Vladimir

Russia

September 18, 2011

Dear Family and Friends

Vladimir Vladimirovich was my driver In Vladimir.  He spoke not one word of English.   Somehow we managed to communicate.

Vladimir Vladimirovich and I scanned my map of “Russia’s Heritage Cities.”  We decided on a circular clockwise route:  Vladimir, Yerev-Polskoy, Suzdal, Bogolyubovo, and back to Vladimir.

The Heritage Cities are best known as “The Golden Ring.”  North and east around Moscow are more than a dozen ancient cities with unique Russian architecture dating back to the 12^th to 17^th Centuries.  

Vladimir Vladimirovich picked me up at 09:00 at the Monomakh Hotel (named for Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh (1053-1125).  Vladimir sped through the green-to-slightly-golden countryside.  The towns were lovely.  Monasteries, cathedrals, churches, markets, private homes and small shops called супермаркеты were the stops for the day.

Fes

Morocco

April 21, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

The Medina in Fes is probably the world’s largest contiguous car-free area. 

The medina is a neighborhood of about 9000 narrow streets where people live and work and go to school. The tour guide doesn’t let us out of his sight for a moment.  If I get lost, young boys are available for a “small fee” to lead me out of the maze!

Melaka
Malaysia

24 April 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

At 9:30 am on the dot, Joowee picked me up at my hotel in KL.  Together with her friend Michelle, we drove south to Melaka, the ancient city-state and historic port city strategically located on the Selat Melaka – the Strait of Malacca.

I missed Melaka on my first trip to Malaysia four years ago and I was anxious to see it.

Melaka is a great place for a daytime stroll.  Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, Indian, Arabic and native Malay architecture all stand together and line the narrow streets:  forts, churches, mosques, temples, tombs, fountains, along with plenty of clothing, antique, porcelain and chachka shops.