I always feel depressed when I go into a country under dictatorial rule.

If I tell a hotel I'm a travel writer, I can't get out of there without spending a few hours looking at every single room!

Dubai,I think is a big bore - a city deliberately built to appeal to tourism, and only built for that purpose, and not possessing a valid culture or history of its own.

Nicaragua is becoming the least expensive Caribbean destination.

Once abroad, I eat one meal a day picnic-style: Ive learned that no mature stomach can tolerate an endless routine of rich restaurant meals.

I'm somewhat antagonistic towards these various projects that charge $250,000 per person for the ability to be weightless for 3 minutes after being brought up from earth. I think there are such better uses for that money that i seriously question the ethics of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on space flights for extremely wealthy people.

What a treasure of awesome sights and attractions our country has.