Travel

Travel Literature

The use of travel writing to inform the audience at home about the world abroad is not new. The History by Herodotus offers an ancient example. Written some 2,500 years ago, this was history based on what the author personally saw and heard as he traveled throughout his world (which was essentially the region around the Mediterranean), as well as what he had read. Herodotus is noteworthy for two other reasons. He was a storyteller whose narrative was not limited only to military and political happenings>>>

Israel is a Trip (2)

Just a few days away from boarding an El AL 777 to Tel Aviv, I got an email saying that our government-sponsored friendship trip has been delayed because Israel's foreign ministry is in the middle of a salary dispute. Foreign service diplomats miffed over being paid much less than Mossad, IDF and other government agencies are showing up at work in jeans, sneakers, and T-shirts that say on them , "I'm a poor diplomat." The first thing I thought of was whether those shirts come in extra large because Manouchehr Mottaki could really use one>>>

A Country With Flavor

People are generally tolerant and welcoming. Shopkeepers invite shoppers to their own shop; some overenthusiastic invitation, however, can feel slightly tense and intimidating, particularly in narrow streets with shops on both sides. It tends to be harmless and easily ends by firmly rejecting the invitation and walking away. Haggle is part of the shopping experience in most places. As a rule of thumb, the cost can be pushed down to anything between third and half (sometimes even less)>>>

Israel is a Trip (1)

Consul General Jacob Dayan is the senior representative of the State of Israel in Southwestern United States. He runs a busy consulate and I certainly hadn't expected to meet the top man when I contacted his office with questions about who was paying for my journalism trip to Israel. Yet, the charismatic diplomat whose youthfulness contrasts pleasantly with the responsibility of his office, graciously offered his time to answer some questions>>>