Spring 1990 brought us to the small island of Ithaca, Greece, in recent times known for little but its sheer beauty, but in literature famed for its king and hero Odysseus who, Homer tells us, was the brains behind the winning wooden-horse idea that ended the ancient war of Troy. Odysseus then spent 10 adventure-filled years roaming the Mediterranean before returning to Ithaca, and his ever-faithful…

OK, this will border on being a relationship advice column. Those who know me will say that I am the last person to ask for advice. I respond that every dog has its day.



I have discovered the perfect gift for your special person. If this can't get you out of the doghouse, then it is over.



Near Buellton, at Highway 246 off the famous California Highway 101, is a road going into the beautiful La Purisima Hills. At the top lives a persevering woman that established from…

by David Paul Appell

The renaissance of BA’s most iconic world export is still in full swing, and throughout Argentina‘s elegant capital you can experience tango in infinite ways: from milongas (dance halls) and dance academies…

Founded in 1115 and situated in a narrow valley in the south of the Dordogne, the Abbey de Cadouin is classified as a 'monument historique'. For 800 years this Cistercian abbey drew in pilgrims making the journey to view a sacred piece of cloth believed to have been part of the shroud of Christ.

The piece of tissue discovered…

Virtue would be 120 years old today, if she (or he?) were alive.

I was walking off a foul mood the other day through Trinity Church Cemetery—my local cemetery—when one of those curious headstone inscriptions grabbed me:

VIRTUE S. HARM

FEB.…

The crime statistics of some cities around the world are disheartening and shocking. With such high rates of homicide, robberies and violence these cities deservedly bear the names of ‘the places of chaos and death’ or ‘the murder capitals of the world’.

#1. Cape Town, South Africa

Crime has been a…

Yosemite And the Unexpected Visitor



Please listen to this Yosemite Audio PostCard, a story about this national treasure and an unexpected park visitor…

World’s Best Hotels: TripAdvisor’s  2011 Travelers Choice Awards



When TripAdvisor came out with its highly-publicized list of the world’s dirtiest hotels, many thought it was a shameless grab by the review giant for publicity.



But others, including MSNBC, reported that the traveling public appreciated the list and used it in planning their travels.



Now TripAdvisor gives us their…

The use of hotels in tourism in the modern times cannot be overemphasized, it connotes a useful and satisfactory meaning due to comforts, free gift of nature, and confidence people derive from it. The way people spend their vacations has undergone a great change. People like to spend good times with families and friends while at the same time exploring various tourist places across the globe. As a result the tourism industry across the globe has seen an unprecedented growth which in turn has…

One hates to split hairs. Especially the hairs of the dead. But a joyful discovery in my local cemetery was soon followed by an almost instant disappointment.

According to a few 19th-century published references, the remains of New York's own Philip Livingston--one of the signers of the…

by David Paul Appell

If you know the Caribbean and/or have been to the Dominican Republic, chances are you’ve at least heard of one of the islands’ odder (and the DR’s most popular) tourist attractions. Otherwise,…

by Tripatini staff



Most pop songs in India come out of its movie industry — the famous “Bollywood” based in Mumbai aka Bombay — and this tune is from Blue, released in late '09. It’s a big-budget action flick shot in the Bahamas — something about an underwater treasure guarded by sharks — but being Bollywood, you also need your big musical numbers, of course. Composed by A.R. Rahman, who did the music…

I'm convinced that I have the best job in the world. No, I didn't say the highest paid--that would bring huge guffaws from travel writers around the world because the money involved is more like a ten-year-old's allowance. But the benefits..!!

February 28th is the Bartender's Bash, THE event that decides the bartender and drink that he/she has concocted out of Cold River Vodka or Gin.Cold River Vodka and Gin are entirely Maine-made products. Thirty bartenders are contending…