What Part Of Don’t Travel Do You Not Understand?

My next-door neighbour (or neighbor as they prefer), the USA, is a huge country. With a population of some 350 million people, and rising, it is a vast land. It is strong, patriotic, and advanced. Yet it also has one of the highest per-capita rates of COVID-19 in the world. According to Johns Hopkins University

Dublin: History You Can Touch

My wife and I recently took a trip to Ireland. There are so many aspects of this wonderful country that strike the visitor. But perhaps chief among them is the history, both ancient and modern, in which Ireland is steeped. … and you thought Jesus Christ was the only one who rose on Easter One-hundred

Those Lonely Old Self-Quarantine Blues

I’ve got those lonely old self-quarantine blues. I can’t remember when I last wore shoes. I sure am glad the local dep will deliver, But I’m pretty sure it’s not so good for my liver I went to the clinic concerned for my health, Sneezed once and had the waiting room to myself. The doctor

Foolish Young Men Flout COVID19 Warnings

Research shows that young people,  in particular young men, are the least likely to take seriously the whole concept of COVID-19.  We have all seen news coverage of crowded Spring Break beaches in Florida, as well as college kids ignoring restrictions and gathering to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Countless stories of the World Wars relate

Airlines’ Preferred Seating Scam

  I am not an experienced traveler. For various circumstances, I did very little traveling for many years. Things have now changed and my wife and I are venturing out into the broader world. We have just returned from a week in Ireland; my wife’s 60th birthday present to me. Over the next little while,

It’s Always Open Season On Tourists

Which is why I always wonder why, if cities, towns, countries, cherish the infusion of outside cash, is it always open-season on tourists? I could never be accused of being a world traveller. I’m much more a homebody, preferring the creature comforts of my little niche in the world. Yet lately I’ve been making forays

Costa Rican Civility

After three weeks in Costa Rica it has occurred to me that, aside from the physical beauty, the concept of civility is what has struck me most. This should not come as a surprise, considering this country celebrates the disbanding of its military in favour of education. I’ll provide more about this in a future

Missing Red Dot

A couple of months ago my wife and I visited New York City. We stayed in a hotel on the Upper West Side, clean, convenient, and not too pricey. The only problem was the dodgy emergency exit signs. We were on the eleventh floor, one that had clearly once had larger rooms that had been

In Montreal It’s Bonjour-Hi

You might think that a city that can and does function in two languages would be a benefit. Particularly when that city is located less than 100 miles from the United States. Montreal is just such a city, offering tourists a real taste of a French-speaking city with the comfort of being understood in English.

There’s got to be something Anthony Bourdain does not like

I enjoy watching Anthony Bourdain on CNN. His travel/food show is well done and he is a fine host. His sense of humour is subtle and witty, and his appreciation of fine food is second to none. He is the opposite of Mikey in the old Life cereal advertisement who does not like anything (except of