Updated June 2022 After spending some time in the southwest corner of Portugal exploring the beauty of the ancient port towns of Lagos and Faro, I headed north from the Algarve to the Alentejo region of Portugal to hike parts of the Rota Vincentina, a little-known long-distance trail along the spectacular Portuguese coast I had […]
flashpacker
Villa di Corliano – Livin’ the Villa Loca!
Updated October 2022 Want to know how I landed here in Tuscany in an incredibly amazing 15th- century villa as a caretaker for two months, with free accommodations and my very own room, all for spending just a couple of hours each day doing some flower watering and picking up any bits of trash that […]
- France
- ...
Castles, Caves, Canoeing and the Countryside. The Dordogne Valley.
After four hectic, busy, incredibly amazing famous-art-viewing days in Paris I arrived in the Dordogne Valley via train – an easy, comfortable ride of about 5.5 hours southwest. My friend, Piu, who (whom? Gaah. I never remember which is correct!) I met in Pokhara, Nepal, met me at the station and brought me to his […]
Colorado Rocky Mountain High – Lovin’ where you live.
It’s interesting to “see” where you live with fresh eyes – something that I have tried to be conscious of while living my everyday life here in Denver. While traveling in a foreign country, it’s easy to be stunned, captivated, mesmerized and “wow’ed” by the incredible people, food and places around you because everything is […]
Bathroom Humor: Finding Fun in Unusual Places
One of the things I love about travel is how it expands your mind, your opinions, your preconceived ideas and notions about people, places and history. I always learn so much about where I am, where I’ve been, and also about me! But…sometimes it’s not all serious learning and discovery. Sometimes, travel in different countries […]
Pokhara: Peace Pagoda, Paragliding and Phewa
From the trek in the hillside villages of Kathmandu back to the big city, with all its dust, traffic, car horns…and — HOT WATER! ELECTRICITY! WESTERN TOILETS!!! And wonder upon wonders, TOILET PAPER!! Nothing like doing without for a few days to give a true and real appreciation of the little things in life – […]
Nepal: I Think I’m Going to Kathmandu!
Nepal. 🇳🇵 It’s always had a mystical hold on my travel soul for some reason. I vowed to go there one day…and that day has arrived. And c’mon. How you can you NOT think of the famous Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band’s song from the 70s with the memorable refrain “I think I’m […]
Hanoi – The Paris of the Orient
My journey continues ever northbound to Hanoi — and to meet up with meet Lynsey Seminary. She and I have worked together at Simpson for the past 4+ years and became great friends along the way. We began conspiring to leave our jobs and travel the world, and agreed to meet in Vietnam at some […]
Cave, Rice, Bike and Other Four-letter Words: Phong Nha and Ninh Binh
From the Imperial City of Hue, I headed a bit northwesterly to check out the infamous and awe inspiring caves at Phong Nha which everyone I’ve met along the way has been to or is on their way to see. Once again heeding Morgan and Kevin’s advice, I booked the Midtown Hostel in the town […]
Hoi An – Ancient City of Lanterns in Vietnam
Hoi An – lanterns, charm and peaceful rivers. An ancient Japanese bridge. Tiled roofs in intricate layers. According to UNESCO’s website, “ Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous […]
