A good friend told me before I traveled to India ten years ago, “You’ll see some of the most beautiful sights and some of the ugliest, and they’re often right next to each other. Focus on the beauty.” She was correct. One constant was the expressive and lovely faces of the people I met. Camel tenders, actors, tradespeople, shaman and … Read More

On this day 20 years ago, I stayed with friends in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Close by is a large valley populated primarily by Amish and Mennonites. We spent the day taking in the beauty of the area and its unique culture. The valley is long and deep. Prosperous looking farms dot the landscape; along back roads were horse-drawn buggies, one room … Read More

When I last visited the Museum of Pop Culture, it was called the Experience Music Project. Since being established by Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen in 2000 it’s been evolving, changing exhibition focus, programs and its name. The one constant is its striking, strange home designed by Frank Gehry. Gehry is known for unusual buildings—among them the Guggenheim Bilbao and LA’s … Read More

In 1993 I traveled several times to Australia on business. Each trip I took a few extra days to explore. Sometimes I had plans, other destinations were set by whim or the recommendations of Australians I worked with. I decided to go to Tasmania while in Melbourne. One of the admin assistants arranged for flights, rental car, and hotels. For … Read More

I traveled to Boise several times for meetings with Idaho’s iconic company – Ore-Ida Potatoes. On one trip I took extra time, rented a car and traveled around the state. Craters of the Moon national monument was an unexpected delight. I’d anticipated lava flows similar to what I’d seen at volcanic sites in Hawaii, the Galapagos, Indonesia and Costa Rica. … Read More

I’ve told many travelers to New Zealand that Abel Tasman National Park is a must-see destination. It’s difficult to get to, but well worth the effort. A boat ride is needed to get inside the park. Once there, there are pristine hiking trails, empty beaches and ferns and foliage that defy imagination. Just outside the park, where these photos were … Read More

In Cape Town’s center city we serendipitously came upon the Minstrel’s Parade. It commemorates the freeing of the slaves in the early 1800’s. It’s a bit like Mardi Gras, but more loosely organized. Teams, each from a different neighborhood, dressed in bright fanciful costumes and makeup. Glitter was a favored accessory. They sang, danced and played instruments as they marched … Read More

Ghost Ranch is about an hour’s drive from Albuquerque. Formerly the home of Georgia O’Keeffe it is now a retreat center. As I drove closer, I recognized some of the surrounding landscape from her paintings. Landscapes in the US southwest are notable for the way sunlight and open sky play upon the rugged terrain. During the day I spent there, … Read More

Newfoundland is a wild, largely untouristy place. On a road trip across the province, I stayed in B&Bs in remote areas and enjoyed unobstructed views of the land, sea and sky. It was an amazing place to stargaze; there is almost no ambient light. The biggest surprise, however, was close to St. Johns, the largest city. I drove, then took … Read More

When I traveled to Peru fifteen years ago, I visited a weaver’s co-op in the village of Chinchero. Located high in the Andes, not far from Cusco, the setting is breathtaking. It’s also literally breathtaking because of the altitude. Fortified by coca leaf tea to relieve altitude sickness, I spent an afternoon with hospitable women. My rudimentary Spanish helped to … Read More