6 April 2026 The M’Zab Valley is a striking and historically significant region, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its unique combination of geography, architecture, and social organization. There consists a series of five towns, or ksour, in the oasis—Ghardaïa, Béni Read more
5 April 2026 This day is all about DISTRACTIONS from the long road ahead. We will travel about 260 miles to our next destination, Ghardaïa. Our route, while on paved road, meanders through the Sahara. And Read more
4 April 2026 We continue our Sahara journey to Bou Saâda. The national road N3 heads northerly to the small oasis of El Kantara before turning in a northwesterly direction onto N70/N78. Not much changes during Read more
3 April 2026 We depart Constantine for our 170-mile drive into the northern Sahara Desert. The route looks curvy as it winds itself southwesterly on state routes. We drive among the cliffs and low mountain ranges Read more
2 April 2026 Constantine does not gradually reveal itself. It startles. After miles of green fields, days of deserts and dunes, I look around and wonder if nature simply decided to show off a little. Mother Read more
1 April 2026 We depart Algeria and travel to Constantine – a long, long 275-mile drive. The guide describes it as embarking on “a captivating journey.” Skies loom gray, rain falls and wind gusts. Flags Read more
31 March 2026 After a breakfast of yogurt, nuts and a bit of baghrir (semolina pancake soaked in honey), we depart Algiers to visit the nearby city of Tipaza. The day seems warmer as there is Read more
30 March 2026 New country, new breakfast. While still centered around strong coffee, breakfast appears heavily influenced by the French, traditions left behind when the they left Algeria in 1962. Morning meal is a tasty mix Read more
29 March 2026 One needs time in a country to truly begin to appreciate its history, culture, diversity and idiosyncrasies or peccadillos. I did not have the time or exposure during my brief visits to Read more
28 March 2026 We begin our morning maneuvering Sfax to its historic Medina. Sfax is not pretty in any obvious way. It feels more like a working, industrial city. It’s Tunisia’s second-largest city and its Read more
27 March 2026 Touring: not for the weak or the slow. It rewards those who can function on little sleep, adapt to early wakeup schedules, and climb vans and jeeps with the agility of a Read more
26 March 2026 Tunisia’s Tataouine Governorate feels like stepping beyond Earth’s familiar into a landscape sculpted by wind, silence, and time. The horizon stretches endlessly, carved into rippling desert plains, honey-colored ksour rising like ancient Read more
25 March 2026 Every breakfast combination known to Man and then some appears spread out in the dining area. No known soup, salad, sliced meat, cheese, olive, date, egg, bread, jellies, and mystery stuff is Read more
24 March 2026 Google Maps and my eyes tell me – there are no roads where we go. In fact, our destination, a desert camp in Tembaine, appears not on a map. But dessert car Read more
23 March 2026 Climbing aboard a 4-wheel Landrover hints at what our day may be like. While we travel mostly on paved roads thru low hills, sand cliffs and dunes, we seem destined for a Read more
22 March 2026 After breakfast, we board our bus for the 300-mile drive to Tozeur, Tunisia. There are 12 of us on a 29-seat bus so very comfortable. Thankfully, we enjoy a few interesting stops Read more
21 March 2026 Our lesson this morning is Eid Mabrouk, which translates to Blessed Eid or Happy Eid in English. This represents the traditional greeting used by Muslims to celebrate the a major Islamic holiday: Eid Read more
20 March 2026 May your morning be as radiant as a blooming flower. EgyptAir EgyptAir blessed us to have a good day as it transported Gabrielle and I from Cairo. We return to Tunis. The Read more
19 March 2026 This morning, I see the pyramids from my balcony. This bodes well for cleaner air today. We join our guide, Galal, for a final day exploring some of Cairo’s most interesting museums. Read more
18 March 2026 No traveler in centuries has visited all Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, recognized for their grand scale and awesomeness. As a reminder:
17 March 2026 July 11 1981 Cairo seems beyond belief. Then again, any city that tattoos minorities, leaves thousands to bed down on the streets, dresses in nightshirts and unzipped trousers, brews tea from canals, and Read more
16 March 2026 July 10 1981 I arrive on the African Continent. Cairo is a shock to my senses. Flying in, I could see the Nile Delta, beautiful green expanse becoming browner as we came Read more
15 March 2026 Won’t kid myself: There exists a viable concern about flying in the direction of a war zone. Especially one started and executed by my own country. It is disconcerting that my government Read more
16 December 2025 Greece: From Delphi and Olympia to Monasteries and Mountains We traced a looping path through Greece’s layered past—standing where oracles once spoke at Delphi, where naked athletes competed at Olympia, and where Read more
