Elsewhere
the future ain’t what it used to be
It’s 2022 and I’m finally back in the city where I began a life-changing adventure almost 35 years ago. Porto. 1988. I began that trip visiting my Madeira friend Paulo who was at university in Porto. I remember coming home from work every night for … Continue readingthe future ain’t what it used to be
What Exactly Is A Safe Distance?
So I just logged in for the first time since my last trip to write a little photo post about my longtime love affair with Guatemala to supplement a Facebook travel photo challenge I’ve been enjoying this week and I saw this draft post title … Continue readingWhat Exactly Is A Safe Distance?
Vasco de Gama Was Absolutely Crazy
I’ll tell you, Vasco de Gama had to have some set on him to get in one of those relatively dinky wooden ships and venture into this wild ass sea. … Continue readingVasco de Gama Was Absolutely Crazy
I Think Spanitanglish is a Real Thing
Giovanni carried my work bag, which actually weighs more than my life bag, and gave me a quick rundown of this season in Manarola, pointing out shops and walking paths that would be open. … Continue readingI Think Spanitanglish is a Real Thing
Have I Really Been Here Before?
Definitely much better than my first night in Lisbon at the Poussada Juventude where I slept passportless in a shaky bunk bed on top of the rest of my valuables . … Continue readingHave I Really Been Here Before?
Zeros and Fives and What’s Old Becomes New
I spent the last day of 2019 bopping around Monterosso and the first day of 2020 exploring Vernazza. Wanted to visit all five towns during my week in Italy and will write more about them all in a proper travel blog post this weekend, but thought I’d share some photos now of this absolutely breathtaking place. … Continue readingZeros and Fives and What’s Old Becomes New
And Then There Were Two
After hiking up the long, dark stairway from the marina and following the signs to Monterosso, I saw quite a few hikers climbing up and coming down and there was no one with a gun to stop us so I walked a little, then walked a little more and then walked a little more… … Continue readingAnd Then There Were Two
Mixed Bag of Fish from the Gulf of Poets
The park lady suggested I walk up the stairs to the convent for the panoramic view every town offers, and then walk through the “very traditional center” up to the parking lot to pick up the trail to Vernazza. Why do the park people always send me to parking lots? Still, sounded like a plan. … Continue readingMixed Bag of Fish from the Gulf of Poets
Molti Panorami From Manarola To Corniglia
So I set out once again up through Mario Andreoli’s vineyard nativity, but this time on a three hour hike to Corniglia. I met some hikers coming from Corniglia, one guy from Spain who gave me a good assessment of the terrain and path conditions. It was great to speak Spanish-Spanish for a few minutes instead of Spanitanglish. … Continue readingMolti Panorami From Manarola To Corniglia
1020 Steps, 5 Monasteries, a Nunnery, Lotsa Mushrooms and Lotsa Meat, Part 1
When I first rolled into town, I saw a sign for a mushroom museum and thought, “I need to go there!” but had already kind forgot about it. And now, this? Apparently there is a not-so-secret mushroom society here. It seems to be an annual multi-day mushroom extravaganza where many many mushrooms are consumed by locals and unsuspecting tourists in various cooked forms—stews, soups, mixed with pasta, grilled. All free! There must be a mushroom-loving millionaire that funds this thing. … Continue reading1020 Steps, 5 Monasteries, a Nunnery, Lotsa Mushrooms and Lotsa Meat, Part 1