MEDELLIN: Once the headquarters and principal killing grounds for Colombia's cocaine cartels, as Medellin was Escobar’s hometown, this city has done a remarkable turnaround. Today, it shines only one of Colombia’s safest city, but of Latin America as well. It is also one of the most pleasant and developed. The trip from Bogota didn’t start so well, as the 30 minute flight was delayed by 4 hours. Add the bad traffic to the airport and the 1 hour trip into Medellin, and we wasted a whole day, literally. But, by the next day we started to enjoy the delightful city surrounded on all four sides by rugged peaks. It’s very lush here, with green brushing the landscape and flower stands popping along roads. A river runs through the city furiously and the rain, the worst in ... read more

HOLA FROM MEXICO! GUADALAJARA I have been here before, a looong time ago, to watch Brazil play during a world cup in the 80's. Now I return for a quick 5 day trip to the land of the mariachi, tequila, and the sombrero (big hat). Gastronomy: I always get a kick out of observing the breakfast menu of different countries. My favorite breakfasts are the simple Turkish one, with crusty bread, tomato, olives, cucumber, cheese and dried fruit, and the Chinese, with green vegetables (ok to call me weird), soup, rice and a little meat (which I don't eat). Now, the Mexican Breakfast: the first word which come to mind to describe it? weird . Tongue stew, tripe stew, fried pork skin stew and other unadendified organs stews for breakfast!!!! Those are weird foods to have ... read more

Before I start, let me say sorry for taking so long to add this entry. Summer went by, fall has began, and only now I am posting this entry on our last leg of our trio to Greece. My biggest excuse: There were too many pictures and too little time, and than, I got way too busy. Although the place is incredible for pictures, there were too many tourists, and the only ones I was interested to take photos of were my kids, of course. So, a great opportunity for family and friends to see them. So, here is a short entry followed by a ton of pictures. Go directly to than if you prefer. Our high speed ferry stopped at the islands of Mykono and Naxos, which I had visited many years ago, and also ... read more

Long before the economic crisis erupted full force and the protests hit the streets, we had gotten our award seats for a family vacation in the country which epitomizes a dream summer vacation. Yannick picked the country and we were all quick to agree on it as our destination, even knowing it would be boiling hot. And here we are, starting a 10 day stay exploring Athens and 2 islands. Athens We stayed right under the majestic Acropolis, at the edge of the touristic yet picturesque streets of PLAKA, the oldest neighborhood in Athens. The charming taverns with the pushy waiters begging for potential customers, the Byzantine churches, the restored neoclassical mansions, the hundred of shops selling the same goods, all make for a nice scenario for an entertaining stroll in the evenings, when the sun ... read more

Namaste from Nepal I postponed my visit to Nepal for years because of The 7 year Maoist "peoples' War". I waited until things quieted down and tourists started to come again, feeling it was safer. Well, miscalculated big time! I landed one day, unaware there was trouble brewing already, with the Maoists massively already in town from the countryside, in the schools, ready for a massive protest the very next day. When the protests escalate here in Nepal, there is a "Chakka Jam" (Jam the wheels), when all vehicles stay off the streets. When things get worse, there is a "Bandh" (general strike), when all shops, schools and offices close as well. Right now, Bandh it is. The Kathmandu Post’s headlines read on May 3: “ No Slackening Until Nepal Goes” and goes on to say ... read more