Matthew Kadey writes about biking from Belize to Guatemala from temple to temple.

A Complicated Border Crossing Being a stone’s throw from Guatemala, it only made sense to hop over the border and take a peak at the much renowned Tikal. Crossing into Guatemala turned out to be an adventure in itself, involving exit fees, confusing passport checks and a whole lot of waiting around as we dived headlong into the wonders of bureaucracy.
Mayan sculptues at Lamanai
“Watch out for the banditos,” our money exchanger unapologetically warns us as he eagerly snatches Belizean currency from my sanguine hands.
While the danger of being relieved of your personal belongings between this border and Tikal has all but disappeared in recent years, the threat of getting bounced around on your bike is still the reality. A shabby, rough gravel road welcomed us as we headed west towards the mighty Mayan city, as did the hollers of “gringo, gringo” as we passed by. A vast improvement to yells of the four-letter variety I often receive on the streets of downtown Toronto.
Towering Pyramids
Coatimundis are everywhere.
These inconveniences were more than worth it, though, to see the towering pyramids of Tikal, hidden inside the verdant jungle of the 222-square-mile Tikal National Park. Steep-sided temples, rising to heights of more than 140 feet are surrounded by dense, wildlife-crammed foliage. Birds absolutely fill the sky. Bold coatimundis, cute little raccoon-like mammals with a ferocious appetite, lurk everywhere. So used to human interaction that they completely ignore me as I fire away several dozen photos.
But for some in the group, all these impressive sights were of little consolation, as a 5 a.m. wake-up call from our snug sleeping bags only to watch a rainy, sunless sunrise from the top of Temple IV was a tough pill to swallow following a big day on the saddle. For some Guatemalan historians, equally distressing is that the inhabitants of mighty Tikal appear to have had their butts handed to them in a battle with neighboring Caracol in A.D. 562. A kind of little brother beats big brother scenario.

To read more, go to http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0707/belize-biking.html

Laurie Ellis writes about the perks of traveling to a lesser-known area of a beautiful place. She traveled to Turin or Turino and found that this lesser known Italian city is worth checking out if you like good food, wine, and museums and markets. And you don't have the crowds you would deal with in places such as Florence or Rome or Venice.

Laurie says, The wine of the Piedmont region is world class – this is where the Nebiolo grape grows, giving the world the excellent Barolo and Barbaresco wines. And the white wines aren’t too shabby either!I know next to nothing about wines, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying just about everything I tried. The people in Torino and the Lakes region are only too happy to fill you in on what you’re drinking and why. If you already know your wines, you’ll be in heaven.
Foodwise

Yum! From a simple everyday espresso to Caffe San Carlo’s melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi and fabulous affogato al caffe (vanilla gelato gently doused with espresso), to Al Bicerin, fine purveyor of things chocolate (think firm creamy chunk of Nutella, but so much better) and their signature drink, the Bicerin: a layer of espresso, layer of chocolate, layer of cream; you can’t go wrong dining in this region.
Cheese and cured meats are also a specialty of the area, so be assured that the proscuitto is outstanding. This place is a gourmand’s nirvana.
Cooking class at Eataly -- More drinking than actual cooking
In Torino, they even have something called the “ChocoPass”. It’s a book of tickets that offers you 10-15 samplings of chocolate in 24 or 48 hours. If I had only had the opportunity…
The Piedmont region is the birthplace of the Slow Food Movement, an effort to increase awareness of the food we eat. “Slow Food is good, clean and fair food.” To that end, the SF movement was instrumental in the recent opening of Eataly in Torino– an amazing market that offers an educational as well as gustatory experience. They have a “cooking with top chefs” series of classes on site as well as other events on a regular basis. I mention this for two reasons: I was duly impressed with the store and philosophy, and there are plans to open an Eataly in Rockefeller Center, New York, NY, in 2008. Check the website and keep an eye out for it.

If you would like to read more about Laurie's experience in Italy, check out GoNOMAD.com for her story. She talks about the markets and the museums, the islands and the lakes, the accomodation, food, and other exciting Italian discoveries that make anyone want to immediately begin planning a trip.

Hasta Luego

"Hasta luego" is a phrase that has stuck with me since my days of living abroad in Andulicia, Spain. While it is also said in Hispanic countries, in Southern Spain, "hasta luego" is a light way of saying farewell because it indicates that you will meet again. Andalucians don't like to say "adios". It's just too final.

I have enjoyed blogging on Travel Reader and bringing you with me to experience many nomadic journeys. While I started out this year by reading the adventures of others, I later discovered the world on my own terms as I traveled through Argentina, Portugal, and hiked across Spain.

As much fun as I had on my adventures, it was a pleasure to know that I could share my findings and experiences with others. The thought that I can inspire someone to further explore the places I write about or visit always brings a smile to my face.

One of my least favorite parts of traveling is saying good bye to the wonderful people that I meet. Similarly, I feel the same sense of nostalgia for the memories I have made this year with the staff and readers of GoNOMAD. It's been a enlightening opportunity and better opened my eyes to the world.

While my trip with Travel Reader has sadly come to it's end, like the Andulicians, I will only say ciao for now.

In the Fall I will return to GoNOMAD and write once more; this time from Japan. I hope you too will return and experience Japan with me as I begin adjusting to a new culture and time zone.

Until then, my best wishes for a safe and relaxing summer. Hasta Luego!