You thought I was referring to wine. But I am referring to a visit to dear, longtime friends. Vintage Vegas generally refers to the older hotels and motels, or the type of fashion. Or, in my case, it refers to having a good time, the old-fashioned way. Our dear friend Debbie is headed to a golf tournament at La Quinta, so I will keep Ken company while she is gone. Her golf partner, Laura is also going, so her husband Jim, a former orthopedic surgeon will join our card games and dinners. As it turns out, the girls decided not to play in the Arizona golf tournament. So, we will enjoy everyone's company on this trip, after all! You are probably wondering what we will do for three days. One, we will play lots of cards. ... read more

From Fodor's: The Atacama Desert meets the Pacific Ocean in the Antofagasta region of Northern Chile. Rich in history, the desert-scape is peppered with abandoned nitrate mining towns and active copper mines around the Pan-American Highway. Dramatic cliffs drop to long beaches formed by the Pacific Ocean’s belting waves. Dry and arid winds have resulted in salt basins and lava flows throughout the Atacama Desert, lending it a moon-like landscape. The Valley of the Moon in Los Flamencos National Reserve is an exceptional spread of dunes, rugged mountains, and distinctive formations. At this remote location by the Pacific Ocean, dark skies offer some of the world’s most beautiful and clear star-viewing. I am reposting a funny story from our visit to the Atacama: After a few days on the coast of Chile, we rapidly tired of ... read more

This was my last email from Russia, back on May 26, 2014, probably sent from St. Petersburg. Some of you ask if I would go to Russia again, or even take the Trans Siberian Railway again. Probably not. Once was enough. This is my last email (with some updates and additions)from Russia. Many of you are thankful. Back when Siberia was the land of dispossessed white Russians, the little towns did not offer much. It did offer space and quiet. Some day you could hear your watch ticking at high noon on main street. Life was so dull, that anyone receiving a telegram was expected to circulate it as reading material for the entire town.Most of the cities and towns along the TSR are gray, drab, and depressing. Meeting ... read more

Most of you know that I love train travel. I have taken Amtrak's cross-country trains, as well as the Trans-Siberian Railway. I try to use public transportation whenever I can, particularly in Japan, Europe, and here in the U.S. Along the way, I have met some of the most interesting people. And what better way to really see the country you are visiting? Let's explore some lesser-known facts about train travel. You might be surprised to hear that the US has the largest railway network in the world, and by a large margin. With a total route length over 155,342 miles (250,000km), it's two-and-a-half times longer than the second-largest network in China. It's the US freight rail network that makes up 80% of the staggering length while passenger rail, run by Amtrak, is comprised of m ... read more

You know the story by now. I was invited to visit Ukraine back in 2014, when I was traveling on the Trans Siberian Railway. A nice American lady invited me to join her on a side trip to Kiev. I declined, even though it sounded interesting, and despite the fact she offered to pay. I just knew it was not for me. Now, refugess are pouring into eastern European countries, many places where I have visited. And they are probably not prepared for this onslaught. In fact, many countries have a standard of living not that much better than Ukraine, when it was comparatively peaceful. Per Business Insider (MSN):Ukraine's neighbors are preparing for a surge of refugees as a possible Russia... read more