14 December 2025 Over breakfast, we plan how to spend the day among the ruins and legends of Athens. The Parthenon shouts for our return, silent stones rest around every corner, ancient churches pop up Read more
13 December 2025 Today, a change of pace. After breakfast, we walked to Syntagma and through the National Garden. We hope to see more green, fewer rocks, receive a little edification, and explore the more Read more
12-13 December 2025 So many ruins, so many rocks – the Ancient Agora and the lively area of Monastriaki Square lie below the north side of the Acropolis. More carved columns and ancient history. I Read more
12 December 2025 Fortified with our usual breakfast of Greek yogurt and fruit, we face a full day filled with rocks, columns, more rocks, and ancient ruins. Everywhere one looks, the city is decked out Read more
11 December 2025 Our final day in the Peloponnese begins with a visit to iconic ancient rock ruins before a stop-over to see a big cut into solid rock accomplished by human engineering, not gods. Read more
10 December 2025 Our protective Swiss goddess of kindness watches over us as we awaken to a Peloponnese blue sky, the sun soft across tiled rooftops and the olive-green hills of Nafplio. The church next Read more
9 December 2025 After a delicious Mediterranean breakfast—always my favorite—we leave sea and sun to retrace our drive north before turning East. After a short 80 miles or so, we reach the sparkling waters of Read more
7-8 December 2025 We explore warmer climes and ancient ruins, Greek myths and its heroes. The Peloponnese where ancient history, dramatic landscapes, and modern Greek life exist side by side with the likes of Oedipus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Read more
Our Greek saga has reached the tetralogy stage. We awake to the driest streets in days, cloudy but I can see forests and rocks. I see what resembles blue in the dawn sky. Puddles have Read more
5-6 December 2025 It’s almost impossible to choose a favorite among the monasteries of Meteora—each one offers something extraordinary. From the grandeur of Great Meteoron to the quiet grace of Varlaam or Roussanou, all are Read more
5 December 2025 Stanzas from the Great Greek Comedy of Pat & Gabrielle
4 December 2025 We drive the 134 miles from Delphi to the city of Kalabaka, a place known mainly as the gateway to Meteora. Though Kalabaka sits only about 700 feet above sea level, it Read more
DATELINE: METEORA, GREECE Farmers determined – Reinforcing the blockades and escalating protests. Every day, the network of farmers’ blockades across Greece grows wider. Site production costs and the low prices of essential agricultural products as Read more
1-3 December 2025 I told my niece Gabrielle, “You choose a place to travel this winter—just warm and keep it simple. ” She chose Greece, and that sounded perfect to me. I hadn’t been back Read more
(A tale proving that true travelers aren’t just determined—they’re one cancelled flight away from full-blown heroic desperation.) Sing, O Muse, of Pat and Gabrielle—two travelers so committed to embarking on their Hellenic adventure that even Read more
October 2025 We started in Tokyo, a city so bright,Imperial Palace gleaming in light.We strolled palace gardens with proper grace,Till we lost half the group — “Wrong exit, wrong place!”We learned to remove shoes — Read more
October 2025 One gets distracted by the talk of bullet trains, temples, history and the courtesy of Japan. Found within this mix is an assortment of oddities that may only be found among the Japanese. Read more
13 – 14 October 2025 The traditional shukubō lodging offers rest, meditation, dining on shōjin ryōri Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and the opportunity to join in the religious life. I’ve enjoyed rest and veggies, now comes my test. This morning, I Read more
12 October 2025 Every day in Japan feels like stepping into a new adventure, full of surprises and discoveries about its history and culture. The country never ceases to amaze me; the old adage of Read more
11 October 2025 We visit a food market at the train station where we buy a bento: a chicken box lunch. We pay with our Icoca rail card. Our Shinkansen departs Hiroshima on the minute Read more
10 October 2025 From my window, the modern port city of Hiroshima stretches before me. A landscape of high-rises, tree tops, and wind streets framed by green mountains to the north and the wide expanse of Read more
10 Oct 2025 Today is a day for reliving history. To appreciate what I will visit later, I need to review what historians have learned and disclosed about the causations and events of 6 August 1945. Read more
9 Oct 2025 Sadly, too little time in this city. From man hole covers to street art and lively socks, Himeji invites one to stay, play and explore. I walk across the street to enter Read more
8 Oct 2025 Excitement builds. After breakfast, I will officially board a bullet train. I watched them zip by while at the Railroad Museum. Now I get to ride one from Kyoto to Himeji.
