We thought we couldn't beat our trip to Chile and Argentina in Dec 2022, but we just did after returning from Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. Despite the travel distance, we got to see family, play with elephants, see magnificent Wats and visit Angkor Wat. The sights and the food were superb. Galapagos next on the list - maybe not 2024
I so enjoyed the Chile podcast. I've heard it's a beautiful country, and your broadcast makes me want to go! We had incredible travel experiences in 2023, having gone to Germany for Christmas Markets in November/December. We went to six markets in three countries. The most wonderful one took place in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. If you haven't been, GO! It is magical: the setting of the cobble-stoned town square, the sites and sounds of choirs singing, the scent of chocolate and roasting chestnuts, and hearty meals of sausage and brats under the evening lights of cathedrals within the ancient city walls surrounding this village above the Tauber River. Despite its wonder, another city stole the honor: Amsterdam! It is the most fantastic city we've been to, with its canals and history and fashion and back alleyways filled with ethnic food and shops and galleries. Just watch out for the bicycle lane! Everyone rides a bike. I can't wait to go back!
Last year, I visited friends in Japan, and traveled with one friend on a cheap, local-train travel ticket up the northern coast. When there we hiked on the Michinoku Traill, which is similar to Big Sur but with heavy humidity and dense forest. While hiking next to the dangerous and beautiful rocky coast, I could feel the beauty and power of the waves. At night, we had amazing, fresh seafood at our ryokan. A memorable experience. Next year, I'll go back to northern Peru, Trujillo, and teacher-train at workshops; then, I'll go hiking in the Cordillera Blanca. This place has so many gigantic, beautiful mountains to explore and beautiful people, too!
My favorite trip was to the Isle of Man. Spectacularly beautiful and overlooked by many travelers. 60
Minutes was so entranced by it that they recently gave it a long segment…almost unknown for that type of broadcast. But the island is where I was born and bred and it’s lovely to show my family around behind the wheel of a car. Growing up, my family never had a car …(most families didn’t) so it was bus everywhere and then walk as far as one could down to the beaches and up the hills, until it was time for the bus home. Some areas I was never able to visit so what a pleasure that is now.
My favorite vacation spot is Vail Colorado because I'm a skier but this year I plan to return to Zermatt Switzerland. It's just a beautiful spot with no cars because it's almost impossible to get to by car
I took four trips in 2023, happy to get back to my normal traveling after the disruption due to Covid. My favorite this year, with birding in Costa Rica, small ship cruising in Alaska and in Belize/Honduras as runners up, was the cruise I took from Iceland to the northeast coast of Greenland into the Arctic. It was on a state-of-the art luxury icebreaker Commandant Charcot, a Ponant ship with a modest number of passengers. I saw humpback whales on the sail to Greenland, and the first of 13 polar bears just two days after arriving on the Greenland coast. The ship broke ice to the only Inuit village on the coast, opening up access to the sea for the subsistence hunters earlier than usual, and also donating supplies to the village. To visit the village, I got to ride in a dogsled with the cutest sled dogs on earth--what an adrenalin rush! The dogs are loosely attached to the sled on thin lines, and at times you wonder if they will ever run in the same direction, but they do. Went exploring in Zodiacs and walking on the ice with snowshoes. Had many close viewings of polar bears which approached the ship in a natural way because of curiosity. The ship also conducts scientific studies on the Arctic climate, and I was able to interact with scientists from several countries about their work. In addition there were lectures by biologists, geologists, and ornithologists. Enormous icebergs passed by in the distance. Some people did a polar plunge into water with chunks of ice, but I'm too old and wise to do that. On the way back to Iceland, a pod of orcas kept us entertained for over an hour. Next trip is birding in Costa Rica again.
Our favorite trip of 2023 was a trip with Natural Habitat to see the polar bears in Churchill Canada. Seeing this threatened species getting ready to go out on the ice of Hudson bay was incredibly moving! Next year’s trips are TBD.
