The Bridge of Gold & Bankruptcy

The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) or Bridge of Gold, in Florence, lasted over 7 decades and is the only surviving bridge from Florence's medieval days. Impressive as that is, the true impression lies within its walls and buildings. The Bridge of Gold, as you can see, is not made of gold, but instead the shops on the bridge are almost exclusively goldsmiths. If you want to shop for jewelry, this would be the place.



Although pretty much everything for sale on the bridge, including the bottled water that was being sold by a vendor, was out of my price range, I did enjoy strolling through history. After all, it is said that the practice of "bankruptcy" was invented here.

Tiffany & Co. doesn't hold a candle to this place!

Roman Colosseum - Living History

It has always been a dream of mine to step foot in the Roman Colosseum, probably the most impressive building of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum is the iconic symbol for everything I've studied in university and before. It represents a glimpse into history, both its flaws and its triumphs. Even today, in a world of skyscrapers and architectural advancements, the Colosseum is still truly impressive.

The structured beauty of the Colosseum is in stark contrast to the murderous encounters that took place within it. Up to 50,000 spectators, including women and children, watched as thousands of people fought tooth and nail for their lives in a vicious cycle of victory or death. 

Meeting Flogging Molly's Bob Schmidt

Flogging Molly's Bob Schmidt and I in Moncton, NB, Canada.

Danjet, Algeria

8 day desert tour in Danjet, Algeria 

Get Away from OC's Tourists in San Clemente

The friendly, laid-back people and surfer-town feel make San Clemente a relaxing place to spend a Saturday. On a clear, sunny day, which most of them are in southern California,  it's hard to keep your eyes on the road as you take in a landscape that includes San Clemente's long stretches of the vast blue ocean.

Arriving at the pier, is like arriving on a movie set. It's massive pillars tower over the majestic ocean and the illumination from the sun gleaming around ever corner adds to the Hollywood feel. San Clemente is a hidden gem in an oasis of beauty.

Santa Monica Pier

Countless movies and TV shows were filmed at Santa Monica Pier and it certainly lived up to the hype when I visited it a few months ago. Next time, I'll have to ride the wheel.

Everglades and Alligators

A spectacular airboat ride where alligators are plentiful, a relaxing boat cruise through the Everglades National Park where dolphins play in the wake, a delicious, traditional lunch with alligator appetizers, a wildlife drive with the Big Cypress Preserve, and a nature walk full of gators, birds, and other wildlife are all part of the Everglades Day Safari. The Everglades Safari is the only full-day, guided eco-tour of the majestic Everglades. Each part of the tour is designed to explore the four main ecosystems that make up the ‘glades including: the sawgrass prairie, mangrove estuary, cypress swamps and pine savannah. I had never seen an alligator so close before that he could lunge out of the water and attack at any time; I'd also never held an alligator before or eaten one, but this tour was a day of first for me.