Category Archives: Uncategorized

International politics and hypocrisy have always gone together like sewers and stink, but the contrast between the recent media and government reactions to the Skripal poisoning, on the one hand, and the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, on the other, reflects … Continue reading →

There was once a magic era when America built screaming, asphalt-gobbling, tire smoking, monster-motor muscle cars, and I’m happy to say that I still remember those days clearly, even though they were, in the immortal song by Don Maclean, “a … Continue reading →

Poland was never on my bucket list of places to see.  Not that I didn’t like it-I just never really thought about it at all, even though my travels have frequently taken me near the Polish border.  That’s why I … Continue reading →

  If you’re like me, the first thing you do when planning a trip to Europe is to consult the Rick Steves country guide.  I’ve been buying his popular books for years, and I’m rarely disappointed or confused with the … Continue reading →

I just hiked the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, and it was a real joy.  The Fall weather was perfect, the trail was perfectly clean, and the scenery was as magnificent as any on … Continue reading →

Saint Petersburg doesn’t reveal her beauty to you all at once.  To discover her secrets, you must work at it patiently, like a sculptor who reveals the appeal of a cold slab of stone by chipping away at it gently … Continue reading →

  OK, to be honest, visiting this capital was never on my bucket list, but it was part of a Baltic cruise I went on recently, and I’m glad it was.  To my surprise, Helsinki is worth a day trip at … Continue reading →

Most people choose Costa as their cruise line of choice because the itinerary and timing is appealing or because the price is right.  And Costa does provide lively entertainment, good food, and a convivial atmosphere on newer ships with an … Continue reading →

  I just finished a Costa cruise, which is where I took these photos.  I love to travel, and so naturally I get a chance to talk to others like me who enjoy seeing the world.  Among those, there is … Continue reading →