John Henderson's Travel Adventures in Rome and Beyond

January 24, 2023

Denmark: World’s 2nd happiest nation has reason to smile

For the fourth straight year, Denmark is ranked the second-happiest country in the world. Why? We visited last week and locals say the social democracy that’s heavy in taxes but also heavy in security is the main reason. Danes don’t laugh and skip down the street but there’s a subtle lightness in their step. The quality of life is high. Their country is beautiful. People look after each other. Not surprisingly, all five Nordic countries are in the top eight of the rankings.

January 17, 2023

Slovenia’s Kranjska Gora: You don’t need to ski to love it

I took a recent assignment to Kranjska Gora, a Slovenian ski town where I chronicled Mikaela Shiffrin’s quest to break the World Cup ski wins record for women. It’s a tiny ski village with a thriving outdoor sports scene. I didn’t ski but I loved the Christmas atmosphere, food, beauty and half-liter bottles of beer for €3,30.

January 11, 2023

Nine years in Rome: Another anniversary, another list why

Wednesday marks my nine-year anniversary of moving to Rome. And again, as I do every Jan. 11, I list all the reasons I love living here. This year’s is another new list, ranging from Marina’s great Italian dishes to the scenic walk I take to my soccer pub. Of all the blogs I write, this is the easiest.

January 3, 2023

TraveLazio: From islands to walled villages, introducing new blog about day trips from Rome

After nine years living in Rome, I’ve been to every corner of Rome’s Lazio region. It’s time I brought these places closer to you, dear reader. I am starting a new blog this month. It’s called TraveLazio. Every other Friday I will focus on one place in Lazio, easily accessible from Rome. It will be short, with lists of things to do and information on where to eat and how to get there. Lots of Marina’s photos. Hope you enjoy it. We aim to launch it Jan. 13.

December 27, 2022

Underrated Italian Towns 2023: Great places to visit or use as base just outside Italy’s overcrowded famous sites

If you’re planning an Italian vacation next year, consider some lesser-known places I discovered this year. They’re wonderful bases to explore more notable sites but also worthwhile places to spend a couple days off the beaten path. I recommend all of them. They’re good for the soul and good for the budget. They are my top 10 list of Underrated Towns in Italy 2023.

December 20, 2022

Christmas gifts 2022: Lots of coal dropping around world

Have your Christmas shopping done? I do. But my gifts go worldwide, garnered from my list of all that was mostly bad in the world. Yes, it’s time for my annual Christmas gift list. It comes at the end of a tumultuous year that saw war in Europe, women’s rights violated in the U.S. and Italy leaning heavily to the far right. There’s something for everyone, maybe even a few laughs.

December 13, 2022

What I miss about U.S? Christmas and not much else

Christmas is coming and it always brings back great memories of my Christmases in my hometown of Eugene, Ore. This month it has me thinking. What do I miss about the U.S? I struggled to come up with a list. It’s a short one. Christmas definitely tops it. Here’s a brief look at what I miss about the U.S. as an American expat in Rome.

December 6, 2022

How my travel habits have changed after nearly 45 years

Next month marks my 45th anniversary of my epic solo trip around the world. In 1978-79 upon graduation from college I spent nearly a year traveling through Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and East Asia, visiting 25 countries. It changed my life forever. But some things have changed. I travel differently. True, I do have more money than I did as a starving backpacker. But my attitude and outlook have changed. Here are 10 things I’ve noticed and not all of them are positive.

November 29, 2022

Christmas gift ideas: My 10 favorite armchair travel books

Thought about Christmas yet? Don’t know what to buy? I’m here to help. Do you have a traveler in your family or someone who wants to travel? Buy them a travel book, More specifically, an armchair travel book. These are long yarns about travel adventures that don’t offer tips but do other plenty of insights, some of them hilarious. I list my 10 favorite travel books, ranging from a 26-year-old miserable on an exotic island to an Australian ex-con hiding from the law inside the Indian mafia.

November 22, 2022

Picinisco: Italy’s pipeline to Scotland is a gastro, rural wonderland only D.H. Lawrence could describe

On a freelance assignment, we came to the village of Picinisco and discovered things we never read in guidebooks. It is the source of most of Scotland’s people of Italian heritage, it has some of the best cheese in Italy and has spectacular views with few tourists. We stayed in a charming B&B built in 1926 where we ate a five-course meal prepared by a gourmet chef. I also met a Scotsman who bought a nearby village. One of the best overnight trips of my nearly nine years in Italy.

November 15, 2022

World Cup: Memories of 2006 in Germany storm back as Qatar approaches Sunday and Italy shockingly sits home

The World Cup in Qatar begins Sunday and Italy is sitting home for the second straight time. The buzz around Rome here is non-existent. However, this World Cup brings back memories of the best sporting event I ever covered and the best of many Italians’ lives. Italy won the 2006 World Cup in Germany and I was there. But it was more than just Italy winning its fourth title that stuck with me. Here are my memories, although not all of them are good.

November 8, 2022

Abortion: Americans vote today with rights in the balance, Italians wonder what will happen to theirs

With Republicans poised to take over Congress in today’s U.S. midterms and five months after the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, American women brace for what will happen to their abortion rights. Italy has had free, legal abortion since 1978. However, the September election of the far-right Brothers of Italy party threatens those rights. They may not change the law but the new leaders want to offer cash incentives for women to change their minds and also allow pro-life advocates inside abortion clinics. And they’re following the United States’ lead.

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