Coming to appreciate Europe’s great art
To see great art is a joy. And to see it, while traveling, “in situ” — both physically (where it was meant to be seen) and historically (to understand the context in which it was made) — makes the experience richer yet. I haven’t always loved art history. As a teenager, I struggled doggedly through Kenneth Clark’s epic art series, Civilisation. “Brilliant work,” I... READ MORE
Patagonia’s spectacular hidden wonders
As I guided my kayak through a narrow, twisting marble cave, I marveled at the swirls of turquoise-colored rock. Although it was only my second day in the Aysén region of Patagonia — the remote, breathtakingly beautiful region that has inspired dreamers, adventurers and entrepreneurs for over a century — I understood why they came and why so many of them stayed. I have traveled... READ MORE
A trip to Panama for stem cell treatment
For some of us, it’s a never-ending task to stall the aging process. Now that I’m in my 60s, my back and hip problems were preventing me from activities like Zumba, hiking and pickleball. I had already been through the gamut of orthopedic consults, one hip replacement and endless physical therapy. Then a friend of mine told me he had stem cell injections in his knees and within... READ MORE
St. Lucia’s natural beauty and happy vibe
Shortly after my wife Fyllis and I arrived on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, we spotted locals wearing T-shirts with welcoming notes: “Be happy.” “Don’t worry, just party.” “Forget your troubles.” Not surprisingly, many people go to St. Lucia for its beaches and splendid views of the multi-hued sea, which ranges from light green to turquoise to deep blue. Its 98 miles... READ MORE
Five extraordinary towns on Italy’s coast
Imagine a Medieval town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, like a fantasy setting for “Game of Thrones” (except brighter and with less blood). Now imagine five of these towns and you have Cinque Terre, Italy — literally, “five lands” in English. In October, I visited Cinque Terre, along with my wife and a friend, after spending nine days in the urban turmoil of Rome, five... READ MORE
Austin’s cool vibe draws winter tourists
Austin has an artsy, funky vibe — a personality that spawned the local slogan “Keep Austin Weird.” In the 1960s, this Texas city was a hippie mecca, and in the 1970s, home to country greats like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Dubbed the “Live Music Capital of the World” for its jazz, country, bluegrass, hip-hop and blues scenes, music seems to emanate from every... READ MORE
A cultural adventure: Ireland hillwalking
To the American eye, hillwalking and hiking have a lot in common. Both involve lacing up a pair of boots and heading somewhere on foot. But in Ireland, hillwalking is more than an aerobic activity; it’s a cultural tradition. Hillwalking may involve few trails and no particular destination. The focus is on wandering — and wonder. That said, there are plenty of hillwalks where the... READ MORE
Some interesting travel developments
Over the weeks, I receive or see releases, promotions and news items that don’t warrant individual treatment in a column but might still be of use or interest to you. FTC hearing on junk fees Last month, the Federal Trade Commission posted a docket open for consumer comments on a possible ruling against “junk fees.” And even in the first days, it’s clear that the fees... READ MORE
Visiting Switzerland via Grand Train Tour
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” On the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, it’s both. This past October, my wife and I had the opportunity to enjoy both the ride and the country on a train tour through Switzerland. Our trip started in Lugano, where I was attending the Adventure Travel World Summit — the first in-person summit since ... READ MORE
Travel around Europe is back to normal
If you’re considering a trip to Europe, you’ll find almost everything about as you remembered it pre-Covid. You may have seen those blurbs touting Europe’s “bargain prices” due to the lowest values of the euro, franc and pound against the dollar in at least a decade. The ugly truth is that good exchange rates are nice, but inflation has more than compensated. Europe is... READ MORE