7 October 2025 I wake to a spectacular view of sunrise and dramatic clouds over the Tōji Temple, a five storied pagoda, the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan at 157 feet. A UNESCO world heritage Read more
5-6 October 2025 With the morning comes cloudy skies and light rain. Our new guide, Jun, leads us through a tiny portion of Omicho Market. Omicho (also called Ōmichō Ichiba) is Kanazawa’s sprawling fresh-food market, Read more
4 October 2025 Kanazawa’s history began in feudal times as the seat of the Maeda clan, one of Japan’s wealthiest and most powerful families. The Maeda ruled the Kaga Domain, which rivaled even Kyoto and Edo Read more
3 October 2025 Today, we depart via bus. Ultimately, we will travel about 72 miles northwest reaching the Sea of Japan, which, in China, is still the Japan Sea. We plan a couple stops in Read more
2 October 2025 Imagine sitting down in a serene tatami room, shoes politely abandoned at the door. You sit on a pillow on the floor. Your feet fall into a well under the low table. Read more
2 October 2025 Takayama used to be the castle town which General Nagachika Kanamori built on behalf of his master at the end of the Sengoku era when Hideyosi Toyotomi ruled Japan. In 1692, however, Read more
1 October 2025 A short drive takes us southerly over the 2,628-foot Magome Pass. The pass is the highest elevation along the Nakasendō Way. Surrounding mountains and the cedar and bamboo forests are outstanding. It Read more
30 September 2025 After a delightful evening in Narai followed by a Western breakfast, I enjoy time to wander Narai’s streets. The village seems a good place to buy lacquerware and woodcrafts. Not being a Read more
29 September 2025 This morning, we begin our days of train travel. For someone from the U.S., I am always impressed by the development and efficiency of public transportation around the world. In most of Read more
28 September 2025 Today, we again travel by coach: direction northeast 190 miles to Yudanaka. Distance doesn’t amount to much but the slow, busy roads take most of our day. Once we arrive, we will Read more
27 September 2025 I depart the massive, bustling megatropolis of Tokyo. I won’t complain, as my destination for the day includes another icon of Japan: Mt. Fuji. I’ve jetted past the mountain in the past, enjoying spectacular Read more
26 September 2025 Om Mani Padme Hum Buddha give me serenity and patience Carrying my backpack, I walk to a new hotel, bracing myself to join a tour group. It feels a bit like handing Read more
25 September 2025 I can’t believe that Godzilla was the last of his species. If nuclear testing continues, then someday, somewhere in the world, another Godzilla may appear. Godzilla, King of the Monsters Unfortunately, Dr. Read more
24 September 2025 I’ve read that there are no fewer than eighteen ways to say “hello” in Japanese, which means I’m visiting Japan eighteen steps behind. When I learned the Russian alphabet, at least I Read more
23 September 2025 The last time I visited Tokyo, I never actually made it past Narita Airport and a nearby luxury hotel—an unplanned overnight courtesy of United Airlines. My grand cultural immersion consisted mostly of jet lag, Read more
30-31 May 2025 We laze in charming Würzburg as long as possible. Temperature reaches mid-seventies and the sun is blasting. However, sadly, we must board an ICE direct train from the Hbf to Frankfurt’s Airport. Read more
28-29 May 2025 After visiting Würzburg in 2021, I wrote: “The Nuremberg Residenz is too groß and grand, Bamburg Residenz too small and simple, but Würzburg Residenz is just right.” I enjoyed my visit to Read more
Rothenberg, Germany – 25-27 May 2025 The walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber are a dream come true for lovers of medieval architecture—and for anyone who ever wanted to pretend they were on castle patrol. Read more
25-27 May 2025 Rothenburg is a Bavarian village often included on river cruises. It’s located on the Tauber River, which flows into the Main River, and the Main River connects to the Danube through the Read more
22-24 May 2025 I fell in love with Nürnberg when I visited in 2021. I forever love a walled city with turrets and moats. Actually, I fell in love with Nürnberg artist, Albrecht Dürer. Or maybe Read more
21 May 2025 Regensburg proves to be a wonderful old city filled with beautiful architecture, a grand cathedral, historic plazas and cafes. The Danube weaves through the city as church bells toll from soaring towers. Read more
19-20 May 2025 Departing Munich’s Hbf, with a train leaving about every hour, we travel about an hour and a half to the city of Regensburg. We settle into a 6-person compartment to zip through green Read more
16-17 May 2025 Using the DB Navigator App, we purchase tickets on a EuroCity train south to the lakeside resort of Prien am Chiemsee. Prien seems like stepping into a picturesque postcard with beautiful lake Read more
14-15 May 2025 After the huge crowds in Paris last month, I hesitate to hope for a better outcome for Munich. Lots and lots of people are traveling, flights are full, popular destinations crowded. Good Read more
12-13 May 2025 11-13 May 2025 I face the epic dilemma of an experienced global traveler: Option one, revisit those spots from years ago, where I’ve likely forgotten everything except the name of that one Read more
