When I hear “Nicaragua,” it conjures up memories of my mom cooking supper in the kitchen while Dan Rather reported the day’s news. He would talk about the Reagan Administration backing the Contras against the Sandinistas, then show pictures of camouflage-clad Commandos brandishing AK-47s. It was a different time in the 1980s. Nicaragua was embroiled
House Hunting in Costa Rica!
Costa Rica has become a hotbed for Americans buying second homes. The appeal of a country where locals greet you with “Pura Vida” (“simple life” or “pure life”) is immediately apparent. It is a magnificent country famous for its world-class surfing, rain forests, jungles, reserves and national parks. Thirty-five wildlife refuges protect more than twenty-five percent of
Why I Embrace Solitude (and you should too)
I’m an experienced solo traveler. Usually, I’ll meet more people vagabonding alone. But Norway is different. Perhaps due to its high prices, remote location or combination thereof, I encountered zero rebellious hippies, counterculture losers or brainless bleeding hearts. Nobody attempted to tell me I was from “The Great Satan” or that I’d need to “check
Japan: Travel Advice & Itinerary
We were 6,700 miles from home facing centuries-old cultural norms and codes of etiquette. Being in Japan is like traveling through 11 centuries of history. Endless peaceful gardens and ancient Buddhist temples adorn the island country whose capital, Tokyo, is teeming with busy streets and vibrant culture. I wondered how they keep a country of 127 million
