In January, the Atlantic did a survey of an issue that often overlaps with my feeling of why travel is so important: perception. Often we find outside perceptions of a place immediately burst when you go. Things like, oh, that in the ’90s, that Americans should be leery of traveling in Vietnam, travel to places like Colombia or Mexico is too dangerous to … Read on
My article on Famous Fat Dave‘s checker-cab food tour of NYC (link here) appears in the April issue of Lonely Planet magazine. I seriously enjoyed it more than I expected. Perfect if you have three others as a mini splurge that will get you into parts of the boroughs you wouldn’t see otherwise. I’ve been in New York for 13 some years, and … Read on
I really don’t know why people stick with big-city beaches. This one, Chacala, a kilometer wide bay with perfectly soft brown sand, is 90 minutes’ drive north of Puerto Vallarta. Twenty years ago it was a tiny fishing village you had to hike into from the highway. It’s still only partly developed — with no resorts or ATMS (or smooth roads). I liked … Read on
Some 30 hours are better than other 30 hourses. Morrissey said that. And I say San Blas, three hours north of Puerto Vallarta, is worth the drive. The beach is fine — a dark brown sand beach with no one on it (weekdays, or when it’s not Semana Santa) — and a scrappy little town that’s a hoot to spend time in. Particularly … Read on
It’s a great walk. Beginning where David Lee Roth, way after leaving Van Halen, was busted trying to buy a $5 bag of pot in 1993, and ending at historic Cafe Wha?, two blocks south, where a reunited Van Halen played in January 2012. Cafe Wha? is owned by Manny Roth, David’s uncle. Whole thing takes about four minutes. You’ll love it. See … Read on
I love ruins. I’ve climbed Mayan pyramids, sat in Greek amphitheaters and walked lost Roman roads. It’s not the literal history that draws me — I don’t care that much about kings I’d never heard of before — but the atmosphere that feels the dream worlds Chip, Nancy and I would concoct in my backyard fort as a kid. A lot of people … Read on
