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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.

March 14, 2025

4×4 campers: Pros and cons of traveling on four wheels

Traveling in movable home is a fun way to travel. A 4×4 camper allows you to go wherever you want. However, before making such a purchase, you should weigh the pros and cons. Guest blogger Caitlyn Bell breaks it down.

March 11, 2025

Wales: Is it a country? Say no and face the dragon’s wrath

Some travelers disagree with me but I count Wales as one of the countries I’ve visited. Because it belongs to the United Kingdom, many think it’s just like a U.S. state. I visited the capital of Cardiff last week and the locals are adamant about their country status. It has its own language, its own culture and its own history that dates back further than England’s. Its capital is also one of the most charming and walkable in Europe.

March 4, 2025

Slovenian wines: A tour recharges my love for one of most underrated wine countries in Europe

I fell for Slovenia wines on my first trip to Slovenia 10 years ago. In Nova Gorica, Slovenia, recently, I met a Dutchman who fell in love with them 20 years ago and wrote a book about them. He gave me a tour of a couple wineries which were not only delicious but also fascinating in their history through the communist years under Yugoslavian rule. Now they are starting to get noticed.

February 28, 2025

Scotland’s national parks: Exploring Cairngorms and Loch Lomond

Scotland has some of the most beautiful, unspoiled national parks in Europe. Guest blogger Connor Gillivan describes two of them: the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs.

February 25, 2025

Gorizia-Nova Gorica: Italian-Slovenian odd couple sharing European Capital of Culture 2025

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For the first time in the 40 years of European Capitals of Culture, two bordering cities are sharing the designation. Gorizia, Italy, and Nova Gorica, Slovenia have been on opposite sides of the same international border since Nova Gorica rose from the ashes of World War II. Today they claim to be borderless and civic cooperation led to their dual honor for 2025. I attended their opening ceremony earlier this month and this is my report.

February 18, 2025

Borgo Pio: Tiny Rome neighborhood perfect spot to celebrate Valentine’s Day eve and save money

Occasionally Marina and I spend a night in a hotel in our city of Rome just to remind ourselves why more than 10 million tourists visit every year. Last week we took a room in historic Borgo Pio, a slivert of a neighborhood near the Vatican. We went Feb. 13 to avoid the price gouging the next night on Valentine’s Day. The weather was rainy, perfect to scare away tourists and present Borgo Pio in its rawest form.

February 11, 2025

Szentendre: A tourist trap with no tourists makes for an excellent day trip in Hungary

Szentendre was built atop Ancient Roman ruins and became an artist

Szentendre is an artist’s colony just north of Budapest and has been a major tourist destination for centuries. In the summer, it is such a tourist trap you hear more German than Hungarian. But we went on the last day of January and had practically the whole village to ourselves. Visiting a tourist trap with no tourists truly is a fulfilling experience.

February 7, 2025

Bali: How to travel the Indonesian island like a celebrity

Bali is the most popular island in Indonesia for travelers. If you want to see how the other half lives, guest blogger Patrick Farrell lists all the luxurious ways you can make your visit a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From hotels to helicopter rides, this guide will get you in the right circles.

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