All Travel Articles

After 6500 miles and 33 days, we returned home ! We had traveled through more than ten states, visited many museums and other cultural sites. We saw America's natural wonders, spent lovely days with old friends and met many interesting people along the way. Please follow us through our journey via photos and entries in my diary. (There will be a part 2.)

Compared to the Burmese Pythons exploding in the Everglades the rattle snakes of the South West are relatively benign. But better to encounter them at the funky reptile museum than out in the wild. The fun of travel is that you never know what is encountered along the way.

.The Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico were recommended to us as a destination on our second “See America” tour. We drove 3000 miles to have the experience. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Laos has many mountains and rivers. Its mountain tops and river valleys are home to many ethnic groups. Our scenic bus journey to Vientiane took us through unique tribal villages and spectacular mountain topography with an overnight visit in Vang Vieng.

A crescent-shaped city on the banks of the Mekong River, Vientiane combines historic grandeur with modernity. A legacy of its royal and colonial past, it is a cosmopolitan city with wide boulevards, unique architecture and ethnic neighborhoods. As a result of rapid modernization, it is on the way to becoming one of Asia's major capital cities.

Long isolated, Luang Prabang, a former royal city and monastic center on the Mekong River in Northern Laos is an unknown treasure in Asia. Ancient Buddhist temples, French colonial buildings, buzzing markets and an array of local crafts offer the visitor a rich cultural experience.

On Saturday, May 15th and May 16th Bascom Lodge on the Summit of Mount Greylock will celebrate the Opening of its 2010 Season with Free Family Programming of Native American performances. There will be activities for the whole family starting at 11AM each day.

Mandalay is Burma's cultural and economic heart. It teems with royal. colonial and sacred landmarks. Its buildings, rich craft industry and accessible location on Irrawaddy River for trade make it a lively metropolis.

For many years the North Adams based artist, Rick Harlow, has made frequent and extensive visits to Colombia. He has lived and worked with indigenous peoples in many projects. In January he participated in the Black Line Journey organized by EarthAction as a part of its Elders Project.

Bagan leaves an impression indelibly etched in the memory with its skyline of 4000 temples and pagodas. Stretching across a large plain, these ancient structures dating back more than 1500 years, radiate beauty throughout the day, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Jonas Dovydenas flew in from Pittsfield to have lunch and show me his book in progress. But it seems he forgot and left it in the airport. So we flew back and got it. Up, up and away. Free as a bird over the Berkshires.

Myanmar is a country rich in culture, history, sacred sites and natural beauty. It sparkles with giant, gold covered pagodas, with the most famous ones found in Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay.

The Israeli born artist, Hovave Rappaport, has been working with a variety of materials to create exotic illuminated sculptures. In his ongoing coverage of the vast Tuscon Gem Show David Wilson talked with Hovave about his exotic creations.

A key nesting site for sea turtles, Tortuguero is a narrow strip of land between inland canals and the Gulf of Mexico. This narrow band with abundant wildlife has nature trails, as well as river channels to explore by boat. Although an unseasonable monsoon limited our exploration, my visit to this remote area was unforgettable.

Guanacaste, the arid northwest, stands out with a thermal area of steam vents, bubbling mud pits and pools of hot water, along with a dry tropical forest and spectacular sunsets. Puntarenas, in the central Pacific region, rewards with a river of crocodiles, colorful macaws and sandy beaches with monkeys.

The Tuscon Gem Shows are the largest of their kind in the United States. In another installment David Wilson discusses the beauty and unique qualities of fossils.

Viewing a mist-shrouded active volcano, hiking over hanging bridges through the rainforest and gliding through inland waterways teeming with wildlife are the rewards of this region.

In our continuing coverage of the enormous Tuscon Gem Shows our correspondent, David Wilson, reveals a special passion for onyx.

Central Valley is a significant break in Costa Rica's mountainous backbone.With its rich volcanic soil and ideal year-round climate, it is a haven for people, flowers and plants. San Jose, the capital city, is the center of it all. The Sarapiqui region is steamy, tropical and carpeted with fruit plantations. Birds, bats and jungle plants thrive in its rain forest. River rafting is a highlight.

Paraza is wonderful! It is just a village in the South of France, but people from around the world have chosen to live there seasonally or year round. This article highlights the French and international population.

From the bay to the valley, the Somme region of France offers diverse landscapes, including coastal treasures,fascinating cities and tranquil battlefields steeped in the memory of the Great War. Stunning Gothic buildings, grand chateaus, Belle Epoque architecture and charming farm houses dot the landscape.