16-17 April 2025 I take liberties with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Instead of “Take the train from Casablanca going south,” I leave Marrakech upon the highways going North to Casablanca. It nears the end of Read more
14-15 April 2025 Crosby Stills & Nash spoke of “saving all my money Just to take you there.” They sing of “Blowing smoke rings” and the “Striped djellabas” of Marrakech. They also spelled it Marrakesh Read more
13 April 2025 Whoopa…. Would you know we’re riding On the Marakesh Express? Would you know we’re riding On the Marrakesh Express? They’re taking me to Marrakesh All on board the train All on board Read more
11-12 April 2025 We close the door on our comfortable stay at Dar al Hossoun in Taroudant. Leaving the cats and peacock behind, we continue our progress westward. For the past few months, I have Read more
10 April 2025 The city of Taroudant looks large and enticing. As we enter the city, I see miles of adobe walls enclosing the old Medina. The entire area looks relatively untouched by modern man. Read more
9 April 2025 Thomas Lawrence, soldier and archaeologist, served in Saudi Arabia during WWI as a liaison between the British government and the Arab tribes. Such reality never gets in the way of location shooting Read more
8 April 2025 Early morning, we motor up the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. Itinerary notes “we travel west.” This appeared commendable. I love fortresses/kasbahs. But then, yikes! Our vehicle points north into the gorge. Read more
7 April 2025 True, sunsets are gorgeous. Libation in hand, quiet evenings, good company: it’s a wonderful time. Meanwhile, sunrises, though often gorgeous, depends upon timing. Sunrise at Merzouga Dunes is 6:59 am. This is Read more
6 April 2025 This morning, I am moving – slowly. Food has little appeal. I head for our bus. The day’s itinerary leaves no room for laggards. The drive will be long but broken up Read more
5 April 2025 There always seems to be a tour day of sit-and-ride. This is it. I generally love these days. With professional drivers, I enjoy sitting back and watching the scenery roll past my Read more
4 April 2025 Here, within a Mediterranean country, I consider myself a breakfast person. My breakfast usually includes olives, cheese, amlou (a delicious spread of honey, almonds and argan oil), croissants, maybe a baghrir (a Read more
2-3 April 2025 Fez/Fès, the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities, becomes the most impressive. The medieval city was founded in 789 BCE by Idris I, the first ruler of the Idrisid dynasty. His son, Idris II, expanded Read more
2 April 2025 We depart Casablanca for the 54-mile drive northeast to the city of Rabat. It is sunny and warm; the ocean is a brilliant blue and I relax. We are a group of Read more
1-2 April 2025 Let’s first clarify the facts. No one filmed the iconic film Casablanca in Casablanca. Rick’s Café never existed. Whispered rumors were that Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart didn’t even like each other Read more
31 March 2025 When March came, my weather at home was stormy, cold and wet. I suppose I could say the month entered like a California Mountain Lion. Today, here in Tanger, March is exiting Read more
28-30 March 2025 Whether spelled Tangier or Tanger, this vibrant Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar thrives where the Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans meet. Since Phoenician times (around the 3rd to 4th century BCE), Read more
30 March 2025 Before visiting, I research two items: free walking tours and if Hop on Hop Off buses operate within the city. Tanger offers both. Because of time constraints, we chose to avail ourselves Read more
29 March 2025 We depart Tanger. Today, we visit two cities of northern Morocco. Picked up at our hotel, we meet Mostafa, our driver, and begin to learn more about Morocco’s culture and history as Read more
28 March 2025 While I traveled to parts of Morocco in 2010, I thought it a good time to update my impressions and learn more about this country. Actually, it was my niece who chose Read more
Thursday, 27 March, 2025 We have enjoyed some wonderful walks about the city. Parisian streets are busy but clean. Drivers appear polite when we cross a street – they no longer seem to aim for me Read more
Wednesday, 26 March, 2025, sunny and cool I believe if one desires to know and understand a place, one walks it. Best learning about Paris by walking and using its fabulous Metro. There exists miles Read more
Tuesday, 25 March, 2025 Early train, Museum Pass in hand, reservations booked. We set off to explore Versailles. Tourists, go that-a-way. Take your patience and good shoes. Be patient or stay home! Château de Versailles Read more
24 March, 2025 Paris beckons. Some cities remain timeless, majestic, and full of charm. They offer a tapestry of culture, history, food and drink. Paris holds that promise and more. I have visited Paris numerous Read more
23 March 2025 There are cities in the world that deserve repeated visits. Being the greatest on any list is an honorable position. Paris fits that description. I rejoice in visiting the City of Light Read more
22 March 2025 “I was looking into Carnac, France” my niece messaged me, “because they are famous for their 10,000 standing rocks. It’s about 1.5 hrs from Rennes and might be a little far to Read more
19-21 March 2025 In fall of 2019, I visited this city and thought “a perfect stop. I wish I had more time.” Well, the time has come as Gabrielle and I lodge here for the Read more