Last September I was in a small taxi heading to Lalibela, Ethiopia. Sitting in the front seat taking pictures, my driver asked if I was American. After I said yes, he asked if I thought Donald Trump would be elected President. I said no I did not think he would win. He smiled and said […]

Leaving the port of Le Havre, France onboard Viking Sea. Returning to my cabin after another exciting Viking Cruises‘ christening in Koblenz, Germany, I found a letter, asking if I would consider being interviewed.  I emailed the Viking video team that I would be happy to share my thoughts on Viking and cruising.  (This is […]

Sometimes all the stars align…..at dawn on the Masai Mara. Spend 16 seconds with me as I soar over the wildebeests during the Great Migration. Sometimes called the ‘World Cup of Wildlife’,  over two million animals cross from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara plains in Kenya every year.    This video  shows […]

On my last trip to Jordan, I was fortunate to view an extraordinary collection in a private home in Amman.  This exquisite collection  documents a Palestine that many never knew. Travel to Jordan is always magnificent. It is a traveler’s paradise of a warm and welcoming people, World Heritage sites, history, natural history and the […]

There is so much to see in Petra beyond the iconic Treasury. Like the majestic Temenos Gate, Roman 2nd century AD. On my recent Azamara Club Cruises cruise from Rome to Dubai, I asked many fellow passengers why they chose this itinerary? The almost universal answer was to see Petra. One of the new “Seven Wonders […]

What happens when you tour Jerusalem and the West Bank with an Israeli and a Palestinian guide?  Dual narratives? Yes. Disagreements? Yes. Acrimony? None.  Travel and politics, done well. Samir and Yuval, our Palestinian and Israeli guides, at the site of Herodium, looking out over the West Bank. Standing atop the ancient site of Herodium, at […]

  “Watching the crossing of the Mara River this morning surpassed all my previous safaris…combined.”  Author Jared Diamond September 9. 2016 Let me back up. Our private jet group had landed in Kenya from Ethiopia the day before Jared’s safari of a lifetime. Greeted on the runway by the Masai and our guides, we were […]

Beyond the Colosseum many exciting, less visited, world class sites are waiting for you to explore in Rome.  Here are a few of my top finds.  Hint: they include Michelangelo, the Borgias and Mussolini. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Slow down, relish the moment, savor the tastes and dig a little deeper […]

The author at Hampton Court Palace. Travel is always enlightening.  Sometimes it is exceptional.  But when all the stars align, it becomes extraordinary. My travels through Great Britain with author and historian Alison Weir have been extraordinary.  Here is why. Many geographic destinations may seem more exotic and I have visited almost all, from Easter […]

  A stop on the Grand Tour since the 18th century, the site of Pompeii still mesmerizes…even for the return visitor. A favorite port stop on many Mediterranean itineraries is the Amalfi Coast. Flowers, vistas, lemons and limoncello lure travelers to long lunches and evening strolls. Pulling into Sorrento by ship is one of the most striking […]