Santorini, Greece
I always love that sentiment from one of my favourite movies, Shirley Valentine, about wanting to "...drink wine in the country where the grape was grown." Shirley was talking about Greece. Santorini was another one of those surreal places.
Juneau, Alaska
This was cruising of a whole other sort. We started out with pleasant weather in Vancouver, then just cold colder as we neared the Alaskan glaciers. Invigourating.
Ho Chi Mihn (aka Saigon), Vietnam
Behind me is the Reunification Palace, site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates.
New Delhi, India
We were at a conference where one night, upon returning to our rooms, on the bed were laid out these Indian clothes and headdresses, which we wore to a out-of-this-world banquet complete with elephants, snake charmers and fortune tellers.
Tuscany, Italy
We were staying at a vineyard chateau called Collelungo at Castellina in Chianti. It was a working vineyard, and they allowed you to help with the harvest. I was a taste tester.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA - while I was in town doing promo for Aloha, Candy Hearts at A Different Light Bookstore.
Acapulco, Mexico
Unsuccessful price negotiation for my oversize sombrero
St. Tropez, France
Where yachts go for vacation.
Gustavia, St. Barts
Hilly St. Barthélemy, popularly known as St. Barth (or St. Barts) is just 8 square mi (21 square km), but the island has at least 20 good beaches. And some awesome shopping and restaurants. I bought a pair of pants here that I am in love with.
Tallinn, Estonia
A fascinating place that seemed so out of the way. We lucked out with a gorgeous sunny day. We visited a monastery where we made metal coins, sipped wine and listened to a choir of young monks.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
There was something magical about this room on the beach. You felt like spending the whole day on the massive outdoor balcony in your bathrobe, drinking wine and looking at the ocean. Which I did some.
Pisa, Italy
The thing REALLY leans. I've been unaccountably fascinated by The Leaning Tower of Pisa since reading about it as a very young boy. It became kind of like Tahiti or Timbuktu - far away places that seemed foreign and exotic and unreachable.
Lisbon, Portugal
This restaurant was a great find, just a few tables set up on a landing of steps leading from upper level to lower level of the city, with a spectacular view
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Victoria Falls, Zambia is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Like Niagra Falls, they provide raincoats.
Lima, Peru
We were told we were lucky not to be experiencing the more common donkey-belly gray sky. Wonderful ceviche. Good walking city.
Grimaud, France
Grimaud, France - our perfect little French village where we rent a house, atop a hill just enough off the beaten track not to be over run with tourists, but close enough to have some great restaurants. Known as a bit of an artist's retreat. Only 10-15 minutes down the hill is the glam and glitz of St. Tropez.
Marseille, France
Visiting a bustling market on a coolish Saturday morning
Singapore
Behind me is the Helix walkway leading up to the year-old (at the time) Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Oahu, Hawaii
Beneath a palm tree at Room Without a Key at the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, maitai in hand, is always one of my favourite places to be. Oahu is probably the place I've been to the most.
Zihuatanejo, Mexico
It's just much easier to call it Zihua (Zee-waa). I've been going to this part of Mexico for several years now and have never been rained on. That's why I like it so much.
Carcassonne, France
Also known as the Puss'n'Boots town, because of this castle- which is quite extensive. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves shot here too.
Cap Ferrat, France
We had a well-earned lunch at the Grand Cap Ferrat Hotel after walking the long, rocky coastline to get there
Mercuès, France
At the astoundingly beautiful Chateau de Mercuès, where we had the "Bishop-room" with a bronzed sun-dial is incrusted on its floor
Qingdao, China
I'm in the May Fourth Square, named after the nationwide protest May Fourth Movement that started in Qingdao, the square is best recognized by the large "May Wind" (Wuyue Feng) sculpture near the seaside.
Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
Mountainous St. Kitts crams stunning scenery into its 65 square mi. In 1983, St. Kitts & Nevis became an independent nation. English with a strong West Indian lilt is spoken here.
Collioure, France
Only a short distance from the Spanish border. You could tell in the architecture and food. We rented a lovely house, spend a lot of time down by the water, at cafes, bars, art shops, following the trail of Matisse paintings.
Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska
This was unique in that we were able to disembark the ship and get quite close to this glacier. Like an ice flow version of a volcano.
Cannes, France
As a bit of a movie buff and lover of pop culture, I'd always dreamed about visiting Cannes, where the famous Film Festival happens every year.
Marrakech, Morocco
In the dizzying, agressive, puzzling, exotic, scary, exciting souks where they promise you WILL get lost. And I did.
High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
I visited a number of Berber villages. We travelled on narrow winding roads, never seeing another car for hours.
Phuket,Thailand
On Karon Beach in Phuket, Thailand
Many years later, this was an area devastated by the tsunami.
The Great Wall of China
In the Badaling Section of the wall, built during the Ming Dynasty.
Chobe, Botswana
Each night we would take a sundowner cruise, usually just us and a guide and maybe one other person. As sundown approached, the guide would find a good place to stop - usually overlooking a herd of elephant coming to the river for water, or a lions eating their downed prey - and he'd pull out a platter of appetizers and wine and gin. Sundowner on Water.
