I had 48 hours in Turin, a lovely weekend side trip from my base in Genoa. My primary tasks were writing about the Savoy dynasty and the city’s automotive history. But hey, a guy’s got to eat, right? 48 hour in Turin. Ostensibly four meals: two lunches and two dinners. Maybe some snacks or drinks…
When planning my side trip from Genoa (my base for the month) to Turin, I knew I wanted to write about the Savoy dynasty that ruled Piedmont-Sardinia and then united Italy from here. (Click here to read that story.) I booked a hotel and found train tickets. And then, realizing I would be arriving just…
Editor’s note: Guatemala is one of my favorite places on the planet, and I’ve been to Tikal twice - once in each of my trips to the country. I’d happily go again. (You can read my latest article about the place here.) Like writer Sam Spector, I am always amazed visiting ruins of the great…
There is something special about pesto. The fresh taste of basil, the sharpness of garlic, the umami of nuts, the creaminess of cheese, the smoothness of olive oil… they come together magically when done right. And this city, Genoa, in northwestern Italy is the birthplace of pesto. Genoa is also one of the origin cities…
This is the Genoa most come to see. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the city was home to some of the wealthiest bankers and merchants in the world. Through financing European royalty - specifically Spain - and continuing the region’s traditions of mercantilism and shipbuilding, Genoa became one of the richest cities anywhere. Its…
Editor’s note: I spent two full weeks in Santo Domingo a few years back, and while the city wasn’t as well kept up as the historic portions of San Juan or Cartagena, I found my time there to be incredible. (You can read my guide here.) In this piece, Sam - in a way only…
Editor’s note: back in 2021, as the world was just beginning to open up from COVID, Curacao was my first destination. I spent three weeks on the island, and fell absolutely in love with the place and its people. It is really great to see that Sam felt similarly, even in a much shorter span…
Editor’s note: First, a disclaimer. This is NOT an article about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This IS an article about a cool Palestinian city. I was in Ramallah when I was in Israel as a high schooler. The Oslo Accords had been signed and everyone in both countries was hopeful for lasting peace, so travel between…
The chances are that if I offered you a fill in the blank starting with Kentucky ____, the top three in some order would be derby, fried chicken, and bourbon. Well, I’ve never been to the Kentucky Derby (and didn’t visit Churchill Downs while in Louisville) and I’ve had good fried chicken all over the…
Editor’s note: I truly love when our amazing writer Sam Spector does a series on a country I haven’t visited yet, and really don’t know much about. I hadn’t even known Lublin existed before reading this piece, and now it is on my future Poland itinerary. For more of Sam’s writing, click here to visit…