Continents

The popular intercity hike through the five Cinque Terre towns was the activity of choice for the three Bissonnette girls, and being outnumbered, that is what this White boy had to do.

“Silence is the perfectest herald of joy.” This Shakespeare quote sufficiently summarizes a single day at Addo Elephant Park and Schotia Lion Reserve?

The Roman writer, Pliny the Elder, passed by Qatar and called the inhabitants Catharrei. I can only imagine he also recognized the cycling opportunity across this super flat and arid desert and would have called it Qatar Quest.

The endless beige horizons contrasted dramatically against all the green gliding under the plane now. This contrast of colors surprised me. The family had just left Qatar less than 24 hours ago. Now an over saturation of color attacked the senses.

Welcome back to the United States after the very real prospect of spending summer trapped in our house under the Middle Eastern sun proved to be too much after three and a half months dealing with the nuttiness of a pandemic.

A place emanates a soul and personality. Always. It’s picked up on the first stay. And even subsequent visit. It can be sensed. So, will I recognize you on my return to the United States?

Sri Lanka is the antithesis of Qatar. Green, inexpensive, and lacking massive amounts of natural oil and gas reserves. It’s also the first country any newcomer to the region visits. Safe and affordable with activities for every traveler. It’s the 1990’s undiscovered Thailand.

We passed over the same terrain we’d covered for weeks. Physically exhausted, the family was mentally ready to go home. A layover in Casablanca demanded otherwise.