John M. Edwards takes a ferry boat, complete with a small steamer trunk and a traveler’s liquid pride “In Sicily, it’s fine, you can change money everywhere,” the lanky traveler lectured, popping the tab on his beercan, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. A white floppy sunhat, popularized by British sunbathers in Brighton, shaded his head from the fierce Mediterranean sun, though we were hidden in the subterranean hold of a ship … [Read more...]
“The Day I Was Born”
I take a deep blue look at the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona is so beautiful in the summer. Everybody knows that; everybody's written about it. Oh no, am I one of them too? It's so beautiful here in Parc de Montjuic; I have the whole hill to myself. I walk inside the fortress, pretend there's still something to protect. I watch the port activity from up high while I eat my juicy nectarines. The containers look like Lego bricks, the cranes are … [Read more...]
A Trip To Samar
A soft breezy sunrise rouses me as my ship nears the coast and moors at the docks of Maguino-o, off the city of Calbayog Western Samar in the Central Philippines. Sheer weather of the early morning meets the island's pristine seawaters. And I feel like a sixteenth-century explorer reincarnated. "There you are," I whisper upon sighting the shores of Samar. Believing I could reach the location only through history books. One of the very … [Read more...]
Barbarossa * The Towers of Italy Wins Accolade Award of Merit: Short Documentary
Ispani, Italy -- October 2010 -- Thousands of ancient watchtowers - 'torries' in Italian - survive along the coasts of Italy, but very few people (even those who live near them) know much about their fascinating history and purpose. Barbarossa and the Towers of Italy, a new documentary film, reveals the never before told story of their rich history. And now Barbarossa and the Towers of Italy earns another award recognition: The Award of Merit: … [Read more...]
Moon Italy
Moon Italy by Alexei J. Cohen Another one of the classic Moon Europe Handbooks. Comprehensive yet to the point, this book covers A-Z from Milan to Sicily. Each section of Italy is color coded on the main map in the front of the book and covered in detail. There is no shortage of sights in Italy and Mr. Cohen has done a remarkable job of highlighting not only the tried and true Italian attractions but also the often overlooked spots. … [Read more...]
Day 2 – New Orleans
Breakfast Cafe du Monde ,located at 800 Decatur Street, is an ideal location for breakfast. This is the original Cafe du Monde location - with a number of other branches mostly in and around New Orleans, as well as a large international presence exclusively in Japan. The cafe is located near the shores of the Mississippi River in the French Quarter this is where you come for French-style beignet pastries and coffee. You can drive here or … [Read more...]
What to Do & See in Sicily, Italy
Separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Multicultural and cosmopolitan, its history stretches back 3,000 years. Fought over by warring nations for much of its existence, the island has been colonised by Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans. These diverse influences, all of which have left distinctly noticeable traces, have shaped the island's character into the truly unique … [Read more...]
