Travel
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Costa Rica
Part Two: Arenal Volcano and Cano Negro
By: - Feb 05th, 2010Viewing a mist-shrouded active volcano, hiking over hanging bridges through the rainforest and gliding through inland waterways teeming with wildlife are the rewards of this region.
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My Love Affair with Onyx
Covering the Tuscon Gem Shows
By: - Feb 02nd, 2010In our continuing coverage of the enormous Tuscon Gem Shows our correspondent, David Wilson, reveals a special passion for onyx.
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Costa Rica
Part One: Central Valley and Sarapiqui
By: - Jan 31st, 2010Central Valley is a significant break in Costa Rica's mountainous backbone.With its rich volcanic soil and ideal year-round climate, it is a haven for people, flowers and plants. San Jose, the capital city, is the center of it all. The Sarapiqui region is steamy, tropical and carpeted with fruit plantations. Birds, bats and jungle plants thrive in its rain forest. River rafting is a highlight.
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Paraza: A French Global Village
Some 19 Nations Among 565 Inhabitants
By: - Jan 26th, 2010Paraza is wonderful! It is just a village in the South of France, but people from around the world have chosen to live there seasonally or year round. This article highlights the French and international population.
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Northern France
Treasures of the Somme Region
By: - Dec 02nd, 2009From the bay to the valley, the Somme region of France offers diverse landscapes, including coastal treasures,fascinating cities and tranquil battlefields steeped in the memory of the Great War. Stunning Gothic buildings, grand chateaus, Belle Epoque architecture and charming farm houses dot the landscape.
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The Mediterranean Coast: Turkey's Magical Hideaways
Part Five: Antalya and the Blue Voyage from Fethiye to Marmaris
By: - Sep 21st, 2009The Turkish Riviera, known as the Turquoise Coast, offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean with wide bays and crystal-clear waters. Ancient Greco-Roman sites, villages with picturesque marinas and sandy beaches dot the coastline. The "Blue Voyage" is an opportunity to visit the ancient sites while enjoying the pleasures of boating and swimming.
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The Aegean Coast: Turkey's Magical Hideaways
Part Six: Marmaris, Ephesus and Kusadasi
By: - Sep 21st, 2009Western Turkey with its fertile lands and prosperous cities, has attracted many civilizations since ancient times. Marmaris and Ephesus are two such cities: The former once a center for Carian civilization and now a famed resort, dates from 3000 BC. Ephesus, the second largest city of the Roman Empire, was an important center for the new Christian faith. Its archeological site includes a large theater with a seating capacity of 24,000, the restored library of Celsus and the residential district of the Terrace Houses.
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Central Anatolia: Turkey's Magical Hideaways
Part Four: Cappadocia, Konya, Beysehir
By: - Sep 18th, 2009Cappadocia is a nature-made fantasyland of soft white rock from lava, shaped into stark forms. The frescoed churches and underground cities, carved from volcanic stone add to this magic. Konya is renowned as the center of the Mevlevi Order (Whirling Dervishes). The tomb of Mevlana and the museum complex attract visitors from around the world. Beysehir, located by a mountain lake by the same name, is home to the Esrefoglu Mosque, a 13th-century Seljuk masterpiece known as the "jewel of wooden architecture".
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City Across Continents: Turkey's Magical Hideaways
Part Three: Istanbul
By: - Sep 18th, 2009Istanbul is a multifaceted city: modern and traditional, European and Asian, cutting edge and conservative, two millennia old, yet hip. The Bosporos bisects the city into European and Asian sides with picturesque neighborhoods, Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, many museums, bazaars, Art Nouveau buildings and trendy districts.
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Beyond Istanbul: Turkey's Magical Hideaways
Part One: Antakya and Gaziantep
By: - Sep 13th, 2009The ancient city of Antioch, now Antakya, was the Roman empire's third biggest city and the first meeting place of the Christian community. Its wealth of mosaics, as well as the cave church, known as "St.Peter's Grotto" and proclaimed by the Vatican as a holy place in 1983, make it a visitor attraction. Gaziantep attracted many civilizations since its early settlers because of its location between northern Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. The city, along with a boat ride on the Euphrates, offer a wealth of discoveries.
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Colossal Gods and Kings: Turkey's Magical Hideaways
Part Two: Mount Nemrut, Urfa and Harran
By: - Sep 13th, 2009On top of Mount Nemrut is the 1st-century-BC tomb of King Antiochus I of Commagene, who rests here with colossal stone gods. Colorful Urfa with its distinctive architecture, old bazaar and ethnic neighborhoods is the birthplace of Abraham. Harran, home to the world's first university, fascinates with its beehive-like mud houses.