Valley of The Kings, Egypt
Valley of The Kings, Egypt - where King Tut's tomb is - surprisingly the least opulent as he was only 18 when he died (was murdered?)
New Orleans, Louisiana
In front of the well-known Natchez paddle boat on the Mississippi near the boardwalk in New Orleans. On my first visit to NOLA, several years ago, on that very boardwalk, I remember hearing the buskers now-familiar query for the first time: I know where ya got those shoes! And for $5 he'd tell you ya got your shoes on your feet. Ha!
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - buying the headdress at a local souk created a very positive stir
Maui, Hawaii
After travelling to Hawaii dozens of time for the past twenty plus years, I finally make it to Maui, staying at this condo on Kaanapali Beach with views of both Lana'i and Molokai from the lanai.
Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
Enjoyed a Banyuls tasting here (like port), in honour of Russell Quant who is drinking it when he is proposed to (Aloha, Candy Hearts)
Montreal, Quebec
In front of Notre Dame in Montreal, Quebec. This was a trip taken soon after 9/11 and the city was pretty quiet.
Roseau, Dominica
In the center of the Caribbean archipelago, Dominica is a wild place. And so was-on that day- the town of Roseau. We happened to be here during Carnival. The revelers in the background had been dancing and drinking since 2am the previous night.
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong was one of those places I thought would feel completely foreign and strange to me - but I felt quite at ease, and we managed to get around without any problem (just a bit squishy at times). I bought a Hugo Boss tuxedo that still looks pretty darn good.
Shanghai, China
Near the symbol of the city: The Oriental Pearl TV Tower - surpassed in height only by towers in Toronto and Moscow.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
This was at a place called Half Moon Bay which was a little slice of paradise.
Nice, France
In front of the gracious but quirky, hotel-with-a-sense-of-humour, The Negresco-which may be my new favourite hotel
Bali, Indonesia
Bali was such an idyllic place, our time there, much as with Phuket, almost seems dreamlike. We even named one of our dogs after it.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Dressing to match the sunset? Maybe.
Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia
Population of 60. And stunning to look at. Granite everywhere. The stories go that Peggy is either the ghost of seaman's widow, or the sole survivor of a ghastly ship wreck, raised in the town.
Hai Phong, Vietnam
We visited a VERY authentic street market here, serving up everything from chicken claws to live snakes.
Paradise Island, Bahamas
The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island has got to be one of the most picturesque places in the Caribbean. We happened upon Kendall Jackson wine there, and love it to this day.
Bridgetown, Barbados
Although many of the buildings were in disrepair, the colour was almost always joyful and added a lovely island spirit.
Gdansk, Poland
This was a beautiful city with a lovely artistic feel to it. Which was a much appreciated contrast to our earlier visit to to The Stutthof Concentration Camp near to the city. This was the first Nazi camp built outside of Germany and was the last camp liberated by Allied forces. It was the place of death for 85,000 people according to official figures, although the actual number killed is assumed to be much greater. Originally a small prison for Poles and P.O.W’s, the camp would become the site of some of the worst atrocities of the war.
Johannesburg, South Africa
This was in a terrific restaurant where they painted the patron's faces, so for one night, we were all a little African.
Washington, DC
This was first time in the US capital. They were setting up the lawn in front of the Capital Building for a large university graduation at which Bush Sr. was speaking.
Ixtapa, Mexico
Ixtapa, Mexico, home of the Dirty Banana.
Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood, was once Hollywood Land, a name made up for the new real estate development. The sign was erected to attract potential residents.
Saint-Paul de Vence, France
A lovely town just outside of Nice, with few cars allowed within its walls. To get to our hotel we had to park outside the walls and haul suitcases in. Oddly enough , we'd lost all but one bag - the only time I was glad for lost luggage.
Aqaba-Petra, Jordan
Aqaba-Petra, Jordan - the stone city created by the Nabateans - like a very narrow Grand Canyon - one of the new seven wonders of the world
Sydney, NS
Home to the world's largest fiddle (allegedly).
Boston, MA
In front of the original Cheers Bar used in the TV show. Taken while on the Men of Mystery Tour of NYC and Boston, September 2007
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
We were on a water safari during which we didn't see too much, but it was lovely scenery nonetheless.
Palm Springs, CA
With the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains in the background.
Sommières, France
Just below where I'm walking are the unseen arches of an old Roman bridge-I mean OLD - 1st century. Only 7 of the 19 arches can be seen, the others lie beneath the town where they act as cellars.
Dubai, UAE
In front of the Burj Al Arab - March 2008 - Sky Bar with Helipad is on 54th floor - but elevator only shows 27 as each hotle room is 2 stories tall.
China Beach, Vietnam
Near the spot where many soldiers took a few days R&R during Vietnam war. Behind me are traditional coracles-who would have thought round-shaped wicker boats would work?
Schenzhen, China
This was in an area called the Free Market in Schenzhen, China. We were on a bus trip from our base in Hong Kong. This was immediately prior to the transfer of Hong Kong from the British to the Chinese in 1997.
Paris, France
Springtime in Paris.
Seoul, South Korea
Managed to get a part time job with the guards at one of the five royal palaces in Seoul.