The Turkish Riviera, known as the Turquoise Coast, offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean with wide bays and crystal-clear waters. Ancient Greco-Roman sites, villages with picturesque marinas and sandy beaches dot the coastline. The "Blue Voyage" is an opportunity to visit the ancient sites while enjoying the pleasures of boating and swimming.

Western Turkey with its fertile lands and prosperous cities, has attracted many civilizations since ancient times. Marmaris and Ephesus are two such cities: The former once a center for Carian civilization and now a famed resort, dates from 3000 BC. Ephesus, the second largest city of the Roman Empire, was an important center for the new Christian faith. Its archeological site includes a large theater with a seating capacity of 24,000, the restored library of Celsus and the residential district of the Terrace Houses.

Istanbul is a multifaceted city: modern and traditional, European and Asian, cutting edge and conservative, two millennia old, yet hip. The Bosporos bisects the city into European and Asian sides with picturesque neighborhoods, Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, many museums, bazaars, Art Nouveau buildings and trendy districts.

Cappadocia is a nature-made fantasyland of soft white rock from lava, shaped into stark forms. The frescoed churches and underground cities, carved from volcanic stone add to this magic. Konya is renowned as the center of the Mevlevi Order (Whirling Dervishes). The tomb of Mevlana and the museum complex attract visitors from around the world. Beysehir, located by a mountain lake by the same name, is home to the Esrefoglu Mosque, a 13th-century Seljuk masterpiece known as the "jewel of wooden architecture".

The ancient city of Antioch, now Antakya, was the Roman empire's third biggest city and the first meeting place of the Christian community. Its wealth of mosaics, as well as the cave church, known as "St.Peter's Grotto" and proclaimed by the Vatican as a holy place in 1983, make it a visitor attraction. Gaziantep attracted many civilizations since its early settlers because of its location between northern Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. The city, along with a boat ride on the Euphrates, offer a wealth of discoveries.

On top of Mount Nemrut is the 1st-century-BC tomb of King Antiochus I of Commagene, who rests here with colossal stone gods. Colorful Urfa with its distinctive architecture, old bazaar and ethnic neighborhoods is the birthplace of Abraham. Harran, home to the world's first university, fascinates with its beehive-like mud houses.

The "Devil's Nose" train ride rewards the traveler with a spellbinding journey not to be forgotten easily. Cuenca is Ecuador's colonial jewel, which is also the cultural and economic center of the southern Sierra. The Cuenca basin is a magnet for artisans.

The "spine" of Ecuador, the Andes, has deep green valleys and spectacular volcanos. It has ethnic markets and other points of interest filled with local color.

The Galapagos is an archipelago of distinct volcanic formations, characterized by the geology of various eruptions. Sea birds and mammals are all around at close range. With no fear of predators, they feed, nurse, court and mate, oblivious to other creatures, including humans. Visiting five of the thirteen major islands was an amazing experience.

Known as Oriente to the locals, the Amazon Basin, east of the Andes, fascinates with its flora, fauna and indigenous cultures unique to the rainforest.

Ecuador is one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries.The Andes form a rocky spine from north to south, separating the Amazon Basin in the east from the subtropical coastal plains. The capital, Quito, is a well-preserved city of hilly, narrow streets, beautiful colonial buildings, opulent churches and indigenous craft markets. Located near the equator, the city enjoys eternal spring.

The Salem based organization African Development through Drum and Dance donated 100 desks to the A.E.D.E.C. school in Dakar, Senegal. Following the dedication ceremony there was a drum and dance party. Several days later we returned for a student Talent Contest.

Since its founding in 2004 the Salem Mass. group African Development through Drum and Dance (A3D) has raised more than $20,000 in assistance to schools in Senegal. Recently we attended the dedication of 100 new desks for the A.E.D.E.C. school in Dakar.

Egypt is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. Its major industry is tourism. The country's temples, monuments and architectural artifacts are magnificent and still mysterious. A Moslem country with an increasing fundamentalist minority, Egypt combines the ancient with the contemporary, the rawly primitive with the highly sophisticated. And there are fantastic pyramids.

As capital of the European Union, Brussels attracts a large international workforce and visitors. The city is filled with interesting museums, gourmet restaurants and chic cafes, along with unique cultural quarters and ethnic markets. Its historic center is one of Europe's finest medieval squares; its Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings are delightful architectural treasures.

The last leg of three weeks exploring Northern Italy entailed a train ride from Bologna to Milan. On a Holiday weekend it was standing room only. Add to that a seated woman who never stopped complaining and it led to a heavy dose of agita.

Coastal villages west of Izmir offer the visitor a pleasant climate, beautiful scenery, rich vegetation, delectable regional food and proximity to ancient sites, in addition to the warmth and friendliness of Turkish people.

