Author archive
April 18, 2016
Face as brown and tough as leather, with deep, deep smile lines crinkling around sparkling black eyes, Don Alberto Martinez welcomed us warmly to his organic mezcal tequila farm just outside Oaxaca City. His firm, rough handshake spoke volumes of a labor-intensive but honest life of living and working his land on the outskirts of […]
April 13, 2016
“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.” -Jonathan Swift My agreement with that statement made me somewhat of an outcast among my trendy Baby Boomer friends. I’d watched them shuck open some unsuspecting barnacle-laden shell, tip it up, and let a pulpy, slimy mass of flesh slide down their throat. No thanks, […]
February 9, 2016
Mexico is one of my favorite countries and the only destination that I return to year-after-year. I travel solo much of the time, and it’s always been safe. For those who are still concerned, there are other fantastic ways to see the country, such as a small-group or curated tour. Tours groups like Cantimplora Travel […]
January 18, 2016
Have you ever looked at a friend’s Facebook pictures of frolicking fun on exotic islands and wondered how they could afford it? Have you lamented being able to visit the Bahamas on a budget? You’re not alone. Taking a tropical vacation with a limited budget is easier than you think. Carnival’s cruises to the Bahamas […]
December 30, 2015
I’d really never considered a back-to-back cruise, i.e. combining two cruises on the same ship, until a friend suggested it. I was in the process of booking a cruise to the Caribbean out of the port of Miami – one of Carnival’s shorter five-day cruises which would visit Grand Cayman and Jamaica. After returning to […]
December 22, 2015
Now that winter is upon us and an end to the frenzy of the holidays in sight, visions of escape routes to warmer climates are starting to dance in our heads. Coastal escapes and beach towns along the southern Atlantic seaboard are offering off-season rates and special weekend packages making their charming destinations and temperate […]
December 17, 2015
Sherry Stoppelbein and her Datil pepper sauce have a long history in St. Augustine. Both lay claim to a heritage from the Minorcans. Transported in 1788 from the island of Minorca off the coast of Spain to northeast Florida as indentured servants to Scottish speculator Andrew Turnbull, the Minorcans eventually rebelled against the harsh conditions, […]
December 10, 2015
“Cooking with my grandmother was my alibi,” said Paul Menta. Curly-haired, charismatic, with an easy smile and sporting his beloved Liberty Bell tattoo, Paul is one-third of the dynamic trio behind Key West’s runaway concept Three Hands Fish. Rough and Humble Beginnings During his “misunderstood” youth in Philadelphia, Paul spent a lot of time with […]
December 4, 2015
I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy. So when I decided to take a “chill weekend” to recharge, I decided to try someplace new: Jacksonville Beach – a relatively small beach community on Florida’s northeast coast. Jacksonville Beach events and amusements did not disappointed. The Hotel Hands down, the best place to stay is at […]
December 3, 2015
If you’re looking for a weekend getaway that will leave you wanting more time, look no further than the Golden Isles of the state of Georgia. St. Simons Island, 18 miles long and just a mile and a half wide, the landmass rests amicably on the Atlantic seaboard, beckoning visitors through its moss-dripping oaks to […]
