John Henderson's Travel Adventures in Rome and Beyond

May 9, 2025

An American pope? It’s true and the Vatican Thursday was awash in hope and so was I

I was one of the millions around the world caught off guard by the naming of American cardinal Robert Francis Provost as the new pope. I was not interested in writing about Pope Francis’ successor but when I saw it was the first American pope in history, I raced to the Vatican. I found optimism from a wide range of people, from American pilgrims to nuns to Carmelite priests. I like the pick, and not just because he’s an American.

May 6, 2025

Meteora: Monasteries in the sky worthy of gods and Hollywood

Meteora is one of the most gob-smacking sights on earth. It’s where six monasteries sit atop giant pinnacles of rock formed millions of years ago when a series of earthquakes made a lake disappear and the land to rise. Today, the area in Northern Greece is a fascinating look into Eastern Orthodox monks’ lives in isolated monasteries with spectacular views.

April 29, 2025

10-year anniversary: Cross-cultural relationships have challenges most couples never experience

Ten years ago today, I went out with Marina Pascucci for an aperitivo in Rome. We’re still going out — around Rome, around Italy and around the world. Tonight marks our 10-year anniversary, a grand feat considering the challenges cross-cultural relationships have. I discuss our journey with some learned observations from an Italian relationship counselor.

April 21, 2025

Pope Francis’ surprise death turns St. Peter’s Square into bastion of prayer — and tour groups

I woke up ready to write about my trip to Meteora, Greece’s towering collection of monasteries hanging off cliffs. Instead, I wrote a bigger religious story. Pope Francis is dead. It was announced at 7:30 a.m. Rome time and I raced down to St. Peter’s to capture the scene. It was business as normal but there was a very solemn backdrop.

April 16, 2025

Mount Athos: A trip to “The Holiest Place on Earth”

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My Travelers’ Century Club had our semi-annual meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, recently and the next day we took a trip to Mount Athos, considered “The Holiest Place on Earth.” It’s a peninsula with 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and 2,000 monks who don’t have TV, newspapers, radio or Internet. Women are strictly forbidden. So is photographing the monks. But we received an invite and it was an illuminating visit, not only for those expanding their horizons but also anyone who appreciates beautiful architecture.

April 11, 2025

Flight delays and cancellations: The psychology of waiting and why a delay feels so much longer

(Director’s note: Delays and cancellations are a part of travel and are never easy. But there are ways you can fight back. Freelance writer K. Blaauw breaks it all down in this guest blog.) Flight delays and cancellations are a common inconvenience for travelers worldwide. Waiting for a delayed flight can be frustrating, but it also tends to feel much longer than it actually is. […]

April 8, 2025

Desert Nights: Oman’s five-star luxury camp a sandy pleasure palace

I treated myself and Marina to a five-star resort deep in the Omani desert. Desert Nights Resort has 88 tents accommodating 160 people and because only 16 guests were there during last week’s final week of Ramadan in March, they upgraded us to a villa suite. It’s expensive. There isn’t a lot to do. But to experience a sunset from atop a desert sand dune is worth the price.

April 4, 2025

Video: Two nights of luxury in the Omani desert

Sometimes I admit videos tell a better story than words. That’s especially true in the Ormani desert where I treated ourselves to a five-star resort. Here’s a video from atop a sand dune. Stay tuned for a complete report next Tuesday.

April 2, 2025

Oman: Birthday in the Switzerland of the Middle East

We chose Oman to celebrate my birthday last week after so many people told me it would be my favorite Muslim country. It would be my 20th. They were close. We loved the friendly people, clean streets, beautiful mosques, great food and desert ambiance, Most of all we loved visiting during Ramadan, the Muslim fast. Oman was nearly empty.

March 25, 2025

Italy overrated: My 10 most overrated things in my adopted country (do you really like Prosecco?)

Italy has many beautiful things to write home about but some things have been written about too much. I count 10 overrated things in Italy, the hype of which has driven me crazy for years. I itemize them, from Prosecco to Cinque Terre.

March 20, 2025

Video: My 10 Least Favorite Cities in the World

I’ve been hesitant about joining the social media crowd and doing videos, partially because I like taking my own path and mostly because videos are completely beyond my comprehension. But I’m going to take a shot this year. This is my first and it’s an easy one, shot at my writing desk in Rome. It’s my 10 Least Favorite Cities in the World. After 47 years and 113 countries, I have a few to choose from. Enjoy.

March 18, 2025

Barry, Wales: Little-known American camp in World War II now a lovely day trip to the beach from Cardiff

I love day trips. I try to do one on every trip to a big city. I prefer spending the night but in Wales three weeks ago, I was pressed for time. I took a slow train just southwest of Cardiff to Barry. During World War II, it was a supply center for Allied Forces and housed 5,000 American soldiers. Today it has one of the widest, sandiest beaches I’ve ever seen. It’s worth an afternoon — but get lucky with the weather as I did.

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