Known in antiquity as Ionia,the Cesme peninsula with its mild climate, pristine coastline,unique local color and ancient sites, is an attractive holiday destination.

Towns in the Alpine foothills of southern Germany offer spectacular scenery of lakes and mountains, along with distinctive local color and country charm. Regensburg is a picturebook city on the Danube.

Bavarians,who call northern Germans "Prussians", distinguish themselves with their traditional charm and exuberant life style. Munich sets the cultural tone of the region with its fanciful architecture, treasure-loaded museums, gastronomic delights and popular Octoberfest.

These three cities are distinctly different in character: Midyat is a mountain city of Syrian Christians; Hasankeyf is a city of impressive ruins, soon to be claimed by the rising waters of the Tigris River dam project; Diyarbakir,an ancient city of twenty-seven past civilizations, is now home to a large Kurdish population.

Built on the side of a mountain with a commanding view of the Northern Mesopotamian plain, Mardin is an historic treasure. The artistry of the city's stone masons have shaped its architectural character, turning its streets into galleries in stone.

Southeastern Anatolia is a very distinct part of Turkey culturally and geographically. This is Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. With the demise of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War, Mesopotamia was divided by the allies to create national boundary lines for Iraq and Syria, and the Turks fought successfully to retain parts of their land. Inhabited by Arabs, Armenians, Jews, Kurds, Suryanis and Turks, the ancient cities of this area retain a cultural richness like no other.

Although Hong Kong became part of China in 1997, it still operates according to the British system with its own $ currency. It is the financial center of China, where people seem to run instead of walk. The city boasts a panorama of high-rise buildings along with traditional districts. Hong Kong fascinates with its bustling local markets and harbor, and its shimmering skyline.

Originating in the Himalayas in Tibet, Yangtze is the world's third longest river. Our three-day cruise included shore excursions to cultural sites, a visit with a farmer, who lost his land to the Three Gorges Dam project, fascinating lectures on Chinese traditions and breathtaking views of spectacular gorges carved by the river through limestone highlands.

On July 1-3, 1863 the Union Army under General George G. Meade engaged the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Robert E. Lee. The three day battle ended Lee's advance into the North. The carnage was horrendous resulting in some 46,OOO casualties and losses out of the 165,610 troops that engaged in battle. When we visited the battle field was serene and sublime under a carpet of yellow wild flowers.

Surrounded by majestic mountains at 12,000 feet, Lhasa is the cultural and religious center of Tibet, one of five autonomous regions of China. Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama,sits atop Red Mountain with sweeping views of the city. Ornate temples, silk shawls and colorful flags that sway in the wind carrying written prayers to the gods, all add to the beauty of this Buddhist land.

As the past capital of eleven dynasties and a center of Chinese civilization, Xian has a rich array of cultural treasures: the famed Terra-Cotta Army, Buddhist temples,herbal medicine markets, ancient folklore and crafts in addition to unique Sichuan cuisine. Chengdu is the home of the Giant Panda Sanctuary and its distant cousin the red panda.

Beijing is the modern political and administrative center of China. Despite its mega city problems of crowded streets, traffic jams and polluted air, Beijing fascinates with its historic treasures, classical gardens, gourmet restaurants and cherished customs. It is a city well worth visiting.

The upcoming Olympics prompted me to share my impressions of China, which I visited three years ago. My three week itinerary with Overseas Adventure Travel included Shianghai, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lhasa, Chongqing, Hong Kong and a cruise on the Yangtze River. In this first of a six-part series are insights to China's modernity and traditions.

Because of the ground water issues the burials in New Orleans are above ground in vaults. A tour of the Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District reveals interesting evidence of the ethnic diversity of the Crescent City.

Every Third Thursday of the month there is a celebration in downtown Pittsfield, in the heart of the Berkshires.

In the devastated 9th Ward of New Orleans, Habitat for Humanity and its crew of staff and volunteers are nearing completion of the 70 new homes that comprise the Musician's Village. Some 70 new homes are also under construction by the organization which has been working in the area since the 2005 hurricane Katrina.

Most visitors to the Big Easy come to party in the French Quarter. We took a day to see first hand the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in the working class 9th Ward which has been slow to recover. There were signs of hope, life, and renewal but the rate of progress remains a social and political scandal.

The famous trolleys have resumed service in New Orleans. From downtown we boarded the Saint Charles Street line for a tour of the scenic Garden District.

Steps from the market in the French Quarter opposite Jackson Square is the Moon Walk of New Orleans. Strolling along the waterfront one comes to the river boat Natchez. On the top deck a musician plays the colorful calliope as folks board for an excursion.

