“You’re not a real man if you haven’t climbed the Great Wall.” ~Mao Zedong When Casey and I were shooting emails back and forth in August regarding our rendezvous in China, he mentioned something that stuck with me “…a really cool Great Wall hike that I enjoy…” Hike the Great…
Back in the early 1980’s (and yes, I realize some of you reading this may not have been born yet), my family lived on a farm in Imperial, Nebraska. I realize you don’t know where that is. Unless you’re from the area or got lost on your way to Denver,…
Maybe because it’s made a cameo in so many Jackie Chan and Jet Li movies. Maybe because it represents the heart of the “mysterious” and ancient Chinese culture. Or, maybe it’s just the name: “The Forbidden City.” Whatever the reason for my excitement, it was pretty cool to see it…
Though not as much of a lightning rod as the beard, my ever-lengthening hair has been a topic of discussion on this site and in email. I’ve never gown my hair out. It was always cut short as a kid, at least as far as I can remember. Through High…
Or, “How James Cameron saved my sanity.” I don’t intend for this to sound like a “poor me” episode, though I realize it probably will. I don’t want you to think I’m complaining about not working and gallivanting around the globe. But, I figure if you’re reading this, you’re at…
Ahh, Prague. The City of a Thousand Spires. Perhaps one of the best things about not being able to go to Russia was that I was able to add Prague to my ever-changing itinerary. I love this city. I was first here in December of 2003. During the final phases…
While on the train to Prague, I got a chance to read my guide book. It had a small section on day trips, and recommended a visit to a small town called Kutna Hora. The town itself didn’t sound overly remarkable – an impressive church called “St. Barnabas” sat high…
It was probably appropriate I woke up to low, misty gray clouds. My early morning walk to the bus station was drab and chilly. It seemed like no one I passed was smiling. Everyone was looking either down at their feet or intently at a Polish newspaper. I was thinking…