In a foreign land, my mind frequently associates places, events or people with past knowledge. In this context, Melbourne is a San Francisco without as many hills, but with people speaking in a much cooler …
Travel: Must-See
Mellow Melbourne
Lake Tahoe, California: Summer or Winter?
If it came down to visiting Tahoe in the winter or the summer, I’m not sure I could pick one over the other. While Tahoe is commonly praised for its impressive winters, I’d argue that …
October 6, 2009
Suddenly Sydney
I first met Australia in her city of Sydney. The date was January 26th, and could have been any other day. But I quickly learned of my erroneous judgment — it being Australia’s Independence Day. …
Tikal National Park, El Petén, Guatemala
An ancient Mayan civilization inhabited Tikal around 800 B.C., flourishing for over a century amid the subtropical rainforest of El Petén, Guatemala. Their extinction became legendary – a Lost City until the mid-19th century, when …
September 29, 2009
Grand Tetons/Yellowstone National Park
The national parks have been described by Ken Burns as America’s best idea. I doubt that many visitors to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park would argue with that. I journeyed there in late …
September 27, 2009
Japan's Bustling Tokyo
Literally translating to “Eastern Capital,” Tokyo, Japan, is one of the three world finance ”command centers” alongside New York and London. But unlike the others, Tokyo has a serene feeling of safety along with pristine …
September 22, 2009
Refined Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland, proves that there is much more to Scottish culture than kilts, clans and haggis. In fact, Edinburgh hosts a trendsetting modern culture while still embracing its Caledonian roots. From swanky …
September 22, 2009
Joan Wilder’s Destination City: Cartagena, Colombia
You remember her: that romance novelist in the classic film Romancing the Stone with Michael Douglas. Her sister had been kidnapped in Colombia and was awaiting rescue in Cartagena. Perhaps due to the real-life cocaine …
September 22, 2009
Taj Majal, Agra, India
The Taj Mahal is often regarded as the most beautiful building in the world. So, of course I watched in horror as my digital camera slipped from my grasp and fell to the hard pavement …
Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park rises out of the vast Utah desert almost without warning. Comprising 120 square miles of red sandstone cliffs, spires and canyons, the park feels like the ruins of an ancient city. Its …
September 17, 2009
Spectacular Sognefjord, Norway
A trip to Norway is incomplete without getting out on the water to experience the fjords. The sea plays an essential role in the history of Norway, exemplified by some of its most notable museums: …