In New Orleans, for many visitors, every day is Mardi Gras. You see them on Bourbon Street well before noon clutching powerful concoctions such as Hurricanes and Handgrenades. Then there is a fabulous food from oysters and gumbo, a Po Boy sandwich for lunch, or K Paul and Antoine's for an elegant dinner. The Big Easy.

Cape Town and Peninsula is a nature paradise with its oceans, mountains, flora and fauna. People from every part of the world have arrived here, some not by choice, creating a wonderfully rich and vibrant culture.

Victoria Falls is the world's largest curtain of water created by the Zambezi River. The tranquil river begins churning savagely as it nears the edge of a breathtaking gorge. Rainbows are etched in its rising mist; birds, butterflies and small creatures thrive in its rain forest.

Hwange National Park rests on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Waterholes, created by pumps to carry water above ground, have transformed the park into Zimbabwe's largest game reserve. Nearby villages provide insights to the traditions and the daily lives of the local people.

The Okavango Delta is the largest untouched inland delta in the world. It combines a lacework of islands, tree-lined riverbeds, open floodplains and dense gardens of aquatic vegetation. Its fascinating eco system plays host to a myriad of animal, bird and plant life. The night sky is a spectacle to behold.

The Caprivi Strip is the wettest region of Namibia, known otherwise for its desert climate. Multiple rivers feed reed-filled swamps, flood plains, wetlands, and woodlands creating a verdant eco system that is home to over 450 animal species. Sunsets in this region are spectacles to behold.

My three-week adventure began as well as ended in South Africa, with trips in between to Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Soweto, South Africa is a proud, culturally vibrant city with a painful apartheid history. Chobe National Park in Botswana offers insights of a different kind with variety of large and small game and a vast terrain of woodlands, savannah and flood plains.

In the delightful small city of Ravenna there are more bicycles than cars. We spent the day visiting churches with magnficent mosaics.

Gulf of Gokova offers an alternative vacation spot to the buzz of nearby resort towns of Bodrum and Marmaris on the Mediterranean.

Cameras in Venice click constantly. There is a cacaphony of shutters. How then to find unique images? Oh well. Here is a gallery of memories.

Ottoman towns on the Silk Road offer a respite from the urban buzz with their natural beauty,unique architecture and traditional way of life.

Our Hungarian correspondent, Szabolcs Mosonyi wraps up his tour of Senegal and Gambia and shares some final thoughts on his African experience.

Another rainy day in Venice as we visited the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, the Gallery of the Palazzo Cini and Santa Maria della Salute.

It was a rainy, blustery week in Venice. But this mattered little when we visited some of the great museums and churches including the Accademia, Frari and Scuola di San Rocco.

Crossing the Anti Atlas Mountains revealed ancient customs and folklore amidst breath-taking natural beauty.

Morocco's African, Arab Berber and French cultures blend into a fascinating mix in Marrakech. Jemaa el-Fna in the medina, or old quarter is the heartbeat of this city, which offers a feast for all the senses.

On a rainy weekday afternoon we found the Piazza San Marco all but deserted. But it was a good opportunity to explore the Basilica without the usual crowds.

Camping in the Sahara was a unique experience of a lifetime: watching the sunrise from atop gigantic dunes, meditating in their wind-carved craters, looking at the spectacle of the nightsky,and meeting the desert dwellers, the Tuaregs and the Imazighen... Need I say more?

Discover Fez, Morocco's first imperial city and its medina, the medieval town center with a labyrinth of alleyways and 600 craft shops. Then,cross the Atlas Mountains to catch sight of Berber lands.

Discover the imperial cities of Rabat and Meknes and Morocco's first Roman city Volubilis.

The Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli, in the Dorso Duro section of Venice, steps from the Accademia Bridge over the Grand Canal had location, location, location with two fabulous restaurants and a neighborhood wine bar.

Morocco's imperial cities,rich cultural fabric and natural beauty surpassed my expectations.Discover a fascinating destination in this six part series.

Continuing coverage of a recent three week tour of Northern Italy visiting several cities with great artistic treasures.

From a huge banner for Dolce & Gabanna covering a scaffold on the Grand Canal in Venice to student bulletin boards in Bologna we recorded some signs of the times.

On the way from Milan to Venice we stopped for a weekend in Padua to view the Giotto frescos in the Scrovengi Chapel. The hotel proved to be in a suburb of the city.

Giotto painted a fresco cycle of the Life of the Virgin and the Life of Christ in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. It took him two years to create the paintings but today we get just fifteen minutes to view his masterpiece.

