Romania was one big question mark when I first went, but after a couple months exploring the country, a clear chain of top notch attractions populated my mental map. Add in an incomparable… Continue reading
Abdul Hakim drove like gas was super cheap, the roads were paper smooth, and traffic almost non-existent. Granted, all of that was true in Oman, plus his engine roared with competency when he… Continue reading
The bright little lights sparkle all the way down the row of tidy stalls. They seem sharper in the cold winter air. Look above the row to see the dignified old buildings of… Continue reading
Imagine you’re a new pilot who has trained on simulators but this is your first time 35,000 feet up. You’re pretty sure you know what you need to know, but there’s a constant… Continue reading
The main thing tourists do in Muscat is visit the souq, or marketplace, in nearby Muttrah. Given how hot Oman gets (50C / 122F in summer) they share the latitudinal tradition of resting… Continue reading
The question we asked Cuban women that is clearest in my mind was off from the beginning. My previous partner and I had traveled to the blockaded island to ask women there about… Continue reading
The first two steps would be easy, but the third may have disturbed my sleep the night before. (Or it could have been the chilis.) Phase One was catching the bus from Sur… Continue reading
It will take me longer than I expected to get to Oman tonight. Tomorrow morning seems late for just four little time zones. The plane pulling away from the gate always makes me… Continue reading
I wasn’t sure about Luxembourg. I enjoyed it as a largely clueless tourist, but would it satisfy the discerning Europhile I had in mind for a tour member? I’ve lived in and love… Continue reading
People ask me that a lot, and I’m never sure how to answer. Partially, there are so many reasons to love this city, I have to choose where to start for that person.… Continue reading
I felt like I was dressing to be launched into space, instead of a hop to the Friday market. For most of my life, cold weather meant a sweater, maybe a jacket. Here… Continue reading
