COOL PLACES I’VE VISITED OVERSEAS
 

Africa
I have been fortunate enough to visit Africa twice – in 1985, and again in 1999. Both of my trips were to the East African country of Kenya, and on each trip, the sights and sounds of The Dark Continent dazzled me. For the rest of my life, I will have vivid memories of giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions, gazelles, and many, many other wild animals roaming across the vast Serengeti plains.

 

Amazon Rainforest

Traveling through the mysterious Amazon Rainforest is like traveling back through time. Jungle animals screeching at the rising sun as brilliantly colored birds soar into the mist of the canopy. Red howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, sloth, capybara, and toucans still appear in the deep recesses of my mind. My trip included gazing down on 100-foot trees from a rope-bridge canopy walkway, fishing for piranha, and sailing down the world’s mightiest river.

 

Belize

I celebrated my fiftieth birthday in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in the primitive Central American country of Belize. Cockscomb is home to the world’s only Jaguar Reserve. I still recall the blackness of the jungle as we crept along a twisted, narrow pathway in the middle of the night searching for the elusive jaguars. Armed only with flashlights, we pursued the largest wild cat in the Western Hemisphere hoping to catch a glimpse of this magnificent predator.


Coral Reef

Off the coast of Belize, in the Caribbean Sea, lies the world’s second greatest barrier reef. Having the opportunity to snorkel this underwater paradise will always be one of my favorite memories. Brilliant colors of every imaginable hue sparkled through the crystal-clear water. Huge schools of silver-colored fish, myriad corals, moray eels, octopus, barracuda, and thousands of other creatures swayed with the motion of the sea just beneath me.

 

Costa Rica

Traveling to the mountain rainforests of Costa Rica in Central America is a pleasure I’ve had several times. Waterfalls bursting through the lush canopy and brilliant sunshine dancing across the thick tangle of trees and vines will forever live in my memory. Beaches drenched in moonlight and the gasps of sea turtles coming ashore to nest are also etched into my subconscious.


England

London in the fog, with Big Ben rising above the mist, while being whisked along in a red, double-decker bus, is yet another of my favorite memories. Standing in a cold drizzle and wondering about the origins of Stonehenge followed by clotted-cream tea and scones still make my mind wander. Visiting Shakespeare’s home, boating in the Lake Country, and dinning in a Scottish Castle are other fond memories of this ancient land.


France

My son, John, and I traveled to England together and then we took the airboat across the English Channel to France. Visiting Paris and seeing Notre Dame and other ancient cathedrals as well as gazing upon the city from atop the Eiffel Tower will always be unforgettable memories of this timeless place. Our journey to Versailles and the opulent palace there remind me of a time when a few lived at the expense of others.
 

Guatemala

A side trip to the extensive Mayan ruins at Tikal in Guatemala only added to the mystery of my Central America trip. The number of buildings that have been unearthed at Tikal and other sites is truly amazing. For someone like myself, who is fascinated by history, this ancient, hidden treasure was a definite highpoint of my overseas travels.


 

Italy

Exploring Rome with its historic treasures was a delight to someone like myself who has always been fascinated by ancient history. From the Coliseum, to the Forum, to the Circus Maximus the structures of the Romans are everywhere to be seen. I especially enjoyed visiting the Vatican with its incredibly beautiful art treasures that line hallways from floor to ceiling.