Once the butt of bad jokes, “Boring Bodo” has made international headlines this year after being named European Cultural Capital 2024. More than 1,000 events highlight a city that has boomed in the last 12 years. I went on assignment for BBC.com in June and rewrote it for my blog.
If you want to enrich your travel experience, do not travel during the high tourist season. Go in the shoulder season: right after or before the high season begins. In South Africa, the ideal time is spring and fall. Here is guest blogger Diana Parker looks at why shoulder season is the time for savvy travelers.
On our fourth trip to the Greek isle of Skopelos, we drove around the southern end of the island, away from the tourists and the beaches. What we found were spectacular views, quiet monasteries and, yes, more beautiful beaches. I also found a new love for goat cheese.
Ever since my first trip to Greece in 1978, I have been in love with feta cheese. Topped on a Greek salad, it makes for the perfect meal: tasty, healthy and filling. On my most recent trip to Greece, I visited a feta farm where it has been made for six generations.
When you’re traveling and unsure of where to eat, where do you go? First, you go to restaurant reviews. However, how do you know which are authentic or as fake as the food they write about? Here’s a guest blog to give you some helpful tips.
(Director’s note: Due to illness, I took Monday and Tuesday off. With the U.S. election in full throttle rhetoric, I am re-running I blog I posted in late October 2020 to show the mood of Ameri can expats overseas with Donald Trump seeking re-election. Read it. Much of it remains fresh.) I saw my old […]
I love Bologna, not just because of its luscious spaghetti bolognese but for its porticoes. Those are the graceful arches that cover 40 miles of Bologna streets. UNESCO awarded them with a World Heritage Site three years ago and they remain one of the most distinct architectural styles in Italy. I visited last month and came away with this report.
Summer is almost over. If you’re hot and tired and short of time, your ideal island vacation isn’t far away. Why fly to the Caribbean when you can stay in your own country? Here’s a short list of idyllic islands in the U.S.
I knock the U.S. a lot for its divided politics and obese population. After our recent 11-day jaunt across the country, I found a new reason to hate it: prices. It’s outrageously expensive. But I was also reminded of its spotless beauty and the people were ob, so nice. Now if Kamala Harris can just win in November, I might go back.
During our 11-day trip to the U.S. last month, Marina and I did some wine tastings in Paso Robles, a growing California wine center that is rivaling Sonoma and Napa counties in popularity if not price. Indeed, I suffered some sticker shock but the wines were worth it and so were the settings at Halter Ranch and Justin. For a guide, I had an old sportswriting colleague, John Schumacher, who is retired and now works part time in a tasting room near his native Sacramento.
Winter isn’t that far away. If you think you’ll need a beach fix in December, skip the Caribbean and consider South America. It’ll be their summer down there. Guest blogger Kathy Spencer lists the the top 10 beaches in South American for your perusal.
I attended my 50-year high school reunion last month and it was great to see old friends, catch up and share laughs and beer. But I also realized that my life in Italy has taught me that success isn’t based on what you can tell me about your resume. It’s more than that. It’s inside.
