In Which I Mostly Talk About Everything Else

As soon as I stepped out of the car, it began. The guides swarmed over me, trying to sell their services. They’re respectful to each other, giving each man the opportunity to fail in his pitch. The first man came forward, incessantly pestering me, offering to lead me on a tour of the Taj Mahal. […]

I Guess Victors Get To Do As They Choose

I’m trying to figure something out here, and can’t quite piece it together, but think I am coming to it. Delhi has a population of 26 million, and although I’ve seen areas of incredible density, and I see many people around the roadside, much of the area my driver takes me through appears to be […]

Risking It All In Old Delhi

The streets of Old Delhi are like nothing I have seen before. When I think of the most densely occupied places I have visited, with their street markets and vendors and utter crush of humanity pressing in on all sides, nothing comes close. In terms of bodies pressing on bodies, Naples at its busiest has […]

London Calling

I didn’t truly know what I was seeing, but I had a hunch. When I booked this itinerary, I wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about a 12 hour layover in London. I’ve been to this city twice and just haven’t fallen in love with it. Still, I spoke with some friends who are enamored with her and […]

The Pre-Trip Before the Trip

It was well past midnight when I stepped off of the E train and climbed the stairs, materializing at the corner of 40th Street and 8th Avenue. Like a big comforting Borg ship, the energy and power of Manhattan Island embraced me, enfolded me, and assimilated me into its very being. The City is massive, […]

Who Could View Me As Suspicious?

I checked out of my Haarlem hotel, stepping with my backpack into the brisk Dutch morning and eschewing the generic breakfast. Today was a Sunday and as I wended my way down the gold-illumined streets, I quickly found there was little open. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so confident. Still, after some meandering I found […]