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Jasna

Ski Jasna A Just Little Slo Leading up to spring break 2025, I could never remember if skiing was in Slovakia or Slovenia. I’m a little “Slo” that way with former Communist Eastern European geography. Plus my mental aptitude for this trip had us traveling west. With an actual map, Slovakia, the next stop, was actually east of Czechia. In retrospect seems pretty logical, but Czechoslovakia was…

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Good Grief Gudauri

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So What De Crap Thailand

Could This Be The World’s Best Beach? The title probably has you wondering, “What the heck is John talking about?” Just wait until the end and some knowledge will be dropped. Nadine and I have traveled north from Georgetown, Malaysia to Krabi, Thailand. Malaysia was great, but after three weeks of easy travel, we were ready for Thailand and a bit of a change. A mini-van that took us to the border…

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Checking In With Prague

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A Sweet Taste of Senegal

Only One Sketchy Yellow Fever Shot Needed Unfamiliar With a Long History My understanding of Western Africa before November 2024 was limited. The family and I had spent two days in Morocco in 2019, only months before Covid disrupted the world. Plus, Morocco is an Arabic country Northern Africa, not sub Saharan Africa. Yet Gorée Island, the last piece of land of African land that slaves saw…

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A Back Alley Yellow Fever Shot

Only One Sketchy Yellow Fever Shot Needed This year’s rendition of the three day middle school Cup of Nations basketball, soccer and volleyball tournament was scheduled for the International School of Dakar. Last year it was the Pharaoh’s Cup, this year the Teranga Cup (and yes there has been many spelling renditions of this word). But in order to visit, participants needed a yellow fever…

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It's a Small World

So many times life reminds me that this is a small and interconnected world. The Mariam grocery store is conveniently located on the walk from home to school. It is not unusual to stop for a Thursday afternoon treat. Arrange for water to be delivered to the house. Grab a quick snack for after school activities. Amer is either the owner or main person in charge of this store. Often we share small…

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Sweet Uruguayan Beef

Such a Small Ceibal Computer One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. – Henry Miller General impressions of an amazing country You don’t see many canines stuck together. Dogs and cats live peacefully. No visible ill will between canines and felines. I was never chased by a dog. You are not officially considered Uruguayan if you don’t have a thermos tucked under your…

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Elk on George S. Mickelson Trail

“Wash your hands.” “Hey, wash both your hands with soap!” The nagging didn’t stop there. “Were you aware that you need to clean them throughly!” “As you stand there peeing and reading this sign, make sure you wash your hands!” Not sure if this integral piece of advice was passed down by the four Presidents from Mount Rushmore or Crazy Horse before battle, but this important message was plastered…

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Muscular Cows Go Awol

Colorful Southern Belgium This time families replaced college friends. Cars substituted bicycles. A van displaced a trailer. It easily carried all of the water, unlike a trailer back in 2017. But we were back in Belgium. Yet this time it was family travel in Belgium The beauty and allure of Wallouie and the Ardennes hasn’t changed. Neither its’ ability to brew dangerously delicious beers. The…

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Greece Lightning

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Five Facts About Greece

Looking Out Towards the Aegean Sea For spring break, our family fell into a ski trip to Greece. Before that, here are a few Greek facts. Historical Marvels Greece is steeped in history, considered the birthplace of Western civilization. Iconic ancient sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, the ancient city of Delphi, the Palace of Knossos in Crete, and the ancient theater of Epidaurus, offer…

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Vienna Back in Time

St. Stephen’s of 2000 and 2024 Not From These Parts The guys had diligently prepared for this basketball tournament for the last 4.5 months. They trained with focus with a clear goal. Five games over two days and winning the tournament, like any, would not be easy, but still possible. The weekend had arrived, but first we had to get to the host school, in Vienna, Austria. International school…

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I Love Rum and Milk

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Seven Random Facts About Jordan

Seven Random Facts About Jordan You Say! There was travel post about Jordan that I had originally wrote, but had forgot to publish. I figured that before I post it, I’d share seven random facts about Jordan. Jordan River – Not at the same point where was Jesus was baptized 2,000 years ago. The River has moved. Bethany Beyond the Jordan Bethany Beyond the Jordan is believed to be the site where…

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Naturally Cyprus

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Six Unique Facts About Cyprus

A Green Oasis Close to Egypt Before Nadine, the kids, and myself started our Christmas vacation at the end of our first semester at Cairo American College, there are six unique facts about Cyprus to know. The Maze of Greek Mosaic History Rich History and Culture Cyprus has a history that dates back thousands of years, with evidence of human activity on the island dating back to the 10th…