The great Kantō plain, the largest swath of flat arable land on the Japanese archipelago, is home to Tokyo. A cacophony of concrete and glass…
Sacred Mountains of Honshu
My trip to Japan started with a brief respite in Tokyo before heading north to explore the Sacred Mountains and experience the local Ryokans and…
Glorious Food
Naples is the home of pizza. A Napoli pizza is a tasty but simple affair. A soft yeasted dough is spread with a tangy sauce…
Vesuvius, Pompeii & Naples
Vesuvius sits 5.5 miles east southeast of Naples and about 5 miles north west of Pompeii. The last time Vesuvius erupted was 1944. Today, 4 million…
Amalfi Coast
The majestic beauty of the Amalfi Coast has always been irresistible. Greek sailors admired the dramatic landscape, even imagining parts of the coastline as home…
Turkish Potpourri
Where did you get your Sheepskin? If you’re over 60, you may remember the expression “Getting a sheepskin”. This refers to getting a degree or…
Cappadocia
The drive from Antalya to Ürgüp, in Cappadocia, was the worst weather day of the tour, cold, wet and windy. I was glad we spent…
Ancient Cities
It’s April and the weather along the Southwestern coast of Turkey is unseasonably warm. The skies are clear, but there is a persistent haze, part…
Circumnavigation of the South Island
“Cheeky” Avians, Tahr pie and Mutton Bird It’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere. After one of the best flights ever, I spent a few weeks…
Vienna
Overview Vienna is the largest city in Austria. It’s population of 2 million is almost back to the pre WWI levels. It’s a wealthy, well…