Wildest Mating Strategies in Animal Kingdom Now on Display in San Francisco Museum

From sex change to cannibalism, the natural world is filled with wild mating strategies. In a new aquarium gallery titled Animal Attraction, the California Academy of Sciences delves into the science of sex, exploring the remarkable and often surprising techniques animals have developed for attracting mates and producing offspring. Visitors will encounter hermaphroditic banana slugs, [...]

Florence’s Sweet Spots and Italian Men

The hardest part about your first few days in a foreign country is trying to balance your need for rest after a long week with your need to absorb anything and everything all at once. It’s kind of like trying to soak up the culture through osmosis while running erratically from one spot to the [...]

Machu Picchu’s siren call- to stand at the top of the world

It was a feeling that I yearned for. To stand on top of a mountain in the cool silence of dawn. Cliché? Perhaps. But nevertheless, I was certain that there were few moments in life more satisfying than that stillness.                                             And at last, after years of fantasizing, there I sat in an unassuming patch of [...]

Lessons learned from the Costa Concordia and Titanic tragedy?

Public’s memory is short and enthusiasm for cruising is high but there are some cruise survival tactics we can take away from this tragedy. See insurance Q&A below. Don’t panic. Have a plan. Make your own decisions.  In an emergency pack your passport, and other IDs, credit cards, all your cash and warm clothes. Listen [...]

Biking 3,000 miles across America. My athletic achievement of a lifetime.

When my daughter asked if I would bike across the US with her, I jumped at the chance. I had no idea what lay ahead. Terror in the night Many nights I woke up at 3 a.m. and my bravado gave way to fear — of trucks running us down, injuries, arguments and the enormity [...]

Ten Ways to Protect Your Eyes When Traveling

Some of us have to learn the hard way. After my two-year-around the world trip I discovered I had damaged my eyes by not wearing proper eye protection. My perfect 20/20 eyesight was compromised due to over- exposure to harmful UV rays. How do you protect your eyes from dry airports, hotels, and the elements? [...]

  • Other Recent Articles

  • Weekend in the Tuscan hills

    Weekend in the Tuscan hills

      By: Annalyse, College Correspondent in Italy Studying (Sometimes) For my second weekend in Firenze, my friends and I decided we wanted to have a truly Italian experience, so we rented a car. We rented a mini compact car from Eurocar, for 70 Euro for a day full of adventures. When split between five people, it [...]

  • Paris where the summer solstice is a night of music

    I went to Paris, thinking I’d visit museums and historic sites. Jazz in St. German des Pres. Instead I happened upon the  summer solstice on June 21st, the “Fete de la Musique” – one of the best free, street-music festivals in Europe. The mood was electric and I got a taste of authentic Paris culture [...]

  • Cruising with Mickey

    Cruising with Mickey Mouse

    My Mickey ears were cast aside in my teens when I graduated to American Band Stand and Woodstock. Later in life, as a parent, I bought new ears on our numerous family visits to the Disney parks, but I thought our Disney days were over when our daughters reached their teen years. Not so!   [...]

  • Trendy, Chic and Cheap in Paris

    Trendy, Chic and Cheap in Paris

    Don’t be put off by the name or the location, Mama Shelter, nestled into the  20th arrondissement, is one of the trendiest hotels I’ve discovered in terms of quality and price (89 Euro).  The lobby, rooms, lively  bar and bistro are tres chic with a guests to match. On my last trip to Paris I [...]

  • Valentine's Day Alternatives for Singles

    Valentine’s Day without a lover

    If a lover is not part of your life right now, join the crowd! I spent many, many years without a significant other and I learned to “turn off” all the Valentine’s Day babble and Hallmark messaging. I either went out with friends or bought a special take-out dinner and luxuriated in a long bubble [...]

  • All Recent Articles