Tibet: A Traveler’s Paradox.
By Debby Merickel Besides the philosophical, ethical or political considerations concerning China’s annexation of this region, there is also the harsh reality of climate and geography. Lhasa, the former capital, takes all of your senses at least one step beyond comfort. Is it a region you really want to visit? The altitude will choke you [...]
Travel Karma: What Goes Around, Comes Around.
By Debby Merickel Who is Mr. Renner He was at once alone and everyone’s friend. It had been over 80 years since he visited the country of his birth, Sweden. He had no memories of this place as he left before his first birthday; however, it was his mission to visit before he died. The [...]
Orange County California: The Best Place to Retire
By Linda Geyer Century 21 Beachside About Orange County: Situated in the heart of Southern California, O.C. is centrally located on the coast between the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Diego. Orange County is close to everything you’ll want to see and do in Southern California and the weather is some of the [...]
Romania: Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
by Debby MerickelI I was facing a 10 hour train trip from Bucharest to Sofia in a filthy stench filled, eye burning car with toilet facilities that rats would avoid. A Tight Spot Once across the border, four Bulgarian women commandeered my compartment. The matriarch looked to be in her 80′s and the other three [...]
Romania: Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
by Debby Merickel I was facing a 10 hour train trip from Bucharest to Sofia in a filthy stench filled, eye burning car with toilet facilities that rats would avoid. A Tight Spot Once across the border, four Bulgarian women commandeered my compartment. The matriarch looked to be in her 80′s and the other three [...]
Traveling Alone, Sleeping with Strangers
By Debby Merickel Sometimes, when traveling, I find myself spending the night in a small room with someone I have never met before. What is the proper etiquette for such occasions as these? Certainly one should still brush one’s teeth before retiring but what about lights out, attire, and concerns about snoring, toilet excursions and [...]
Climbing Down the Grand Canyon with Temperatures over 100 Degrees
By Debby Merickel Why anyone would want to descend the Grand Canyon when the temperature was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the top was the question that should have kept me at home. I am an adventurer but I am usually sane and a little cautious. I realized that this would be a serious undertaking [...]
Old Morocco Adage: Never Die in a Cheap Hotel
By Debby Merickel When I left home my roommate was quite sick with something that involved a Doctor’s visit and lots of pills convincing me to take along my bottle of Airborne, the magic elixir created by a school teacher who apparently liked to travel as well. A long day’s journey into night It was [...]
RV ‘Fulltiming’: 9 Things You Must Consider
By Jill Ferrer Purists may define fulltiming in a strict sense: meaning no house, condo, RV lot or any other physical roost in which to return. Others allow that if someone is living and traveling in their RV most of the year, they are fulltimers. Like most RVers, we don’t get too fussy about the [...]
Attention Travelers: Watch your Behind!
By Debby Merickel My mother had hers stolen from her purse at the grocery store; my daughter had hers snatched from her backpack at school but MY wallets live a more exciting life! Stripped and stupid Seven years ago in Barcelona, despite being on alert, my travel partner and I were targeted by petty-thieves descending [...]
Toenails on a Plane: Worst Travel Story #2
By Gary Geyer In the summer of 1998, my wife Linda and I were on a wide body flight from LA to NY. The plane was pretty empty so we decided to spread out a little and get comfortable. Our assigned seats were the aisle and window on the side of the plane with [...]
Summer and Fall in Mexico’s Wine Country
By Steve Dryden Summer and Fall are the perfect seasons to visit Mexico’s premier wine country in Guadalupe Valley. If you haven’t discovered Baja California’s “silent revolution” in creating world class wines, you’re really missing out! This valley offers gourmet culinary delights, charming and romantic lodging, excellent wines and friendly residents from all over the [...]
The Kapall Carsi Grand Bazaar: Paradise or Nightmare?
By Debby Merickel The sales pitches rang through the air like firecrackers after a ballgame. “Everyone buys a carpet after lunch, how about you?” “I’ve been waiting for you, ever since last night.” “I can help you spend your money.” 4000 shops. Yikes! A trip to the famed Kapali Çarsi (in Turkey) was preordained as [...]
Cruising: The Second Honeymoon
By Ellsworth T. Rundlett III Want to spark up your marraige? Looking for some quality time together? My advice is to take an ocean cruise and I guarantee that your marriage will take a turn for the best. My wife and I recently spent 38 days on the Queen Mary II sailing from New York City to [...]