I had two favorites this year. The first was being invited to a wedding in Kerala, India. The warmth and hospitality of family and friends was overwhelming. After the wedding I got over my fears of traveling solo in India and explored more of Kerala, along with Jaipur and Agra. I’m so happy I did as everything was amazing. The second was my niece’s wedding on a mountaintop in Washington State, which I officiated. Pretty amazing to be standing between two people that love each other so much! What an honor!
I loved Japan too (but going in August was HOT)! Nepal and the Maldives were both top notch as well. Looking forward to Albania this spring and returning to Croatia and Serbia (which was Yugoslavia last time I was there)!!
Just returned from Patagonia, a definite highlight of any year. Since you are in Chile, why not drop down to Torres del Paine? Spectacular this time of year, longs and relatively warmer weather. Then up go to El Chalten and El Calafate in Argentina, a six hour or so bus trip from Puerto Natales in Chile.
We have been so many places in our travels but this year was our first for New Orleans. We just loved it from the food to the music and the people and history. 2024 we plan on Rome and a transatlantic cruise with stops in France Spain and Portugal
2023 favorite destination: probably Auckland for the Women's World Cup (and a side trip to Hobbiton), although hiking in the eastern Sierras was a close second.
2024 coming up: Antarctica in January, St John USVI in March, Brooklyn in April, Galapagos and Machu Picchu in July, the Shetlands in October, Italy in October and a December trip yet to be determined....
And if you're headed to the Caribbean, definitely check out St John. It is mostly national park and still our favorite island (although with a larger group, sailing in the BVI for a week is also a treat not to be missed).
2023 saw us in Abu Dhabi a few times, Australia, New Zealand, and ended the year in Doha and Abu Dhabi again. We chose Doha based on Chris' recommendations and liked it so much we're booking for 2024 which will also see us back in New Zealand and Australia. The world is a beautiful gift!
My favorite place is Poipu Kauai, the beauty, the warmth, and the familiarity make it my happy place. Next year I' going to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and Hawaii.
We thought we couldn't beat our trip to Chile and Argentina in Dec 2022, but we just did after returning from Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. Despite the travel distance, we got to see family, play with elephants, see magnificent Wats and visit Angkor Wat. The sights and the food were superb. Galapagos next on the list - maybe not 2024
I so enjoyed the Chile podcast. I've heard it's a beautiful country, and your broadcast makes me want to go! We had incredible travel experiences in 2023, having gone to Germany for Christmas Markets in November/December. We went to six markets in three countries. The most wonderful one took place in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. If you haven't been, GO! It is magical: the setting of the cobble-stoned town square, the sites and sounds of choirs singing, the scent of chocolate and roasting chestnuts, and hearty meals of sausage and brats under the evening lights of cathedrals within the ancient city walls surrounding this village above the Tauber River. Despite its wonder, another city stole the honor: Amsterdam! It is the most fantastic city we've been to, with its canals and history and fashion and back alleyways filled with ethnic food and shops and galleries. Just watch out for the bicycle lane! Everyone rides a bike. I can't wait to go back!
Last year, I visited friends in Japan, and traveled with one friend on a cheap, local-train travel ticket up the northern coast. When there we hiked on the Michinoku Traill, which is similar to Big Sur but with heavy humidity and dense forest. While hiking next to the dangerous and beautiful rocky coast, I could feel the beauty and power of the waves. At night, we had amazing, fresh seafood at our ryokan. A memorable experience. Next year, I'll go back to northern Peru, Trujillo, and teacher-train at workshops; then, I'll go hiking in the Cordillera Blanca. This place has so many gigantic, beautiful mountains to explore and beautiful people, too!
My favorite trip was to the Isle of Man. Spectacularly beautiful and overlooked by many travelers. 60
Minutes was so entranced by it that they recently gave it a long segment…almost unknown for that type of broadcast. But the island is where I was born and bred and it’s lovely to show my family around behind the wheel of a car. Growing up, my family never had a car …(most families didn’t) so it was bus everywhere and then walk as far as one could down to the beaches and up the hills, until it was time for the bus home. Some areas I was never able to visit so what a pleasure that is now.
