Today I have a guest post from a recent friend, Sue Henly.  Sue and I met at a travel event, and charmed me with her Australian accent.  I think she’ll charm you with her writing as well.
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In the soft grey light of early morning, we sit quietly on a bamboo mat, wicker baskets of sticky rice beside us, across from a shuttered colonial mansion heavy with bougainvillea.  Birds chatter in the flame trees until a gong sounds, momentarily startling them into silence.
Around a corner, dozens of barefoot monks and novices appear in a swish of saffron, golden bowls hanging …read more

I watched a movie earlier this evening, and after wiping away more than a few tears from my eyes, it got me thinking, once again, about the United States’ travel embargo to Cuba.
First, the movie.
It was, ostensibly, a baseball movie – The Lost Son of Havana – about former baseball pitcher Luis Tiant.
In 1961, the Cleveland Indians brought the young pitcher to the United States to play professional baseball, following in the footsteps of his father, also a pitcher, who played in the Negro League for the New York Cubans.  While living out his dream, Tiant received a …read more

Terra Cotta Warriors:  Guardians of China’s First Emperor is currently on exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and represent one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.  Since it’s discovery, many have called this terra cotta army the Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World.
I’ve been interested in this exhibit for some time, and not that’ we’ll be starting non-stop service to Houston, it’s moving up to the top of my must-see list.
The exhibit features thousands of terra cotta warriors that were found buried in the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Shi Huangdi.  The warriors were entombed …read more

When I visit Hawaii, I love the sunny beaches (of course), but Hawaii is also rich in history and culture, and I always work a couple of these destination into my vacation plans.
Honolulu is rich in military sites and history, and although at time it can be painful to think about, these sites should be on every visitors list of things to see and do.  The islands and the country were shaped by the events of Pearl Harbor, and whether you choose to go on your own or as part of a tour, I think any trip to the islands …read more

Today I join with some of my fellow travel bloggers in Photo Friday, a day to celebrate the photographic side of traveling.
Whether our photos are professional quality, or merely serve as a memory of a wonderful adventure, photos have become an increasingly important part of travel.  And in the era of so many digital options, from cameras to online storage to editing software and more, there’s no reason for it to be a complicated process. (I’ve been trying out some new products so look for some reviews coming up soon!)
My photo today is a wonderful memory of a trip …read more

If you live in Seattle, as I do, there’s only one answer to that question – they come from Boeing.  As the saying around here goes, “If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going!”
While some of the Boeing plants have relocated elsewhere, the plant at Paine Field (about 30 miles north of Seattle) is still home to The Future of Flight & Boeing Tour,
This tour of the Boeing factory lets you see the flight line where the 747, 767, 777, and 787 are made.  This tour takes you through one of the largest buildings in the world (by volume), as …read more

The Coliseum in Rome is the largest remaining monument of Imperial Rome, and is the top landmark in a city full of landmarks.
Built between AD 72-80, the Coliseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater and was the center of the city of Rome.  It was the first and the largest (it covers about six acres) permanent amphitheater built in the Roman Empire.
The exterior of the building consisted of four floors – three tiers of arches and an attic. On top of the attic were a series of brackets and sockets that allowed a shade to be pulled over the …read more

Top o’ the Mornin’ to you all, and a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Kissing the Blarney Stone has long been an Irish tradition, and not just on St. Patty’s Day.
The Blarney Stone is actually a block of stone that’s built into Blarney Castle in Cork County, Ireland.  Legend has it that kissing the stone grants the person kissing it with the gift of gab.  While originally the gift of gab was considered a gift of eloquence and persuasiveness, today it is often seen as empty flattery.
Blarney Castle is a popular tourist site, both for tour of the castle and its …read more

One of my favorite places in Paris was the Pantheon, a neo-Classical church in the Latin Quarter.  It was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, and topped with a dome similar to Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London.  Although it was originally an abbey, it now primarily serves as a burial place for many famous French heroes, leaders, artists, and writers.
This beautiful building was constructed as a result of a promise made by King Louis XV in 1744.  He was suffering from a serious and mysterious illness (later believed to be gout), and vowed that if he recovered he would …read more

When I went to the Adventure Travel Expo last year, I had the great joy of meeting a real adventurer – Harry Rutstein.
Harry is a fellow Seattle resident, and a recognized expert on the life of one of the world’s most famous adventurers – Marco Polo.  Harry gave me his recently published book, and I was finally had time to sink my teeth into it.
Over a period of about ten years, Harry became the first person to re-trace Marco Polo’s 13,000 mile Silk Road across Europe and Asia. 
In three expeditions (1971, 1981, and 1985), and using every imaginable type …read more