Welcome!
In 2013, I traveled around the world, visited 22 countries, volunteered with social service organizations, studied language and religion, and visited cultural and historical landmarks. Welcome to the story of my trip!
If you are interested in talking about long-term travel, specific places or experiences in this blog, or just want to say hello, please feel free to write to me using the Contact page linked above. -Michael
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Author Archives: Michael Tucker
Nepal – Big Mammals, Big Mountains
Soon after arriving in Kathmandu, it occurred to me ‘I’m back in the Third World, aren’t I?’ It was quite a shock to come from Japan, a country with $50,000 GDP per capita, to Nepal, one with less than $1,000. … Continue reading
Japan – Kyoto & Takayama
In Kyoto I spent two dream-like days wandering from one Buddhist temple to another. Under a steady drizzle, sometimes together with many other pilgrims, sometimes virtually alone. Pacing patient footsteps along the stones lining the canal-side path known as “The … Continue reading
Japan – Tokyo & Hakone
There are plenty of fish in the sea…or at least there were until last night when apparently they were all caught and delivered to Tsujiki Market. Wandering between the hundreds of vendor stalls was like SCUBA diving above ground. For … Continue reading
Turkey – Istanbul (back on the ‘bul)
Early in the morning, the kebab chef begins his humble but virtuous work. A giant needle pointing upward sits before him. Next to it, a stack of 150 chicken breasts. One by one, the chicken breasts are threaded, creating an … Continue reading
Posted in Turkey - Istanbul
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Eastern European Oddysey – Part 2 (Kiev, Warsaw)
While Western Europe is famously well-connected by trains and planes, Eastern Europe…not so much. In fact, the reason Blake, Michael, and I came to Istanbul in the first place was because we found it unusually difficult to get from Bucharest … Continue reading
Posted in Poland - Warsaw, Ukraine - Kiev
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Eastern European Oddysey – Part 1 (Transylvania, Bucharest, Istanbul)
One of the things I hoped to do during this trip was to go someplace random that I had never before considered going. When my friend Blake told me he was planning to visit Romania and the Ukraine this summer, … Continue reading
Posted in Romania - Bucharest & Transylvania, Turkey - Istanbul
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Hungary – Budapest
While Budapest has many outstanding attributes in common with its sister European capitals–central river, old church, prestigious museum, preserved castle/palace, pretty legislative building–it has one advantage over all of them: it is beautiful at night. Its landmark buildings and bridges … Continue reading
Posted in Hungary - Budapest
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Czech Republic – Prague & Beyond
On the way from the Prague airport, my taxi driver asked what I knew about the Czech Republic. Embarrassingly little, as it turned out. Next time I am asked, I’ll give the correct answer: castles, silver, crystal, an empire formerly … Continue reading
Paris – Voilà
On Sunday the riders in the Tour de France were making the final leg of the race, from Versailles to Paris. I joined the welcoming committee at the Tuileries and watched the peloton pass a few times as it completed … Continue reading
Posted in France - Paris
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Paris – Immobilized by Feasting
When my brother sent his proposals for the week he would join me in Paris, they fell under two headings: 1. Places to Eat and 2. Things to Do (with the latter list being about half the length of the … Continue reading
