Each year, on July 6th, the San Fermin Festival kicks off in Pamplona, Spain. It’s a festival filled with tradition, one of them a crazy, adventurous, daring, and downright dangerous tradition. It’s the annual running of the bulls through the streets of the town. The running of the bulls originally started as a practical means to move the bulls from one part of the town to the other. Since those original days, it’s been romanticized in books and film – Ernest Hemingway said running with the bulls fueled his creativity – and now it’s become a tradition attracting visitors from around the world. The bulls run the half mile course every day of the fiesta at around 8 am, with six bulls and a hundred or so people, many of whom are alcohol-fueled. Runners wear white shirts with a traditional […]
Read MoreEnjoy a Long Weekend Getaway in the Algarve
My time in Portugal was abbreviated, but I managed to get a lot done in two days. However, one of the spots I was unable to get to (and it will have to stay on my to-see list along with the other sights I had to skip) is a visit to the Algarve, an area along Portugal’s southern coast. It’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Lisbon, or catch a quick flight, and is a popular choice for a long beach weekend (which is exactly how I planned to do it). The Algarve can also be reached by bus and train, and requires a bit of planning and good timing, but these options weren’t in my consideration. The three spots on my Algarve visit were to be Salema, Cape Sagres, and Lagos. Salema At the end of a small […]
Read MoreNamibia: Home to Wildlife & Extreme Sports
When you’re thinking about places for an African safari, Namibia might not spring to the top of your mind, but after a little research you’ll realize that this coastal country offers a near perfect blend of wildlife eco-tourism and adventure. Namibia is a major destination for visitors looking for a wildlife and eco-tourism experience, and with 26 parks and reserves you can choose from a structured guided safari or a self-drive adventure. Here are three of the top spots for wildlife in Namibia Etosha National Park The most famous of the wildlife parks is Etosha National Park (in photo top), which translates to “great white place of dry water.” It is located in the northern region of Namibia, and is a savannah with large herds of game including various types of gazelle, antelope, zebra, wildebeest, and buffalo. And where you’ll […]
Read MoreTravel Problems: Changes and Cancellations
Sometimes what challenges you is not what happens on the road, but actually leaving home to get on that road. With the fates seemingly conspiring against you, it may seem like you have to clear roadblock after roadblock to leave home. From getting vacation time from your work to deciding where to go, from managing your travel budget to making the reservations, from arranging coverage for details at home to packing, it takes a lot of effort to actual get out on that road to enjoy your travels. But what about when something happens that messes up that departure? This can often be the most difficult decision to make. Abandoning plans and staying at home is often the easy choice to make. And sometimes it’s the right choice to make. Often, however, there are ways to modify your travel plans […]
Read MoreTravel Interruptions: Illness and Injuries on the Road
When travel plans don’t happen exactly like you’d like them to, you’re going to need to call on some patience and creativity to still enjoy your vacation. Don’t throw up your hands and give up! Dig into those reserves that you have and find a way to put the joy back into your travel. Yesterday we talked about problems at the airport: cancelled flights, delays, missed connections, and problems with the TSA. Today we tackle those pesky problems that can happen when we’re out on the road. If there is anything that the last couple of years have taught me, it’s that stuff happens. And stuff usually happens at the most inconvenient time. Like when you’re getting ready to go on a trip. Or, perhaps when you’re on your trip. After many decades of blissful health, the last several have […]
Read MoreCancelled Flights, Delays, Missed Connections, and the TSA
It’s easy to be happy and enthusiastic about traveling when things are going well — flights leaving on time, connections made, nice weather, making wonderful new friends, and seeing the world. It’s easy to think the world is full of sunny skies and unicorns when things are just about perfect. But what about when things go wrong? Not the big kind of wrong that will completely ruin a vacation, but the kind of wrong that is going to knock you off your game, make you think about what you’re going to do, and challenge you to find ways to be happy with your travels. Since I’ve had to face this issue several times in the last year or two, I want to share with you some things I’ve learned about how to handle the stress of traveling in a way […]
Read MoreAdventurous Attractions in Malta
Travelers with an interest in history will have their hands full exploring the cities of Malta. This small Mediterranean island has an incredible number of cathedrals, palaces, and museums that are all worth your time. Yet off the beaten path, there are several other attractions that will reveal a different side of Malta’s history. The island also offers fascinating prehistoric sites. If you can tear yourself away from the golden beaches and oceanfront cafes, there are ancient caves and temples to explore too. Here are three unusual historic attractions in Malta, perfect to work into a 3 days in Malta itinerary. Ghar Dalam Caves Translated from Maltese as “cave of darkness” this site is where several discoveries were made about the island of Malta dating back to the ice age. In these caves, the remains of dwarf elephant and hippopotamus […]
Read MoreAlcatraz: The Rock in the San Francisco Bay
Channel your inner Al Capone or “Machine Gun” Kelly with a visit to Alcatraz Island on your next stay in San Francisco. Located in the San Francisco Bay, about a mile offshore, the island served as a lighthouse and military site before becoming a Federal prison in 1963. Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary for 29 years, and during that time housed prisoners who had been problems at other locations. Some of the most infamous criminals in history were housed there, and it is claimed that no prisoner ever successfully escaped. Both Capone and Kelly were imprisoned on The Rock, which today is a historic site under the auspices of the National Park Service, and just like then, there is only one way on and off the island. Alcatraz Cruises is the only company authorized by the National Parks Service […]
Read MoreThe Powerscourt Estate: A Daytrip from Dublin
Many first time visitors to Dublin don’t know that the ‘Garden of Ireland’ – County Wicklow – is only 30 minutes south of the city center. No trip to Ireland would be complete without leaving the capital city to see the countryside that the Emerald Isle is so famous for. While there are many destinations worthy of a Dublin daytrip, one of my favorites is the Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow. Unlike other destinations outside of Dublin that are on the train line, you will need to rent a car or join a tour to visit Powerscourt. Reaching the estate in a rental car is half the fun – passing through quaint villages and following rickety old signs will give the daytrip an adventurous quality. The estate is famous for being home to the five-star Ritz Carlton Powerscourt and […]
Read MorePre-Columbian Archaeology in Chan Chan, Peru
When it comes to Pre-Columbian artifacts, Peru is awash in them, and probably nowhere more so than Chan Chan, the largest Pre-Columbian city in South America. The archaeological site, locate near Trujillo, dates back to the 9th century when it was built by the Chimu as the imperial capital. At one time over 30,000 people lived in the adobe city of Chan Chan, before being conquered by the Incas. Later, Spanish conquistadors, including Francisco Pizarro, took over. Today the adobe city of Chan Chan is a UNESCO world heritage site, added to the list in 1986. Although much is being done to preserve the area, it is still threatened by the occasional tornadoes, earthquakes, rain and erosion, as well as the odd looter that thinks stealing precious artifacts is a good idea. There are also several other ruin […]
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