Travel
Skyscraper Tourism: The Burj Khalifa in the Dubai
As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, when my family and I travel, it’s rare we’ll pass up a trip to the top of a skyscraper. I’ve already written about our visits to New York’s Top of the Rock, Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers, and Taiwan’s Taipei 101. When we went up Taipei 101 and my sons learned the skyscraper…
Read MoreAdmiring the Pura Taman Ayun temple in Bali, Indonesia
The beautiful Indonesian island of Bali is filled with picturesque Hindu temples. Locals have a joke that there are at least 1-2 temples per resident. Pura means temple, and the Pura Taman Ayun means the Temple of the Vast Garden, and is well worth a visit if you’re in nearby Ubud or Denpasar. Figures from…
Read MoreA day in the sun at Lake Martignano, Italy
Lago di Martignano, Lake Martignano, is a small, volcanic lake reaching depths of 58 meters. This small lake is just beside the larger, and more well known Lake Bracciano. Within the region of Lazio, Lake Martignano makes an easy day trip from Rome. The lake was known to the Ancient Romans, although it was believed to…
Read MoreJust another day in paradise. Missing my Maldives beach bungalow
Can you blame me? When I think back to our one week on a beautiful Indian Ocean island in the Maldives earlier this month, I can’t help but wish for just another day in Paradise. Usually I’m an active traveler, I love exploring a new destination and leaving no proverbial stone unturned. But in the…
Read MoreExploring the gold and spice souks in the Dubai
There’s not much of an ‘historic center’ in the über-modern city of the Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Still, there are a few winding streets that date back to the city’s days as a sleepy fishing village not so very long ago. So on your visit, when you tire of shopping malls and high-end boutiques,…
Read MoreThe Adriatic seaside town of Trani, in Puglia
On a drive from Rome to Bari to catch a ferry, my family and I managed to make good time (never a given on Italian highways during the holiday periods), so we decided to stop off to explore the Adriatic seaside town of Trani. This charming port city, with its long history, is well worth a…
Read MoreParis from Quasimodo’s perspective
Admittedly, it’s an obsession when I travel: I always want to see a city from up high. I love to get the feel for a place, understand the layout and geography. When I understand the blueprint of a city from high above, I start to feel more like a local than a tourist glued to…
Read MoreReason #5380 to love Rome: Bernini’s home and studio
One of the (many) great things about living in Rome, Italy is keeping your eyes pealed for all the famous authors/composers/sculptors/artists who once called the Eternal City home. Not surprisingly, one such illustrious resident was the Roman sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). Although I knew Bernini lived and worked in Rome, I didn’t know where until I…
Read MoreMeandering along the Snake River in Idaho Falls, Idaho
My family was looking for a place to stop and stretch our legs on the long drive from Salt Lake City airport to Jackson Hole, Wyoming on a holiday out in the western US last summer – and Idaho Falls, Idaho seemed a good place to break from the driving. This small city in eastern Idaho…
Read MoreAdmiring Bergen, Norway through the winter snow, sleet and rain
Earlier this month, I was in Norway for the first time, in the beautiful town of Bergen. Unfortunately, I was there for work, and had very little free time to explore the time. Out of fairness, the winter squalls – of snow, hail and rain didn’t provide the ideal atmosphere for exploring. But still, I…
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