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…
Continue reading →After fog delays in London, we arrived late in Lisbon and were glad to be warmly welcomed at the charming Hotel Britania, a small boutique hotel just off the Avenida da Liberdade, sort of the 5th Avenue of Lisbon, and conveniently located to the city highlights. We came here several years ago and explored many…
Continue reading →Cartagena has gotten a bad rap from years of misinformed media, suffering from a past reputation for drug trafficking, kidnapping and violence. While, as in every destination, one must be alert and take precautions, it seems the bad guys here have pretty much killed each other off, and left behind a charming and breathtakingly beautiful…
Continue reading →It’s always special to see a country from the inside out, with a local. And that is what I got to do, a little bit, for an afternoon in Costa Rica. Allan, our friend and neighbor back home, is from this warm, friendly country and his family in Puntarenas, whom I had met last summer…
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