After my duties were completed at the 2016 World Travel Market in London, I boarded a high-speed train at Statford International to join some friends in Sussex, directly south of London.  I learned that in the small village where Cindy-Lou and Jonathan live, Lydd,  a particularly famous musician makes frequent […]

In China, there are more than 300 million smokers. Even with smoking in the US and most other countries down dramatically, China remains a bastion of ashtray users. Or not. These Sino-smokers consume a staggering 2.5 trillion cigarettes every year. That’s with a “T” not a “B!” An article in last […]

Another busy day of World Travel Market and I chatted up many Americans, Canadians and Brits as well as representatives from dozens of countries around the world.  I am trying NOT to think about what just happened in the US last night, as I bet many of my friends here […]

I flew to London on Sunday night and made my way via numerous trains, tubes and busses to 75 Sark Walk, my Airbnb home for the next few nights as I tackle the impressive World Travel Market here, held every year at the Excel Center in London’s Docklands. I’ve seen […]

I’m in a pumped up mood today, as the clock ticks down until my departure for JFK airport for a night flight to London for World Travel Market at the Excel Center.  Every time I am about to fly I get that little nervous tick, and as I secure my […]

I’ve discovered Malcolm Gladwell’s fine new podcast, called Revisionist History, and have been enjoying his prescient observations and occasional outrage.  The first episode I listened to was about a radical approach to shooting foul shots in basketball that actually increased the percentage of successful baskets, but that most players shunned. […]

I see my cancer doc, Sean Mullally, every six months.  Ever since October 2014, when I felt a lump in my groin, I’ve had to become familiar with the lingo and procedures of cancer.  Something nobody wants to do.   But at the time I got my diagnosis, which is […]

Sometimes I feel like a grouchy old man.  I guess I have to admit at some point that I’m old….hey I just celebrated my 58th birthday last weekend. So today, like the true old grouch that I am, I felt terrific when I heard a tow truck across the street […]

 I get a lot of interesting facts sent to me at GoNOMAD. Below is chart that shows how much wine costs in different parts of the world.  In the press release from SHAREaCAMPER website  it is also explained that of all the countries in the world, Luxembourg leads the way in wine drinking, with […]

Yesterday I exercised my Constitutional right to choose my new president.  And boy, was it ever easier than in years past.  For the first time, my town and most of the others in Massachusetts have begun opening up the polls a full 15 days before the actual date of the election. […]

Settling into the day to day is always hard after a trip.  Anxiety over such a wide range of problems makes it hard to feel relaxed and inspired by the trip, it’s more like you come back to so many challenges and problems and it just doesn’t feel like you […]

  Today I learned some interesting facts about what’s new in Europe, when I met with 40 tourism officials, representing 15 different countries, and I asked them all the same thing. What’s new, hot and being talked about where you live? In Estonia, it’s not a new topic but their […]