I’ve written a lot about the emotional ups and downs I experienced while traveling through the former Soviet Union for thirteen months. Beyond those highs and lows, long-term travel also took a physical toll on me. While I was fortunate to never get too ill, I did experience my share of aches and pains along […]
The Physical Toll of Long-Term Travel Read More »
Travel is often fun and relaxing – an escape from our everyday lives. But travel can also be an eye-opening experience – an opportunity to gain perspective and learn about the rest of the world. Sometimes the most meaningful travel experiences occur when you visit a place that teaches you something new and changes the
When Travel Makes You Think Read More »
When I visited Egypt in 2008, one of my favorite experiences was visiting the Tombs of Nobles in Aswan, Egypt. Located on the far side of the Nile from the rest of the city, they were mentioned in my guidebook, but the tour manager leading my tour wasn’t even familiar with them. I convinced my
Saturday Scenes: Aswan, Egypt Read More »
Back in February, I wrote about an opportunity that sort of fell in my lap – the chance to work with Eventbrite as one of three bloggers embarking on a “blogger tour” of Chicago. The premise was simple: we each agreed to attend at least ten events over a two-month period and share out experiences
Eventbrite: For Locals and Tourists Alike Read More »
Outside of Istanbul, the city of Amasya was probably my favorite place in Turkey. Set along river and surrounded by mountains, the setting could not have been any better. I took this shot from the ancient castle that overlooks the city.
Saturday Scenes: Amasya, Turkey Read More »
It has been more than a year since I first set foot in Russia. Twenty months since I first arrived in the country that inspired my whole trip in the first place. Eighty-three weeks since I pulled up outside a ramshackle home on the outskirts of St. Petersburg to begin my three month adventure in
Russia in Retrospect Read More »
By the end of my career break trip through the former Soviet Union, I had visited 38 countries. By contrast, I have been to only 22 states in the United States – in many cases, just to a single city for a weekend or less. So now that I am home, I thought I’d start
My All-American Bucket List Read More »
One of the most popular day hikes from Karakol, Kyrgyzstan is to Jeti Oguz and the Valley of the Flowers. We took a taxi from Karakol (located on the far east end of Lake Issyk Kul) to Jeti Oguz village and from there, hiked up to the Valley. This horseman and his son befriended us
Saturday Scenes: Valley of Flowers, Kyrgyzstan Read More »
I haven’t always been a runner. To be honest, I still feel a little weird sometimes calling myself a runner. I feel even weirder calling myself a marathoner – even though I have completed five marathons. But as I heard the news of the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, I reacted not just
The Aral Sea is the sea that almost disappeared. Situated in both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the shrinking of the Aral Sea is one of the greatest environmental catastrophes in history. While crossing Kazakhstan, I stopped in Aralskoe More, once a port on the seashore, to take a tour of the area and see for myself
Saturday Scenes: Ship Cemetery Near the Aral Sea Read More »
