When you think of the most expensive cities in the world for expats, the usual suspects that come to mind are places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Zurich. Certainly not Luanda. Yet, this capital city of Angola trumps them all. For years, the city drew attention for its bloody civil war that racked the country from…
Continue reading →We were passengers on Oceania Insignia’s inaugural Miami to Miami “Around the World in 180 Days” voyage. Except, it turned out to be 109 days, thwarted at the final hour by a tragic accident on the ship. We were given the option to cancel or join the itinerary 71 days later in Singapore, when the…
Continue reading →It seemed like the thing to do in São Tomé and Principé was to get out of town, since most of the ship’s tours were bird watching, coffee plantations, waterfalls. That’s usually a clue. And justly so, as it is said to be enhanced with a wealth of natural attractions including palm-fringed beaches, emerald rainforests,…
Continue reading →I am of the mind to get out and see everything I can at each port. I will likely never get back to this corner of the world again, and I want to take it all in while I’m here….now. And, I never even thought I would land in a place called Lomé, in a…
Continue reading →Oceania hangs it’s hat, or rather it’s toque, on it’s culinary reputation, endorsed by Jacques Pépin and Bon Appétit, and it is a source of pride both at the dining table and in the classroom, where it offers the first ever at sea, hands-on culinary center that is absolute state-of-the-art. Available only on their custom…
Continue reading →The Ghanaian people are self named the “sunshine people” for their peaceful demeanor, in this largely Christian country surrounded by neighbors in upheaval. And they seem to be innocently content going on about their lives, with few needs and seemingly fewer opportunities. Though early education is free and “compulsory”, the challenge exists with parents who…
Continue reading →Côte d’Ivoire. What an exotic name for a country that I have only read about in the news, usually shrouded in mystery and conflict. Yet, here I am in Abidjan, known as “The Paris of Africa”, a modern skyscraper-studded former capital of Ivory Coast, the country’s economic and business center, and the most populated West…
Continue reading →The Gambia, one of the smallest countries in Africa, shares the distinct honor of being one of only two countries in the world who’s name is officially prefaced with the article “The”. This is said to have been intended to distinguish it from nearby Zambia, or perhaps to reference The River Gambia, that flows through…
Continue reading →When I listen to NPR on the radio, I am always intrigued by the foreign correspondents from around the world, reporting from exotic sounding places like Paris, Brussels, Rome. And then there’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton (what a great name that is!), who always closes with bravado and a dramatic flourish at the end of her story…
Continue reading →The Portuguese empire was widespread during the age of the explorers, seeming to take every country or piece of land in their path, including the archipelago of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean, 385 miles west of Senegal. Only slightly larger than Rhode Island, the islands were uninhabited on their discovery in 1456, and became…
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