Hotel oddity
byTo wash, but not to dream… A full-length, fully-opening glass window in the marble shower allows me an expansive view while washing. I can…
To wash, but not to dream… A full-length, fully-opening glass window in the marble shower allows me an expansive view while washing. I can…
Paradise is paradise, I’m not complaining. Lunch in Naples, Florida Tuesday was a delight. You know: balmy breezes, swaying palm trees, gentle surf lapping…
Heard at the front desk: “Checking out, sir?” “Yes.” “Hope you enjoyed your stay. Your bill, sir…” “How can I owe $670?” “It’s only…
Mid-08, I noted my travel stats year-to-date. Here’s how the year wrapped up. I made 105 takeoffs and landings during the calendar year. I…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Example of a journey that did not go smoothly. 1. Taxi was late picking us up at home. 2. Taxi reeked of cigarette. 3….
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…
So many airport ticket agents spend their work hours in terrible environments. In particular, I notice the noise level. Baggage belts and security scanners…
There was barely room for us in a certain Houston taxi van. The driver must be living in her vehicle. Other than the back…
I’ve made 69 take-offs and landings so far this year. There will be nine this week. I’m holding reservations for 27 more this year—so…
At the fork in the road I went left. I can thank the Parsis for my passion for photojournalism. Another man might have turned…
Maybe it’s a good idea to change the subject. Too much Barcelona negativity. So how ’bout, instead, I share a sign I saw at…
Can anyone tell me what this contraption is? I took this picture through a window in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, after a dinner at…
Turkey Vultures—We’re off duty in Istanbul, so we roam around the Grand Bazaar, buy a shawl, buy a cd, seize photo opportunities. We go…
And the charges are: against him, breaking and entering; against his sister, poisoning by E.coli. It started with a loud thud in the dead…
I’ve never understood the logic of this neck contraption. It pushes the head forward—but for sleeping, wouldn’t you rather have your head back? If…
As Bob and I travel the world in our role as thiefhunters, we hang with outlaws and shady characters. The Tiger Lillies sing songs…
Pacific O Chef McDonald had a farm, EIEIO. We had a gorgeous dinner in Lahaina last week, outdoors, on the beach, hibiscus blossoms in…
I’m a world traveler, right? A “jet-setter,” some say. No arrogance here — just a fact. So how did I make such a cultural…
Bob and I contend that the crimes of street thieves, so often dubbed “petty,” are not that at all. First, tally the sheer number…