In July 1863, over 170,000 soldiers converged on the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in a battle that changed both the course of the Civil War and ultimately the nation. Every kid in America studied the Battle of Gettysburg in history class and memorized at least a part of President … Read more
It was like a magic carpet ride. Except that I was riding a rolling blue tapestry of three mighty waterways in Norway – the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. Heading south along the coast from Kirkenes near the Russian border to the old Hanseatic city of … Read more
Pure and simple. That’s the essence of Norway from its fjords, as clear and clean as they look, to its people, whose frank gaze and forthright attitude are equally refreshing. Freshness also distinguishes Norwegian food. Blessed with more than 15,000 miles of fjord-indented coastline, bathed by four bodies of … Read more
“The Norwegians sure take their sun seriously, don’t they?” said Pop after he saw that we were fellow Americans touring Norway. We’d just zoomed past a few townspeople sunbathing in their backyards and a guy mowing his lawn shirtless. It was a hot, sunny day in Alesund, a popular fjord … Read more
It’s Friday Night and you’re in livin’ for the weekend mode. But you still don’t have a plan in place. If you’ve got a smart phone and are an app-junkie like yours truly, think about taking these nightlife apps for a spin. Wendr DEVICE: iPhone only for now – … Read more
I think my editor loves me and likes to see me suffer, by giving me some of the most taste-tempting culinary writing assignments imaginable: The flavors of Finland, Barbecue, and the Caribbean, among others. This time, though, I can’t blame him, because it was me who recently visited and absolutely … Read more
A gently stirred Negroni (the classic Italian aperitif with gin, vermouth and Campari) and crostinis slathered with a rabbit pate are my welcome treats as I take a seat on a tall stool at the pastorally designed wooden bar of Spinasse. I’m excited, as it’s a front row view to … Read more
I’M IN SAN FRANCISCO! Beautiful views, unique neighborhoods, amazing people, and great spirit; every nook and cranny of this city has its own personality. After all it is San Francisco’s eccentric and downright strange diversity that defines its culture; mixing together trendy urban professionals, hippy chic fashionistas, hipster grit mixologists, … Read more
Hailed as a tourists’ mecca and damned for those killer hills, San Francisco’s reputation definitively precedes it. Famed for its glory days as a beat generation outpost then later the epicenter of flower power and acid rock, today the glorious city by the bay has lost none of its “alternative” … Read more
I’d been to Barbados before, and counted it as one of my favorite Caribbean islands. Now having recently been there again, I have to say that it’s not just one of my favorites; it’s my absolute favorite. Credit of course has to go to the island itself—its warmth, its beauty, … Read more
Think Norwegians are reserved? Just head for one of the country’s summer festivals and you’ll change your mind. When the weather turns warm and the sun beats down on those clear blue fjords, the beat goes on and on. From the capital of Oslo to the Arctic Circle, and clear … Read more
Cruising through Norway’s narrowest fjord, navigating more than a dozen dizzying switchbacks on a drive down one of the country’s steepest roads, hurtling through innumerable tunnels on Northern Europe’s highest railway and speeding past gushing waterfalls and icy tongued glaciers. Sounds like an advertisement for an adventure expedition, right? Actually, … Read more
Snug by Oslo’s downtown harbor, it was once the city’s most disreputable corner. In the 18th century, Tjuvholmen—meaning Thief Island—was a shadowy haunt of rascals and reprobates. The quarter’s only redeeming feature was its site: several small islands jutting into the broad blue Oslofjord. But, for smugglers, that splendid waterway … Read more
Colorful wooden buildings dot the wharf area of Bergen, scrunched up one against the other like brightly colored Monopoly pieces. Some of the gabled buildings are slightly tilted, but it only adds to the charm of this UNESCO World Heritage city. Centuries ago, this wharf area, called Bryggen – meaning … Read more
If you’re like me, you might think that all the “To Do Before You Die” lists and books are foolish. Unless, of course, the list or book in question involves a particular passion or in my case a certifiable weakness – barbecue. Barbecue is one of America’s greatest gastronomic obsessions. … Read more