The Taj Mahal in Agra, India is one of my most anticipated sight seeing events. Anticipating it allowed me to get through the tedious and annoying visa application process in Rome that took 10 days. A breathtaking wonder of the world it is faced in weather defying marble. It costs foreigners 750 rupees or 15 US dollars to enter. 250 of those rupees go to the Archeological survey of India to preserve the monument and 500 is a local tax that probably goes to line politicians’ pockets, but in any case it is well worth the money. It cost 20 rupees for locals. Shah Jahan built the Taj to enshrine his favorite wife Arjumand Bann Begum who was known as Mumtaz Mahal, which means “chosen one of the Palace.” The name Taj Mahal is a shortened ... read more

Hi Everyone! Can you believe that at this moment I am in India? I have to admit to being a bit apprehensive about traveling here. I think I had this image of myself as being mobbed everyday that I stepped on to the street by beggars and touts. Mumbai particularly is famous for its slums and rampant poverty. And I find that homelessness is very pervasive and apparent there, even in the tourist part of town were my hotel was. People are just sleeping in the middle of the sidewalk, and there is garbage everywhere. I read that 40 percent of Mumbai’s police force lives in slums. It is pretty sad that housing cost so much that a public servant cannot afford to live in the city they are supposed to protect. I am reporting with ... read more

Hi Everyone! In the last few days I have realized the pinnacle of my round the world trip. Seeing the Egyptian pyramids is the number one thing I have always wanted to do. I booked a tour for this trip as I thought Egypt would be the most difficult place to travel alone. I did spend one day by myself in Cairo before the tour started and I did find a woman alone to be besieged by vendors and touts. I had one man offer me 1000 camels if I would move to the desert and be one of his wives. I don't think he actually had 1000 camels, so it was probably a joke. Due to the tour, Egypt will be the number one most expensive place I will visit. But I have never stayed ... read more

If there is one thing that you learn when you are traveling by yourself is how to entertain yourself. Not only do you have to be prepared to rely on yourself to deal with all the difficulties that arise, to make all the necessary decisions, but you have to be in your own company all the time. I know everyone has that problem, but it takes on new dimensions when you are traveling alone. Just like how traveling with a friend can be trying if you don’t get along all the time. An eight hour ferry ride or a two hour bus ride can be torturous if you don’t know how to entertain yourself. Although it is rare, when you are traveling you could conceivably go a week without having a conversation in your native language. ... read more

Hi Everyone! I have spent a week here in Athens. Before I got here, and even after I got here I heard from many fellow travelers that Athens was a miserable place to be for any length of time. I have to say that once an opinion has taken root in my head it is hard to shake it off, even if wasn't my own opinion. It is so easy to see negativity everywhere. The cars are loud, the people are intrusive, the streets are dirty, and lets not even talk about the heat. But I think my reaction to a place is a lot more complicated than 'this place is bad' or 'this place is good.' I came here expecting a negative experience so I saw negative things everywhere. But I also had very nice ... read more