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What You Will Find Here:
This is a listing of my trip reports about various places I have gone to, usually with my partner, David Jenness. I try to reflect on experiences, observations, cultural differences, and a wide variety of related matters. Also included, in a second section, are "practical notes" about several recent destinations. Some of the trip reports include an addendum at the end written by David. However, some of these trips resulted in David writing his own trip reports, in a separate section.
TRIP REPORTS:
2014 - Australia
A 10-week circuit of the eastern half of Australia, from far northern Queensland to the Red Centre of the Northern Territory, and then along the south and east coasts from Adelaide to Brisbane, including a two-week side trip to Tasmania. This report includes observations about Australian society and how it compares to the that of the U.S.
2013 - Myanmar
A four-week circuit of a country just beginning to awaken after decades of brutal, repressive government by a suspicious, isolationist military regime. Buddhism infuses every day life throughout the country.
2011 - Walking in Southwestern France
A five-week trip covering the area from roughly Toulouse to Bordeaux, with a major focus on walking the French system of walking paths in a series of multi-day walks and one-day circuit walks, mainly in the Dordogne region. This report contains thoughts, observations, and tips for other walkers.
A three-week trip in January 2011 to this immensely varied and beautiful country, more usually remembered, in the U.S., for the Sandinista overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship and the subsequent devastating civil war with the U.S. supported "contras."
2010 - Berlin and Prague
A one month visit to Berlin and Prague in September, with briefer stops, along the way, at Leipzig and Dresden.
Includes reflections on the troubled and sad history of Central Europe in the twentieth century.
- New Zealand
This was a big one, from mid-February until the end of March, covering the country from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, and even beyond, to Stewart Island. See the itinerary as customized for just David and myself, by the travel agency that developed the trip for us, New Zealand Travel, Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
New Zealand Observations and Impressions
This is an extensive list of observations and impressions that New Zealand made on me, rather than a travelogue. It is grouped topically (e.g., Food & Drink, Driving & Roads, the Outdoors, Manners & Mores). The very final part is a much briefer set of impressions written up by David.
2009 - Mid-West Road Trip
A report on an almost 5-week road trip through the upper Mid-West and Ontario (mid-July - mid-August 2009) to see my new-born 2nd granddaughter, visit museums and museum additions designed by globally-recognized architects, attend the great Shaw and Stratford Shakespeare Festivals in Ontario, and experience the outdoors in a very different part of the country from the high desert of the American Southwest, where we live.
2008 - Africa
Notes on a 36-day wildlife viewing trip to Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe) and then East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), May-June 2008
A report on an almost 5-week road trip through the Mid-West (August-September 2008) to visit museums and museum additions designed by world-class architects, as well as places redolent of American history, as well as a few special natural areas.
2006 - Newfoundland
A trip made in July-August 2006 to a place not normally considered exotic, but for us, one of the most fascinating trips we have ever taken - in terms of geology and natural places, ethnic groups, history, language. A beautiful place not well-enough known.
2005 - The Baltic: St. Petersburg, Latvia, Estonia, Helsinki
A trip that began as a singing tour with the New Amsterdam Singers of New York, and when the group tour ended, continued on our own around Estonia and on to Helsinki. We were there from the beginning of July 2005 throughout most of the month and in the beginning experienced days that never quite went dark, the famous White Nights.
2004 - Bali
A spur of the moment trip to a mythologized bit of the East. We spent most of our time on Bali in Ubud, but also visited a remote beach town on the east side, Amed.
2002 - Morocco
A journey through Morocco, December 2002 to January 2003, visiting Meknes, Fez, Marrakech, Essouria, Rabat, a short journey over the Atlas Moutains into the northern edge of the Sahara, and Roman ruins.
2000 - Laos
When we went to Laos it was still not on the radar screen of Americans, though it was being visited by Europeans already. One of the most peaceful, beautiful places we have been, with great riches of a Buddhist society. We also spent a little time in Thailand, mainly Bangkok.
1999 - Brazil
I had lived, worked, and travelled in Brazil from 1979-1982. This was my first trip back since then, and I wanted to show it to David. It turned out to be a fabulous trip, taken from December 1999 to January 2000, and included experiencing the turn of the millennium on the beach at Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro) along with 2,500,000 wildly cheering Brazilians.
1998 - India
A trip through South India, primarily Tamil Nadu and Kerala with a little bit of Kartnataka thrown in at the end. I had visited North India in 1978-1979, and this was my first return to the country. We travelled as locals would and the country remained as chaotic as I remembered, though South India was quite different in many respects from the North.
PRACTICAL NOTES:
Berlin (+ Leipzig & Dresden)
Extended, very detailed notes and practical advice (transportation, restaurants, wine bars, hotels) based on four recent trips to Rome (2005, 2006, 2009, 2011). Recommendations on churches, parks, ancient ruins, budget hotels, restaurants, museums, palazzi, and much more.
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