Travel
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Experiencing Greenland via Cruise
Azamara Journey to Four Destinations
By: - Sep 22nd, 2026Because of its isolation, brutal weather, and limited support for tourism, Greenland attracts few visitors. Yet it offers an experience unlike any other, and most seasoned travelers, and even neophytes, will find things of interest.
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Cruising Colombia's Magdalena River
An Exotic Alternative to More Common Travel
By: - Jul 23rd, 2026While one end point of the cruise, Cartagena, is a major tourist attraction, the visitor on this trip will enjoy experiences shared by few - the culture of rural Colombia and a diverse tropical environment.
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Hermitage Artists Retreat Expands Reach
Gifted Land on Manastoa Key, Florida
By: - Mar 31st, 2026For more than two decades, hundreds of writers, painters, composers, dancers and others have come to the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Florida's Manasota Key for inspiration to create new work. They stay in historic, waterfront cottages as they develop new exhibits, prepare for premieres of plays and symphonies, share ideas with other creatives on the campus or take time to recharge by walking on the beach and watching sunsets.
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A Traveler's Commentary on a Seychelles to Singapore Cruise and a Comparison of Singapore and Bangkok
Exotic, Less-Traveled Destinations and More
By: - Mar 22nd, 2026Indian Ocean cruise ports-of-call recommended for the experienced travelers plus the contrast of Southeast Asia's two most popular destinations.
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The Answer in a Steaming Bowl
Finding China in Its Food
By: - Sep 29th, 2025When my students ask what I ate, the answer is this: I ate warmth and energy on a bustling street corner. I ate harmony and balance from shared plates. I ate history in a piece of braised pork belly and mindfulness in a simple egg tart. And in my last meal, I ate a final, perfect memory. I ate China, and I returned full.
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Santa Fe: The City Different - Traveler's Notes
No Other Small American City Has the Quality and Diversity of Santa Fe
By: - Aug 30th, 2025The unlikely Santa Fe, New Mexico sets a remarkably high standard for tourism on many fronts. Exemplary visual arts, performing arts, museums, cuisine and restaurants, architecture, and festivals are just the beginning.
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Mongolia Travelog
Distant, Exotic, and Exciting
By: - Jul 07th, 2024A nine-day tour reveals a complex and contrasting country geographically and politically. Diet, weather, and many cultural norms are extreme. Although on-the-ground costs can be quite reasonable, organized tours which tend to be expensive are highly recommended. It is a rewarding journey for the experienced and inquisitive traveler.
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Annisquam Seafair
Books Games and Cotton Candy
By: - Jul 31st, 2023Noted for its Wax Works the Annisquam Seafair is now 178-years-old. We attended this past weekend.
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Feria de Sevilla (Seville April Fair)
A Most Spectacular Festival You've Never Heard Of
By: - May 07th, 2023When booking our trip, we didn't know of Feria, a one-week celebration of community and Seville's history with livestock markets and flamenco that began in 1846. But when our new friend Carlos invited us to join him in going to the fair, we jumped on it. Feria takes place one week in April each year on 25 urban blocks that lie mostly barren except for preparation and celebration of Feria. Imagine the value of the property designated for this one event!
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Exploring Antarctica
Bottoming Out on the Globe
By: - Mar 13th, 2023Friends have asked for reports about our Antarctic cruise. I have broken it into categories for picking and choosing. It was a 9-day journey on Atlas Ocean Voyages, a new luxury brand, on the World Navigator. We had previously decided to give the Antarctic a miss because of the potential misery of four days on the Drake Passage. Then we learned of "Fly the Drake" (i.e., launching the cruise from South Georgia Island rather than Argentina or Chile) and became interested.
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Cape Ann Rocks!
Quarries, Poles Hill, Ocean Ledges
By: - Jan 06th, 2023Quarries, Poles Hill, Ocean Ledges and gratitude weave through the following essay, with 30 plus photographs.
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At the Manship Artist Residency
All About Quarries, Ponds, and Rocks!
By: - Nov 22nd, 2022All about quarries, ponds and rocks! This article presents a photo and word essay - in the format that I have exhibited at the Eclipse Mill as well as this summer/fall at the Berkshire Art Museum in North Adams, MA.