Há»™i An, Vietnam
Known as the Ancient City of Vietnam. Sometimes referred to as a Living Museum, because people still live here.
Barcelona, Spain
Spending sunny afternoons drinking sangria, eating tapas, talking to strangers was a favourite pasttime in Barcelona. And until our visit there, I did not understand the truly unique genius of Antoni Gaudi - or had he simply had too many sangria when he designed some of those buildings?
Bruges, Belgium
Wonderful waterways, great blond beer, extraordinary chocolate, and many artists. We bought two paintings here. Watch the movie In Bruges to get a sense of the place and its beauty.
Cadiz, Spain
Where we learned everything there is to know about bottling Sherry
Sonoran Desert, Phoenix, Arizona
I was amazed by the size of some of the cacti, and the varieties.
Aix en Provence, France
Bustling, fun, gorgeous little city, bursting with markets and shops and brasseries.
Charlottetown, PEI
One of the most idyllic, pastoral, charming maritime locations I've visited. They have NO dumps on the island. Everything is recycled.
Naples, Florida
I loved this icing sugar beach, with its old wood, tall grasses, salty air and long stretches of nothing more than sand and water.
Trunk Bay Beach, St. John, US Virgin Islands
St. John, the smallest & most idyllic of the 3 United States Virgin Islands, is best known for its dozens of perfect white sand beaches, turquoise bays abounding in colourful corals & rainbows of tropical fish & endless vistas of green hills
Montreux, Switzerland
Having my first authentic fondue experience in Montreux, Switzerland. I remember that as we sat there, a circus had just arrived in town and the animals were being unloaded, not far from where we were lunching.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Like New York, I wasn't sure I wanted to visit Vegas. And like New York, when I did, I fell in love and have been back many times. You gotta love a city without closing time.
Beijing, China
This is in the Forbidden City. Of course, only foreigners call it that. To the Chinese, it was never forbidden.
London, England
I wonder if many others are fooled as I was, in thinking that the rather familiar bridge behind me is the famed London Bridge; when in truth, this bridge is called The Tower Bridge. London Bridge is actually a rather plain looking structure.
Manta, Ecuador
I was actually just getting over being quite sick, so I was glad to be getting out and experiencing Ecuador. The city was pretty rustic and rough around the edges, but as in this picture, there is beauty (the background colours - not me) to be found everywhere.
Orient Beach, St. Maarten
St. Maarten:just 37 sq mi, with 2 different accents, ruled by 2 sovereign nations,French & Dutch, who've lived side by side for hundreds of years.Dutch side:ideal for people who like plenty to do. French side:genteel ambiance & Continental flair.
Atlanta, Georgia
Taken on book tour for Sundowner Ubuntu, May 2009. Are all the streets called Peachtree?
Ukraine
I was on a six week university exchange to Ukraine. Larry was antoher student and we were getting our feet feet in the Dniepro River.
San Antonio, Texas
This is The Alamo. That night, I read at a mystery bookstore cleverly called: Remember the Alibi.
New York City, NY
I was uncertain about visiting New York City for many years, but once I did, of course I fell in love.
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt - sun, sea and sand resort in Egypt
Ketchikan, Alaska
A very kitschy, fishy, maritime kind of place.
Quebec City, QC
After a stop at the majestic Château Frontenac, perched atop a tall cape overlooking the St. Lawrence, we descended into Vieux-Quebec, the old part of the city, where we spent lazy hours shopping on Rue du Petit-Champlain.
Bar Harbor, Maine
We visited Acadia National Park, but it was so foggy we could barely see a thing. No matter, the lobster lunch was scrumptious, and the town delightful.
Antigua, Guatemala
Picking coffee cherries at a coffee plantation.
St. Petersburg, Russia
Behind me is the Hermitage. Later we had a special after hours tour which concluded with a concert in one of the stunning galleries. The main architectural ensemble of the Hermitage situated in the centre of St Petersburg consists of the Winter Palace, the former state residence of the Russian emperors, the buildings of the Small, Old (Great) and New Hermitages, the Hermitage Theatre and the Auxiliary House.
Salalah, Oman
Home of the frankincense tree; Study in contrasts - modern highway against and empty beach with grazing camels
Fujairah, UAE
March 2008 - we went dune crashing, then breakfasted at a Bedoin Camp
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Or is it really the backs of dragons that once protected the locals from invaders?
Keil Canal, Germany
I'm fascinated by canals. This was a beautiful crossing, with some stunning pastoral landscape along the way, done during our Baltic cruise.
Perpignan, France
Northern-Catalan city, a commune and the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.
Gahwil, Switzerland
Near Sound-of-Music perfection. Even the cow bells sounded in tune, and the sheep were clean as snow. Visiting the home of our friends Marianne and Moritz who we'd met on our Arabian cruise.
Grenada, Spain
Where we visited the Al Hambra fortification
Bequia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
The Grenadines comprise a string of 100 tiny, rocky islands scattered between St. Vincent & Grenada. Bequia, pronounced Beck-way, and called "the island of the clouds" by the Carib Indians, is the largest of the St. Vincent dependencies.
