Four views from the center of Red Square. It is neither red, nor a sqaure but rather a black rectangle. We were there our first day in...

First let’s start with our geography lessons for Americans. (In case you aren’t following every post: the Russian stereo type of...

Good thing I brought only skinny jeans on the trip. They are an excellent indicator for how much weight I have gained exactly half way...

The line to see Mao’s tomb in Tiananmen Square. They allow 800,000 per day in the square and we3 were at the maximum on the day we...

Geoff and I got lucky. Ksenia Chmutina is riding in the cabin next to ours. She is our Russian connection and is on good terms with the...

The restored hotel where we stayed in Pingyao. The nights are magical with red hanging lanterns, the air conditioning divine. I can...

The problem with writing a travel blog, you spend a lot of time traveling. Our expert guide, Miller, is a history buff and very into...

[Picture above] Here is the menu from a lunch spot. We had a choice of turtle dove, sparrow, farm pig head meat, mountain rabbit,...

“Have you written any blogs yet?” “Yes, I have written 4 blogs but I haven’t posted any.” “What did you write about?” When I read the...

All it takes is courage. Courage to leap, put yourself out there, trying not to fall flat on your face. It’s only three months of public...