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“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”
Jack Kerouac

Original content written by Jann Segal

Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished

As a traveler, my heart is broken as the war in Ukraine rages on. I had to move the dates for my Baltic Capitols and St Petersburg trip three times because of the pandemic. I wasn’t so sure their Covid recovery rate would allow the trip to go this year, but Putin did what Covid…

by jannsegal2

Reflecting on Volcanoes, Pomegranates, and Moorish Heads in Sicily

During my recent trip with Overseas Adventure Travel called Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, I came away with many great learning experiences. But three of them which were unexpected were seeing and experiencing such a magnificent volcano, the cultural influence of pomegranates and pinecones, and the story behind the all-pervasive Moorish Heads. Mt Etna…

by jannsegal2

Learning and Discovery in Sicily’s Last Arab Casbah

One of the most intriguing parts of the Sicily trip I rook with Overseas Adventure Travel called Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, was the time we spent in the old Tunisian Casbah in the fishing port of Mazara del Vallo on the West coast of Sicily. Our day wandering the Casbah and enjoying the…

by jannsegal2

Learning in Italy about the Sweetness of Doing Nothing

In Italy there is the concept of dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing. The Italians claim to be masters at it. I enjoyed some of it on my own during rainy days in Matera in Southern Italy and other times in Sicily. I much prefer the Italian description rather than the American…

by jannsegal2

Olive Oil Production in Southern Italy and Pure Italian Joy

I learned a lot when I was in the Puglia region of Southern Italy as part of the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions. The pre-trip to the main Sicily trip is in the “heel” of Italy, and includes exploring the ancient city of Matera, and the more modern city of…

by jannsegal2

Visiting Sicily’s World War Two Landing Museum

On the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, one real highlight for me was visiting the World War Two Landing Museum. This museum documents the invasion of Sicily by allied troops in 1943, an event that was a turning point for Sicily in the war and marked the beginning of the…

by jannsegal2

Exploring Sicily and Traveling thru Time

Time travel. That is what Sicily was with Overseas Adventure Travel, on their trip Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions. For me, it had been exactly two years of no international travel due to the pandemic, so this added to my sense of time. In Italy it would have felt like traveling back in time…

by jannsegal2

Traveling to Observe Burial Rites and Graveyard Customs

I have come to learn throughout my travels that tourists are interested in graveyards. This would surely not be my first point of entry in any country, but I have visited them. One time in Aruba on an island tour, we strolled around the graveyard and I had a premonition about my father’s impending death,…

by jannsegal2

Exploring the Crazy (and Floral) Uniqueness of Da Lat, Vietnam

A visit to Da Lat, Vietnam is a unique experience compared to rest of the country. I traveled to Vietnam with Overseas Adventure Travel on their tour Inside Vietnam, and Da Lat was a stand-out. This impression was due to a combination of factors, not the least of which was that it was relatively unscathed…

by jannsegal2

Traveling to Discover Friendly Feathers

I have never been a big fan or birding. I have been on trips with Overseas Adventure Travel with those who have brought along birding books and have shared with each other what birds they saw and where. I’ve looked at these interactions with interest, in the Peruvian Amazon and Iceland for instance, both areas…

by jannsegal2

Exploring the Middle East: Mankind’s Invention? A Tale of Two Countries

Ever since the first time I was in Israel to celebrate turning 40, I commented that if Israel didn’t exist, someone would invent it. That’s how powerfully it seems mankind needs to have conflict. We will create it if it isn’t there. Israel and its long and often tortured history is there to remind us…

by jannsegal2

Learning About the Cats in Northern Africa

There are so many stray cats in North Africa, it reminded me of my travels to Turkey where we saw so many in Ephesus what were considered famous historically. So that got me thinking about he cats I saw in Morocco on the Overseas Adventure Travel Trip, Morocco’s Sahara Odyssey. I wasn’t sure if these…

by jannsegal2

Mixing and Matching Travel Resources in Asia

I always said I would not write an article about how I effectively combine hotel and airlines points to create great trips. I figured that if I did, the travel industry would change how they do things to make it much more difficult. Well, they have started making things difficult anyway, so I figured there…

