Blogs

 Do you remember going on family vacations when you were a kid?

   It's funny how I can't remember where I put my keys or my phone or what I was supposed to pick up at the store (so when I arrive, I just stand there looking around for some hint) but I can remember being on vacation with my family when I was a kid.

  My parents worked several jobs at once to keep us afloat. Neither of them had it easy.

   We weren't able to spend much time with our Dad as he worked a day job and a night job.

At one time there were more than 100,000 elephants in Thailand, mainly working in the timber business. In 1989, the worst flooding in the Thai history caused the death of thousands of people. The flood was a direct result of excessive timber harvesting. To protect the rapidly diminishing forests, the Thai government outlawed timbering. This left over thousands of domesticated working elephants with no means of supporting themselves.

Today there are only about 5,000 elephants mostly working in

I’ve been to a lot of beaches in Costa Rica. Most of them I like, some of them I don’t. Then there are others that are so off the charts in fabulousness that I nearly don’t want to tell anyone about them.

All right, I’ll tell you. I’ve discovered a hidden gem. A place I had no idea it existed before last weekend. But let’s keep it between ourselves … or at least among fellow like-minded people who will keep this tropical paradise beach in the same pristine condition it is today.

To start, for me

Each year nations around the world compete for major events.  These events can range from sporting events to political events, from major conventions to religious festivals.  In all cases, and despite their different themes, these events are judged not only be the quality of the event but also by the events economic success or failure.  No matter what we call the event or what its purpose may be, on some level events are a business and the locale that chooses to ignore the business side of the e

Bulgaria is in vogue! And it's no surprise. This extraordinary country has plenty to offer travelers while still being able brag about not being inundated with mass tourism. Bulgaria has much more than you might imagine; beaches and resorts by the Black Sea, the lovely Sunny Beach, museums, churches and orthodox monasteries, vibrant cities such asSofia, Varna or Burgas, mountains with first-class ski slopes, endless paths to delight ramblers, etc.

In summertime, the Bulgarian coast is a paradi

When I read not long ago that Peru‘s legendary Andean site Machu Picchu had made the top of TripAdvisor‘s annual “Traveler’s Choice” list of most prominent world landmarks, I certainly wasn’t surprised (though admittedly, the list was more than a little weird in some ways – number two was some mosque in Abu Dhabi, while the Parthenon and the Pyramid of Giza didn’t even crack the top ten).

Be that as it may, there are of course many stunning relics of human civilization that have accumulated ov

Where do you go in Washington DC for a special celebration to make memories with family and friends over food and wine?

by VadeAviones.com


At one point or another we’ve all experienced bumpy patches during a flight, and whether we’re nervous flyers or not, few of us enjoy it.

So what exactly is air turbulence, technically speaking? Wind, of course, is the movement of air particles in greater or lesser degree, and turbulence is produced when that movement is disrupted and disturbances appear in the form of vortices. This is caused by different meteorological situations, the most common being vertically develo

Gardens and parks offer great relaxation both for mind and eyes, and the lovely city of Porto in northern Portugal has them in spades. Four of the top choices: 

Jardim de António Calém 

On Rua das Sobreiras, the must-see  Antonio Calém Garden is a small but full of bushes, trees, and lawns, at has a lovely location on the banks of the river Douro, and is famous for its romantic view over the river. Other highlights include the monument to the 1415 expedition of Ceuta and the high black poplars.

We had been wanting to try Sugarfreak since it opened a few months ago, but Jon's gluten allergy, and my intolerance to sugar kept us away. When I first glanced at the menu one day as I walked by it on 30th Ave, all I saw were po-boy and muffaletta sandwiches (hence, the gluten), and that name...well it scared me a little. Still, I was intrigued by what looked like shower curtains covering the front window, and the New Orleans theme. Once my friend and co-contributor to this blog, Teresa Barile,

Located in the prefecture of Serres, not far from Thessaloniki, Lake Kerkini truly captivates visitors, despite the fact that it is an artificial reservoir, as today it's become a very important wetland of Greece, giving shelter to many seldom seen aquatic bird species. We had the chance to make the tour of the lake, one of the country's premier birding sites, one day last summer, when the water shone blue and the birds were refreshing themselves in the water continuously. There and on the oliv

Java hounds sniffing after both a copacetic cuppa and the chance to experience key aspects of history, culture, and ecology relating to coffee in several Latin American countries have the opportunity to have it all in a number of regions which have facilities that receive visitors, from small organic farms all the way up to major industrial operations.

Brazil  Though coffee isn’t native to this country’s, it’s now the world’s largest grower, with production today widespread in areas of São P

Like all travelers, when you plan a vacation to an unfamiliar location, you want to have an idea of what to expect. TripAdvisor is a great resource for getting insider information about a place from guests who have been there.

Here are 5 great travel tips for your vacation to Nosara, Costa Rica from guests who stayed at L’acqua Viva Resort & Spa by Playa Guiones.

1. What’s the best way to get to Nosara, Costa Rica? Fly.

The area of Nosara includes the town of Nosara and the beaches of Playa Guio

Nestled in the heart of 6-million-acre Adirondack Park yet within walking distance to downtown Lake Placid, Whiteface Lodge looks remarkably historic for being built in 2005. Massive timbers still in the shape of tree trunks stand as support pillars buttressed by open wood beam framing. Much of this wood was milled on site with construction inspired by the Adirondack Great Camp architecture so popular across the region and in national parks throughout the United States during the 19th century.

The northeast of Brazil is where some of the best beaches on the Atlantic are located. In general, they are beaches surrounded by palm trees; calm, crystal waters; and fine sand. Just for you, we have put together a selection of what are probably the best in this zone.

Praia do Francês, Alagoas: Close to Maceió, Praia do Francês is unique due to its tranquility and its natural pools which are protected by coral reefs. Close to the pools there is a stretch of beach which is heavily frequented b

When TV newscasters show two or three global leaders meeting in seclusion to talk peace, we are often impressed with the beautiful woodland surroundings the planners choose for such discussions. Well, we found a retreat these meeting handlers have missed, and the world leaders will be disappointed – however, you needn’t be.

It’s in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State

Eleven thousand years ago, glacial activity formed five lakes in the shape of outstretched fingers. American Indians believe t

The many-centuries-long saga of the Sephardim, the Jews of Sepharad (as they called the Iberian Peninsula) reaches back to Roman Hispania (and there are suggestions there might have been trade links dating back even to Old Testament times). But as elsewhere in Europe, despite building a magnificent heritage here, the road for Spanish Jews has not always been smooth - most infamously their persecution and ultimate mass expulsion in 1492 by rulers Ferdinand and Isabella. 

But Judaism has been b

Picturesquely set amid volcanoes, Antigua may be antigua (old), but these days there’s always something new percolating along these cobblestone streets, alive with Guatemalans hawking their wares; local commerce; tourists from all over the world; North American kids in town to learn Spanish at the many language school and of course do some partying; expatriates going about their business; and weekenders from Guatemala City.

Some call this Guate’s most charming city, and that’s largely due to the