Roads Less Traveled

The beaches here are little more than boulders scattered in front of the sea. The bluffs mark land’s end, and the towns cling to the edge. The sun marks the time of the season as it marches across the sky, each day now shorter than the last. The locals mark the time from park benches, stationed like sentries, observing the comings and goings of the tourists, students, families, and nationalities from all over the world. Now, in late autumn, there are fewer visitors, though the sun still warms the Mediterranean waters. The movie stars and the paparazzi who chase them have returned to their own homes in LA, Paris, and NYC. Soon, the locals will have their town back, the streets will be less crowded, and the last of the cruise ships will leave them in peace again. Continue reading →

I just finished destroying my old knees on the trails between the towns of the Cinque Terre. Here are some haikus I wrote today, one an ode to my aging limbs. After 5 days of hiking along these trails cut into the mountainside along the rugged coasts of the Italian Riviera, I’m ready for some flat land. Continue reading →

I am leaving Austria today, and, not for the first time, wish I were living here. I visit Vienna every year, but this Autumn has been special because I was also able to see Salzburg again. Both cities are jewels. Both are near to my heart. What makes them so special? Glad you asked… Continue reading →