John Henderson's Travel Adventures in Rome and Beyond

January 14, 2025

Travel bucket list 2025: From Wales to Thailand and some “weird” destinations in between

Since retiring to Rome in 2014, I average about 60 days of travel a year. I should top that in 2025. My travel bucket list has a trip either booked or tentatively scheduled nearly every month. They range from Wales this winter to Thailand next November with WAY off-the-beaten-path spots such as Turkmenistan and Syria in between. Take a look at my plan. Hope it inspires you to set sail.

January 7, 2025

Eleven years in Rome: My annual reasons for living here

Every year around Jan. 11, the anniversary of my arrival in Rome in 2014, I write all the reasons I love living here. After 11 years, it’s still not a problem finding new reasons. This year I found a whole new list, ranging from the draw Rome’s 930 churches has on me to chocolate-covered frappe served every Easter. Hope this list brings back fond memories or your trip to Rome or inspires you to make some memories of your own.

January 3, 2025

Chemo patients: Helpful travel tips to ease the burden

Undergoing chemo is devastating but it doesn’t mean you must be homebound. Guest blogger Mahasweta Bose lists numerous tips that allow chemo patients to travel comfortably and without worry.

December 31, 2024

Oregon Ducks: My hometown team is No. 1 and seeking first national title — while I watch alone from a world away

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I was born, raised and educated in Eugene, Ore., and been an Oregon Ducks fan since 1963. Now they are ranked No. 1 entering the College Football Playoffs and I am stuck 10,000 kilometers away, cheering alone. That’s OK. Considering my star-crossed history with college football’s late blooming power, I won’t mind watching on my laptop until 4 in the morning. I write what it’s like to be an Oregon Ducks fan in Rome.

December 24, 2024

Rome Jubilee: After 25 years, the city tries to clean up for the world and 35 million visitors

Today marks the start of the Rome Jubilee, the Vatican’s celebration of reconciliation and spiritual renewal that is held every 25 years. Rome has been under heavy construction for the last year but is finally showing the positive effects. Here’s a preview of what to expect if you’re going to be one of the 35 million people expected to visit.

December 17, 2024

Rome Christmas markets: The subtle, romantic way to get into the Christmas spirit far from family

Christmas is different in Rome. Despite being the center of the Christian world, Christmas celebrations are more subtle here. A popular way to celebrate Christmas is Christmas markets. There are many in Rome and we spent the weekend going to three of them. They’re great for snacks, shopping and generally getting into the Christmas spirit without drowning in bright lights and loud carols.

December 13, 2024

Rome to Sicily by train: Ten hours of beautiful scenery but didn’t Mussolini make the trains run on time?

Gabor Kavocs, a lawyer in London and a friend I’ve known since we met in Florence in 1978, recently took a 10-train ride from Rome to Sicily with his wife, Caroline. It was full of lovely scenery and was a comfortable ride, the long delay notwithstanding. This is a guest blog from a good friend.

December 10, 2024

Palestine: Tourism trying to show another side of a country at war

You like to get off the beaten path? Why not Palestine? Yes, you can visit. In fact, I visited with the marketing director of Palestine Tourism at the World Travel Market in London last month. He enlightened me about how safe Palestine remains outside Gaza. And there is so much to see and do. I’m ready to go. Read my blog and you might, too.

December 6, 2024

Txoko: Basques’ traditional feast a gastronomic peek into a delicious culture

A txoko is a traditional Basque feast that goes back 150 years when Basque men needed a place to gather, talk, sing and, especially, cook. They are still going strong today. They let in women but not members of the public. We got lucky. A member of my Travelers’ Century Club is also a Basque with connections to a txoko in the surfing town of Mundaka. We all got invited during our meeting in Bilbao. Believe me, it is a delicious tradition worth keeping.

December 3, 2024

Bilbao: Guggenheim puts Basque capital on world stage

Bilbao was an ugly industrial city better known for being the center of Basque violence before the Guggenheim Museum was built in 1997. Now Bilbao is one of the top destinations in Spain. We went for a meeting of my Mediterranean Chapter of the Travelers’ Century Club and found a terrific, manageable city with tons of culture, thanks to that unbreakable Basque pride.

November 26, 2024

Transnistria: The breakaway republic is a little Russia inside Moldova — and Lenin is watching you

Transnistria is a breakaway Russian republic in Moldova right on the Ukraine border. Neither Moldova nor the United Nations recognizes it as an independent country. It is very Russian, from the Cyrllic alphabet to the Russian language to the ruble monetary unit. I spent a night there and took Village and Soviet tours for a full report.

November 19, 2024

Transylvania: Romania’s Baveria is a beautiful medieval tapestry that is more than Dracula

Once we got past Bran Castle and into the heart of Transylvania, we discovered a beautiful region of colorful architecture, lovely nature and interesting history. Brasov is one of the prettiest cities in Europe and Sighisoara, despite its overtourism, is worth visiting just for the wild skyline of towering spires.

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