Sharing a Holiday abroad with ex-pats and services at St Paul�s Cathedral while trying to have fun on a weak dollar. The writer�s daughter was studying at University College, University of London.So what better way to get a little European culture over an extended holiday week? Their trip to Amsterdam had a few problems, surprises and treats.Part 1 of 2 Parts.

Looking at houseboats, visiting Anne Frank's hiding place and even taking a swipe at windmills,the father/daughter odyssey in London and Amsterdam continues.

Our Hungarian correspondent, Szabolcs Mosonyi, and his mates wanted the challenge of finding the Real Africa. This chapter details their continuing adventures in Senegal and Gambia.

The first half of a three week, seven city, tour of Northern Italy. Beginning and ending in Milan with a stop in Padua before a week in Venice.

A subjective recount of impressions from a two-week tour of Senegal and the Gambia, which revealed many aspects of life in Africa and allowed a look behind the stereotypes of Africa seen on travel shows and news programs.

Berkshire artist Debi Pendell and Cathy Doocy from Connecticut returned from a five week residence and exhibitions in Bulgaria.

In a bilingual report in English and German we cover the recent 9th annual International Contemporary Artists Meeting organized by Professor Dorothea Fleiss of Stuttgart in her home town of Carei, Romania.

We journeyed from Cusco, the picturesque colonial city and the former capital of the Inca Empire,to Puno with stops for historic wonders and fascinating folklore set amidst spectacular scenery.

Peru and Bolivia share the world's highest navigable lake lined with sacred sites and fascinating native cultures along both coasts.

Traveling along sacred mountains and rivers, we arrived at the ancient Inca city, Machu Picchu. I was a pilgrim at my destination.

Each year traveling to a distant land I have not seen before, I went to Peru to celebrate my birthday.

Traveling south and north of Van, paralleling the Iranian border.

Traveling to a remote part of Turkey near the Iranian border in May.

Hudson, New York was known for the Sportin Life until Tom Dewey cleaned it up in the 1950s. By the 1980s the antique dealers moved in followed in the 1990s by art galleries. It is a two hour train ride from Manhattan.

Putney, Vermont a picture perfect New England village was among the first in the nation to vote to impeach President George W. Bush. That's just one of many reasons to check it out.

With Victorian houses and country inns in Chester and Federal architecture in nearby Grafton these Vermont destinations are enticing in all seasons.

The New York Times has posted a feature on the unique Topia Inn in Adams, Mass. Astrid Hiemer filed this report when it opened.

The Turkish born American writer visited five of the seven geographic regions of her native land. Her observations, in her own words, reflect "the perspectives of both insider and outsider."

From the last home of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site, to the rich antiquities of Ephesus and Pergamum, to the site of the legendary city of Troy the topic of the Homeric epics.

Exploring the classical Greek and Roman heritage of Turkey from Roman baths to a city dedicated to Aphrodite the goddess of love and fertility.

A tour of Turkey continues through volcanic tuff from the eruptions of Mt. Erciyes which results in "giant sand dunes."

A once in a lifetime tour of remote and historically rich parts of Turkey by a native born traveler.

Last fall, Zeren Earls, a native of Turkey who divides time between Cambridge and Istanbul joined a small group for a tour of remote areas rich in history and natural beauty. This is part one of a report in several segments.

Wrapping up a whirlwind tour of London reports on days three and four of a Virgin Airlines travel package. Exploring potential colleges for daughter Evan's junior year abroad. Mostly window shopping till you drop including historic Covent Garden. Jumping the rope at Westminster Abbey.

Contuing the saga of a London visit by design and architecture critic, Mark Favermann, and his daughter. Updates on sore feet as well as enticing sights and smells including tasty curry before a dash to the theatre for Porgy and Bess.

The first of two reports on a recent whirwind adventure of father and daughter out and about in London Town.

Time for that post holiday, January Blues, winter vacation in vintage Atlantic City.

The first in a series of Time Travel views of American and Canadian cities and other subjects. Here are images including the World Fair of 1939.

Back in the day in Old New York.

Put a little zing in your life. Forget that Norman Rockwell Holiday in Stockbridge. Head for Vegas where the fun never stops.

Sights and smells of the city from Union Square and the Farmers Market to Chelsea. A glorious fall day but no foliage in the urban jungle.

There are 45,000 objects from the Ancient Near East through contemporary art in the collection of the Corning Glass Museum in upstate New York.

The weekend long festival at Ganondagan, in upstate New York, featured Seneca people peforming social dancing the the group Alma Boliviana from the Washington, D.C. area.

The Alma Boliviana dance group traveled from Washington,D.C. to peform as a part of the Gonondagan festival.