A Visit to Sydney While Australia Is Burning
Here is what it was like to visit Sydney while bush fires raged throughout Australia.
Travel
This category contains travel articles that I have written as well as links to other posts and pages related to travel.
Check out my books and bylines for more examples of my travel writing. You can also visit italofile.com, my blog about Italy travel.
What It’s Like to Adopt a Sri Lankan Street Dog
This is Rosie. Rosie is a Sri Lankan street dog that my family adopted in Colombo in September 2018. Rosie is a fairly happy dog and she has good and bad moments — just like any other dog. It has been a challenge bringing Rosie and her street doggedness into our home. So I thought…
First Time Disney: Quick Answers to Common Questions
Maybe you’ve never considered yourself a Disney person. But now you’ve got kids who are itching to go to Disney World for the first time. And well, you want to make that happen.
Chakra Balancing Massage in Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Should you find yourself in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, a seaside resort area about an hour south of Colombo, consider getting a chakra crystal balancing massage. What does it mean to get your chakra balanced? I’m still not sure. But during the deep tissue, lymphatic draining treatment, complemented with coconut oil and crystals, I kept thinking…
Coming to Terms With Changing Locations: When Travel Leads You Home
Two months ago, I moved to another city. And I still haven’t gotten over it. This isn’t a tale of culture shock, though my old city and my new one are quite different. Nor is this a tale of hardship. My life is comfortable — more comfortable than most — and I didn’t have to…
RIP Anthony Bourdain
It’s been more than a year since I’ve written anything on this site. But the awful news about Anthony Bourdain seems like as good a time as any to start again. I hate to think of his ending as sparking my beginning (again). As a friend put it, these countless in memoriam posts are self-serving….
RIP California Tree That You Could Drive Through
Farewell to the Pioneer Cabin Tree, one of the first California trees that you could drive through.
He Makes Sweaters of Places Then Takes Photos of Himself Wearing the Sweaters at the Places That Inspired Them
This is one of the more delightful things I’ve seen on the Internet in a while. I found Sam Barsky, aka Colorknit, via a link on imgur. His dedication to and enthusiasm for his craft is exactly the kind of inspiration I need for coming the year. See more of Sam’s creations, from desert highways…
Welcome to New York
With the release of her new album “1989” and single “Welcome to New York,” Taylor Swift has crossed over from being a poster girl for Nashville to being a welcome ambassador for New York City. Many in New York are calling this a questionable choice, as T.S. is a newcomer. In Swift’s defense, that’s kind of what…