Plants & Animals

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Shadows of Atapuerca: Dappled Deer and Ancient Ridges

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Experience the steep ascent of the Sierra de Atapuerca on the Camino Francés, featuring panoramic views of Spain's central plateau and the distant silhouette of Burgos. This section offers a mix of ancient history, wildlife sightings, and the unique camaraderie of the pilgrim trail.

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The Tomb was the Excuse: A Camino Lesson in the Vineyards of La Rioja

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Discover how a local grape farmer’s skeptical take on the Camino de Santiago reveals the trail’s true history. Join us for a walk through La Rioja's vineyards to learn why the "tomb as an excuse" fueled a Golden Age of pilgrimage.

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Lake Manyara: A Good Park for Beginners

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Lake Manyara: A Good Park for Beginners

The sign at the entrance read “Home of Tree Climbing Lions.”

I thought it best to keep one eye skyward at all times. Having 400 pounds of tooth and claw fall on your head would be terrible surprise. It also would make an end to a lovely safari that Vicki and I and Mr Nixon had planned in the East African country of Tanzania.

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Mud, Miracles, and Mr. Nixon: Our Safari Begins

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Mud, Miracles, and Mr. Nixon: Our Safari Begins

The three of us were sitting at a table, poolside at Ilboru Safari Lodge. Mr Saif had come to review our itinerary, introduce us to our driver, and, of course, carry the news that Vicki would not be molding in her clothes.

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And there I was when I woke up (part 1)

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And there I was when I woke up (part 1)

This post continues the narrative of our recent safari experience in Africa. But it also serves as the first of a series. “And there I was when I woke up” will relate some memorable overnights in places around the world.

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The Last Full Night: Resting at 13,000 Feet

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The Last Full Night: Resting at 13,000 Feet

The following observations and reflections were made on the afternoon of July 22, 2019. On that day I reached Karanga Camp (elevation 12,992 feet) by foot. The camp rests directly under the peak of the Kilimanjaro.

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Ants in Your Pants: From Hollywood’s "Naked Jungle" to Kilimanjaro’s Slopes

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Ants in Your Pants: From Hollywood’s "Naked Jungle" to Kilimanjaro’s Slopes

Look out for the Siafu! This species of carnivorous ant swarms in massive numbers, eats animal protein, and has dedicated soldiers with serious pincer-style mandibles. An unfortunate encounter with the siafu in an East African rainforest made us all a little jumpy.

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Rookie mistakes

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Rookie mistakes

Two lessons here. The first is this: don’t brush your teeth. The second is akin to the first: don’t ever think you are faster than a black mamba. Follow these two rules in order to get the most from your foreign travel experience.

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Rabies is not the way to go (part 6)

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Rabies is not the way to go (part 6)

The treatment for rabies is not what it used to be. 

Not so long ago it consisted of twenty or more painful shots into the abdomen delivered by a needle the size of a fencepost. This treatment is now obsolete, as I have (thankfully) discovered.