“Update From the Colonies” (Penguin News Network)

While crossing the Southern Ocean from Antarctica to South Georgia Island, I got to talking with some new friends over a dram or two of Shackleton Whisky and we realized that there is a major gap in news reporting when it comes to the life of the penguin. There is a lot going on in the colonies! That’s when Penguin News Network was born… […]

Perpignan — The Sunniest Place in France!

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup, or “Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly.”           …things to do in the south of France! I haven’t been to France in awhile and I’m really itching to get back, specifically to one of my favorite wine regions: Languedoc-Roussillon. The effect that the warm air off of the […]

I Took a Break from Blogging Because of a Spaceship

Someone asked me the other day why I don’t blog anymore. It’s true — over the last six months or so, I’ve pretty well abandoned this site. But it was for what I think to be a pretty good reason. On December 5, 2014, NASA’s Orion spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. I […]

Findery Notemaps

Hiya traveling friends! I’m very excited to share that a short blog post I wrote about my fancy for light sources was just featured on one of my favorite online communities for travelers: Findery.com. The point of the post was to highlight Three Great Notemaps satisfying a particular subject or strain of thinking. I chose […]

Best Travel Booking Sites and Apps (2014)

I’m a somewhat frequent traveler and have been for some time. Over the years, I’ve found many exceptional resources in terms of booking engines and planning sites. Those listed below have helped me get on the road at one time or another. Some, I’ve been using for years, others, are brand new to me and have proven […]

Four Parks in Four Days — National Parks in The American Southwest

If you had only four days to pack some adventure into your life, what would you do? And, how much adventure can one actually pack into four days? Faced with a busy job and little time off, an important event to celebrate, and armed always with a burning desire to travel whenever possible — I […]

The Jewel of The Luxembourg Gardens

“Fontaine Medicis”, the jewel of the Luxembourg Gardens on the Left Bank in Paris, France. It’s one of my favorite places in one of my favorite cities.  Almost hidden from sight beneath a canopy of trees, it is not uncommon to be missed entirely by casual travelers strolling through the famous park. A loss indeed. The […]

Outdoor Adventures in or Near Washington, DC

My team at work is launching a spacecraft this year so I’m grounded from international travel until at least February. The good part of that is that I am able to explore my vicinity (greater Washington, DC) with a fine-tooth comb while saving pennies for my next big adventure: Antarctica! Until then, I plan to become […]

Pandora’s Jar

History may have trouble fitting a square peg into a round hole, but it has no problem changing a round object into a square one. What we think of as Pandora’s box is actually a jar (Greek word “pithos”). According to Hesiod, Pandora, like Eve, was the first woman ever created. She was very beautiful, […]