An amazing skyline above Victoria Harbor transports you into a scene unique in the world. The harbor is referred to as the soul of the city, a place where East meets West. Hong Kong is the most visited city on earth. But before my visit, I only knew one guy who had been there. I texted him
First Impressions of Africa
When I was growing up in the 1980s, Africa was portrayed in the news as a continent riddled with war and poverty. It’s partly due to the nature of news—sensationalism sells—but it was also stark reality. Many wars in Africa ended when the Berlin Wall came down in 1991. Still, by the mid-90s, thirty-one of the continent’s
Revisiting Normandy on the 74th Anniversary of D-Day
When I visited Normandy, I stayed in Bayeux. The old French town is a 2-hour train ride from Paris. It’s a beautiful area known for having inspired Impressionist artist, Claude Monet. The British Cemetery and Bayeux Cathedral were walking distance from my hotel. My tour guide picked me up 100 meters from where I stayed. We
Prague: A Fairytale City with a Dark Communist Past
I’ve come to realize, through my travels, that my curiosities are insatiable. The more I learn about the world, the more I realize I don’t know. Perhaps a man should travel at least enough to become aware of his own ignorance. My fascination with World War II, The Cold War & Communism, keeps growing with
Making Rational Decisions with “Yogi-isms” [in Costa Rica]
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with baseball. I wanted to be like Yogi Berra. He was one of my favorite “old-timers” because my grandfather, “Fats,” was an Italian catcher from the same era. If I hadn’t been born a southpaw, I probably would’ve been a catcher too. Berra was not only a
Nicaragua: 7-Day Itinerary and Costs
When I hear “Nicaragua,” it conjures up memories of my mom cooking supper in the kitchen while Dan Rather reported the day’s news. He would talk about the Reagan Administration backing the Contras against the Sandinistas, then show pictures of camouflage-clad Commandos brandishing AK-47s. It was a different time in the 1980s. Nicaragua was embroiled
House Hunting in Costa Rica!
Costa Rica has become a hotbed for Americans buying second homes. The appeal of a country where locals greet you with “Pura Vida” (“simple life” or “pure life”) is immediately apparent. It is a magnificent country famous for its world-class surfing, rain forests, jungles, reserves and national parks. Thirty-five wildlife refuges protect more than twenty-five percent of
Why I Embrace Solitude (and you should too)
I’m an experienced solo traveler. Usually, I’ll meet more people vagabonding alone. But Norway is different. Perhaps due to its high prices, remote location or combination thereof, I encountered zero rebellious hippies, counterculture losers or brainless bleeding hearts. Nobody attempted to tell me I was from “The Great Satan” or that I’d need to “check
Japan: Travel Advice & Itinerary
We were 6,700 miles from home facing centuries-old cultural norms and codes of etiquette. Being in Japan is like traveling through 11 centuries of history. Endless peaceful gardens and ancient Buddhist temples adorn the island country whose capital, Tokyo, is teeming with busy streets and vibrant culture. I wondered how they keep a country of 127 million