Travel Plans

Bulgaria: A Pleasant Surprise

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Starting month three of a delightful stay in Sofia

Enjoying a recent event in the center of Sofia, my friends and I toast Bierra Moretti, an Italian beer promoting its recent introduction to the city. I’m here with friends, from left, Liubo, an author of several books in Bulgaria, Nick, president of the local Taxpayers Association, Nick’s wife Alexandra, and my fellow retiree and good friend Chris, an Australian living in Bulgaria.

As the warmth of Spring arrives in this Baltic country of Bulgaria, where I’ve been a guest since April in the capital city, Sofia, I’m captivated by the easy-going, comfortable way of life and the warmth and friendliness of the many friends I’ve made here.

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Postcards From My Fun Working Holiday In Paris

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I returned a week ago from a travel memoir writing workshop in Paris where a dozen participants, 11 from around the U.S. and one polite Canadian (thank you, Garrett), communed with fellow travelers, writers, and American travel writing legend and all-around good guy Rolf Potts who organized the event.

I been basking in the glow of that marvelous 6-day experience ever since.

The Eiffel Tower beams its blue light over the Seine River, where the French people and we tourists crowded its banks every night to wine and dine into the wee hours.

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Here’s Why You Don’t Want A Zim/Zam Univisa

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This section of the Zambesi River below Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, is known as Boiling Pots for its roiling surface. Zimbabwe is on the right, Zambia is on left; midway across the Zambesi lies the border between the two countries. Spanning the gorge above is Victoria Falls Bridge.

I was going to Zimbabwe to visit a friend and wanted to spend some time as well in neighboring Zambia.

The two South African countries share the Zambesi River as their border where the mighty Victoria Falls unleashes its power.

I thought that a visa allowing free, unlimited border crossings for 30 days would be ideal. It was available on arrival at Zimbabwe’s Harare International Airport for 50 USD, just 20 USD more than the 30-day visa for Zimbabwe only.

I thought it would be neat to go back and forth enjoying benefits of both sides of the falls in the towns of Livingstone, Zambia, and Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side.

But there was a big snag in the plan that didn’t occur to me until too late.

Covid tests.

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Camels and Chaos: My First Week In Crazy Cairo

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Camel drivers lead their livelihood home after a day carrying visitors at the Giza Plateau outside of Cairo.

On arrival in the early evening at Cairo’s international airport I beefed with the taxi drivers who told me that the metro doesn’t go to the airport.

All the info I had was that they do. I wanted to take the metro. But I saw no signs for the metro at the airport terminal.

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Exploring Athens The Old-school Way: On Foot

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The City of Athens sprawls like this in every direction from the Lycabettus Hill, perhaps the best viewing platform in the city at about a thousand feet. Only about a 30-minute walk from my house.

I’m breaking in a new pair of hiking boots so walking has been my principal mode of transportation of late. But that’s OK since walking through unfamilar cityscapes is one of my favorite travel pastimes.

So far so good with my new bargain boots.

I’ve been in Athens now for a week. You’ve probably seen my first post on the Acropolis; now I’ve got some other photos taken on various other walks, starting with the Wednesday open market on Kavlou Street, in the Gizi neighborhood of the city, where I live.

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Farewell Crete, Hello Athens! With Cairo On The Horizon

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The Boutakas River begins in the White Mountains of western Crete, flows through the village of Vrisses, and empties into the Mediterranean off the coast of Crete. This scene is a few steps from the door of where I stayed for the past nine days in the lovely village of Vrisses.

Sunday I leave Crete for an 11-day stay in Athens.

Although it was my second time on the island of Crete, I previously had not given myself the opportunity to spend any time in Athens outside of a few layovers in airports.

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