by jannsegal2

Visit South Korea and Tour the DMZ in the North

A trip to South Korea is an exquisite experience, filled with cherry blossoms, grand palaces, handicraft streets and whole handicraft villages, as well as an amazing if not somewhat creepy availability to the DMZ of North Korea just an hour outside of Seoul. And a visit to the North Korean Demilitarized zone is indeed worth the effort. No dramatic changing of the…

by jannsegal2

Visit Ljubljana, Slovenia and Take a Music Walking Tour

If planning a trip to any of the Eastern European capitals that were once part of the former Yugoslavia, one must-see city is Ljubljana, Slovenia. It is charming beyond belief, everyone speaks beautiful English, and it sits at the crossroads of more cultural influences than most people are aware of. Besides the influence of the…

by jannsegal2

Visit Liverpool and See the Original Beatles Drum Kit

Planning a trip to Liverpool can be fun, especially if you are a Beatles fan, where Liverpool now brings in over two billion a year as the capital of Beatles tourism. Most people make the trip as part of a longer trip to Europe in general or the United Kingdom in particular. The Liverpool portion of this…

by jannsegal2

Visit Kuala Lampur and see the Petronas Towers

One of the most interesting things to observe and explore on any trip are the landmarks. Some are unmistakable, some are magical, and some make it in movies and become the hallmark of the film. Kuala Lampur’s Petronas Towers are all three in one. They are one of the first things you see when you enter…

by jannsegal2

Visit Nikko, Japan to Hear, See and Speak No Evil

The Japanese flock to Nikko, Japan especially on weekends. Yet very few American tours do. If planning a trip to Japan, this might just be the highlight of your trip, in an already extraordinary country. Nikko is less than two hours outside of Tokyo. It is at the entrance of Nikko National Park and has been a…

by jannsegal2

Visit Malaysia and Feed the Elephants

In past years, elephants helped build Asia as part of a necessary transportation infrastructure. Over the years they have been abused. Many elephant orphanages and sanctuaries have sprung up in various countries to stem the abuse, but much of it still continues and only now is even recognized as abuse. In Thailand for instance, it…

by jannsegal2

Visit India: An Emotional Experience Like No Other

So much has been written about travel to India it seemed there would be nothing new to write about after taking the Heart of India trip with Overseas Adventure Travel in November 2014. But India is a land of experiences. A land where the most unexpected and simple movement by a local can trigger an unforgettable memory that…

by jannsegal2

Hanoi Above and Beyond

A trip to Hanoi, Vietnam is a journey unto itself, and one that will provide lasting memories. However, many tour groups often overlook some parts of Hanoi and surrounding areas that really delve into the nooks and crannies. There are many of course, and they are offered by many different companies. However, Vietnam Awesome Travel in the Old Quarter of…

by jannsegal2

The Smart Traveler: Tips for How to Handle Jet Lag

The Smart Traveler: Tips for How to Handle Jet Lag How your body handles jet lag can make the difference between planning your next overseas adventure, or deciding to either travel in the US or not not travel at all. There are however, some very tried and true tricks for beating jet lag, especially on…

by jannsegal2

Visit the Exotic Temples of Khajuraho

India is perhaps better known for its temples and monuments than any other country in the world. While traveling with Overseas Adventure Travel on the Heart of India trip, weary travelers undertook a long train ride followed by a long bus ride along dry and dusty terrain without any real understanding of what the fuss was…

by jannsegal2

Visit Bali and See Their Sacred Spaces

Indonesia is filled with many temple complexes, and you can certainly get “templed out” if you are not careful. The major temple complexes in Java, one Hindu and one Buddhist, are among the most important temple complexes in the world. In Balithere are thousands of temples and shrines, Hindu and Buddhist alike. A visit to these monuments will likely bring…

by jannsegal2

Exploring Turkey and the Cats of Ephesus

Turkey has many magical wonders to visit, many fascinating sights to behold. One of the most mysterious however, is when visiting the ruins at Ephesus. One thing that will astonish visitors in addition the biblical history and the astounding library on the premises, are the cats! So many cats at Ephesus! What is the story behind all…

by jannsegal2

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“The most beautiful thing in the world is the world itself”
Wallace Stevens

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