--GR20, a five-part Story July 27, 2008, Corsica, France My alarm went off at 3 something a.m. so I could catch a plane from London to Nice, on the mainland just north of the Mediterranean island of Corsica. My plan was to hike the GR20 on Corsica, billed as the “toughest trek in Europe.” The hike can take as many as 20 days but most do it in 15 or so. Some, unfortunately, don’t finish, either because of the steep mountains or tough terrain. Sadly, the trail takes a life or two each year. This year, I was told that four [View Full Entry]

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July 17, 2008, Italy Two days after quitting my job, my mom arrived in London. A short stay in the city, and we were off the next day to Venice, Italy. Venice is one of those places that you have to see before you die. I’m not talking about Saint Mark’s Square or the Rialto Bridge. Stay away from those places, which are swarming with sweaty, digital camera-toting tourists, all seeking the perfect shot of Venice and its canals. My Mom and I preferred the canals and alleys far away from the tourists. They are hard to find, but they are [View Full Entry]

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July 15, 2008, London After more than eight years as a business journalist, I needed a break. For some of the time, the job was fantastic. It was rarely slow. I covered and helped cover some of the top business stories at the time -- from Enron, to the ouster of Walt Disney Co.’s CEO, to the launch of Apple’s iPhone. But covering these events, and others like it, is exhausting. It’s non-stop and high-octane. So, I’ve decided to hit the road and travel and see the world. [View Full Entry]

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July 15, 2008, London I quit my job today and I have to admit that the feeling I have running through me is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve ever had -- freedom, at last. It wasn’t even noon and my day was going to get even better. No more than three hours into unemployment, and I received a text from my friend Daimon. He had been working tirelessly on a rock climbing guide to the Spanish island of Mallorca for the better part of three years. I had volunteered to edit the guide. For me, it was a long process [View Full Entry]

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