It is impossible to walk down Eighth Street - Calle Ocho - in Miami’s Little Havana and not have Miami Sound Machine playing on your internal sound track. “It’s the rhythm of the island / And like sugar cane so sweet / If you want to do the conga / You’ve got to listen to…
Curacao is an island in the southern Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela, part of the Dutch “ABC” islands, along with Aruba and Bonaire. Semi-independent, the island is home to about 150,000 people, most of whom live in or near the capital of Willemstad, built around one of the largest natural deep water harbors in…
Sunset at Marichi Beach in Willemstad’s Punda district is my evening ritual. A fifteen minute walk from my rental apartment in Otrobanda takes me across the Queen Emma Bridge and past the colorful historic buildings to this urban oasis, just a small patch of sand between a couple of parking lots fronting an equally small…
Driving down CA 118, the Ronald Reagan Freeway, across the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, doubt creeps into my mind. Why am I doing this? I am certainly not a fan of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, for a myriad of reasons that don’t have any bearing on this article. Furthermore, I have always sort of…
Editor’s note: In my Ultimate Guide to Southern Arizona, I called Tucson more of just a place to stay rather than a place to see. Sam, our wandering rabbi here at The Royal Tour, proves me wrong in this terrific look at the city and region. For more of his stories, click here to visit…
A walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, known colloquially as the Swinging Old Lady, is about as authentic of a Curacao experience as one can have. The wooden deck of the pedestrian bridge (only the Prime Minister and Governor are allowed to cross by car, and must be on their way to their offices) rolls…
Distinctly Dutch, yet decidedly Caribbean, Curacao sits in a fascinating area geographically and culinarily. For most, a beautiful island like this would not seem to be a gastronomic destination, and yet that is just what it is. The food - and drinks, one must not forget the drinks - is fantastic here, and this guide…
Curacao. A Dutch-ruled island in the southern Caribbean. Palms blowing in the breeze, crystal clear waters sparkling in the sun, tropical drinks of all colors of the rainbow glowing in the hands of eager tourists escaping to the beaches, it doesn’t seem like a place that would be steeped in Jewish history. And yet, that’s…
Editor’s note: I’ve only been to Bogota, and Sam certainly makes me want to experience more of Colombia, especially the Caribbean coast. For more of his writing, click here to view his index. I love national parks; in every country where they exist, these lands are set aside and protected. They are recognized as exceptional…
Willemstad, the capitol - and only true city - on the island of Curacao, is lovely. It is full of beautiful colonial architecture, cultural gems, great food, and wonderful people. But if you have more than just a couple of days in Curacao, leaving the city behind to see other parts of the island is…