I do not travel without personal defense preparation. Ever. Over two decades and 100,000 miles on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, thousands of  miles traveling between Key West and Newport, and thousands more miles of international travel over the last decade, I’ve learned a lot of lessons. Be aware at all times of your environment. Sounds simple, […]

Originally posted September 22, 2017. Greetings from Paris. Yesterday I quietly fled a museum tour Debbie and I were on with a quick text to Deb, “Meet me at Freddy’s.” Located in the 6th, Freddy’s is one of four restaurants owned by Juan Sanchez and his partner Drew Harré. We are frequent visitors to each […]

Originally posted November 17, 2017. You, like most of us, have a certain amount of money to spend, thus choices must be made. Once you have been to France, my guess is that you will agree the additional expense is worth it. I have heard it said for years that the French do not like […]

In just the last six months, on Debbie’s and my return to Paris this October, the Lime Scooters phenomenon has exploded. You can hardly walk anywhere in the 6th or 8th arrondissements, for example, without tripping over these things just lying on a sidewalk waiting for a new renter to arrive and scooter off. It’s […]

Update 7/20/2018: With news out today of a terrifying knife attack on a bus in Berlin, I want readers to revisit this post I wrote on May 15, 2018 about a knife attack in Paris. “Did you hear the gun shots?” a friend asked. “No,” I said. When the knife attack occurred, we, like many […]