Sensible people would ask “Why go to a music festival and shoot still images without sound?” I have asked this of myself. While I was in Eureka, California I saw and heard 2 of the best guitar players currently alive among many other great swing jazz musicians around. Still, you won’t experience their best parts…
Isles of Cows & Man
On this trip, I added 2 new countries, according to the UN. What I am referring to by “Isles of Cows” are the Channel Islands of Jersey & Guernsey. They are independent Bailiwicks, but the UN recognizes them as the Channel Islands. So, in holding to my restriction of counting only countries that the UN…
Epic Odyssey of the Western Mediterranean
This trip was long & fun, educational & varied. It was a bit mono-cultural as it was dominated by Franko-centric history & development. Still there was a smattering of astrophysics & prehistoric culture from the region. It was dominated briefly by a unique astronomical event that will be, yet another, once in a lifetime event…
Half the Countries of the World
On this trip, I started with the old familiar city of Lima. I must say that with the dramatic cliffs of Miraflores & the frequent hang gliders taking advantage of the wind coming up the cliffs, this is one of my favorite places to visit. After that I flew to Cusco, capital of the Inca…
Turning 70 On the Road
In honor of my birthday I wanted to take an epic trip around the Mediterranean, picking up places easily skipped over & returning to places on my own that I thought might be different without a tour going on all the time. I like a good, moderately Muslim country & wanted to go back to…
Thanksgiving in April – Trekking Around Türkiye
Also, could be subtitled, Fourth Time is a Charm. So, for my 4th trip to Turkiye I ventured outside of Istanbul for the first time. Taking a Smithsonian trip, we ventured around the Aegean & Mediterranean coast, visiting places from the Bible although those places existed throughout time to before man kept tabs on the…
New Year in New Zedland
I continued my tradition of ringing in the New Year in the air by skipping New Year’s Day altogether. Fun fact: you can take off from LA on December 31 & land in Auckland, NZ on January 2nd. Much like how DST works you get that day back (sort of) by taking off from Auckland…
Eenie Meenie Minie Moe
Which hotel in which country serves wine? I’ve now visited every country on the Arabian Peninsula except Yemen. That’s one of those countries you can go to where the locals size up what you’re worth in ransom from the US government. Not gonna do that. On this trip I emphasized Oman, but also visited Bahrain…
Rain Rain Went Away
As a child I remember my Dad’s friend, David Boyce (Uncle Pinky to me & my brother), complaining about the weather in Korea. He was the first ever chaplain in the Green Berets & went ashore early. He said it was cold & rained constantly. That’s pretty much what I experienced in the first half…
Back to Baltics – Countries #88 & 89 & More
For those of you keeping track along with me, out of the 195 countries recognized by the United Nations, I have now visited 89. If I can get my butt to Malta & San Marino, I will have been to every country in Europe. With the exception of countries that I deem to dangerous too…