The next time you find yourself in a European church or cathedral, there is someone you should see. Forget “The DaVinci Code”. A real puzzle stares at you from the walls, architecture, and furnishings throughout these old places of worship. The mysterious Green Man, a carved foliate face from ancient times, appears in various guises and apparently independently, all over the world. His best known and most accessible incarnations are found – by the thousands …
If you’re ever about to be attacked by a lion, don’t just stand there shaking – run directly towards it flapping your arms wildly and making a massive hullabaloo.
Shall I repeat that, just in case you can’t quite get to grips with the concept? Don’t try to run, because this is one race you aren’t going to win. Your only chance of survival is to scare the lion more than it scares you, says …
On a glorious spring trip to Paris when the “Davinci Code “ movie was first coming out, I was able to take an incredible walking tour based off of the novel by Dan Brown. Our guide was an American who relocated to Paris when her husband received a job offer to live and work in France. I was green with envy because I thought it was a grand opportunity for both of them to …
Stop and smell the mustard on your own version of Spring Break this year. Smell the mustard?
Mustard is blooming in Napa Valley…stark vines stand out among the neon yellow at their feet. Great photos…even better wines. With about 400 wineries in the Napa area alone, this is one of the best times of the year to visit. Less tourists than summer means more personalized attention from winery owners and winemakers.
Make sure you do …
Hello and welcome to Travelhoppers! I am thrilled to have been asked to participate in this project as the Ombudsman for the travel woes of our readers. But, before we get into problem solving, I wanted to take a few moments to outline exactly how I feel an Ombudsman comes into play.
Don’t Wait
When a travel issue crops up, the time for action is when it crops up. Not after you have spent a …
The dream of skiing in St. Moritz, Europe’s winter glam capital, seems impossibly expensive to most of us. Yet this unbridled wealthy Swiss mountain village, where furs predominate, caviar is sold in supermarkets and snow-chained Bentley’s jockey with Porsche’s for parking, is affordable, very affordable – the trick is knowing where to look, and when to go.
From Zurich airport take the little red train, which gently threads through the Swiss Alps, gently clickedy-clacking higher …
1) So tell us about yourself. Where are you from and how did you start traveling?
I am from Corpus Christi, Texas (or, as I prefer to call it, Corpitos), but much of my adult life has been spent on the road. (My great-great Uncle Jake was a hobo who saw America with his legs dangling over the edge of a freight train, so wanderlust is encoded in my DNA!) My journey officially began in …
These days, if you’re looking for a spiritual retreat, the possibilities are endless. You can meditate in an ashram in India, explore the wilds of Iceland searching for sacred herbs, do yoga in Cartagena, or embark on a gastronomic tour of Tuscany. In Sedona, Arizona, you can sign up for a Vision Quest, a Soul Healing or even a Spiritual Vortex tour. Thanks to an alchemical amalgamation of our ever-present desire to expand and our …
The secret to a perfect trip is much like the first rule of Fight Club: There is no perfect trip. There is no recipe for success, no combination of details that will guarantee you a good time, no amount of scheduling and booking that will make your time from touch-down to take-off completely carefree.
The beautiful thing about travel is its unpredictability, the glorious way you can plan out an entire day—an entire trip even—and …
The thought of India evokes many images to travelers, but none more iconic than the majestic Taj Mahal. Although this wonder of the world is a relevant and magnificent site on the tourism circuit, consider adding a dash of adventure to your Indian experience. India’s diverse landscape and climate make it an exciting destination for adventure activities, including trekking, rafting, scuba diving, camel expeditions, and skiing. Additionally, India remains one of the most affordable destinations …
Hidden in the Baztan Valley near the southwestern French border and a few miles away from the pristine shores of the Bay of Biscay, sits a little village with a big secret. Removed from the bustle of the Basque Country’s San Sebastian and the glitz of Biarritz, Zugarramurdi is a tranquil town where not too much has happened in the last four-hundred years.
This lush area of Navarra is an ideal blend of French, Spanish …
Most folks have heard about the resort town of Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja, but not many people are familiar with the very small jewel of an island called Isla Espiritu Santo. This precious island is located in the Sea of Cortez about 2 hours by boat from the town of La Paz off the eastern coast of the Baja peninsular.
Back in January 1990 the Nature Conservatory acquired…
Now more than half a century old, I can reflect back a bit and say that I have lived an extremely fortunate life. I have been one of those rare people who have been able to successfully marry a profession with a lifestyle. I am the Avid Cruiser.
During 20 years of writing about cruising, I have boarded more than 200 ships and stepped ashore in some of the world’s most exotic destinations. My passport …
The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was celebrated in New York City, not Ireland, in 1762. That first parade consisted of a band of Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army which was stationed in New York City. The wearing of the green was a source of Irish pride; but at the time was banned in Ireland. The participants in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade reveled in their ability to freely speak …