Suckers, high and dry
byI can’t remember ever having eaten dried octopus, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t. There they were, looking festive, a row of fresh ones…
I can’t remember ever having eaten dried octopus, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t. There they were, looking festive, a row of fresh ones…
Don’t be self-ripped That means: do your research. Besides knowing the tricks and scams prevalent in your destination, you should be up-to-date on currency….
In Johannesburg for a string of corporate shows, we managed to find and talk to three pickpockets, one of whom claimed to be reformed….
It was a long series of flights to South Africa last week, for a three-day visit. We were upgraded to first class on the…
Bob and I looked at each other in disbelief. Only we knew the incredible odds we’d just beaten. To stroll into Rome’s Termini, the…
What is a perfect pickpocket victim? Let’s look at the anatomy of a pickpocket victim. I’m thinking of a couple I saw in Barcelona…
Lord and Lady Ball (yes, their real names), enjoyed a week in warm Palma de Mallorca, an annual retreat from the dreary London weather….
I feel like celebrating Mumbai, a city I love to visit. I’ve stayed in the Taj Mahal Hotel a couple of memorable times and…
Stung by a Wasp: Scooter-Riding Bandits Buzz Bob and Bambi I didn’t think it could happen to me. There was no forewarning. One moment…
Over-confidence is the enemy of travelers in unfamiliar lands. The know-it-all risks loss and embarrassment. Henry started his story with the wistful remark we’ve…
Sandy and Frances thought little of the gaggle of girls who flopped onto the bench they were resting on. There were more girls than…
As a very frequent flyer, I can understand that 12,000+ laptops are lost each week in U.S. airports. What’s shocking is that, according to…
Adrian has been a living statue on Barcelona’s Ramblas for two years. He was a chef in Romania before, and part owner of a…
For very frequent travelers, the right luggage is vital. Bob and I have used aluminum Zero Halliburton luggage forever. It’s heavy and expensive. It…
I started talking about Consular Information Sheets here. Odd but possibly vital information can be found in the Consular Information Sheets regularly posted by…
There was plenty of clowning around in Muscat last week. In the souk, Bob put a camera on a tripod and walked away from…
Example of a journey that did not go smoothly. 1. Taxi was late picking us up at home. 2. Taxi reeked of cigarette. 3….
To a pair of pickpockets in London, Lionel Skidmore looked like an easy target. The thieves mounted a bus, then immediately turned and got…
Big article in today’s Las Vegas Review Journal on bag theft at the McCarran airport carousels. No surprise. This isn’t new. In my book,…
When you research your destination, check on crime and security issues, too. Knowing what commonly happens and where gives you the edge. The goal…
At the Atlanta airport last week, a limo driver stood holding a sign marked “Bob Arno.” Next to him stood another driver holding a…
So many airport ticket agents spend their work hours in terrible environments. In particular, I notice the noise level. Baggage belts and security scanners…
It was Cecily’s dream vacation: she and her family had rented an ancient stone farmhouse near St.-Paul-de-Vence on the French Riviera. Recently renovated to…
Rome, Italy—Termini Station serves up buses, trains, and the subway. Four long rows of ticket machines busily dispense tickets and confound travelers. Traffic is…
Panama City, Panama—Bob asked one of our Panama police escorts what serious crimes against tourists had occurred recently. The officer stunned us with a…
Panama City, Panama—Angel lives in the school building with his mother and assorted siblings. Aha! So that’s who’d done all the neat laundry hanging…
Panama City, Panama—Bob and I had come to Panama as guests of the national and local police departments and the Panama National Hotel Association….
Panama City, Panama—As Bob and Angel spoke, a tall, handsome boy appeared dribbling a basketball. Soon he was part of our interview. His name…
Panama City, Panama—Too much laundry was hung too neatly on a wire line stretched across the broken schoolyard. This boy can’t be that industrious,…
Panama City, Panama—Angel Sanchez is trying to stay clean. Neither crack nor speed produces the high he craves. At 23, Angel is trying to…