Recently I spent a miserable night on the island of Trinidad in a hot vehicle parked in the rainforest with the windows cracked to get some air while fighting a random assortment of biting flying bugs. This caused me to think about other interesting nights I have spent including one night next to a partially rotting deer (don't ask) and a frigid night in Spain grossly under dressed for the weather in March sleeping in a dirt field covered in … [Read more...]
New Public Television Series, The Travel Detective with Peter Greenberg
New Public Television Series, The Travel Detective with Peter Greenberg, Premieres Fall 2013 (check local listings) Travel guru offers tips and tricks for traveling like an insider Tired of feeling like a helpless traveler? In the new series The Travel Detective with Peter Greenberg, premiering nationwide beginning Monday, September 30, 2013 on public television (check local listings), CBS News Travel Editor and The Royal Tour co-host Peter … [Read more...]
Taste of Sonoma, MacMurray Ranch
Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is Sonoma County's premier annual food and wine event. This three day event now in its sixth year highlights Sonoma County's local wineries and culinary prowess. Not only is it a unique opportunity to enjoy food and wine in one location but educational events are also offered including blind tastings, culinary demonstrations and culinary cookoffs. One of the highlights of this three day event is the Taste of … [Read more...]
Laguna Beach Uncorked! An International Wine & Food Festival
Saturday March 9, 2013 - Food & Wine Tasting Event Features Master Sommelier Michael A. Jordan Laguna Beach, CA – The Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau is proud to announce the second annual Laguna Beach Uncorked! An International Wine & Food Festto be held Saturday, March 9, 2013. The ever popular Laguna Beach Uncorked! features an afternoon of tastings from 20 renowned Laguna Beach restaurants and 30 top wineries from around the … [Read more...]
Wadi Rum, Jordan – April 2012
There are places that when you are there you say, "this is incredible" and then after leaving these types of places and having a few days of reflection you realize just how special these types of places are. Wadi Rum is clearly one of these. Beautiful colored rock, wide open spaces, very few people and attractions including narrow Siq canyons, rock bridges, expansive vistas and the vast openness make this a special destination indeed. Public … [Read more...]
Petra, Jordan – December 2011
Petra, Jordan is one of the world's great historical regions and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra attracts visitors from around the world - especially since it was voted as one of the "New Seven Wonders" of the World in 2007. The original ruins date from over 2000 years ago and the most well preserved of the ruins on site is the amazing "treasury" or Al Khazneh (in Arabic). To reach this ruin, allow 20-30 minutes walking mostly all downhill … [Read more...]
Wadi Mujib, Jordan – August 2011
Wadi Mujib, Jordan is located in a steep canyon that contains a very "wet and wild" river hiking experience. This wadi or canyon is in the lowest reserve on the planet as its water empties into the Dead Sea (almost 400 meters below sea level). A hike up the canyon is not for the faint of heart, rather it is an adrenaline producing experience. Sign the waiver at the main entrance, pay the admission fee and collect a life jacket. The entire hike is … [Read more...]
Visit Kuwait – July 2011
While Kuwait is certainly not as well known in tourism circles as some of its other middle eastern neighbors (Jordan, Israel, Syria etc), it is a friendly, small and easy to navigate country. Kuwait City is the heart of the country and is spread out along the edge of the Persian Gulf. The major highways are modern and efficient and gas is very cheap. During our stay we rented a car and drove through much of the country. This is a flat desert … [Read more...]
Still Alive
I'm learning to read his jaw. Sometimes I lose the language in his translations, but his jaw telegraphs the unspeakable. But, tonight, I can't see it. We're facing each other, squaring off in the shadows over outdoor vanilla sundaes laced with crisp kiwis and strawberries, arguing about whether I should accompany him to pick up his food rations from the United Nations. The UN had suspended food giveaways, and he finally has an appointment … [Read more...]
Southern Jordan, Fun in the Sun
We are watching the sun slowly drop below the Egyptian skyline here on the edge of the Red Sea merely 3 clicks from the Saudi border. It is so quiet from our mountain side desert perch. 6 minutes walking gets us to the beach. The air is warm and intoxicating. We are on the Jordanian side now. This arm of the Red Sea contains the world's most northerly coral reefs. The Red Sea is full of coral and brightly colored fish. Just got in from a 1 … [Read more...]