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2008 Best Women's Travel Writing
H. Susan Freireich Among Featured Writers
By: - Apr 07th, 2009Who would not like to travel to foreign destinations? The next best thing, however, is to read about journeys captured in beautiful writing. 35 women compose a mosaic of travel and life in countries around the world.
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Ecuador: Part Five
The Southern Sierra
By: - Apr 04th, 2009The "Devil's Nose" train ride rewards the traveler with a spellbinding journey not to be forgotten easily. Cuenca is Ecuador's colonial jewel, which is also the cultural and economic center of the southern Sierra. The Cuenca basin is a magnet for artisans.
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Ecuador: Part Four
The Avenue of the Volcanos
By: - Apr 02nd, 2009The "spine" of Ecuador, the Andes, has deep green valleys and spectacular volcanos. It has ethnic markets and other points of interest filled with local color.
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Ecuador: Part Three
Galapagos Islands
By: - Mar 27th, 2009The Galapagos is an archipelago of distinct volcanic formations, characterized by the geology of various eruptions. Sea birds and mammals are all around at close range. With no fear of predators, they feed, nurse, court and mate, oblivious to other creatures, including humans. Visiting five of the thirteen major islands was an amazing experience.
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Ecuador: Part Two
The Amazon Basin
By: - Mar 26th, 2009Known as Oriente to the locals, the Amazon Basin, east of the Andes, fascinates with its flora, fauna and indigenous cultures unique to the rainforest.
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Ecuador: Part One
Quito, the Colonial Capital
By: - Mar 25th, 2009Ecuador is one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries.The Andes form a rocky spine from north to south, separating the Amazon Basin in the east from the subtropical coastal plains. The capital, Quito, is a well-preserved city of hilly, narrow streets, beautiful colonial buildings, opulent churches and indigenous craft markets. Located near the equator, the city enjoys eternal spring.
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Senegal: A.E.D.E.C. School Celebration
Drum, Dance and Talent Contest
By: - Mar 01st, 2009The Salem based organization African Development through Drum and Dance donated 100 desks to the A.E.D.E.C. school in Dakar, Senegal. Following the dedication ceremony there was a drum and dance party. Several days later we returned for a student Talent Contest.
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Senegal: African Development through Drum and Dance (A3D)
Donating Desks to the A.E.D.E.C. School
By: - Feb 28th, 2009Since its founding in 2004 the Salem Mass. group African Development through Drum and Dance (A3D) has raised more than $20,000 in assistance to schools in Senegal. Recently we attended the dedication of 100 new desks for the A.E.D.E.C. school in Dakar.
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Cuba: Singing with Bright Tears
Photographs by Virginia Beahan
By: - Feb 18th, 2009Virginia Beahan has created a stunning album of photographs "Cuba: Singing with Bright Tears." It captures what may prove to be the final years of the revolutionary Castro era. Because of the trade embargo which has prevailed since 1962 the economy has stagnated turning the island with a population of 11 million into a Marxist time capsule.
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Egyptian Monuments and Memories
Images from a Trip to Egypt
By: - Feb 10th, 2009Egypt is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. Its major industry is tourism. The country's temples, monuments and architectural artifacts are magnificent and still mysterious. A Moslem country with an increasing fundamentalist minority, Egypt combines the ancient with the contemporary, the rawly primitive with the highly sophisticated. And there are fantastic pyramids.
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Brussels
The Beating Heart of Europe
By: - Jan 28th, 2009As capital of the European Union, Brussels attracts a large international workforce and visitors. The city is filled with interesting museums, gourmet restaurants and chic cafes, along with unique cultural quarters and ethnic markets. Its historic center is one of Europe's finest medieval squares; its Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings are delightful architectural treasures.
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A Train Ride from Hell
Bologna to Milan
By: - Jan 04th, 2009The last leg of three weeks exploring Northern Italy entailed a train ride from Bologna to Milan. On a Holiday weekend it was standing room only. Add to that a seated woman who never stopped complaining and it led to a heavy dose of agita.
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Holiday on the Aegean Coast: Part Two
Coastal Villages West of Izmir
By: - Dec 05th, 2008Coastal villages west of Izmir offer the visitor a pleasant climate, beautiful scenery, rich vegetation, delectable regional food and proximity to ancient sites, in addition to the warmth and friendliness of Turkish people.
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Holiday on the Aegean Coast of Turkey
The Cesme peninsula and its famed resort, Alacati
By: - Nov 28th, 2008Known in antiquity as Ionia,the Cesme peninsula with its mild climate, pristine coastline,unique local color and ancient sites, is an attractive holiday destination.
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