Those who have never been to any part of Africa, probably have some fairly stereotypical ideas of what it’s like. I know I did. Shaped by media, I foolishly expected that the entire continent was a vast savanna sprinkled with exotic wildlife. Where there was civilization, it was in the...
If you’re like most people, when you drive to the airport you simply follow the signs to the parking area that is most appropriate for the length of time you plan to be parked. Going on a trip for several days? Head to long-term parking. Just meeting someone and only...
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published August 16, 2016 · Last modified August 15, 2016
I’ve long since accepted that most of my friends and family think I’m insane. My friends and family have long since accepted that I might very well be slightly off my rocker. The first time I ventured more than 50 miles beyond US borders was in January 2014. I didn’t...
If you’re going on a trip that’s special enough to make you think about renting camera gear (our incredible African Safari comes to mind), chances are that you’re thinking of getting one of those monster telephoto lenses like the ones you see on the sidelines at professional sports games....
Bucket List / Disability Friendly / History / Laid-back / Logistics / Mexico / Moderately Active / Sedate
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published June 7, 2016 · Last modified June 15, 2016
Touring the ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is one of those things that seems to make it onto everyone’s bucket list. Roaming the grounds at one of these sites, you may notice a lot of ramps next to or in place of steps. Or you may not notice...
“It has too many notes.” -Amadeus (1984) I tend to plan fairly active vacations. Reading my itineraries, some people have commented that they’ll need a vacation after doing all that! Take my planned upcoming Africa trip as an example. Sightseeing tour of Istanbul, Turkey including the famous Blue Mosque Mingling...
Just like you, I get junk mail all the time. Perhaps unlike you, I sometimes open and look at mine. 99% of the time still end up throwing it away but every once in a great while I find something golden. Such is what happened to me the other day....
The airport bombing in Belgium took place on the very morning me and a couple of others were flying back from Mexico. If you read my article on planning layovers, you know that I’m generally a fan of them. (Unlike most travelers.) Despite the fact that it was on the other...
Central America / Mexico / Miscellaneous
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published April 7, 2016 · Last modified May 1, 2016
“How do you know where it’s safe to go?” I get asked this question all the time. To be honest, I rarely think about it. The American news media, and even the American government, would have you believe that the whole world outside of US borders (except possibly for most...
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published February 16, 2016 · Last modified May 1, 2016
I still remember the day. I think I was 33 years old and was actually in the black marble executive bathroom at the huge worldwide mega-bank where I worked at the time. I don’t remember what spurred it but I just had this quiet epiphany and made a resolution to...