Last summer when I mentioned to people I was planning a trip to Cyprus (Northern Cyprus as well), I often received blank stares or the question "where is Cyprus". A little geography is in order; the island is in the Mediterranean Sea - in the far eastern reaches south of Turkey and just west of Lebanon. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Italy's Sicily and Sardinia. I flew from Beirut, Lebanon - there are certainly … [Read more...]
Visit Malta – June 2017
Malta is a series of tiny islands located about 80 kilometers south of Sicily and east of Tunisia in the Mediterranean. The country has a rich cultural history with both Islamic and Catholic influence. It was a part of the British Empire until 1964 when it gained independence. The charming capital city of Valletta is Europe's smallest and with 450,000 people living on the islands Malta is one of the world's densest populated countries. Valletta … [Read more...]
The Joys of Travel and Stories That Illuminate Them by Thomas Swick
Author Swick highlights "the seven joys of travel" in seven chapters - anticipation, movement, break from routine, novelty, discovery, emotional connection and a heightened appreciation of home". This book is about his experiences, people he meets on the road and the resulting stories from travel when one is open to experiencing these seven joys. These seven chapters are followed by seven additional chapters focusing on personal stories from … [Read more...]
Great Spots for Island Hopping
One of the best parts about travelling is that you can explore multiple locations that you’ve loved on past visits or are eager to discover. While all-inclusive destination holidays can be relaxing and fun, they don’t give you the opportunity to move from one great spot to the next the way you can with a cruise. Whether you’re a history geek looking to visit historical sites, or a culture fan wanting to soak up the local music and food scene, … [Read more...]
The Maltese Beercan
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...]