(The following is the first part of a story I wrote for the Dallas Morning News relating my experiences on Australia’s two trans-continental trains.) As early as the mid-1800s, Australian railroads hauled grain and ore to seaports and carried passengers between state capitals. But it wasn’t until 1969 that tracks spanning the continent all conformed…
It’s always a hard choice for me, when I’m traveling: Do I join a group of strangers for a tour of a town or a cathedral or a chateau? Do I strike out on my own? Or do I relax in a nearby cafe and just watch the day go by with help first…
Wear a Boston Red Sox cap or T-shirt almost anywhere — and I mean literally anywhere in the world — and you will get a nod or a grin or a handshake or even a spontaneous conversation from others who share the same passion for that baseball team. I have long since stopped being surprised…
During my trip to Australia in February, I toured a couple of wineries in the Hunter Valley, located two hours north of Sydney. The other day, in an article in the New York Times, comes a report that the Australian wine industry has fallen on tough times. As always, the reasons are varied and complicated,…