“When an old person dies, it’s like a small library burning.” -- Alex Haley, author of Roots, spoken to his friend John Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia[i] Until I went to Knoxville, Tennessee, I hadn’t experienced a place with such a strong sense of preserving the past. Not just the events or places of the past – I work as a tour guide in Philadelphia and we have that here – but the importance of each individual life gone by, … [Read more...]
Saba Anyone?
I recently counted the times I've either flown, ferried, or come in on a cruise ship to Sint Maarten in the last two months; my arrivals and departures added up to 14 times (interesting considering I had never visited the island until late 2015)! During my stops in Sint Marteen, my eye has caught glimpses of the intriguing, mysterious and prominent shape of Saba (a municipality of the Netherlands) in the distance, sometimes clear, sometimes … [Read more...]
3 Mountain Ranges to Scale in 2016
If you are an avid adventurer, you may already have some adventurous plans for 2016. If you are yet to make your adventure bucket list for 2016, consider the following mountain holidays that will prove to be an experience of a lifetime: The Atlas Mountains If you are yet to explore this beautiful mountain range in Africa, make preparations for a different and unforgettable adventure in 2016. Spreading across 1,300 miles in Morocco, Tunisia … [Read more...]
Cruising Holland America Line, ms Eurodam
One of my early childhood memories is visiting my grandparents as they left for an around the world cruise on a Holland America Line cruise ship - this must have been sometime in the late 1970's or early 1980's. I remember being allowed to board the ship with my family and running through all the hallways and eventually ending up in a room where they told children to go. I remember what felt like thousands of people (probably just hundreds) … [Read more...]
“It’s Djiboutiful!”(And the Hottest New Destination)
When our rafts were bitten by crocodiles or hippos, complications ensued we hadn't imagined. We were in Ethiopia making a series of first descents down big rivers that fall off the Abyssinian Plateau: The Omo, Baro, Blue Nile, and the Awash. We called our little expedition Sobek, after the ancient Egyptian crocodile god, hoping the homage would ensure safe passage. But, another challenge reared its head, one unanticipated. When we … [Read more...]
Battling the Tide Tables: The Lost Coast Trail
The Lost Coast is located in Northern California along the Pacific Ocean. It is nestled in the remote King Mountain Range. Route 1 runs north along the California coast but had to be diverted back to Hwy 101 south of here due to the rugged terrain in this area. The only roads in this area are 2 lane, twisting, winding steep, blind mountain roads. They are easily navigable by a car very slow going. The Lost Coast is broken into 2 sections, … [Read more...]
Relax in Conejo Valley: Food, Wine, Microbrews & the Outdoors
Conejo Valley is located about 45 minutes north of Los Angeles; due to its proximity, this region makes for an ideal weekend getaway from Los Angeles. You are not dealing with a confusing artery of multiple freeways - there is one main freeway that goes through the valley, the 101 and to a lesser extent, the 23. Conejo Valley encompasses four communities, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park spread out along this part of … [Read more...]
The Ghosts of Highgate Cemetery
Emerging out of the London Underground at Archway station, Northern Line I was welcomed by a thick, grey fog swirling lazily among the living. It certainly was appropriate weather for visiting a cemetery. On the corner with Swains Lane I bumped into an old lady with long grey hair who started yelling at me to watch were I was going and who I thought I was, treading on her turf like that. I had to shake off the uncomfortable feeling the … [Read more...]
Upcoming Cruise, Holland America Line Caribbean & Sweepstakes Offer
Holland America Line recently reached out to me to join them on their first Caribbean cruise of the season. For whatever reason, the Caribbean is one of the last parts of the world I have not spent much time in. That will change after this trip as I am taking much of October to explore some additional islands with my brother who is flying in from Verona Italy (where he lives). I went on a River Cruise in Europe earlier this year but this will … [Read more...]
Little Known Adventures in Cambodia Other Than Lara Croft’s Angkor Wat
Cambodia immediately conjures up visions of the temples of Angkor Wat. OK, they are without argument, among the most awe-inspiring monuments ever built by man. But there are plenty of other things to see and experience in Cambodia. There is so much more to this beautiful country. While Angkor Wat should be on your checklist of must-see places, let’s get off the main tourist track and take a look at 10 other amazing sites. This country has … [Read more...]
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