Sometimes I like a movie that critics loathe.  For instance, I really like the 1987 movie Ishtar.  I like it a lot, but if you read some reviews of the film, you might think that I am the only one. It’s the story of two terrible songwriters (Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty) who get a gig… Read More Six Days in Morocco

The first thing I noticed about London was that people speak English there.  That wasn’t a surprise, of course, but it was a relief.  Many days in many places where many other languages are used had worn me down a bit.  I was tired when I landed in London.  But I was happy to be… Read More Old Man in London

For the first time on this adventure, I changed cities via a train.  It was a nice reprieve from air travel. I met Angie (Hungary) and Kate (Slovakia) in the dining car.  They had recently returned from Finland, where they had taught English for a few months. They were going to Prague to drink lots… Read More Prague Blague

The travel shows and guides that I’ve seen on Budapest always highlight one experience as essential here: a visit to one of the public baths.  Budapest rests on hot springs that supply water to a set of public baths in the city.  But would I need to wear a Speedo?  I mean, that’s what European… Read More Scott Wears a Speedo?

When I was in elementary school, I read a biography on Alexander the Great.  His story captured my imagination.  I still remember a lot from that book.  And since that time, I have wanted to visit Athens, especially the Acropolis.  A cousin visited when he was in high school, and I’ve never forgotten a photo… Read More Striking Greece (or Waiting for the Acropolis)

I met Marianne and Rolf in September 2015 on Day 2 of the Camino de Santiago. They are Swedes who like to walk very much.  A few years ago they moved to the town of Kárystos on the Greek island of Evia.  While we were in Spain, Marianne and Rolf told me about their island and… Read More Hiking Greece

There are two airports that serve greater Istanbul.  The new one is on the European side of town.  The old one is pretty far out on the Asian side of the city.  It was not a big surprise that Pegasus Airlines, a no-frills Turkish carrier, flew into the old Asian airport.  So my Istanbul experience… Read More Istan-cool*

Jerusalem is an interesting place. After a very long flight from Bangkok, I arrived at the airport in Tel Aviv and got a shuttle to Jerusalem’s Old City on Thursday.  It was Holy Thursday, so I joined with an Anglican congregation that was operating in English for a communion service.  Afterward we walked to the… Read More Jerusalem Notes

Bangkok was hot, peaking in the high nineties each day.  I drank more water than coffee while I was there.  High heat is not my thing, so I was not in the best of humor when a tuk-tuk driver took-took me hostage. The tuk-tuk is to the golf cart as the limo is to the… Read More Three Nights in Bangkok

The second full day in Hong Kong might have been my best day in Asia. I found Hong Kong Getaway on Trip Advisor.  Everyone who had reviewed this outfit gave its tours outstanding marks.  So I arranged for Mandy from Hong Kong Getaway to be my personal guide for a day. First she took me… Read More Hong Kong, Part 2: Going Backstage