In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu became Shogun, political leader of Japan, by conquering the other factions that made up the home islands. After doing so, he moved the Imperial capital to his home city of Edo, now called Tokyo. This launched the period of Japanese history known as the Edo Period. (Japanese eras are named for…
Cherry blossom season in Japan is a magical time. For a couple brief weeks in early spring, the country is transformed both by the physical blooming of these stunning flowering trees, and by the excitement of locals and visitors in getting to experience them. Here in Tokyo, a few places seem to be the most…
Sometimes, things just work out. Timing is fortuitous and what might have been a fun activity becomes something incredibly meaningful. This is one of those stories. As regular readers of this website know, I’ve been endeavoring to explore each of Los Angeles’ official historic ethnic neighborhoods. It is one of my favorite parts of my…
Not to be confused with Cartagena, Spain (though it is named after the Spanish city) Cartagena, Colombia is a vibrant large city on the Caribbean coast of South America. For many Americans, it is a cruise stop, either before or after a Panama Canal sailing. But in recent years, with the stability of Colombia as…
During the height of Covid, I spent long hours searching for things reasonably local to Los Angeles to do and to write about, focusing on outdoor activities. One such thing was my visit to a date farm in Palm Springs, which you can read about here. Little did I know that A would become the…
Back in Los Angeles, I sip my coffee while going through my notes and photos from my trip to Cartagena. It’s good coffee, an Italian blend I really enjoy. But it isn’t the same. During my two weeks in Colombia’s premier Caribbean destination, I was treated to some of the best coffees - both simple…
These vines have seen some things. Despite the drizzle, which soon turns into full on rain, I am walking the grounds of Maurice Car’rie Vineyard with certified sommelier (WSET 3) Miguel Llamas. Just off Rancho California Road - the main drag that winds through Temecula’s wine region - sits this majestic chenin blanc vineyard. Being…
All of my books have loose threads of Cartagena in them. And with time, when I have to call up memories, I always bring back an incident from Cartagena, a place in Cartagena, a character in Cartagena. Gabriel Garcia Marquez Upon Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s death in 2014, then-President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos called him…
Editor’s note: Mexico City was my first solo international destination. I stayed for a week, and like Sam, didn’t think I had enough time even then to do it justice. I’m excited to go back in 2025. You can read my guide to the city here, or click here to read more of San Spector’s…
Editor’s note: I’ve been to Cambodia, a trip focused solely on the beauty that is Siem Reap and the Angkor complex. Our amazing Dutch writer Hedy took in the entire country, and with it the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge and one of the worst genocides of the modern era. Her story of the trip…