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…
Continue reading →Tenerife is just a 180-mile stepping stone away from the coast of Africa, and the largest of the Canary Islands of Spain at 790 square miles with a population of 700,000. Santa Cruz is the capital, administration and commercial center, and a busy port with large cruise ships lined up the day we arrived. The…
Continue reading →Santa Cruz de la Palma, with its colorful almost Caribbean-like patchwork of buildings and houses set on cobblestone streets, is known simply as “La Palma”. With a population of about 13,000, it is the capital of the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands of Spain. Overlooking the waterfront are the ancient ruins of…
Continue reading →The Maderian capital of Funchal, with its 16th century charm, is the Portuguese word for “fennel plantation”, named for the wild fennel discovered there by the first settlers. Famous for its wine, the island is also a major tourist destination with its lush mountainous landscape, exotic plants and trees, clear seas, and mild, sunny climate. One…
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