Everyone loves non-stop flights. Nobody likes layovers. Changing planes to make a connection is inconvenient. But making a stop can become an advantage with advance planning. On our last trip to Europe, we turned a layover into an adventure.
In the dark we bounced across deep ruts. The light from the Land Rover’s headlights traced the outlines of the switch-back road. We rounded a bend close to a cliff’s edge. The chassis rattled as it took the turn, gravel skittered away from the tires and disappeared into the void.
Our introduction to Leiden began with an outdoor café and church bells. My wife, Michelle, and I had taken the train from The Hague (Den Hague), barely a fifteen-minute ride.
The curtains were drawn. Happily cocooned in soft bedding, I had slept soundly. Even though the room was dark, I sensed it was morning. I checked the clock. Time to get up for another adventure. I pulled back the curtains.
My visits to the Netherlands always focused on Amsterdam. For this adventure, I wanted to go deeper into the Dutch experience.
The speed boat kicked up white spray as it skated across Lake Como. On a sunny day, delicate clouds floated above us in the bright blue sky.
The objective was simple, stay safe but go as fast as possible. Coming around a sharp turn I careened onto the straight away. I pushed the accelerator to the floor. The BMW M3 screamed like a siren, g-forces pushed me against the seat.
Walking on a mountain trail well-worn by centuries of pilgrims. Saying a prayer in front of a shrine first built two thousand years ago.
This is a great time to visit Japan. In advance of the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, bilingual English and Japanese signs have sprouted at transportation hubs.
As we rushed to board the Shinkansen (the “bullet train”), I remembered to buy a bento box lunch at a take-away stand in the train station.
On a Bold Food tour, we explored Singapore and Penang, Malaysia to learn about the culture, history and food of the region.
San Francisco has always been known as one of America’s great restaurant cities. In the race for Michelin stars, the Bay Area gives New York city a run for its money.
We settled into our seats on the overnight flight from Los Angeles to Fiji’s Nadi International Airport. It didn’t take long to fall asleep. We woke to have a meal, watch a movie and start our novels. Before we knew it, it was time to land.
I headed south from San Jose, using my GPS to travel into the hills above Cupertino and the Silicon Valley. After twenty minutes of switchback roads that carried me through thick stands of dusty pine trees and across sunbaked hills, I arrived at my destination.
One of the most popular destinations in California, the San Francisco Bay Area has it all. Great culture, great cities, great wine and great restaurants.
