Before I visited Bosnia, I heard that Sarajevo was once revered for its beauty. Visitors were awed, during the 1984 Winter Olympics, by Sarajevo's sumptuous valleys and alpine mountains. When I visited the city in …
History
Rejuvenated Sarajevo, Bosnia
Havana, Cuba (If You Can Get There)
“Where all cars are taxis, and all women are whores.” This raucous response to the frequently posed pre-trip question, “So what does Cuba mean to you?” understandably stood out the most. The “cigars” reply was …
October 28, 2009
Kobe, Japan
While Kobe is most commonly known for its tender, succulent cuts of beef, it’s also famous for its remarkable recovery after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995. This massive earthquake, which reduced the city to …
October 21, 2009
England's Lake District
“I wandered lonely as a cloud/ that floats on high o’er vales and hills/When all at once I saw a crowd/A host, of golden daffodils” If these words spark your romantic imagination and thoughts of …
October 15, 2009
Space, Death, and Memory: My Summer Vacation in Quartzsite
Past the Coachella Valley, where the desert floor pushes the mountains out of sight, my grandfather levitates above a steamy I-10, alternately stiff-arming the grill and checking the coolant level of my eastbound station wagon. …
September 10, 2009
Colonial Mexico: Zacatecas
Our plane flew into Zacatecas in the midst of rainfall. The airport had one runway surrounded by red unpaved dirt, the smallest baggage claim I’d ever seen, and the most charming people I’d ever met. …
September 10, 2009
Shimoda, Japan
Located near the tip of the Izu peninsula, this sleepy waterfront town is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Japan’s big city life. Shimoda was of central importance during the 1850s, …
August 31, 2009
Mission San Juan Bautista, California
Strolling through the historic town of San Juan Bautista, nestled at the foot of the Gabilan Mountains, I feel like I’m walking through the pages of a history book. Adobe structures dating to the 1700s …
August 27, 2009
Olvera Street, El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument
San Diego has Little Italy. Los Angeles has “Little Mexico,” Olvera Street, located in El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument on the site of L.A.’s original birthplace. Colorful celebrations and fiestas happen here year-round. …
August 21, 2009
Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, as you know, is about 2 hours away from San Diego, approximately 125 miles north. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, embedded in the sidewalk along both sides of Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Street to …
August 18, 2009
Gold Panning in Jamestown, CA
If you want to step back in time and experience the life of an 1849 gold prospector, plan a trip to Gold Prospecting Adventures, 18170 Main Street, Jamestown. The experience will transport you into Gold …
August 16, 2009