

Crossing Borders 2: From Russia with Love
Second in a three-part series entitled “Crossing Borders” I recently wrote about a three-day train journey from Kazakhstan to Russia. While getting there was half the … Continue reading Crossing Borders 2: From Russia with Love

Crossing Borders 1: Trainbound in Petropavl
“Ever since childhood, I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it,” writes Paul Theroux in The Great Railway Bazaar. … Continue reading Crossing Borders 1: Trainbound in Petropavl

Taking the Helm of a Tall Ship: One Magical Night
And all I ask is a tall ship, and a star to sail her by. – John Masefield, Sea Fever The year was 1994. The place … Continue reading Taking the Helm of a Tall Ship: One Magical Night

Language Learning Made Practical: Funny Moments on Istanbul Buses
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the … Continue reading Language Learning Made Practical: Funny Moments on Istanbul Buses

Beans for Breakfast in Costa Rica
A writer is like a bean plant – he has his little day and then gets stringy. – E. B. White Traveling for leisure is fun, … Continue reading Beans for Breakfast in Costa Rica

Ani: An Ancient Kingdom on a Modern Border
While Turkey is usually lauded for its beautiful Mediterranean coastline, historic Roman ruins and the amazing continent-straddling city of Istanbul, there are other parts of this … Continue reading Ani: An Ancient Kingdom on a Modern Border

Making Tracks Across Turkey: The East Express to Kars
“A railway here in Asia – in the dreamy realm of the Orient – in the fabled land of the Arabian Nights – is a strange … Continue reading Making Tracks Across Turkey: The East Express to Kars