……commentary from the road
...The Weight of the Past ... ...Krakow Central Square.... Poland, or “Polska” as locally known, is the highlight of our 2024 European Campaign. While rich in culture and tradition, Poland’s lengthy history of war and occupation weighed on my travel experience. My Poland was 3 weeks spent in Kraków and Wroclaw, two southern cities that played... Continue Reading →
(Photo above: Albanian Flag)..... It won't be long before most of these countries in the western Balkans are as overrun by tourists as Western Europe. While certainly not as polished as the West, crowds are smaller, the food is better, and the locals still get excited meeting Americans. Europe started in this part of the... Continue Reading →
(Photo Above; Church of St. John the Theologian, Ohrid.....) While I’d advise travelers to pass on the capital Skopje, you shouldn't miss gorgeous Lake Ohrid on North Macedonia’s western border with Albania. Advertised as one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, its pristine water comes from the surrounding snowcapped Albanian Alps, and vistas on a clear... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Hindliyan House, Plovdiv)..... I’d never heard of Plovdiv until a month before our visit and thought Bulgaria was just another Soviet backwater. In truth, Plovdiv was fascinating, vibrant, and an altogether enjoyable stop in the Balkans. Billed as Europe’s oldest continuously settled city, it’s a working mix of physical landmarks spanning Alexander the... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Peles Castle, Transylvania).... Transylvania’s natural beauty, combined with 800 years of Saxon influence, makes this region of the Balkans one of the best places we’ve visited. Dracula’s castle turned out to be a legitimate destination, and the city of Brasov was comfortable. Great food, reasonable prices, and a friendly atmosphere characterized the region.... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; Santa Maria del Fiore)... Having overindulged in South America, Katia and I pointed our travels towards Europe this winter/spring, and what more prominent European location than the Italian province of Tuscany. Florence, with its Renaissance charm, is spectacular, however, there’s just no getting around the tourist hordes even in February. Don't be misled... Continue Reading →
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the June 6, 1944 D-Day landing of the Allied Forces in Normandy. It’s remembered as the beginning of the end of the German occupation in Western Europe but also as one of the single worst days for American military losses, with more than 2,500 soldiers killed. I... Continue Reading →
(Photo above; First-time Cruisers)... Another retirement first was booking a transatlantic cruise last January from Miami to England. Katia and I had never been on a cruise, were honestly a bit condescending towards the idea, and really had no interest until some friends talked up their own cruise experience during a recent visit. Not for... Continue Reading →
What Next? 