Featured photo: mud volcano!

Cartagena, Colombia I must admit that, as a child of the 70's and 80's, the very first thing I think of when I hear "Cartagena, Colombia," is Michael Douglas's voice speaking the city's name in Romancing The Stone.  (Then I think of the scene with "…my little mule!" and try not to think of the …

WoW vs. RL: Un’Goro Crater

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania / Un’Goro Crater, Kalimdor I love travel in its many, many forms.  When I am not out traipsing about the earth in search of new and funny adventures, I will often turn to other forms of travel: books, movies, following other travel bloggers, and playing my favorite MMORPG, World of Warcraft.  …

electric blue!

Race to the Blue Grotto!

Capri, Italy Living in Naples gives one all sorts of opportunities for adventure, eating, and uber-tourist activities.  A travel outfit affiliated with my employer had a day trip heading to Capri, so I joined in.  Since I lived within walking distance of the airport, I *could* have just taken the Alibus down to the port …

Panoramic shot of El Teide on Tenerife

Featured photo: El Teide

Tenerife, Spain As you may know, I love volcanoes and warm weather nearly as much as I love camels.  So when Linda of Islandmomma offered to be my guide around Tenerife, I jumped at the chance!  It was a fine chance to test out the camera I'd won from the Cork Cycling Festival's photo competition.  …

The awesome power of Haka.

Another travel blogger linked this video on Facebook today.  It's awesome and fantastic.  Seriously.  Gets the blood moving and makes you wish you were Māori.   Can't see it?  Watch it on YouTube: http://youtu.be/JuhcZX9rFRM   I remembered how much I loved watching haka and listening to Lisa Gerrard's gorgeous soundtrack from the movie Whale Rider.  …

Morocco: City of the Dead

Rissani, Morocco Among all of the amazing experiences in Morocco that I've been savoring (and oddly reluctant to share), the final day of camel trekking ranks right at the top.  It started with waking up in the Sahara, tracking where the "4×4" beetles had gone during the night, and walking barefoot in the gorgeous sand. …

The Best Arancini in Italy

Catania, Italy I had not really intended on going anywhere for the weekend, but Dario had other plans. After a short discussion on possible destinations, we decided on Sicily.  It was time to find the best arancini in Italy, and Catania was the place to do it!   First view of My Mountain (Etna) from …

Featured photo: Mt. Vesuvio

Naples, Italy As a big fan of nature, I dislike descriptions of volcanoes that include words like "fury" and "wrath." It's just nature, after all.  I mean, if you watch a cooking show, you don't focus on the tragic destruction of all those little wheat seeds, do you? No, you just look forward to the …