Bula Bula!

The people of Vietnam make this beautiful country so special. Most of my trip I was traveling with a local guide (Vu in the south and Tango in the north - two of the best guides I have encountered globally) which makes interactions easy. But even when I was on my own communicating with no shared language the people were incredibly kind, helpful, and often smiling. I started right off with touring in Saigon visiting the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Saigon Central Post Office. And in half a day I learned more about the Vietnam War (or the “American War” as it is referred to there for obvious reasons) than I have learned in my entire life to this point. The palace is like going back in time. It was the home of the president in 1975 when it was stormed by North Vietnamese who drove tanks into the glass. And everything inside looks as it did then. The War Remnants Museum is difficult to walk through but also important. There are three floors of photographs and artifacts....

Lisbon was spectacular. For so many reasons but for me personally it was the first non work international trip in may years, plus I was traveling with my high school best friend! It turned out to be the perfect destination for us. We are the kind of travelers who like to get up and do something active/outside/touristy in the first half of the day. And then spend the late afternoon sitting in a square with a glass of wine people watching, listening to music, or just catching up. And that is exactly what we did! We flew into Lisbon a red eye, arriving at 7am. Taking a taxi to the hotel is seamless. We stayed at Hotel Lis Baixa in Rossio Square and it was nice & great location.  There are a lot of hotel options though.  Be sure and stay somewhere in the city center area. Lisbon is very walkable or an  inexpensive taxi ride. We walked the whole city that morning waiting for the room to be ready. Got lost on the streets of Alfama in at the alleys.. eventually made our way to the N...

Zermatt and the Matterhorn. Hiking and exploring the Swiss Alps. Which are freaking amazing. The trip to Switzerland was a fam trip. Which means it is a group of travelers put together by the ground operator. And the travelers were all travel providers of some sort with the goal of us returning and sending guests to visit. This trip was 100% comped, including air, which it not usually the case. And because of this the flight schedule was not direct. Also it meant the entire group was going to be on the final trip into Zurich. And so, I decided that since no doubt we would be waiting on luggage at arrival I may as well check a bag. I also decided that because I would be meeting the group I should make an effort to dress fairly nice as opposed to my regular adventure travel attire. And that was my biggest mistake!! We arrived in Zurich. My luggage however did not. Our itinerary was a busy one and also active. We arrived in evening and the next day was a full hike. And I stupi...