Tirana, Albania turned out to be one of my favorite stops on my road trip through the Balkans due to its diverse architecture, which juxtaposed the styles of Italian fascism and Soviet realism. Read more of my classic trip...
Balkans Day 5: Accused Of Espionage In Montenegro
The Dubrovnik – Podgorica, Montenegro bus journey was five hours without air conditioning, but still a beautiful drive. Podgorica turned out to be a cool city, even though we immediately regretted not spending the night in Budva instead. Oh...
Balkans Day 4: Beauitful Dubrovnik
Yes it is touristy, but I could not believe how beautiful Dubrovnik was. I cannot wait to return. After a long day of travel, we slept in and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast the Hilton Imperial. This was not a...
Balkans Day 3: Sarajevo – Dubrovnik
Day 3 of my Balkans road trip included a morning in Sarajevo, afternoon bus ride to Dubrovnik, and a tasty BBQ to cap off a long day. Read on for how you can easily book a Sarajevo – Dubrovnik bus...
Balkans Day 2: Belgrade – Sarajevo
Day 2 of my Balkans trip turned out to be a R&R and travel day, allowing me to fully heal and positioning me to really enjoy the rest of my trip. The day included a 7.5 hour bus ride...
Balkans Day 1: Sick In Belgrade
Oh, what a horrible way to start my Balkans Road trip. The trip began the day after my birthday, but what a miserable birthday it was. Read more from my classic trip report through the Balkans Introduction: Road Trip...
Introduction: Road Trip Through The Balkans
I’ve held off for two months on starting a new trip report, but it’s time for a new report. Sort of. Read more of my classic trip report through the Balkans Introduction: Road Trip Through The Balkans Review: US...
Traveling In Israel With A Young Child
Is it even worthwhile to travel with a young child to Israel? My answer is YES. For years I wanted to take my wife to Israel, the top destination on her travel bucket list. Our three-year-old son was inconvenient...
Driving In Israel
I want to briefly address what it was like to drive in Israel, just in case you are visiting and considering it. In short, it was generally easy. My Driving Experience In Israel After taking a train from Tel...
Fascinating: How Mary, Mother Of Jesus, Is Perceived Around The World
One of the fascinating things about traveling around the world is how much religious perceptions vary by nation. While the people of many nations are connected by common faith and even common theology of that faith, their pictures of...
Very Friendly Waiters In Tel Aviv…
My wife and son had gone to bed, but I was still hungry, so I headed to Don Camillo, one of the restaurants at The Jaffa hotel in Tel Aviv. I brought my laptop along and had planned to work...
A Non-Sabbath Sabbath In Israel
I was under the false impression that all of Israel shut down from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Not so in Nazareth. We spent Friday at the Sea of Galilee, taking in three historic Christian sites during the day....
Why I Wasn’t Moved By Holy Sites In The Holy Land
For better or for worse, I was simply not moved by the holy sites in the Holy Land. And yet something happened that I will never forget. This post gets a little personal, but it was a central part...
Negotiating For Lunch In Bethlehem
The most stressful part of my entire week in the Holy Land was negotiating for lunch in Bethlehem. Oh how I hate it when restaurants don’t have posted prices! We were right in tourist central, near the Church of...
Coffee And Politics At The Walled Off Hotel In Bethlehem
If you’re ever in Bethlehem, don’t miss the Walled Off Hotel, even if just for a cup of coffee. It was the most memorable visit of the entire week. Bankrolled by the artist Banksy, this is not only one of...
How To Get From Jerusalem To Bethlehem Cheaply And Easily By Bus
Taking Bus 231 between Jerusalem and Bethlehem is a cheap and easy option that I highly recommend over a taxi or private guide. If you’ve been reading my Israel trip report, you know that we tried to keep expenses...
How I Spent Three Days In Jerusalem
We began our trip to Israel in Jerusalem, an ancient city with deep links to the Abrahamic faiths. Our three days focused on religious sites, but we also enjoyed the joy of bartering in the Old City and found...
Introduction: A Week In Israel
Despite a lot of rain, my family and I had a good week in Israel. A great week actually. But I’m not sure how to write about it… My Israel trip report will not be about flights, though I...
Introduction: A Vintage First Class Trip Report
As we enter a new decade, how has first class changed over the last decade? I’m in Israel this week and trying to relax a bit with my family. At the same time, Live and Let’s Fly never goes...
A Rainy But Lovely Weekend In Carmel
I spent Thanksgiving weekend in Carmel, which has now become a family tradition. Even with the rain, we had a wonderful time together. A Great Weekend In Carmel California highways and interstates can get very crowded around the holidays,...
