John Henderson's Travel Adventures in Rome and Beyond

April 12, 2024

Kyoto good and bad: From tourist traps to a quiet garden and a room with a view

Kyoto may be the most beautiful city in Japan and its 2,000 temples and shrines attract millions every year. But the overload has produced two major tourist traps that we fell into. Fortunately, nearby were quiet sanctuaries where we could escape the crowds. This was the worst and best Kyoto has to offer.

April 9, 2024

Kyoto: Chasing cherry blossoms in the land where the sun did not rise

I waited 45 years to see cherry blossoms again and when I came to Japan last month I was greeted with the worst spring weather the country’s seen in 10 years. However, I found three places in beautiful Kyoto where cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It was the highlight of Japan’s most star-crossed city, one battling for balance in the world of tourism.

April 5, 2024

Japan’s bullet train puts travel in the fast (200 mph) lane

One incentive to spending my birthday last week in Japan was riding its famed bullet train. Called the Shinkansen, it’s the fifth-fastest train in the world at 200 mph. The train stations are confusing but once you settle into your comfy seat, the Japanese countryside goes by in a flash. Don’t blink.,

April 3, 2024

Japan: A travel tale from hell on a journey too short

We went to Japan for a week to celebrate my birthday Friday. On our way to Kyoto to see the cherry blossoms, we had two nights in Tokyo which were spoiled by a horrible cough, terrible weather and worse views. Our tiny hotel room with a rooftop bar consisting of a vending machine didn’t help.

April 2, 2024

Morocco: Exploring its imperial cities in North Africa

Morocco is a traveler’s paradise with so many cities blending the past with the present. Which to explore? Guest blogger Caitlyn Bell looks at four Moroccan towns, each with its own individuality.

March 26, 2024

Theroux’s Tao of Travel: 10 rules of travel I try to live by

Paul Theroux, my favorite living writer, is arguably America’s greatest living travel writer. He travels alone, often by canoe and has been to some of the farthest corners of the world. In his 2012 book, “The Tao of Travel,” he wrote his 10 travel rules. I applied them to my own travel style and saw he and I are pretty similar. Here’s my take on it.

March 19, 2024

AS Roma: The return of Roman icon gives my club a special season after The Special One falls

My beloved AS Roma soccer club was going nowhere fast until they fired The Special One, Jose Mourinho, and hired local legend Daniele De Rossi. Despite hardly any managerial experience, he has led Roma to a 9-2-2 record, the quarterfinals of the Europa League and fifth place in Serie A. I attended Sunday’s 1-0 win and here’s a full update on the team that made me a fan again.

March 15, 2024

Italy and reverse retirement: Should I stay or go?

Annamaria Borelli, a native of New Jersey, has lived in Italy for 13 years.

Living in Italy is more than sun-splashed beaches and incredible food. It’s also low salaries, shaky employment and stress. Guest blogger Annamaria Borelli explains her life at the Italian crossroads.

March 12, 2024

Blending in to Rome as an expat: New clothes, new diet and is there anything better than a frothy cappuccino?

Many people talk about moving to Italy but few do. I did. I retired to Rome 10 years ago. I’ve learned a few things along the way, particularly how to blend in when I don’t look remotely close to Italian. Here are 10 things I did to make me blend into the city.

March 5, 2024

A single woman in Florence: An American expat describes the ups and downs of living in Tuscany’s crown jewel

American expat Chandi Wyant has lived in Florence for many years over various stints and four years ago bought an apartment in the San Frediano neighborhood. It took her two years to renovate but now it’s available to rent as a B&B. A dream living in Florence? Yes. But it also has drawbacks. Chandi tears away part of the veneer that is Florence’s glorious image.

March 1, 2024

Baby on board: A parent’s guide to globetrotting adventures

Traveling with babies is a challenge but it can be very rewarding if you take the right measures. Guest blogger Lucille Adams writes about all you should do to make your baby’s first adventures education and unforgettable.

February 27, 2024

Uplistsikhe: Hard to pronounce but Republic of Georgia’s 3,000-year-old Cave City is hard to miss

Uplistsikhe is a cave city that dates back to the 2nd millenium B.C. At one time, it had 700 caves that housed 20,000 people. Today it’s a comfortable day trip from the capital of Tbilisi and also near Gori, the childhood home of Joseph Stalin. I took a trip with a group of other travel writers and the journey itself was as entertaining as the site.

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