Kagoshima 鹿児島市

Japan

February 20, 2014

My dear fellow volcanologists,

Am I an “Expert” in Geology?

I did struggle through Geology 101 as an undergraduate.   I have devoured books by John McFee and Simon Winchester.

Years ago in Java, Indonesia, I traveled to Mount Bromo, when at dawn, the volcano puts on its display of fire and brimstone. 

Most recently, in Ecuador, I watched from afar as the volcano called Volcán Tungurahua lived up to its name: “Throat of Fire.”

So, does all that make me an expert in volcanology, plate tectonics and the Ring of Fire?

Quilotoa

Ecuador

October 10, 2013 

My Dear Mountaineers, 

The Quilotoa Loop is the scenic route west from Latacunga (pop 87,417) to the remote towns of Pujili, Tigua (pop 3000) and Zumbahua (pop 3000).  North of Zumbahua, along the Rio Toachi, lies Quilotoa (Pop 150, Elev 3914m, 12,841 ft, 2.4 miles high!!). 

The paved and curvy road is easy to navigate although my cute little Chevrolet Spark struggles to ascend from 2800m in Latacunga to Quilotoa at 3914m.  To make any headway at all, I must constantly downshift from 3^rd gear to 2^nd. 

Djibouti City

Republic of Djibouti

May 5, 2011

Bonjour mes amis,

At the Djibouti Embassy in Addis Ababa, the consular officer was quite clear: You don’t need a visa to enter Djibouti.   You can get a visa on arrival.

Non!

The entry process was a real pain.  At the airport, I waited for what seemed like more than an hour as I was shuttled from office to office.  Finally, finally, one officer made a call and some other higher ranking officer gave the OK.  Then back to yet another office to watch yet another officer paste the visa into my passport.  (Miracle of miracles, my luggage was still waiting for me, forlornly, on the carousel.) 

Gunung Bromo

East Java

May 23, 2005

My Dear Family and Friends,

No shave. No shower. Just dress warmly against the frigid, high-altitude night air and follow the flashlights to the Toyota LandThe wake-up call came at 3:30am. A polite, firm wrap on my guest room door at the Lava View Lodge.

Lago Atitlan

Solola

Guatemala

January 11, 2007

Editor

CondeNast Traveler
New York, New York

To the Editor:

I am a loyal and thorough reader of "CondeNast Traveler." I even cut out and save your articles. When I decided on Belize and Guatemala, I checked my "Central America" file. I found an article published in April, 1997: "The Gods Never Died - Like an infant with an old soul, Guatemala emerges from war to a vibrant Indian nation."

I was impressed and motivated by a full page color photograph of a mustachioed Guatemalan man who is dressed in a straw hat, white shirt, embroidered pants, colorful sash, and a shoulder bag decorated with Mayan symbols and icons. He is standing on a small wooden dock. He is staring across what seems to be an endless, mysterious lake.

I want to say "Thank you" Mr. Editor. I am here, today, on that very lake. Lago Atitlan.

Hacienda Manteles

Manteles

Tungurahua Province

Central Highlands

Ecuador

October 12, 2013 

Fellow Volcanologists, 

Recently, my loyal friend Kenny used the word “remarkable.”  I am certain he would concur that approaching Cotopaxi, the dormant snow- capped volcano, while riding down the highway is truly remarkable. 

My brother-in-law Stephen likes the word “outstanding.”  Can we all agree that watching smoke and ash billowing from an active volcano is truly outstanding? 

My dear friend Uli likes to use the word “extraordinary.”  How fortunate am I that the smoke and ash I viewed during the day turned to red glowing fire at night!  A truly extraordinary sight.