Under cloudy skies and imminent rain we docked midday in Halifax. But the port was right downtown with easy access and I had planned to do an audio walking tour of the boardwalk with an app I discovered called Tripvia Tours, a smartphone audio tour app for walking and driving. Once their free app is…
Continue reading →That’s right. Mainers speak their own language and are proudly and fundamentally rooted in their communities and their culture. Though English is the language here “er” and “ar” is pronounced “ah”…r’s don’t get a lot of respect in Maine. Originally known as Eden, the town’s name was changed to Bar Harbor in 1918. Nowadays a…
Continue reading →The cradle of the American Revolution, Boston is full of history, charm, and cosmopolitan sophistication all wrapped up in this approachable, walkable, compact metropolitan city. One of the oldest cities in the United States, and its largest that is manmade, you’ll find cobblestones, monuments to freedom, diverse neighborhoods including a vibrant Chinatown and historic North…
Continue reading →Ready or not, my world is about to start turning again after two-and-a half + years, as I land in New York City to begin a 46-day cruise adventure. Planning this journey for over a year has been almost make believe, yet here I am. Astonishingly, my flights, luggage, and hotel transports all occur flawlessly,…
Continue reading →Once named “The Friendliest City in the World” is a pretty bold statement for Puerto Vallarta, but it’s actually quite nice and seems to handle its notoriety in a rather genuine way, notwithstanding a “Senor Frog’s” cliche franchise bar on nearly every corner and numerous sidewalk touts selling wares and timeshares. More casually referred to…
Continue reading →What else do you do in a city known as “The Sailfish Capital of the World” but hire a sport fishing boat and crew for the day just to see if it’s true? Known for its excellent sport fishing, Manzanillo, Mexico lies along two crescent shaped bays separated by the scenic outcrop of Santiago Peninsula….
Continue reading →As we approached the coast of Nicaragua in the early, pale dawn, what appeared to be wafting clouds above the peak of the volcano that dominated the horizon was actually smoke puffing from the crater. With the recent news of a volcanic eruption off the coast of New Zealand that tragically caused fatalities to cruise…
Continue reading →Plainly translated from Spanish, Pura Vida means “simple life” or “pure life”, but in Costa Rica it is more than just a saying, it is a way of life. Costa Ricans use the term to say hello, to say goodbye, to exchange convivial greetings, and as a general, universal feel-good reply to most everything. It…
Continue reading →Stretching 50 miles from Colon on the Atlantic side to Panama City on the Pacific, the Panama Canal, built over a hundred years ago, is still an engineering marvel and one of the most significant waterways on earth. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade….
Continue reading →Instead of the usual stories-high stacks of shipping containers, swarthy longshoremen, cheap souvenir stands, and duty free shops, the port of Cartagena adds a very special welcome for its arriving visitors. The path to enter or exit the port will lead you through a natural paradise…a port oasis. Officially known as Aviaro Nacional Baru de…
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