November 12, 2025 There is a lot to get used to being in Istanbul. The President of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan became Prime Minister of Turkey in 2003, a position he held until 2014. In 2014, he was elected President of Turkey and has held that office since August 28, 2014. After the Read more

November 7, 2025 Turkey shares borders with seven countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Because of this fact Turkey has worn a whole wardrobe of names across history, each one reflecting a different era twisting through time like a ribbon in the wind. Among them: Anatolia, Asia Minor, Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Read more

November 6, 2025 “Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean Sea.”— Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957) From Zorba the Greek There is not much to say about the island of Santorini in Greece except that it is stunningly beautiful. It is one of my Top 5 places Read more

November 2, 2025 I had a quiet day. When I arrived in Argostoli I was greeted by a young woman doing her morning yoga poses. It seemed to be a welcoming sign for my day ahead. Argostoli smells clean. Like how your t shirt smells after a spin in the dryer with Downey Fabric Softener. Read more

November 1, 2025 We sailed south from Naples toward two notable cities in Sicily, Taormina and Catania. We disembarked in Taormina. The views from Taormina are among the most breathtaking in all of Italy. The Bay of Naxos, Mount Etna in the distance, and sometimes even Calabria on a clear day. From Taormina you see Read more

October 31, 2025 Within a short walk, to the left of the pier, are three of Naples best known landmarks: Castel Nuovo, the 17th Century Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and the elaborate 18th Century San Carlo Opera House. This is where we are going to concentrate our energy for the day. Why? Because Naples is Read more

October 30, 2025 Cinque Terra is the gateway to Florence and Pisa. The Italians of this region of the Eastern Italian Riviera are known for their taste for good living. Cinque Terre consists of 5 miles of rocky coastline quite similar in appearance. It is named for the five small towns: Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza Read more

October 29, 2025 You may be wondering why Chongae and I are in Italy after just recently returning from 5 weeks in Seoul, South Korea. Our trip to Seoul was well deserved as Chongae got to visit with her family who all still live in South Korea. As I shared in previous blogs, the best Read more

October 27, 2025 “The ordinary human being does not live long enough to draw any substantial benefit from his own experience. And no one, it seems, can benefit by the experience of others. Being both a father and a teacher, I know we can teach our children nothing…each must learn its lessons anew.” Albert Einstein, Read more

Sunday, October 5, 2025 3:15 p.m. As I prepare to leave South Korea in a few days I wanted to take the time to share some final observations and recommendations with you in the event that you ever plan a visit to this beautiful and unique country. I hope you find them useful. Bowing Is Read more