Most trips overseas for the intrepid traveler involve overland travel. There’s sometimes unavoidable on small islands in the Philippines and the desert expanses of the Middle East. The road offers adventure, perspective to a new place and experiencing the local color. Some of us have quickly found that schedules in most places do not goContinue reading “Transport with a splash of color”
Author Archives: farflungistan
Taking Flight in Bryant Park
Spring actually started as early as February in this section of the world and some would believe winter was a very kind one to all of us after how much snow was dumped on us last year. We had 70 degree days in January and we had very few that went below freezing. The earlyContinue reading “Taking Flight in Bryant Park”
Your priced out of a trip destination and a dream, can’t afford Paris? Part Deux
An evening stroll along the Seine/Bospherus. A room with a view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower/Blue Mosque at dusk. This is a city where travelers can show up with no plans. Time in both Paris and Istanbul can be spent just walking the streets and spending time viewing art in small and large museumsContinue reading “Your priced out of a trip destination and a dream, can’t afford Paris? Part Deux”
Your priced out of a trip to Moscow? How about Georgia instead?
We all have a vision on how we will spend our precious days away from regular life. For some its traveling far from home to a place where most things are foreign. An evening stroll along the Volga viewing the red stars that light up the top of the Kremlin, Seven Sisters and St. Basil’s.Continue reading “Your priced out of a trip to Moscow? How about Georgia instead?”
Spring is coming? That’s what Chuck says
Staten island resident ground-hog, Chuck, says that spring is coming soon. Doesn’t take a groundhog getting woken up from a winter’s nap to be able to see that coming. Daffodils are already peeking out of the ground in Inwood Park and some cherry trees have blossomed in Central Park. The weather is as usual unpredictable andContinue reading “Spring is coming? That’s what Chuck says”
Year of the Dragon Parade Celebration – NYC
Year of the Dragon – NYC 2012 New York City is a perfect home for intrepid travelers. It’s the city that historically is known for its candid talk and surly abrupt manners or lack of them. And yes, Gotham has again been voted the rudest city in America, but at the same time ranksContinue reading “Year of the Dragon Parade Celebration – NYC”
Xian: The Gateway to the Silk Road
One of the best ways to see history in person is by visiting the cities along the Ancient Silk Road. Religion was the driving force behind many of history’s greatest battles, and the force which leaders used to expand their empires. The faces numerous cities and villages reflect the styles, ideals and philosophies of the dominantContinue reading “Xian: The Gateway to the Silk Road”
A Far-Flung Silk Road connection – the Great Mosque of St. Petersburg Russia
St. Petersburg’s skyline says it all. From the banks of the Volga the views include the golden cathedral towers of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the pointed towering Minerats and bright blue tiles of the mosque dome just to the right of it. Peter the Great wanted his capital to reflect the cultural makeContinue reading “A Far-Flung Silk Road connection – the Great Mosque of St. Petersburg Russia”
The best surprises found in Souks, Bazaars and Medinas across the Middle East and beyond
Much of what was the Persian Empire in the BC days were the bazaars which still remain to be the center of commerce in modern times in cities from Istanbul down to Yazd in southern Iran, and from Marrakesh to Xi’an. Long dark covered alleyways with packed stalls staffed with smiling merchants waiting to makeContinue reading “The best surprises found in Souks, Bazaars and Medinas across the Middle East and beyond”
Farflungistan 