In 2019, there were 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals globally – and, given that the planet only holds 7.7 billion humans; this figure alone suggests that a lot of us are travelling. The World Tourism Organization reports two major motivations for this – “travel to change”: the quest for local experiences, authenticity, transformation and “travel to show”: the desire for Instagramable moments and destinations. I think both trends are … [Read more...]
What makes expedition cruising the best way to travel to the Arctic & Antarctica
Were you wondering how to go from looking up polar travel online to actually going to the Arctic, Antarctica and even the North Pole? A few decades ago, getting to these destinations required weeks of preparation, 2-3 years at sea and great feats of physical endurance. Today, however, you can get there in safety and comfort of a small expedition cruise ship. And the best thing – the landscapes and wildlife are as wild and majestic as ever. A trip … [Read more...]
Pissing on Snakes: a Postcard from Georgia; the Country on the Fringes of Europe
Too vast. My eyes have nothing to rest on, sliding over rolling landscapes. With no point to hold my gaze, I’m afraid of tripping over the horizon. The road doesn’t look like it was designed to lead anywhere but merely to serve as a metaphorical symbol of the journey into the unknown. There isn’t much to know in the unknown, it seems. It looks unfinished and bare. Only in places the ground is covered with withered grasses, sometimes leafless … [Read more...]
8 Great Mountain Towns in the Great State of Georgia
A most convivial convergence exists in the northeastern corner of Georgia; the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Chattahoochee National Forest and the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail. In this region, mountains meet lakes, ruggedness meets charm, and quaintness meets culture. I have picked eight favorite amazing towns (here in alphabetical order), which I hope to be visiting again and again. BLAIRSVILLE is an easily affordable place to … [Read more...]
Crashing and Burning at Randy’s Rock Rapid on the Wild Colorado
On a rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, there are passages of high drama and excitement around every bend: House Rock Rapid, the Roaring Twenties, Little Colorado River, Crystal, Upset Rapid, Lava Falls. These are all very famous. Every guide on the river knows about them. Another rapid on the booming Colorado is not nearly as well known. You may float serenely past it without your guide even uttering a word about it, so … [Read more...]
83rd Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival
ATLANTA — When the Atlanta Dogwood Festival opens for its 83rd year this spring, the city's residents and visitors will once again have the opportunity to enjoy three days of fine art and live entertainment while delighting in the delicate blooms of the dogwood tree. Hosted by the festival's nonprofit organization and held in Piedmont Park, this annual event regularly attracts 200,000+ attendees during its three days of offerings. With more … [Read more...]
Ode to the Antonov-24
I’ll hear no grumbles about bumpy flights on twin-prop planes from regional airports in the U.S.. No sighs about the robotic sign-off from the cabin steward, “Thank you for choosing United” (as if you had a choice). No, you have no grounds for complaint because you don’t know how terrifying such flights can be. You have not had the Antonov-24 (a Soviet-era airplane) experience. The Antonov-24, a Soviet 44-seater turboprop which made its … [Read more...]
How I Twice Failed in Saint Augustine (and still won)
Nope, it's not Jamestown. Nor is it Plymouth. And neither is it the lost colony of Roanoke. Bet you didn't know, the oldest permanent European settlement in the US was founded in St. Augustine, Florida by Spanish conquistadors as early as 1565. It predates the next oldest European city (Santa Fe, New Mexico) by more than 4 decades. As of the time of this writing, the city has been continuously inhabited for 453 years. By North American standards, … [Read more...]
Arriving Into Iran and the Tests of Traveling
I left for the Tbilisi International Airport in the country of Georgia at 10pm. I arrived at my final destination, Shiraz, Iran some 20 hours later - the next day. If you look on the map this is about a 3 to 3.5 hour flight. As it were, the airport in Tbilisi is under construction; a new runway is being built so all day flights have been moved to the night. I spent all night in the beautiful fairly new Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, … [Read more...]
5 Cities To Visit In The American South
Tourism to the United States generally revolves around the biggest and most famous cities. New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Chicago.... These are the places you tend to read the most about, and they do indeed provide many of the highlights for international and domestic travelers alike. But the United States is a vast country filled with all kinds of unique destinations, and if you have the time or inclination it's a good idea … [Read more...]
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