Tag: new experiences
-
Bastogne!
Bastogne, Belgium, the centerpiece of the Ardennes. For a very long time I’ve wanted to visit the Ardennes. Its steeped place in history has always held a special place in my fascination. The passage through Belgium, from Germany to France, is literally soaked in the blood of past wars. It has a draw to it.…
-
The Heineken Experience.
As someone who has never been opposed to stopping for a beer, it should come as no surprise that I also like a good brewery tour. The Heineken Experience, in Amsterdam is just such a thing. Right at the start I have to say that I had a great time on the tour. Both the…
-
A Story About Amsterdam
Originally this post was going to be a rant about how disastrous my attempt at getting to Amsterdam turned out to be, then I decided that no one really wants to read about me getting screwed by United Airlines. So, we will move along in a more upbeat manner. I plan on ranting a bit…
-
Diving the World Famous Wrecks of Chuuk Lagoon
In March of 2025 I was able to check a huge box in the travel bucket list. I went wreck diving in Chuuk Lagoon. Chuuk (or Truk as most of the world still refers to it) is a tiny Atoll in the middle of the western Pacific Ocean. It’s part of a larger collection of…
-
Bratislava. Good God, i’m in Eastern Europe!
Alright, it’s time to start with a straightforward confession. I went to Bratislava for the Eurotrip jokes. I’ve seen that movie about 50 times (a conservatively low number) and have always loved the Bratislava part. I also confess that I knew the city didn’t look like it was portrayed in the movie. No cities really…
-
More Observations from the road. Another round of stuff that I noticed while backpacking around europe.
It’s never during the excitement of the experience that you tend to notice the oddities of the world. It’s during the quiet down time, when you’re stuck in an airport or sitting quietly on a park bench or waiting out a transfer at the train station that you notice something about what you’ve experienced was…
-
Bucherest, Romania. A First Look at Eastern Europe.
Bucharest, Romania is one of those cities that takes work. It’s not going to give up its secrets to you easily, or all at once. You have to wade into it’s streets and alleyways and search around for yourself. Though a member of the European Union, Romania is not part of the so-called, Schengen Zone.…
-
Israel Part 4. Jerusalem; The Wall, The Mount, and The Sepulchre.
The vast majority of people who do not live in Jerusalem are primarily coming to the city to see, pray, or be in one of these three places. The literal focal point for the majority of the worlds faiths, these sites draw staggering crowds. Even with sometimes crushing crowds, these major holy sites can be…
-
Israel Part 3. Jerusalem, Everyone’s Holy City.
Jerusalem is a city that, I think, defies description. How you choose to try and describe it completely depends on the point of view you bring with you. Ancient, storied, troubled, and revered; the city is a gathering of cultures, treasure seekers, religious zealots and pilgrims of every type. That statement is true even today.…