Turkey 1989 Greece 1989 Scotland 1990-93 Scotland 2003 Sweden 1995 Ukraine 1997 Moscow 1997-98
St. Petersburg 1998 Budapest 1998
England and Wales 1997 England and Wales 1999 Germany 1997
Denver 1993-95 Monterey (and California) 1987-1999
Seattle 1996 Washington DC 1996-1999 St. Lucia 1998
Kazakhstan 1998 Utah and the Southwest 1998
Australia 1999 New Orleans 2000
Georgia (Republic of) 2001 Romania 2003
Brussels, Belgium 2003 Cambridge, England 2003
Turkey is an amazing country, full of adventures around every corner. From the
Black Sea coast in the north to the Aegean coast in the west all the way to the Mediterranean coast in the south
and everything in between. Turkey offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and some of the
most gracious hospitality. One can see ancient ruins in the daytime and feast to one's heart's content in
the evening on some of the best food in the world. This country is truly one of the least exploited travel
gems that this world has to offer.
Greece - Although I have only been to the island of Rhodes, I have been told that
it is quite representative of the islands of Greece on the whole. Very much like Turkey but definitely not
Turkey. A bit more expensive but well worth a visit. The perfect combination of ancient ruins and beach
life!
Scotland - This is where my heart truly remains. After having lived in Scotland
for over three years, I consider myself a permanent resident of this wonderful country. My dream is to retire in
Scotland. From the Grampian Highlands with its Castle Trail of innumerous castles and historical homes to
the shores of Loch Ness and Loch Shiel, down along Glencoe and Dalness and down to the shores of Dumfries.
Scotland is so full of beautiful scenery and a local population that will befriend you in a heartbeat. A bit expensive
for the average American here but well worth the price for memories that will shine brightly for a lifetime.
Cancun, Mexico - Vacation! Want a great place to go every year or two for
vacation? Well, I've found it for you. We're talking great AND we're talking cheap! From most major U.S.
cities you can find fairly cheap deals. The Yucatan Peninsula offers ancient Aztec and Mayan ruins, great scuba
diving and snorkeling, and one hell of a great time. The dollar has tremendous spending power and you can
find some great bargains. Well worth the trip for anybody of nearly any size budget. Read my travel article on
the Tucancun Beach Resort.
Sweden - A country populated with a friendly, albeit somewhat reserved, populace, Sweden is not much different from many parts of the world. When visiting, enjoy what the country has to offer and get out and see things. From the islands that comprise the city of Stockholm to the islands of Gotland and Oland and into the heart of the mainland to the glass country. Sweden is an ideal place for a summer/fall vacation.
Ukraine is another country that I hold near and dear to my heart. There is so much
to do, see and experience and the Ukrainian women are the most beautiful women in the world. A trip to Kiev is like taking a step back into history along with the juxtaposition
of many modern scenes and amenities. The remnants of the Soviet regime are starkly visible in Kiev, especially
along the main street of Khreshchatik which reeks of Soviet architecture. Make sure to take in the Cave
Monasteries (Pecherskaya Lavra), The Cathedral of St. Sophia (Sofijskij Sobor), St. Andrew's Cathedral
(Andreevskij Sobor), the Golden Gates (Zolotiye Vorota), the Podol' region and Baba Yar park. Many of these
sites are within walking distance of one another or a quick metro ride and a short walk. Kiev is a great
walking city and a wonderful "small big city". Outside of the city is the Pyrohiv open air museum and if you
can somehow arrange it with the local officials, Chernobyl' is only a couple hours
away. Read my extensive travel article on Kiev.
There is so much history in Moscow that it would take a lifetime to study it
all but do as much as you can when you're here. There is so much to do and see that it nearly boggles the
mind. With the fall of the Soviet Union capitalism has taken a strong hold of the country (but, unfortunately,
not quite as strong a hold as the mafia has taken) and Moscow now offers most of what any Western city
would offer. Owing to the 850th anniversary of Moscow (first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147), the city has
cleaned itself up and is a site to behold. From Red Square and the Kremlin to the newly reconstructed
Cathedral of Christ the Savior, to the All-Russia Exhibition Center (formerly V.D.N.Kh.) to the parks and markets,
Moscow has it all. Study up before visiting so you actually know what it is that you're looking at. You could
easily walk right by the former KGB headquarters building and not even know it. Arm yourself with knowledge
and enjoy your stay!
England and Wales are great countries to spend some time in. As in most of
Britain, the people are tremendously friendly. The scenery in Wales is breathtaking and London is a great
city to take the metro and hoof it around. From the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London to Trafalgar Square and
Buckingham Palace, London offers all of the the traditional sites. Don't miss Big Ben and Hyde park and make
sure that you take in the London pub experience.
Germany is Germany. Exactly what you expect is pretty much what you get.
Conservative areas in the north, beautiful river valleys in the west and south and German castles along every
one of 'em. Timing is critical; try to time a trip for late summer or early fall to hit Oktoberfest or one of the myriad
of other fests at that time and to still manage to get some decent weather to do it all in. The Mosel river
valley is a must see and a German beer tent would be a pity to pass by.
