“Carthago delenda est.” So bitter was the rivalry between Rome and Carthage that famed Roman orator Cato the Elder ended every speech to the Roman Senate with these words. Carthago delenda est. Carthage must be destroyed. And so it was. By the end of the Third Punic War in 146 BCE, the arguably most successful…
Yes, I know. If you visit Costa Rica - or are even considering making a trip there - it is not for the history. It is for nature, for animal spotting, for outdoor adventures, for pristine beaches, and for an incredible diversity of life and landscapes. But history? I’m sure not. And I don’t blame…
Editor’s note: While it holds a majority of the state’s population, it seems so many visitors to Hawaii view Oahu as a last choice for an island to stay on. That is truly a shame, and in this piece, Jackie Gish explains why Oahu deserves a visit. I happen to agree! For more of Jackie’s…
Modern-day Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, is a mecca of tourist shops, restaurants, and resorts. But between those, if one knows where to look, are remnants of a rather cool British colonial city. Old forts, stunning colonial architecture, and one of the coolest staircases I’ve ever seen… these are some of the glimpses into the…
It is not a great secret that the British Empire’s far-flung colonies were built on the backs of slaves. But here in the Bahamas, it is truly in the forefront. More than 90% of the country identifies as being of African descent, and let’s just say that not a lot of that is from modern…
The famous pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, has been quoted as saying, “when a pirate slept he did not dream that he had died and gone to heaven, but instead that he had returned to New Providence”. Regardless of whether this is a factual statement or not, it definitely expressed what the dominant sentiment…
“Guatemala City can largely be ignored other than as a transit hub. Many areas are not safe, traffic is terrible, and unless you love urban jungles, your time is probably better spent elsewhere.” That is how my Ultimate Guide to Guatemala described the country’s capital following my first trip here. Now, a mere 24 hours…
In 1524, fresh off his victory over the Kaqchikel Maya of the Guatemalan highlands, Pedro de Alvarado established his first colonial capital on top of theirs, Iximche. Uprisings by the conquered population forced a move in 1527, and a new capital was built at the base of Volcan de Agua. That city was destroyed by…
The view of the infinite Pacific Ocean is a bit blocked from here at Port Hueneme Beach Park, with the shadowy outlines of Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands, part of Channel Islands National Park, impeding the horizon in two places. But those hilly outcrops also add some texture to the oranges and greens of the…
Editor’s note: I am lucky to be able to meet TRT writer Mandy Meehan roughly once a year somewhere in Europe. While we were in Copenhagen, she wanted to head back out to visit a museum while I had a quiet evening in to write. This is that museum, and one that definitely seems like…