A ray of sun broke through the clouds and the morning mist, illuminating the valley in sparkly golden gold. The surrounding mountains cast a long shadow over a vast expanse of farmland cut by a river meandering through the valley. This is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a lush green valley lies in the heart of Urubamba Province, Peru – about 35 miles from Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Up on the edge of a mountain cliff, three transparent … [Read more...]
ENCHANTED ROCK Climbing a geologic marvel in the heart of Texas Hill Country
ENCHANTED ROCK Climbing a geologic marvel in the heart of Texas Hill Country “Will we be able to climb up to the top? It seems rocky and difficult. Will we be able to make it? Can we just go up to that half way point and go back down?” came the questions from my 8 yr old son staring at the rock in front of us. “Sure buddy. Let’s see what we can do and how far we can go. If we feel up for it, let’s keep doing it”, I said. Our goal was to … [Read more...]
7 Products That Are Both Stylish and Practical
Practical products are great. Stylish products are great. So, I think we can agree that finding a product that is both stylish and also practical is always a happy moment. Finding joy in the little things is so important, and if you’re able to do that by adding a splash of style to items that are useful as well, it will be sure to brighten up your day. No matter what your lifestyle is, nearly everyone will be able to find something useful in … [Read more...]
Leisure Time in Vinales, Cuba
Needing the spirit and calming influence of the countryside, I left Havana pinched between the driver and an accompanying passenger in the front seat of a green 1950s Chevrolet. Beautiful from the outside but quite uncomfortable on the inside - 6 or 7 of us were crammed like sardines in a tin can. Hard seats, no air conditioning, a middle front seat on the 'hump' with no leg room whatsoever and a suspect suspension system all made for an … [Read more...]
Best European Escapes To Get Closer To Nature
Europe is every traveller’s dream destination. It will always have something for every type of traveller there is. If you prefer the outdoors and love to commune with nature, here are a few of the best places you can include on your must-visit in Europe. The Catalonian Region, Spain Catalonia (or Catalunya as it is known in Catalan, the language in this region) is located at the northeastern side of Spain. Its most popular is probably the … [Read more...]
Adventure on the River: West Virginia Whitewater
It was July 4th at the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It was dark, and I was on the roof of a truck clinging to the roof rack as we wound through the twisting back roads en route to the edge of the gorge. This had not been the plan. We had ended up loading the truck down with a couple of kegs and as many raft guides as we could fit after the trailer that was supposed to deliver us to the party developed a flat tire. We had unhitched it and … [Read more...]
My Top 5 Reasons to Take a Cruise
One of my favorite destinations for cruising is in the Caribbean - with island nations typically 60 to 100 miles apart, one can visit a different country nearly every day. It is a destination where one can just as easily opt for a short cruise or a longer one and still be exposed to different countries and cultures. And with plenty of beaches and year round warm weather, I've found myself in the Caribbean every November or December the past few … [Read more...]
Top Water Activities to Enjoy and Items to Bring on Your Costa Rica Vacation
Many of us are naturally drawn to the water. After all, there's nothing quite like the sense of exhilaration one feels as their boat sails over the waves, or experiencing the sense of peace, stillness, and tranquility that comes from being alone in the sea. Freshwater adventures can also be fantastic, which is why making landfall once in a while during your sailing trip is a good idea. For example, Costa Rica has numerous inland rivers to … [Read more...]
Climbing the Holy Mountain (Sri Pada), Sri Lanka
The Journey (Kuruwita-Erathna route) The journey begins from a small town called Kuruwita located 82 km from Colombo in Sri Lanka. Kuruwita is on the Colombo – Ratnapura main road and situated 9km before Ratnapura. To reach the trail head you approach a small hamlet called “Adavikanda”. The nearest town to this sleepy village is Erathna; one proceeds left at the clock tower in Kuruwita and travels approximately 11 km. The road has signboards and … [Read more...]
Ireland’s Ancient Guardians
Donegal Sea Stack Climbing Living along the western seaboard of County Donegal live 100 guardians of an ancient and little known world. Sculptured by the pounding heart of the wild Atlantic Ocean over thousands of our lifetimes. These towering rock sentinels stand guard at the outer edge of our distant shores. Mark the boundary between the moving and the static. These gothic leviathans are the last remains of a time long … [Read more...]
