Editor’s note: I’ve been lucky enough to spend a decent amount of time in Israel, and to have visited the Dead Sea on three different occasions. It is truly a remarkable place. In this piece, Sam does an incredible job narrating why this entire region is so special. For more of his writing, click here…
Before this, my second trip to Guatemala, I didn’t even know that there were highland Mayan kingdoms. I had believed that to see remnants of the Mayan people, one had to journey to the jungles in Guatemala’s north, to the lowland cities of Tikal, Yaxha, and the other classical Mayan city-states in the region. But…
For those who come to Guatemala to see some Mayan ruins, that experience typically starts and ends at the largest and best excavated of the Mayan cities: Tikal. That is how I spent my first trip to this part of Guatemala back in 2019. And while those prioritizing Tikal are entirely correct to do so…
“Look down, and don’t look up until I tell you,” Erdo says to us. Our small group of six obediently follows the instructions of Erdozain López, our guide, shuffling slowly along the uneven limestone ledge, eyes on our feet. “Ok,” he says. “Look up now.” I know what to expect, having been here once before.…
Editor’s note: like Sam, visiting Nara was one of my favorite parts of both of my Japan trips. Also like Sam, both of my visits focused on Nara Park. You can read about my experience here. And for more of Sam’s adventures, click here to visit his index page. It is springtime, and when thinking…
Editor’s note: like many visitors to Portugal, my time there has been focused on Lisbon and Porto. The part in between is a blank spot. But today, Sam helps us all fill that in with this awesome look at some stunning monasteries. For more of Sam’s writing, click here to visit his index page. While…
Editor’s note: First off, a huge congratulations to TRT writer Sam Spector on the birth of his third child. Any of you who follow his writing will know it won’t slow his travels much. Here he talks about Iceland, a perfect day trip from the capital. For more of Sam’s writing, click here to visit…
Victoria, British Columbia is a cool city with a lot to do and see. But since it is a place that you’ll likely have a rental car, it is also easy to get out of town for a day to see a bit more of the southern portion of Vancouver Island. The Victoria region is…
As the myth goes, the ancient king of Athens held a competition between the gods as to whom to worship and name his city for. Poseidon and Athena entered, each tasked with giving a gift to the city that would help it, thereby proving their worthiness of worship. Poseidon, god of the sea, struck a…
Editor’s note: today is November 7, 2024. The U.S. presidential election was two days ago, and I am still both sad and angry. And both of those emotions make articles like this one about a Greek island, written back in August, seem meaningless and out of place in the context of my current existence. But…