I had booked 2 river cruises with AMAWaterways with several extra days in Amsterdam and Nuremberg. I was ready for an active yet relaxing 3 weeks. I allowed an extra day before the first cruise. The following is based on actual events. 6/17 My luggage never arrived Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam after a multi-flight trip.… Continue reading Kafka Flies to Europe – Loses Luggage – Tale of Incompetence
Category: Travel
Ancient Astronomy in Beijing China – A Medieval Observatory
The creative works sublime success,Furthering through perseverance. – I Ching Thus, in the middle of modern Beijing a medieval masterwork appears. It’s been renamed Beijing Ancient Observatory and lives on the southwest side of Jianguomen crossroad in Dongcheng District of Beijing. When I had asked our local guide about it, he said it wasn’t open… Continue reading Ancient Astronomy in Beijing China – A Medieval Observatory
Exploring the ‘Other’ Mosques of Istanbul
The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) & Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) are well-known and are part of the traditional tour of Istanbul’s ancient sites. But there are many other mosques deserving a visit. Here’s an overview of my favorites, over 20 years of visits to this city.
The Rest of Istanbul – What You Missed on Your 1st Day Tour
While our itineraries cover the major sites in the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul, there are many other attractions in this fascinating city. I always spend few extra days in Istanbul. Here are some of our favorites:
Walking Through History – Georgia & Turkey 2023
We explore traditional and classical sites and seldom visited areas. Originally scheduled for spring 2020, we’re offering these tours starting in April 2023, dependent on pandemic conditions. There are 4 segments which can be combined: Georgia and Northeastern Turkey Southeastern Turkey Lycian Coast light hiking Cappadocia light hiking These can be combined for trips of… Continue reading Walking Through History – Georgia & Turkey 2023
On Tuesday Visit the Shaman
We’d arrive at out hotel about 5 pm, dripping sweat, but the room had a cooling fan and nominal AC. We had a typical dinner — prawn tandoori and mushroom masala, both excellent ( Wildgrass Restaurant). In an India known for spicy food, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh pride themselves on the hotness of their food. … Continue reading On Tuesday Visit the Shaman
Advice from years of bargaining in souks & bazaars
Here are my subjective general rules and advice for travelers in foreign markets and bazaars gleaned from many years of bargaining in Turkey, Nepal, India, South America, China and North Africa.
Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow – Maria Coffey
Losing a friend or loved one is never an easy process, but it becomes even more tangled when they leave for a mountain adventure and never return. I first experienced this in the early 70’s when 3 close friends were killed while attempting Mt. Elias in Canada.
Best Way to See Seattle is to Leave It
As you leave Seattle, there are great views back to the city skyline, showing the sprawling city from Seattle Center and Queen Anne hill, south to the still-unpaid-for stadiums and dockyards. On a clear day, you can even see Mt. Rainier, over 50 miles away.
Goats Do Roam
Audrey & I were on a cross country trip in Olympic National Park here in Washington. On our second day, we’d dropped packs on the trail to climb the rotten rock pinnacle of Cruiser. All went well until on descent we saw a group of mountain goats examining our packs. Alternately glissading and sliding on… Continue reading Goats Do Roam