My favorite vacation spot is Vail Colorado because I'm a skier but this year I plan to return to Zermatt Switzerland. It's just a beautiful spot with no cars because it's almost impossible to get to by car
I took four trips in 2023, happy to get back to my normal traveling after the disruption due to Covid. My favorite this year, with birding in Costa Rica, small ship cruising in Alaska and in Belize/Honduras as runners up, was the cruise I took from Iceland to the northeast coast of Greenland into the Arctic. It was on a state-of-the art luxury icebreaker Commandant Charcot, a Ponant ship with a modest number of passengers. I saw humpback whales on the sail to Greenland, and the first of 13 polar bears just two days after arriving on the Greenland coast. The ship broke ice to the only Inuit village on the coast, opening up access to the sea for the subsistence hunters earlier than usual, and also donating supplies to the village. To visit the village, I got to ride in a dogsled with the cutest sled dogs on earth--what an adrenalin rush! The dogs are loosely attached to the sled on thin lines, and at times you wonder if they will ever run in the same direction, but they do. Went exploring in Zodiacs and walking on the ice with snowshoes. Had many close viewings of polar bears which approached the ship in a natural way because of curiosity. The ship also conducts scientific studies on the Arctic climate, and I was able to interact with scientists from several countries about their work. In addition there were lectures by biologists, geologists, and ornithologists. Enormous icebergs passed by in the distance. Some people did a polar plunge into water with chunks of ice, but I'm too old and wise to do that. On the way back to Iceland, a pod of orcas kept us entertained for over an hour. Next trip is birding in Costa Rica again.
Our favorite trip of 2023 was a trip with Natural Habitat to see the polar bears in Churchill Canada. Seeing this threatened species getting ready to go out on the ice of Hudson bay was incredibly moving! Next year’s trips are TBD.
I had two favorites this year. The first was being invited to a wedding in Kerala, India. The warmth and hospitality of family and friends was overwhelming. After the wedding I got over my fears of traveling solo in India and explored more of Kerala, along with Jaipur and Agra. I’m so happy I did as everything was amazing. The second was my niece’s wedding on a mountaintop in Washington State, which I officiated. Pretty amazing to be standing between two people that love each other so much! What an honor!
I loved Japan too (but going in August was HOT)! Nepal and the Maldives were both top notch as well. Looking forward to Albania this spring and returning to Croatia and Serbia (which was Yugoslavia last time I was there)!!
I’d love to send a travel pitch your way. Best email address?
elliottc@gmail.com
Just returned from Patagonia, a definite highlight of any year. Since you are in Chile, why not drop down to Torres del Paine? Spectacular this time of year, longs and relatively warmer weather. Then up go to El Chalten and El Calafate in Argentina, a six hour or so bus trip from Puerto Natales in Chile.
We have been so many places in our travels but this year was our first for New Orleans. We just loved it from the food to the music and the people and history. 2024 we plan on Rome and a transatlantic cruise with stops in France Spain and Portugal
2023 favorite destination: probably Auckland for the Women's World Cup (and a side trip to Hobbiton), although hiking in the eastern Sierras was a close second.
2024 coming up: Antarctica in January, St John USVI in March, Brooklyn in April, Galapagos and Machu Picchu in July, the Shetlands in October, Italy in October and a December trip yet to be determined....
And if you're headed to the Caribbean, definitely check out St John. It is mostly national park and still our favorite island (although with a larger group, sailing in the BVI for a week is also a treat not to be missed).
2023 saw us in Abu Dhabi a few times, Australia, New Zealand, and ended the year in Doha and Abu Dhabi again. We chose Doha based on Chris' recommendations and liked it so much we're booking for 2024 which will also see us back in New Zealand and Australia. The world is a beautiful gift!
My favorite place is Poipu Kauai, the beauty, the warmth, and the familiarity make it my happy place. Next year I' going to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and Hawaii.