Suzhou is often referred to as “the Venice of the East.” In a less ethnocentric world, we would perhaps call Venice “the Suzhou of the West.” The original canal city, Suzhou was already a over a thousand years old when Venice was founded (514 B.C.E. vs. 421 C.E.) It is also significantly larger than Venice, a full order of magnitude more, in fact. Its canal system is indescribably extensive and complex, spreading through a vast network of fields, … [Read more...]
A Most Unusual Walk in Panama City
It’s tough to walk a mile in the shoes of someone who’s been shot. But it’s worth the walk anyway, to learn about how people gone bad can find their way to good. In the Central American country of Panama, Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood is a great place to do it. I’m walking with former bad boy Samuel Palacio through Casco Viejo, a historic district in Panama City that has long been riddled with crime, much of it gang related. Samuel … [Read more...]
My 5 Favorite Caribbean Destinations
I have been fortunate to have visited all countries in the Caribbean except for Haiti and have visited nearly all of the territories. Haiti is definitely on the list for upcoming visits. I have stayed in a wide variety of accommodation in the region including a number of luxury properties. Luxury Retreats recently reached out to me; they focus on high end vacation rentals worldwide including a number of Caribbean luxury vacations. After … [Read more...]
A Family Discovery of the Natural Beauty of Jasper and Its Environs
Packing up the van as we loaded up the children and luggage from our hotel in Edmonton, we embarked on the Jasper area of the Canadian Rockies adventure hoping to find snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, raging waterfalls and animals of the area. My daughter Muna and I were travelling with my eldest grandson Laith, Maria his wife and their two inquisitive sons, Bilal and Tamer. As we left the city anxious to visit Alberta’s natural wonders … [Read more...]
Visitors Flock to Las Vegas to Commemorate Chinese New Year
The Entertainment Capital of the World Welcomes the Year of the Rooster with Special Events, Cuisine and More LAS VEGAS (January 14, 2017) - Las Vegas will celebrate the 2017 Chinese New Year with an extensive array of culinary offerings, entertainment and experiences for visitors to usher in the Year of the Rooster. Honoring the rich culture and historical importance of Spring Festival, Las Vegas will feature symbolic décor and stunning … [Read more...]
St. Lucia Jazz: The Caribbean’s Heartbeat
This must be an out of body experience...or at the very least what this experience would possibly feel like. Those were the words going through my mind as I witnessed the performance of the internationally acclaimed zouk band "Kassav' perform on my old stomping ground in my hometown of Soufriere (St. Lucia). The iconic Pitons (dramatic volcanic spires that rise sharply) in the background must have added to this feeling of the experience being … [Read more...]
How to Spend a Few Days in Dominica
Dominica is ideal for the independent traveler looking to getaway from crowds, to bond with nature, and to explore the country on his or her own. Aptly called "the nature isle" when one visits the country, one soon understands this description. First of all, there are not a lot of people who live in the country, some 72,000 by the last count, so it never feels crowded, the island is full of rivers, waterfalls, some freshwater lakes and dense at … [Read more...]
Cruising into Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
The day dawned clear on the Holland America Line MS Eurodam after the stormy nauseating seas of the past few days. This was a welcome relief visually and for the stomach which has been struggling with all the back and forth rocking. We pulled around the point of the north east part of the island and passed the historical fort. From a distance we could have been pulling into a port in Greece or perhaps the Middle East - the white buildings … [Read more...]
Indianapolis is for Vonnegut Lovers
Books and authors have an incredible ability to direct travel trends. UK based tours around Harry Potter are the most obvious example, but less ambitious tomes often speak to readers. I can remember when I first encountered Kurt Vonnegut. My high school American literature seminar required reading from a selected list of contemporary writers. Where others reached for The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, I ended up with Cat's Cradle. It was … [Read more...]
Quito, Ecuador – January 2017
Quito is the highest capital city in the world (approximately 2800 meters) and earned one of the first UNESCO World Heritage designations in 1978. It is a bustling city spread out between valleys and sprawls partway up the massive mountains that surround it. While the Galapagos Islands garner much of the attention of tourists - a visit to Quito offers a variety of attractions both in and outside the city. Setup "home base" in the lively La … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- …
- 166
- Next Page »