A Baltic Surprise

December 15, 2008 ·  

It is not for nothing that Gdansk, Poland has been labeled “Phoenix from the Ashes”. The photographs that hang in the Golden Gate, the stone passageway that leads into the heart of this medieval city, show a desecrated area lying in smoldering ruins. Not only has the total destruction at the hands of the Nazi’s been reversed, but the do-nothing, care-about-nothing attitude of the Communist era has faded from memory. Gdansk, as well as most of Poland, has been restored to its pre-war, pre-occupation splendor.

I... [Read more]

Food and Wine in Thessaly, Greece

December 1, 2008 ·  

When I arrived at the coastal village of New Anhialos in the Greek province of Thessaly, I was enveloped by my aunt’s strong arms. My uncle stuffed the luggage into the trunk, and drove the few blocks to their home. Before the last suitcase was unloaded, Aunt Voula had endowed the table with a feast—traditional cucumber and tomato salad, olives and apricots from their orchards, feta cheese packed in freshwater, stewed lamb meat, and a rice-like pasta called manestra. My mouth watered in savory anticipation, but... [Read more]

And the Winner is… ITKT’s Favorite Flight

November 29, 2008 ·  

There are a lot of perks being a travel writer. For those wondering, it’s all the travel. Unfortunately, between the ridiculous airport security, plummeting U.S. economy, luggage charges and flight delays there is little to like about air travel anymore. Moreover, as a resident of Los Angeles, all of my international flights are usually, multi-leg long haul flights (unless I am going to Mexico or Canada.) requiring much more patience in the sky. Still, I have gotten use to all the changes in air travel and, sadly,... [Read more]