John Henderson's Travel Adventures in Rome and Beyond

August 25, 2026

The road to Kurdistan: Why I’m going to a place that has been bombed 1,000 times in 6 months

Kurdistan is a semi-autonomous region of Iraq that until the Iran War was about the safest place in this war-torn country. But the region is developing and attracted 8 million visitors last year. On Monday I’ll be another. I’m going for five days and will see the sites and talk to the people.

August 18, 2026

AS Roma and Oregon Ducks: The highest anticipated seasons of my lifetime

I’m 70 years old and never seen my hometown Oregon Ducks win a national college football title. Neither has anyone else. They never have. I’ve lived in Rome for 12 years and never seen my AS Roma win a Serie A title. Its last was in 2001. But this year, my Ducks are ranked second in the country and my Roma finished third last season and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in eight years. These two upcoming seasons are the most highly anticipated of my lifetime. I await the letdown.

August 11, 2026

La Campana: Rome’s oldest restaurant still drawing crowds after 508 years

La Campana opened its doors in Rome’s Centro Storico in 1518 and has been operating ever since as Rome’s oldest restaurant. It could lay claim as the world’s oldest restaurant but it has been too busy serving its loyal clientele to hassle the Guinness Book of World Records much. Marina and I went Saturday night for our second time. La Campana is not a tourist trap. The food is too good.

August 4, 2026

Italy’s hot-weather dishes: What to eat when the heat eats you

So how do YOU cool off in these blazing hot summer days. Here in Rome, I don’t eat much. He wants to eat, let alone cook, in this heat? But I do get hungry and I found a collection of hot-weather Italian dishes that are not only delicious but healthy and cool. Here’s a list of 10 that you can probably make wherever you are.

July 28, 2026

The world’s top five: From Best Food to Best Beaches, these countries made my list

The best beauty. The best food. The best beaches. Who ya’ got? I’ve been to 117 countries and on a steaming day in Rome, I wrote my top five countries in the world.in 10 categories. Let the debate begin …

July 21, 2026

Air conditioning grows in Italy as global warming bakes Europe

Hot enough for ya’? Italy is steaming again. Temperatures here in Rome have been in the high 90s with 40-50 percent humidity. But Italians are changing. They are finally embracing air conditioning. The number of homes with AC has doubled since 2013 and appliance stores are experiencing brisk sales. I braved the heat to explore the trend and take the temperature of the asphalt. Then I scurried back to my AC flat.

July 14, 2026

Skopelos myths: Dragons, debauchery and a sexy female pirate

On our seventh trip to the little Greek isle of Skopelos, Marina and I decided to chase down myths that have been passed down on the island for centuries. The first settler was the son of the God of Wine? A man-eating dragon? A sexy female pirate? We rented a car and explored the southern end of Skopelos to see watery graves and beautiful beaches.

July 7, 2026

Nasoni: Rome’s historic water shortage plugging the noses of some of city’s famed cisterns

Me at one of the "nasone" in steaming Rome. The city has 2,500 of them but the water shortage has closed 400 of them.

As Rome melts into its cobblestones and my water intake skyrockets, everyone in Rome is facing a crisis: water shortage. More than 400 of our beloved nasoni have been turned off. The city has about 2,500 nasoni, meaning 16 percent of these cute, ingenious, thirst-quenching little piles or iron are now dry. We barely avoided water rationing which would’ve turned off water for eight hours a day all over the city. The Vatican turned off 100 of its fountains, including the famous Bernini fountain in the middle of St. Peter’s Square. Excuse all 1.5 million of us Rome residents if we’re sweating this summer for more reasons than one.
(To read more, click here.)

June 30, 2026

World Cup notes: Packed stadiums, price gouging and fans’ quest to Americanize the world’s favorite sport

Despite brutal time differences, I’m catching early games of the World Cup here in Rome. I don’t know what shocks me more, the packed stadiums despite larcenous prices or Americans’ arrogance about the event and soccer in general. It’s almost hard to scroll through my Twitter feed. But as I stayed up late watching Lionel Messi turn back time and Paraguay turn back Germany, I jotted down some random thoughts on the world’s most popular sports event.

June 23, 2026

AI: Confessions of a reluctant convert and the fear that remains

The World Economic Forum says that by 2030, Artificial Intelligence will cost 92 million people their jobs. Yet why do I find myself using it every day? The paradox is paralyzing and I explain how it has positively affected my life while building fear for the future of mankind.

June 19, 2026

Writing on the road: Your journal writing will improve if you follow these tips

Do you keep a journal when you travel? If you don’t, you should. If you do but find it difficult? Too overwhelming? Too much to capture? Calm down. We’re here to help. London-based travel writer James Merritt, this week’s guest blogger, offers some advice and handy tips for your next vacation.

June 16, 2026

Auschwitz: Interview with a tour guide of “The Most Terrifying Place on Earth”

Touring the Auschwitz Concentration Camp is heavy enough as a visitor. Imagine guiding that tour for 16 years. I interviewed my tour guide after a riveting tour of what has been called the Most Terrifying Place on Earth. Her comments opened even more doors than the well-preserved camp had open.

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