Category Archive: border crossing

What I’m Seeing in Ukraine

My friend in Kyiv managed to send her two children outside the city. They should be safer there, but she has to remain with her elderly mother, sleeping on a mattress in the… Continue reading →

Taking a Moment

A former tour member and friend (the latter invariably follows from the former) just asked me how difficult my Romania tour will be. I started my reply with the medieval cobblestone streets, gentle… Continue reading →

Coming home

The truth is, I have trouble coming home. On one level it’s just logistical withdrawal. I go from leading my 27 newest friends on a busy tour of some of the greatest things… Continue reading →

Living the dream

I had a dream when I was a kid. A literal, “I’m asleep” kind of dream, that is. This isn’t an inspirational post. In it, I’m swimming along the bottom of the pool,… Continue reading →

Arriving in Caracas, Part 1 of 2; or, my niece’s birthday party was a porno scene

The plane landed at Caracas’ Simon Bolivar International Airport with a stronger bump than most, and taxied past a row of unfamiliar logos on modest fuselages. Between the recent unrest, and, more importantly,… Continue reading →

Departure Day

Then there’s no more time to try and remember what I’m forgetting, it’s time to run to the station. If I forgot it, it’s forgotten. No time to pet the cat. Say goodbye… Continue reading →

Leaving Israel, passing through the future, and arriving in Sri Lanka.

It was difficult to leave Israel with a good taste in my mouth.   Trains and buses were sleeping due to a holiday, and the hostel told us it was a flat fare… Continue reading →

Ancient romans, modern riots, and finally, Eastern Turkey

At breakfast in Antalya I pile my plate with fresh French bread, olives, feta, and slices of cucumber and tomato. I go back twice more, balancing the ratios and refilling my cup of… Continue reading →

~Guest blog from/for my friend Lisa in South Africa

Today I’m reblogging, but wordpress and blogspot don’t seem to allow cross-website reposting. I feel like the proverbial kid whose parents won’t talk to each other. In the summer of 2010, before I’d… Continue reading →

Happy rebirthday, it’s gonna change you life.

When I turned 32 a couple weeks ago it wasn’t a big deal, I was happy with a good navratan korma. But K’s birthday yesterday…now that was a big deal. She turned….dumdumDUM…27! Warning:… Continue reading →