Denver is the place to be if you're a beer drinker. The annual Great American
Beer Fest is held here each fall and the city boasts some of the nation's best brew pubs to include the
"Wynkoop Brewing Co." which is head and shoulders above any other brew pub in the nation. Not only that
but Denver is quickly becoming the sports capital of the nation with its baseball, football, hockey, etc. etc. teams.
Downtown is a great (and safe!) place to spend an evening and the mountains are just a short drive away. Take
in a concert at Red Rocks or grab your skis and take to the mountains. One of the best places in this
nation to reside.
Monterey (and California) - Some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
This is a great spot to spend a week, soak in the local scenery and atmosphere and move on to other sights
in the area such as Carmel and San Francisco. Los Angeles is just a ways down the road and the entire
state is within half a day's drive.
Seattle is THE happening place. I love Denver but I must say that Seattle tops
it if not for just a weekend getaway. From the Space Needle and Seattle Center to Pike's Place Market to
Pioneer Square - Seattle is a great place to spend a few days. It's a sin if you don't get a chance to
experience it.
Washington DC - The capital of this great nation of ours. A day outing to the
city requires some serious walking. Most people don't realize that it's about 2 miles from the capitol building
to the Lincoln Memorial even though it looks like it's all RIGHT THERE. The sites can be taken in in a day
but to truly experience the city you must visit the Kennedy center, Georgetown, and just get out and about
into the surrounding areas. Explore this great city!
St. Lucia, West Indies - The island of St. Lucia is a tropical
island located at approximately 14 degrees north latitude in the Caribbean. Even though
the island is only 27 X 14 miles, there is a wondrous collection of things to be seen including
waterfalls, a tropical rain forest, various beautiful bays, the inherent beauty of the landscape,
and the world's only drive-through volcano. The people of St. Lucia are friendly but watch
out for swindlers - the average St. Lucian has little and is well aware that tourists come
with full wallets. They are a crafty bunch that will try to take you for what they can.
Kazakhstan - In Central Asia just to the south of Russia
and to the West of China, Kazakhstan has occupied a territory which has brought it
into contact from peoples of many backgrounds. This mixture is reflected today in the
culture and faces of the residents. Kazakhstan consists of steppe and mountain with
some swamps and deserts thrown in. Not much for the tourist here, but an interesting
cultural experience.
Utah - Probably the most beautiful portion of the United States.
I've been all around the U.S. and, in my opinion, nothing compares to it. There are so
many beautiful canyons, deserts, mountains, and unusual formations in general. I can
think of no other state/area where the scenery changes so rapidly as you drive along.
If you're even remotely close to southern Utah and you don't take the opportunity to
see what it has to offer, you're missing out on impressions that would last a lifetime.
Saint Petersburg - A beautiful mixture of Russia and the West. Walking around
St. Petersburg will remind you of Amsterdam, Rome and Moscow all at the same time. There are beautiful canals
and gorgeous buildings everywhere without a jagged skyline to ruin it all. A fairly new city, founded in 1703 by
Peter the Great, this city has a well-deserved reputation for beauty and harmony. Definitely worth a visit. (Preferably
not in winter!)
Budapest, Hungary - A great weekend destination. Mostly all of the sites are
located in the same area and can be covered in a couple of days. A walk from the Citadel to the Fisherman's Bastion
will provide you with beautiful views of the Castle, the Paliament building, the Cathedral, and the city overall.
Take a long walk to Heros' Square and see the beautiful Vaydahunyad Castle on the lake. Not much to keep
you busy for a full vacation, but Vienna and Prague are within a stone's throw away.
Australia is a great place to visit if you have the time on your hands that it takes to truly
appreciate it. This isn't a one-week vacation destination. Sydney is the most famous of
Australian city, and for good reason. Sydney harbor is possibly the most beautiful place
to have founded a city. The geographical beauty combined with the distinct characters of
the various regions of the metropolitan area make this a very livable city. The friendliness
and hospitality of the Aussies ranks among the best. I managed to take a trip along The
Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide and am most grateful I did. Some of the
most beautiful scenery in the world is to be found here. Of course one cannot forget
about the wine regions such as Hunter Valley, Coonawarra, and the Barossa. Quality
domestic wine is in abundance there and throughout the country.
New Orleans is an atypical American city. Partying seems to be the rule on
Bourbon Street and the rest of the French Quarter. The above ground cemeteries are an interestingly eerie
adventure. The surrounding swamps are definitely worth a trip to interact with the local wildlife. I highly
recommend Cajun Pride Swamp Tours as their 2-hour tour is filled with many opportunities to interact
with alligators and other swamp creatures, and their tour guides are top-notch. When in New Orleans,
don't miss out on the food. Just about any restaurant serves good food, but Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
outshines them all for fantastic food at a great price. Don't miss the French Market for souvenirs and rubbing
elbows with the tourists and locals alike.
Georgia is the most third-world out of all the countries that I have been to. The country's infrastructure is failing, unemployment is everywhere, corruption is the rule. The country itself has plenty to offer in the way of history and geography, but you have to be willing to "rough it" to vacation here.
Romania is a typical former Soviet-style country. Nothing special seemed to jump out at me about Bucharest. Although I never had the opportunity, I believe that the charm of Romania lies outside of the capital city. The countryside appears to have much to offer, but there is very little that seems to set apart as special the country or the people.
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