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Living like a Turk at a 16th century bathhouse in Istanbul
Once inside the 16th century Hurrem Sultan Hammam, I entered through the door marked “Gentlemen Only” and found myself in a room glowing in an ethereal blue haze, accented by pinpoints of ochre light from dozens of votives. There were cushions for lounging scattered about a central cascading fountain and beds, covered in crisp white…
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Point Bob, U.S.A.
It was on my first visit here that I noticed Point Roberts on the map, a tiny piece of the United States accessible only from Canada. It seemed a peculiar curiosity I’d investigate on a future trip. Eight years and as many visits later, I finally found myself in the place locals call Point Bob.…
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Always bring your earplugs
Instinctually, I reached for my earplugs as the door to the dorm room opened well past midnight, but then I hesitated. I had been waiting for my next story and this event seem to hold some promise. I knew he was a drunk the moment I opened the door the previous afternoon. He had…
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Fall
I say I hate the seasons; well, all but one. What I really mean is that I just don’t believe in weather. Having been raised in California, I grew up thinking it was always 70 degrees and sunny outside. Unlike the Eskimo and their 50 words for snow, we Californians have just one word for…
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A nice piece of Astoria
I was visiting Astoria about a month ago when a friend of mine bought me the book “A Little Piece of Astoria”, by Matt Love. Unfortunately, I didn’t begin to read it until I returned to Portland and quickly became disappointed that I had waited as it was filled with the kinds of unusual things…
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3 days in Zihuatanejo: Day 3-The Chicken Bus
I’d heard often about the chicken bus. I imagined it to be some rickety metal box, curtains flapping in the open windows, packed full of with people, and of course, chickens running down the center aisle. In all my travels through Mexico, I’d never had the good fortune to have such an encounter, until today.…
