Sensory Overload: Searching for Saffron in Dubai’s Spice Souk
by Bob Samborski
"Here, please, Sir. You must try this!" I popped the crunchy pepper-dusted cashew into my mouth as the friendly Iranian shopkeeper smiled, nodding his approval. It burned just about all the way down. "Nice," I wheezed, on the verge of choking, "But I’m looking for saffron."
Fishin’ in Alaska with Manly Men
by Stan Sinberg
I have now gone fishing twice in my life, both in the past three weeks, and I’m happy to report that I still haven’t caught anything. When it comes to food, my philosophy is: the further away I am from the "how" it arrived on my plate, the better. I like restaurants, where my animal generally arrives already diced, cooked, and smothered in sauce. Totally unrecognizable.
The Folly of it All: 5 of Ireland’s Best Architectural Oddities
by Steenie Harvey
Ireland’s wealthy Georgian and Victorian landowners developed a taste for erecting architectural oddities known as follies. Here are five places open to the public where you can admire (or perhaps despair over) their romantic visions of a folly-dotted "Arcadian Landscape."
Santa Cruz Trek near Huaraz, Peru
by Michael Zurakhinsky
The Cordillera Blanca Mountains are what trekking is all about. Beautiful views, friendly natives, and the optional comforts of guides, porters, and cooks make trekking these mountains a delight all around. The trail takes you to altitudes ranging from 3,000 meters to 4,800 meters, which provide gorgeous views of snow-capped peaks, emerald lakes, and flower-filled meadows.
A Day Trip to Bruges: Belgium’s Medieval Canal City
by Roy Stevenson
Plan on spending a long day in Europe’s other canal city, Bruges. Some say it’s prettier than Amsterdam. Start early on the train from Brussels; they leave every hour or so from Brussels Central Station. Walk from the Bruges Train Station across the river onto the narrow cobblestoned streets, and you’ll soon get a strong impression of what it was like in a medieval town hundreds of years ago. Preserved perfectly in the best Disney fashion, Bruges is the real thing, not a fantasy wonderland.
Mystic, Connecticut
by Deborah Burst
The faint sound of a harbor bell tolls in the distance as an early kayaker glides his oars through a shimmering river embraced by towering trees. Down the road, an ancient stone fence curls its way through a 19th century whaling village. A town of proud people eager to share their storied history, Mystic, Connecticut welcomes guests with open arms and a generous dose of New England hospitality.