SHARKS: THE WHOLE TOOTH
The lion is the undisputed King of the Jungle. The shark rules the Seas. Both have toothsome reputations and, as it happens, identical preying patterns. The lion, however, has a better press.
Kim, the shark lady, from Gansbaai, is doing for sharks what Disney did for lions.
While sharks are not easily rendered endearingly anthropomorphic, they are, [...]
PINEAPPLES AND PRIMA DONNAS The Grahamstown Festival
Once, the dusty African air hereabouts rang with war cries and musket fire. These days, in July at any rate, you’re more likely to hear a chorus of “DAAHLINGS!”
The historic South African town of Grahamstown was founded as a British fort in 1820 during the fierce frontier wars with the Xhosa tribes in what is [...]
CATCHING CLASSICS
The lithe, tanned blond in tennis whites hopped into a new white Corvette and kissed the graying, rotund driver. Even as a teenager in 1953, I knew he was not her father. It had to be the car. So, consumed by teenage lust, I saved for a ‘Vette or, after a buddy pointed out the [...]
THE WORLD IS A BOOK Part 2
The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.” — Saint Augustine —
Over the years we’ve stayed in flats, homes, villas, castles, inns, boats, barges and a host of other spots where your corner pub or bar owner or cook may not speak English and shopping’s a bike [...]
YOU TOO CAN CANOE
Canoes put you on the water for less money, less effort and less risk than you probably expect. Most experts feel canoes rank with bicycles as effective “people-powered” transport. Best of all in this too often loud and confused world, canoes relax and refresh the mind without overtiring the body. All you need to do [...]
EPICURE ON A ROLL
A couple of Nathan’s hot dogs says its New York. Cracked crab says San Francisco. So let your stomach talk to the local food.
Picnic baskets packed with fresh French bread, spicy sausages, aromatic cheeses and fruit not long from the tree once made travelers’ meals memorable. As did that rusted crab shack half-way to [...]
BOOKS TO TRAVEL
Who wouldn’t say that travel is an enriching and educating experience? But it is far more enriching and you’ll get more out of it if you’ve done your homework. Travel guidebooks can be a great help, but for the color, feel and soul of a place, I turn to a horse of a different color, [...]
DIVING IN BEAUTIFUL EILAT
You can make a good case that the best, reasonably accessible diving in the world is in Eilat City near Akaba, the spot where the legendary Lawrence of Arabia won his first victory in WW I. Diving, like Lawrence, is legendary. Water that’s 22 to 24 degrees Celsius year round coupled with underwater visibility in [...]
A RIVER RAN OVER ME
Fly fishing is beyond sport, skill, and even obsession. It’s a religion, and my baptism into the faith was on the Gunnison River in Colorado. I thought I was merely going to learn something new and different. I didn’t anticipate the dogma, the intricate litany, the saints, the tithing, the penance. Nor did I anticipate [...]
WEEKEND OF HIGH ADVENTURE SKYDIVES
Sky diving isn’t nearly as dangerous as, say, the LA Freeway on the night before a holiday. If it were that dangerous, none of the sky diving businesses would last more than a few days. Businesses must be insured, and insurance underwriters aren’t charitable.
Most of all sky diving is freedom. It’s incredibly thrilling at first, [...]
