The past few days I've been enjoying life with a group of nomads who move around the deserts of central Iran. They regularly herd large numbers of sheep and goats; I was able to join them as they moved one such herd from the flat lands up into the mountains. It is a life in motion for the herders and their animals; both are moved around continuously in search of food and water. Donkeys accompany the herds carrying shelter and additional food and … [Read more...]
Five Ways Travel Helps Your Writing
Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar There’s a plummy quote from Thoreau’s Walden that must open this discussion: “Not till we are lost ... not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves … Henry David was centering on getting lost in nature there, and thus freed of some of the day-to-day material constraints and pressures, but the message applies well to writers, and to the value of getting “lost” in travel. Value sometimes in getting … [Read more...]
Discovering Wales’ Dramatic Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
With a rich history that spans through stories of druids, medieval castles and wartime conflicts, combined with national emblems that include a dragon, spoon and an odd shaped ball, there is a lot to demystify about Wales. One thing is certain however, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path that spans across Wales’ south-western coast is one of the most enchanting places on the planet. Touted by National Geographic as the world’s second best coastal … [Read more...]
SouthWest Germany Celebrates 500 Years of Beer Purity Laws with Tours, Festivals, an Exhibition and Tastings in 2016
SouthWest Germany, a region known for its variety of beers from cult classics to craft beers, is experiencing a renaissance in beer fashion and production. Beer lovers and travelers will have to put SouthWest Germany at the top of their bucket list in 2016: Exhibitions, festivals, brewery tours and beer hiking paths are only the beginning of this state's celebration of the 500 Years of Beer Purity! The Technoseum in Mannheim will dedicate an … [Read more...]
Amsterdam On a Budget
Amsterdam is a city of many faces. For some, the Red Light District acts as a magnetic force. Its famed coffee shops serve a tempting menu of legalized cannabis, offering a range of highs from mellow to skyscraper. For those seeking lustier pleasures, prostitution is legal and as easy to find as North Sea herring. For others, it’s the cultural gems, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh, that entice. If you haven’t considered this forward-thinking … [Read more...]
A Sweet Stay on St. Thomas, #USVI
In 1917 towards the end of World War I the United States made an investment in Caribbean real estate with the purchase of what now are the United States Virgin Islands from the Danish for a cool $25 million. This turned out to be a smart investment; today it has become a popular destination from those on the mainland - especially escaping the colder winter months. There are a number of airlines that offer flights to the airport on St. Thomas … [Read more...]
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