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The 12 Times (That I know of) That I’ve been Severely Ripped-Off, Robbed,...
1. The time I was pick-pocketed in the Roman metro. I was packed into a crowded carriage on the Roman metro during rush hour, and as the train pulled into a stop, a young gypsy girl – maybe...
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The World Cup of Touts – Round 2
Which country has the worst touts, con-artists, scammers, beggars and shady taxi drivers? Three weeks from now the world will know the answer at the conclusion of the World Cup of Touts. The results...
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Due to the unrest in Turkey, I am going to Turkey
Due to the protests ( and against the protests of my mother) I am going to Turkey this fall. Kristi and I had been kicking around many possibilities for travels. We went so far as to buy guidebooks for...
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On Returning to Rome and 9/11
Today, I am going back to Rome. When I went 12-plus years ago, it was the most hectic, chaotic city I’d been to at that time. Although I loved it, I never did quite relax and enjoy it. Now, having been...
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Returning to Rome: Part II
This time, Rome blew my mind. Somehow when I visited 12 years ago, I didn’t appreciate it enough, it didn’t make such a huge impression on me. One would think that now I’d be a more jaded traveler and...
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Pompeii – the Antidote for Art, City and Penis Fatigue
After two and a half weeks in Rome, Venice, Florence, and Naples, we were a little burned out. It is possible to see too much exquisite art; cities can wear you out. And you can only look at so many...
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Cinque Terra in the Off-Season, or Maddie Jacobs to the Rescue
Riamaggiore was quiet as a morgue. We arrived in mid-November to find no life on the streets and most of the shops had closed for the winter; the only travelers we met in our first hours in town were...
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Expectations of Turkey, Greece and Italy Revisited
Before we took off for Europe in September, I posted my nine pre-trip expectations. Let’s check in to see how those expectations worked out. 1. I expect to complain about how expensive everything is...
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20 of My Best/Favorite Photos of 2013
I was all set to do a Top 2013 photos of 2013 post. I thought 2013 photos from 2013 had a nice ring to it, plus it would spare me the arduous task of narrowing down my favorite and best photos. But I...
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Venice: Half Fairy Tale, Half Tourist Trap
“There is no way a gondola ride costs $100 per hour,” I declared. My coworker was trying to tell me how expensive it was to visit Venice, and I wasn’t having it. “No way,” I argued. “That just isn’t...
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The Venetian Blue Hour
Photographers call the time after sunset before it gets totally dark the “blue hour.” It is a great time to take photos, especially cityscapes, as the intermingling of natural and artificial light...
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What Kind of Poser are You?
When traveling, sometimes I find my fellow tourists to be more interesting than the actual sights. We do some strange things, especially when it comes to posing for photos. How we pose for photos tells...
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The Rose Scam
It is straight out of every girl’s Italian fantasy. She is at an iconic landmark like the Spanish Steps, the Rialto Bridge or the Piazza Navone, and she is approached by a handsome, charming Latin...
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Foto Friday Volume 1: Venice in Black and White
My posts are sometimes wordy. Either I have a lot to say, or I can’t say anything concisely. I decided that I need to have some shorter posts. Most of my readers are busy or have very short attention...
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An Ode to the Sun
One of the downsides to living in Alaska, even though we technically have 24 hours of sunlight in the summer, is that we often get weeks of rain and don’t see the sun. It is depressing when it is 49...
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Top Posts After 3 Years of Blogging
It is hard to believe that three years ago, almost on a whim, I started this blogging venture. It has been more rewarding, more fun and way more time consuming than I ever thought it would be, which is...
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The Mexican Clown Con
Two years ago I published a hard hitting expose on the “Rose Scam” in Italy. Basically, all over Italy young men approach lady tourists, offer them a rose as a gift and after she is swept off her feet,...
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Cinque Terra in the Off-Season, or Maddie Jacobs to the Rescue
Riamaggiore was quiet as a morgue. We arrived in mid-November to find no life on the streets and most of the shops had closed for the winter; the only travelers we met in our first hours in town were...
View ArticleReturning to Rome: Part II
This time, Rome blew my mind. Somehow when I visited 12 years ago, I didn’t appreciate it enough, it didn’t make such a huge impression on me. One would think that now I’d be a more jaded traveler and...
View ArticlePompeii – the Antidote for Art, City and Penis Fatigue
After two and a half weeks in Rome, Venice, Florence, and Naples, we were a little burned out. It is possible to see too much exquisite art; cities can wear you out. And you can only look at so many...
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