You may have seen an article I wrote a while back about how the airline lost my suitcase with a very expensive bottle of rum inside. On my last trip it happened again! Sort of. While in Martiniqué for my daughter’s annual birthday trip, we toured a rum distillery and...
On a recent trip to Martinique, I had an interesting dilemma. I knew before going that Martinique is a province of France and that it has more in common with its European roots than with its Caribbean neighbors. With that in mind, I took my trusty voltage adapter and plug...
I’ve written and even posted a video before about eating well on vacation. It’s hard to do. Most places that tourists are likely to go serve far too large portions of overpriced, unhealthy food. While staying in Martiniqué recently, we rented a room from a wonderful French woman who lived...
Logistics / Modes of Transport
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published January 5, 2016 · Last modified January 1, 2016
“I thought you’d be mad.” “Are you kidding me?! I’m telling EVERYBODY!!!” This is the true story (as I know it) of a girl who did the right thing. My daughter was just finishing up four months of studying abroad for college. Before returning home, she and her roommate, who...
Activities / Logistics / Modes of Transport / USA
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published December 29, 2015 · Last modified December 23, 2015
Standing near the base of the Statue of Liberty and looking up into her giant green face, it struck me that I had actually done it. No one believed I could. Not even me. Yet here we were. As I looked up at the face of Lady Liberty, I felt...
I noted in my first article on super cheap trips how I arrived at my choice to visit Bogota, Colombia in part because round trip flights to there were so ridiculously cheap. Having now completed that trip, it isn’t just the flights that are ridiculously cheap. Everything there is so...
I expected armed DEA agents to kick down my door any minute. Before my trip to Peru, I got lots of advice and warnings about altitude sickness. Much of it said that drinking coca tea would help. Search though I might, I could not find any coca tea before our...
Adventure / Modes of Transport / Off-the-beaten-path / South America
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published December 15, 2015 · Last modified December 23, 2015
You might say he was in the wrong line of work. A taxi driver whose driving skills are basic at best and who doesn’t know his way around his own city. He not only had to use GPS but also stop to ask directions. Four times! I’ll be the first...
When departing for a trip, the very first vacation photo you must always take is of your car with the sign in the background showing where in the parking lot you left it. Bear in mind that some parking lots have stupid systems. For instance, at the long term economy...
Activities / Nature / Tropics
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published December 8, 2015 · Last modified December 7, 2015
With my face in the water I can hear nothing but the sound of my own breathing. I am enveloped in a peaceful, tranquil, blue world. One filled with sea turtles. A lot of people talk about what a fantastic experience it is to swim with dolphins. Admittedly, the idea...