10 things that annoy us about hotels #8 The bane of our existence, bain-marie breakfasts

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Often we have trouble facing the hotel breakfast buffet. After a month on the road we’re avoiding the bain-marie and its barely edible scrambled eggs and burnt-to-bits bacon. While some hotels really do take the trouble to do fresh eggs, often the cook doing the eggs is there as punishment for assorted kitchen crimes and … Read more about 10 things that annoy us about hotels #8 The bane of our existence, bain-marie breakfasts

Making connections: traditions and rituals of love and devotion, or, When you wish upon a heart

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I found another photo that’s similar to the one I showed you earlier of the ribbons and pieces of cloth tied at an Islamic shrine in Syria. I took this photo in the lovely garden of a gold onion domed Russian Orthodox church in the Bulgarian countryside, where the branches of a tree were tied … Read more about Making connections: traditions and rituals of love and devotion, or, When you wish upon a heart

Making connections: tokens of love and devotion, or, Tie a (yellow) ribbon ’round the…

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Looking through some photos from our trip to Syria last year (I was motivated to reminisce after skimming through our just-released Syria and Lebanon guidebook), I came across these ribbons tied to the tomb of an important Islamic figure. If you travel around the Muslim world and visit mosques and shrines, you’ll soon start to … Read more about Making connections: tokens of love and devotion, or, Tie a (yellow) ribbon ’round the…

Developing your travel writing career: commissions and content gathering, part 2

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This post continues from yesterday’s post in response to a reader’s request for advice on developing a freelance travel writing career and financing research trips: 11. When you get a guidebook commission Start pitching story ideas on the destination – the fee for a single story could equal a quarter of your guidebook fee. Sell enough … Read more about Developing your travel writing career: commissions and content gathering, part 2