We arrived at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport at 1am. After a six hour flight from Abu Dhabi, I was more than ready to just get to the hotel and go to sleep. We hopped into the van to the hotel and I prepared to snooze until our arrival. However, our … [Continue reading]
Al Ain, located 160 kilometers east of Abu Dhabi on the Omani border, is known as the Garden City of the United Arab Emirates. Known for its low humidity and scenic surroundings, it is a popular destination for Emiratis and tourists alike. It is home … [Continue reading]
Machu Picchu conjures dreams. A lost Incan city nestled high in the Andes Mountains, it was virtually unknown outside of Peru until 1911, when American archaeologist and historian Hirum Bingham was taken there by local residents. Today, intrepid … [Continue reading]
When I learned that I was going to spend the next two years in the Middle East, I had visions of camels in the streets, sunsets over the dunes, and markets. Markets filled with the vibrant colors of spices in barrels, stacks of pashminas in rainbow … [Continue reading]
We as travelers thrive on inspiration. Inspiration leads us to the next destination and prompts us to extend a stay in a particularly special place. Inspiration takes us to the places we might never have visited and along routes we may never have … [Continue reading]
As you may know from my previous posts or your own knowledge of Peruvian history, northern Peru is home to some of the finest and significant archaeological sites in the world. Recently we traveled north from Huanchaco to the city of Lambayeque, home … [Continue reading]
I realize that culture is objective, and I am not at liberty to judge a culture that is not my own. However, when I perceive animal abuse, I am quick to feel ill initially, and quick to judge after the fact. Case in point... about a month ago, … [Continue reading]
I am not here to condone or to condemn. I was simply witness, of my own accord, to the bullfights in Trujillo, Peru during Peru's National Day on July 28. I can't say that I enjoyed it, but I am very glad that I went. It's a dying cultural spectacle … [Continue reading]
Ahhhh, food, glorious food. There's love, there's hate, there's desire bordering on the sexual, just for food. But how well do you know your food? Where does it come from? Whose hands have touched it? Or, for that matter, have hands touched it at … [Continue reading]
I wrote this poem for a class a few years ago.... it ended up being a "down to the wire" kind of assignment, as I sat down to write the night before the assignment was due. It came to me in what I can only refer to as a miracle, as I don't know that … [Continue reading]