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Picking Grapes in Alsace
Memories of France in the 1970s
By: - Sep 04th, 2022Charles Giuliano's sister Pip's youthful travels in Asia bring back memories of France in the 70's and my interface with Weltschmer
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Napa's Auberge du Soleil
Gordon Huether's L’Esprit du Soleil
By: - Jul 15th, 2022Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley’s quintessential adult getaway, and renowned local artist, Gordon Huether, today unveiled “L’Esprit du Soleil” (The Spirit of the Sun), a commissioned multi-panel art piece designed especially for the newly remodeled entrance to the award-winning hotel and its Michelin Star Restaurant.
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The Dishwasher Dialogues
Down and Out in Paris in the 1970s
By: - May 11th, 2022The Dishwasher Dialogues is a tale of being down and out in Paris in the 1970s. George James Light and Rafael Sinclair Mahdavi share tales of staying alive working at Chez Haynes a soul food restaurant. It reads like a hipster's Beggars Opera. Literally this is a saga from rags to almost riches.
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Come to the Berkshires This Summer!
New Amtrak Trains
By: - May 08th, 2022Amtrak just launched a new seasonal service that will make it easier to enjoy the quaint towns and majestic views of Massachusetts' Berkshires. The new route, called the Berkshire Flyer, will shuttle passengers between New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, beginning July 8 and operate on weekends throughout the summer.
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Spring Lambs at Hancock Shaker Village
Season Opens Saturday, April 16
By: - Mar 29th, 2022“Spring at Hancock Shaker Village is a joyous time,” said Director Jennifer Trainer Thompson. “Our farm literally ‘springs’ to life and there may be nothing cuter than a baby animal. When you add to that 20 historic buildings, and a lot of creative programming --- from farm talks to concerts to the spiritual richness of brooms --- you find a union with content that creates an unparalleled experience. Welcome back, and welcome to our 2022 season!”
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Haunted Hancock Shaker Village
Spooky Tours
By: - Oct 01st, 2021Peer into hidden spaces, with guides sharing tales of ghosts that dwell here and the Shakers' participation in the Spiritualist Movement.
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Shaker Village Appeal
Oldest Structure Needs a New Roof
By: - Aug 14th, 2021Our Laundry & Machine Shop desperately needs a new roof. What's involved? 24,320 cedar shakes. 48,640 nails. 4,500 square feet of roof.
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The Mount
Schedule of Events
By: - Aug 06th, 2021The Mount is open for guided tours through October 31. Tours can be booked online at EdithWharton.org. The grounds are open, dawn to dusk, unless otherwise posted.
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Hancock Shaker Dinner
Cider House Rules
By: - Jul 09th, 2021The al fresco evening will begin with a stroll and tasting in the orchard, then move onto a multi-course savory farm dinner, featuring craft cider pairings as well as remarks by the cider makers and our farmer about the cider and the apples.
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Shaker Village Update
South Family Trail Opens July 17
By: - Jun 25th, 2021In 1818 the Hancock Shakers established the South Family to handle the overflow of new members. Also known as the "Young Believers’ Order," South Family members lived before committing fully to the Church and community. They closed the South Family in 1849. In celebration of the opening of the South Family Trail on Saturday July 17, there will be member reception and interpretive walk starting at 10AM.
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Juneteenth At Shaker Village
Celebrating BLack Shakers
By: - Jun 18th, 2021Beginning in the eighteenth century, the Shakers welcomed many African Americans into their communities. The Shakers believed that all were equal in the eyes of God, and allowed anyone to join their communities, provided that they turned over their property and all material wealth once they committed to communal life.
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Spring at Hancock Shaker Village
Come See the Adorable Baby Animals
By: - Apr 15th, 2021It's spring at Hancock Shaker Village. That means time for one of its most popular events. For family fun come see all the newborn animals from lambs and piglets to chicks and goats.
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Shaker Village Contest
Bake the Round Barn
By: - Nov 17th, 2020Get creative in the kitchen. All submissions will be exhibited during Hancock Holidays on Saturday, December 12. Winners receive free membership to the Village and kitchen swag from Shaker Mercantile.
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