Conquering our fears Back in September 2007, when we started our travels in South America, the one country we were sure we would avoid was Colombia. However, as we travelled through South America we met more and more people who raved about Colombia and who convinced us to at least consider a visit. Colombia still has a reputation as an unsafe country, stemming from the 40 year civil war between rebel groups such as FARC or ELN and various governments. But things seem to be changing now, the security situation is vastly improving, and what was once a truly unsafe country [View Full Entry]

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We moved on from Bogotá reluctantly, knowing that we had not seen everything, but feeling that it was a good idea to keep up the travelling pace. We headed north to the city of Tunja and quickly caught an onward collectivo connection to the small town of Villa de Leyva. Known as being one of the best examples of a colonial town in Colombia, Villa de Leyva did not disappoint. It was declared a National Monument in 1954 and has apparently not changed much since then. The town has a lovely laid-back feel, and we enjoyed wandering around, snooping around old [View Full Entry]

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Three months in Italy, sedentary but restless, and I’m ready for a new adventure. This time I won’t be alone, the faithful Rocinante will accompany me on the roads of Europe and maybe further beyond. It’s not a horse as the name might suggest, it's my beautiful mountain bike. I’ve bought it two years ago, brand new. It only cost 214 € and is by far the cheapest among all those that I see around when I go out training. Nevertheless, it has already accompanied me through the whole Scandinavian peninsula without even the slightest protest. The proof that we live [View Full Entry]

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The old man with the wooden leg grinned across the low table at me, a mouthful of gold teeth gleaming in the candle-light. He raised his shot glass, waiting for the rest of the table to fall silent, then looked me right in the eye and barked something in Kyrgyz, eliciting growls of assent from the men around me. I didn't recognise the word, but his sentiment was clear enough; it didn't matter how many drunken louts were waiting for me in the cold outside - fanning the flames of their violent anger with more & more alcohol - I wouldn't [View Full Entry]

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The concert by Sir Paul McCartney on Independence Square on June 14th, the biggest outdoor event of Ukraine's year, coincided with a spectacular storm. Rain fell out of a sky the colour of Donbass coal, and saturated our hair and clothes as soon as we stepped out of the metro. The street between Evropeiska Ploshcha and Independence Square flooded, in the time it took Ana and me to gratefully slurp a mug of hot tea from the canteen we were taking shelter in. As we tripped in ankle-deep puddles and hurried towards the stage, lightning lit up the sky behind the [View Full Entry]

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I was sitting in Namgyal cafe and watched as the clouds seeped in from the valley. They came in from the lower lands and now they are enveloping the tiny village and dissolving in front of my eyes. I am sipping hot chocolate and listening to the soft music. I just enjoy the moment. I'm loving it. The temperature is cool. It is raining but I know , I can feel that this place is magical. Mc Leod Ganj is home of His Holiness the 14th Dalali Lama and his government in exile. India was gracious and let the tibetans stay [View Full Entry]

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With Sonoran Desert temperatures reaching triple digits, Alan and I agree that it’s time for a road trip. The first stop on our “cooling off” journey is Greer, Arizona. Located in the White Mountains, the tiny village offers quiet seclusion combined with plenty of nature. It’s our kind of place. At The Amberian Peaks Lodge, our home for two nights, we can view the entire valley from the multi-level deck. We’ve found our spot for morning coffee or sipping a glass of wine in the late afternoon sun. And, at an elevation of over 8,000 ft., we quickly revive from Tucson’s [View Full Entry]

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First outing with our little one. Traveling with a baby is not as easy as I'd thought. If I remember to take a million things, its possible to forget a zillion! However, we had the need. The need for travel. In all these years, somehow we'd successfully managed to miss going to Fort Point(The amateur photographer in me always wanted to get the angle of Golden Gate from there). A sunny weather in south bay forced a huge fog into SF. The day was pleasant, the weather awesome & the place-need you ask? To master SF's roads, you need to probably [View Full Entry]

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