A night walk through Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
While tourism from abroad to Colombia may still be in its infancy following the drug war of the 1990s, Cartagena de Indias has always been the most prominent tourist destination in the country. Cartagena boasts the best-preserved walled-in colonial city in the Americas along with pristine Caribbean beaches in close proximity. Understandably so, this gem …. Read More
Rising from the ashes…Dresden, Saxony!
There are few places in Europe with a more disturbing history yet of such surprising beauty: Dresden, capital of Saxony in the former East Germany, devastated by an infamous air raid in February 1945 and by the millenium floods of August 2002 exactly a decade ago – yet shining ever so proudly above the banks …. Read More
Savoring the Jewel of Southern Bohemia – Cesky Krumlov
Few visitors to the Czech Republic ever venture much beyond Prague, although the Czech lands certainly have more attractions in store for those who do in fact leave the capital. On previous occasions we touched on other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Bohemia and Moravia, such as the famous Trinity Column in Olomouc or the …. Read More
The secret charms of Kotor, Montenegro
Along the Adriatic Sea, just south of Dalmatia, we find a Bay hidden from the rest of the Mediterranean. Sailing in this direction in early morning, we first set sight on the magnificent mountains over which the sun begins to rise…the Black Mountains, which give the name to this, the 6th smallest nation in Europe, …. Read More
Exploring the Picos de Europa of Northern Spain
Leaving behind the Atlantic coastline of Northern Spain, we proceed inland for about only 15 miles to enter what may rank among the most unique biospheres of the Iberian Peninsula, the PICOS DE EUROPA National Park. We suddenly feel reminded of Switzerland, as the vegetation turns lush & green, the humidity and rain fall increase …. Read More
Desert Hiking near Las Vegas: Exploring the East Mojave Preserve
Most visitors to Las Vegas flock to Sin City for the glitz & glamor of the Casinos and the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Yet few may know that Southern Nevada also constitutes the perfect gateway for scenic excursions in both directions, either North towards Zion, Bryce Canyon or other National Parks in …. Read More
Desert Hiking near Palm Springs
Many visitors local and foreign alike enjoy the sunny desert climate of Palm Springs, California. Year-round sunshine and mild temperatures in the winter months attract snowbirds or foreign tourists from colder climes, while local visitors from the large California metro areas, such as Los Angeles or San Diego, tend to flock to the Coachella Valley …. Read More
A Baja Carnival in La Paz
Think Carnival and most will say Rio de Janeiro. Yet there are numerous other places in the world famous for their Carnival celebrations ranging from Mardi Gras in New Orleans to Carnival in Venice or the fiestas surrounding Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary Islands. Few may think of Mexico as a …. Read More
Lava Land Sun, Solitude & Silence
When talking about volcano islands, most may think of Iceland or Hawaii – many may not know that Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa, has much more to offer than package deal resorts. While beaches may be more bountiful on other islands of the Canaries, Lanzarote boasts …. Read More
Not all Bedouins are the same…
Most visitors to Jordan are told that the single-most tourist destination for them should be Petra. In deed, no visit to Jordan would ever be complete without admiring the ancient site that is Petra, a city carved entirely into the rocks by the Nabataeans, but it ranks among the most exploited sites of Jordan. Locals, …. Read More