Travel to Indonesia I noticed the wrinkles in his face as he stood mute, lips tightly pressed against each other with the skin on his neck muscles taut. He was a thin man, like the ones I typically see when I travel to Indonesia. He was demonstrating one part of the process of the art …
Culture
Wanderings Through Istanbul, Turkey It is an early weekday morning as I stare out the window of my yellow taxi passing a multitude of red and blue celebration flags. No matter how often I visit exotic Istanbul, Turkey, I always feel like there is something majestic and mysterious about it. Exotic Istanbul Something wafting in …
You can follow your nose smell of the copal aroma or “the incense of the earth” to the Mayan village at Cancun’s Xcaret. As it is here where the Pre-Hispanic dances take place right as the sunsets. You will be able to admire the horse exhibition, where charros (Mexican horsemen) and “adelitas” show off their …
As I enter the Holocaust Memorial, an Israel Museum in Jerusalem, I am overwhelmed with it as a space. The Israel Museum has a well-thought-out architecture that leads you down the path of the Jews during the holocaust, which is a horrific time in our world’s history. The triangular-shaped Holocaust Memorial is made of …
“There is no blue without yellow and without orange.” — Vincent Van Gogh I’ve Got The French Blues! I dream in color, vivid dreams of French Blue that swirl around in my head. Imagine an artist’s brush, dipping first in the dark tones of blue and then in the lighter ones and smearing them onto …
On my recent visit to Salamanca, Spain in the Castile Y León region, I was fortunate enough to have lunch at the famed restaurant, Zorita’s Kitchen. It is located on the property of the Hacienda Zorita Hotel, a small luxury hotel. This was a perfect stop after touring the University of Salamanca, which dates back to 1218 AD, including …
Gliding down the Rhone River, I couldn’t wait for my first stop in Southern France. A quick jaunt across the bridge and I had entered an ancient walled-city that at one time had been surrounded by a moat. The ‘Old Town’ area is filled with cobble-stoned streets, architectural treasures from the 13th century and the …
Take Journey through Champagne France I found that in only a quick jaunt from Paris, in the Champagne France region that borders Burgundy, there lies a tiny slice of heaven known as Essoyes. According to Jean Renoir, “There is no other place like it in the whole wide world. There I spent the best …
Are you a fan of walled cities? If you are, then you should head to Avila, Spain in the Castilla y Leon (Castles and Lions) province of Spain. Located just about an hour and a half drive from the Madrid Bajaras airport, it’s a city waiting to be discovered. This walled city is also known as the “City …
Best Day Trips From Barcelona Colonia Güell and Gaudi’s Crypt My Grandfather, John Clark, was born in a tiny hospital in a small town in Texas back in 1898. At that same time, halfway around the world, there was an artist named Gaudi. He had been asked by his friend to build a place …
Carnival in the Black Forest of Germany (Part 1 link) Snap, Whip, Crack! The parade has begun with over 4000 “fools” who have gathered at the entrance to the old Black Gate and make their way down the parade route. The characters of the Black Forest begin to come alive as they perform a slow, …
All of us have felt like we’ve lost control over our lives at some point. Last year, USA Today reported that 35% of Americans feel their lives have become more stressful than the previous year. Whether it’s from work, relationships, or changing family life, taking some time away from your cares is a tonic for us all, and …