Exploring the World
International travel has been one of the great teachers of my life. Walking through ancient streets, standing before monuments, and sharing moments with people from different cultures has expanded not only my understanding of the world but also of myself. Each journey has left me with new stories, new perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty and resilience woven into every corner of our globe.
Recent Posts
Trabi Car in Berlin – Germany
When we visited Berlin in 2017, one of our fun adventures was driving a Trabant, known as a Trabi. I have to admit, I had never heard of these cars before. And when Marty suggested the tour, I was curious and so glad we did it. Marty took the wheel as we followed our guide […]
Crumlin Road Gaol – Belfast, Northern Ireland
During our visit to Northern Ireland, Erin and I spent time exploring Belfast, a capital city layered with history. One of the most powerful places we visited was Crumlin Road Gaol. Opened in 1846, Crumlin Road Gaol operated for more than 150 years and housed prisoners during the turbulent chapters of Irish history including the Irish War of […]
Panama Canal – Panama
The day we spent on the Panama Canal was unforgettable. The moment those massive gates close behind us and we begin to rise, lifted by nothing more than gravity-fed freshwater, we understand that we are stepping into an important chapter in world history. Moving through the locks, you can see there are no pumps or motors. The natural […]
Warsaw Ghetto – Poland
Today, Warsaw Poland is a rebuilt and thriving city. Walking around the city, there are powerful reminders of its history. Nowhere is this more evident than along the boundary markers of the former Warsaw Ghetto. These modest markers trace the outline of what was once the largest Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Europe. In November […]
Hans Christian Anderson – Copenhagen, Denmark
When Erin and I visited Copenhagen in 2017, this large bronze statue of Hans Christian Anderson, fondly reminded us of so many of the childhood stories we shared. Anderson is Denmark’s most beloved storyteller, and he is seated on a tall chair as if he is ready to share a story in the middle of […]
Ghetto Heroes Square – Krakow, Poland
In 2019, we visited Ghetto Heroes Square in Krakow, a wide-open public square that today holds striking memorial installations. Scattered across the space are dozens of oversized bronze chairs: simple, empty, and haunting. The installation, created in 2005 by Lewicki and Latak, stands as a memorial to the Jewish residents of the Krakow Ghetto who once lived […]
Normandy Cliffs and American Cemetery – France
There are few places more memorable to me than our visit to Normandy. No movie, photograph or history book could prepare us for the vastness of this coastline or the weight it still carries. It is impossible not to feel the immensity of what happened across these beaches on June 6, 1944. We started at […]
The Miracle of Santo Cristo dos Milagres – Portugal
When we arrived in the Azores in May 2025, we had no idea we were stepping into one of the islands’ most sacred and remarkable celebrations. The streets of Ponta Delgada were closed to traffic, storefronts shuttered, and the city was blanketed in flowers. What we thought was an ordinary weekend turned out to be […]
Nafplio and Worry Beads – Greece
While visiting Greece this year, we drove to Nafplio, a town that was built for wandering with its narrow cobblestone streets. This romantic seaport town in the Peloponnese, was part of Greece’s first modern capital. Among its charms, we discovered a shop filled with strands of komboloi or Greek worry beads. These beads are not […]
A Few Unforgettable Days in Greece
The big travels, the ones that take days of planning, always feel like special journeys. Our few days in Greece was one of those trips of 2025, and it did not disappoint. I had long wanted to walk the ancient streets of Athens and stand before the Acropolis. To finally be there, surrounded by history, […]
Greece: The Ancient Land with a Modern Fight for Freedom
I grew up reading the Greek myths and stories of the gods to my children, but my knowledge of Greece didn’t travel much further than that. Of course, I knew that our own founding fathers studied Greek and Roman history to help shape American democracy but that’s where my understanding began and ended. What struck […]
Gorreana Tea Plantation – Azores, Portugal
After a challenging month, we were looking for a place to go to rest and rejuvenate. A non-stop flight was essential. A place where we could decompress with no responsibilities. We chose the Azores. Not knowing more about these islands other than everyone we had ever met from there were genuine people An easy flight, quick check […]
