So Glad, So Very Glad, To Be Back in Touch!

For the first time since last Friday, my clothes are all dry and my feet are not wet. I am back from my communications cocoon on the Pacific coast of Colombia, not far from the Panama border. Contrary to our itinerary, we flew first to Bahia Solono, where we took the world´s worst road 14 hard kilometers then drove down a wide beach to an eco resort called El Almental. Armed soldiers were never out of view when we released baby sea turtles, cruised in open boats to view whales from about twenty feet away, and hiked up a stream to discover a crystal pool up on top.

The group numbered about 25--journalists and travel agents from Mexico, Colombia, Chile, UK, Spain and the US. I am now in Medellin, where I found out after reading 69 emails in date sequence that our new cafe manager never began the job, and another who my staff hired also never came to work. But no worries...I´ve posted on Craig´s list, and in spite of this turmoil, I look forward over the next week to sharing many of the stories, photos and adventures I´ve had in this remote, inaccessible and beautiful part of the world.

Thanks for the help Jac, you did a great job filling in and my readers and I appreciate your posting while I was away!

Welcome Back, Backpackin' Max!

According to my calculations, Max should be back in the states and voraciously blogging very soon. It's been a blast to step in here and talk about travel, current events, and other miscellaneous things, and I hope to come back to visit again soon.
To sign off, I thought I'd leave you with a few links to some great collections of travel photography on flickr. These are great places to get inspiration and tips (in addition to GoNomad, of course), as well as to contribute your own views of the world.
London-alt
Offbeat Travel
Travel Photogs
Whet, Gobble, and Frolic
Enjoy, happy travels, and safe passages!
--WJ

Paradise City Tavern Serves a More Casual Crowd

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Claudio Guerra, owner of six Western Mass. eateries including the new Paradise City Tavern in Northampton. PCT is a hip but still casual restaurant, watering hole, and entertainment spot that replaced Guerra's more formal restaurant, the Del Raye, earlier this year.

Guerra said high-end dining has been declining since 2001, and finally, he made the decision to close Del Raye and open PCT as an answer to this cultural change.

The decor is great, the food is unique, and the beer list is extensive - we taste-tested a creme brulee-flavored beer yesterday that was to die for.

Guerra's been in the restaurant business for more than two decades, and he knows his stuff. In the case of PCT, I think he's proven that casual doesn't need to be cheap, and hip doesn't need to be expensive.

Just a tip, too -- my friend Charlie plays at PCT every Thursday night with his funk band Iron City. Check them out - they're worth the boogie.

--WJ

Bermuda: An Alternative to Work

It's true that a jaunt to Bermuda is not the most 'alternative' trip one can take. But for two folks who haven't taken a trip that wasn't work-related since the Carter administration, it can seem as wacky as camping with Bedouins. 

Such was the case earlier this summer for my husband, ArcherVision, and I. After months of planning and plotting, we finally stepped on a plane and took a vacation. A real, honest to goodness, spend-too-much-on-lunch-and-even-more-on-dinner vacation.

We did everything you're supposed to do in Bermuda - saw pink beaches, swam with dolphins, had a beer at the Swizzle Inn, rented a moped. It was all delightfully touristy.

Nerds that we are, we have also been working on little, commemorative videos of our trip. I finished mine, and will debut it here first at ReadUpOnIt! AV isn't quite done with his film, but the pressure's on. So, behold the non-alternative-travel goodness, and remember: one man's boredom is another man's well-deserved time off.

(there's music, fyi)

--WJ

Give Peace a Chance

With Max still globe-trotting in Colombia, I wanted to take a moment to point out another cool blog with views from all over the world: One Million Peace Signs, a blog dedicated to collected a cool million signs of peace in all its forms. 

People from all over the world contribute pics of their two-fingered 'Vs' and photos of more traditional peace signs to a flickr group, and designated bloggers post them, sometimes with comments or stories, to OMPS.

It's a World 2.0 take on spreading the word that's closer to its goal every day. The photos aren't so bad, either. 

--WJ

Wine and Flowers in Shelburne Falls

I visited The Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant in Shelburne Falls, Mass. recently for an article I'm working on, looking at interesting entrepreneurial endeavors in the small business sector. Owned by Paul-Thierry de la Blotier, French and Welsh by decent, the Wine Merchant specializes in the 'English service model' -- slower, more personalized service. It sells a wide array of wines from small- to medium-sized vineyards around the world, in addition to local products. All of this happens just feet from the historic Bridge of Flowers in the heart of Shelburne Falls, which also has a great array of shops, restaurants, galleries, and even a Trolley Museum.

As fall approaches, Shelburne Falls will be in its prime, so it's worth the trip; a stop into the Wine Merchant might not hurt as the nip returns to the night air, either.

--WJ

Gustav Threatens the Gulf Coast -- We Wait and Watch

Hurricane Gustav is bringing strong winds and bad memories to the Gulf Coast, and the entire country seems to be keeping a close, earnest watch on the situation.

In the French quarter of New Orleans, buildings are boarded up and residents are leaving in droves. Gustav has been downgraded to a category three storm as of this morning, but it could still pick up steam, and tropical storm Hanna is close behind. No one seems to be taking any chances; we've been down that road before.

To track the storm, check out the National Hurricane Center , which offers constantly updated graphics, audio podcasts, and mobile-phone advisories. I used to think this work was really cool, but now I realize how important it is, too.
--WJ