John Henderson's Travel Adventures in Rome and Beyond

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.
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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.

June 12, 2026

Essential travel tips for exploring Europe like a local

If you ever felt like you stood out in a crowd while traveling in Europe, it’s probably because you dress like an American, talk like an American and eat like an American. Guest blogger Cynthia Madison offers some helpful tips on how to fit in during your next trip to Europe.

June 9, 2026

Krakow: Outshining Poland’s capital after a century of horror

Old Eastern Bloc capitals dusted themselves off and cleaned up after communism fell and they are some of my favorite cities in the world to visit. But Krakow, Poland, is one of the few cities in Europe that is prettier and more cultured than its capital. It has beautiful squares, hip neighborhoods and a castle overlooking it all. In the background, however, is the horrid history of the Holocaust. We spent four days there last week and came back with this report.

June 2, 2026

Barolo and global warming: It’s bringing my favorite wine to the table faster but purists may balk

Michele Adriano lovingly looks at her Barolo wine at the Go Wine event in Rome.

Anyone who follows my blog knows that I love Barolo wine as much as Italy itself. But I’ve always worried about the effects of global warming. After all, it forces winemakers to harvest grapes faster. However, I attended a recent Barolo wine tasting event in Rome and winemakers say global warming is actually making Barolo ready to drink faster. That’s good for me, but not necessarily good for purists.

May 26, 2026

Lampedusa immigration: Red Cross comes to rescue after the most dangerous migrant passage on Earth

The little Italian isle of Lampedusa has been making international headlines for taking in boatloads of migrants. The numbers reached epic proportions in the 2010s but in 2023 the Red Cross built a facility to process those who survived the Mediterranean crossing. During our visit to Lampedusa this month, we stayed 100 meters from the pier where the migrants land and I interviewed the facility’s director.

May 22, 2026

Electric bikes: The best places in U.S. to explore

Electric bikes have become a huge craze in the world, especially in the U.S. where cities are striving to become more environmentally friendly. Boulder, Colo.-based cycling enthusiast James Carter writes a guest blog listing all the great places in the U.S. to explore on an e-bike.

May 19, 2026

Lampedusa: It’s more than migrants’ “Gateway to Europe”

My Travelers’ Century Club held its latest meeting in the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. It’s not my favorite place in Italy. I visited in 2002 and hated it. But I went in August, the height of the heat and tourist season. This time I went two weeks ago and besides the colder weather, I didn’t like it much better. Still, it has more than just news about immigrants’ gateway to Europe.

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