Scooters in Italy Source Of Concern For American Tourist

I love traveling in Italy, but I’m generally on the cautious side when it comes to getting around. My preferred mode of transportation is my own two feet, closely followed by public transit like buses and subways. I typically try to avoid taxis, though rideshares like Uber have made hailing a ride a bit more predictable.

On a trip to Italy last year, I was traveling with a group of first-time visitors who were hell-bent on renting scooters. We were in Naples—a city I had visited several times before. 

Now, scooters are undeniably part of the romanticized Italian aesthetic, woven into the cultural fabric of the country right alongside espresso and historic piazzas.

However, I genuinely despise scooters. They are inherently risky, and renting one in an unfamiliar, high-traffic European metropolis is a recipe for disaster. Naples is not some laid-back, slow-paced island destination where you casually coast down quiet coastal roads. It’s a dense, pulsating urban maze where local riders aggressively dart into any gap wide enough for a front wheel.

Road rage and impossibly tight squeezes are standard operating procedure on Neapolitan streets. Even if you have years of riding experience back home, put your pride aside and explore Naples on foot or by metro. 

And if you’ve never driven a scooter in your life and plan on using the chaotic streets of Naples as your proving ground—give yourself a swift reality check before you step onto the pavement.

Italy with Scooter 2 Inch Square Magnet

Helsinki to St. Petersburg: Exploring the Historic Cross-Border Connection

Helsinki, Finland, and St. Petersburg, Russia, have long maintained a complex and uneasy dynamic as neighboring powers. However, following the fall of the Soviet Union, the relationship began to warm substantially as cross-border trade, tourism, and mutual investment rapidly expanded.

Despite recurring diplomatic friction between Western Europe and Moscow, the physical journey between the two cities remained remarkably accessible and popular among citizens of both nations. 

While the nearly five-hour drive across the border was a staple for motorists, the introduction of the high-speed Allegro train revolutionized travel, cutting the trip to a comfortable three and a half hours.

At the ground level, macro-economic disputes often took a backseat to daily practicalities. Everyday Finns regularly crossed the border to stock up on cheaper consumer goods and fuel, while Russians frequently traveled into Helsinki to access specialized Finnish medical care, high-end shopping, and European transit hubs. For years, this pragmatic cross-border flow bridged the divide between two very different worlds.

Leningrad, CCCP, St. Petersburg, Russia Trucker Hat

I Thought Killington Was Just for Skiing—Until I Saw This Golf Course

When it comes to East Coast skiing, Killington isn’t afraid to throw its weight around. Much of the resort’s advertising and promotional literature relentlessly leans into its long-held nickname: "The Beast of the East."

Until recently, I’d only ever visited Killington in its natural state—blanketed in thick winter snow. Heading up to Killington, Vermont, for a mid-July vacation felt about as natural as sipping frozen margaritas on a sub-zero January night.

Then, one day, everything changed. While scrolling through my feed, a friend’s photo of Green Mountain National Golf Course caught my eye. The lush, fairways looked less like a standard golf course and more like a slice of mountain paradise.

It was stunning, expansive, and surprisingly uncrowded. Without boring you with all the fine print: Killington is in serious contention for the ultimate New England summer golf trip. The mountain offers incredible amenities, pristine course conditions, and an unbeatable value compared to traditional golf resorts.

While taking in the view of Killington Peak without its signature snowpack will always feel a bit surreal, trading in ski poles for golf clubs—and topping off a round with a cold craft beer—has officially become my new summer tradition.

East Coast - Vermont Ski Town - Killington, VT

Relics, Trams, and Cheap Rent: Why Leipzig Is My Favorite East German Escape

People call me crazy, but I’ve always wished I could have visited the Soviet Union before it collapsed. Don't get me wrong—I didn't admire the oppressive system or wish to live under communist rule; I just think experiencing life behind the Iron Curtain firsthand would have been fascinating.

Fortunately, my travel and work have allowed me to explore several former Soviet Republics and Eastern Bloc satellite states. In particular, business frequently takes me to Leipzig, Germany—a key historic hub of the former German Democratic Republic (DDR).

While the economy of former East Germany has largely caught up with its western counterparts, physical remnants of its communist past still peak through the modern landscape. Looking out the window of a Leipzig tram, scenes of urban industrial grit are common. 

Weathered facades and abandoned, graffiti-strewn factories bear a striking resemblance to the Rust Belt cities of the American Midwest.

Yet, time has marched steadily forward. Over the last decade, Leipzig has reinvented itself—earning a widespread reputation as one of Europe's premier havens for artists, musicians, and creatives drawn by affordable rent and expansive studio spaces.

Beyond its artistic revival, Leipzig's best operational feature is its sheer walkability. Paired with a comprehensive tram network and a deeply embedded cycling culture, owning a car here feels like an unnecessary burden rather than a convenience. 

Vibrant local dining, lively bars, and a legendary classical and contemporary music scene offer endless reasons to visit. (And for those seeking familiar comforts, there's even a Starbucks in the central square).

For me, exploring Leipzig feels like stepping through layers of history. It's a privilege to wander the streets and learn about the storied past of an intellectual and creative powerhouse—a city whose thinkers, composers, and citizens have made enduring cultural contributions to the world.

Stasi, Ministry for State Security, East Germany Shirt

Forget the Hamptons: The Secret Croatian Island That Time Forgot

Older New Yorkers often regale me with stories of a bygone era in the Hamptons, back when the East End of Long Island was untouched, quiet, and delightfully unpretentious. It was pretty much the exact opposite of the Wall Street, hyper-exclusive, celebrity-studded scene that dominates the area today.

I’ve always longed for a place like that—and I finally found one. It is a secret, untouched, and blissful island paradise where you can truly unplug without feeling the pressure to keep up with the Joneses. If you decide to read on, I only ask for one promise: keep this between us. Don't kiss and tell.

This sanctuary needs to stay off the mainstream radar. If you happen to spot me sunbathing on a deserted stretch of sand, don't wave, strike up a conversation, or interrupt the peace. Just give a quick wink—I'll know exactly what it means. You're welcome in advance.

The location? Cres, Croatia.

Cres is an island with a population of roughly 3,500 people, spread across a handful of sleepy coastal villages. Fishing and agriculture still form the backbone of the local economy, alongside a community of Croatian pensioners who have quietly claimed the island as their personal haven.

Spend your morning relaxing on the secluded shores of Lubenice Beach, then head up to Porozina for an unhurried, local dinner. If your ideal vacation involves glitzy nightclubs, velvet ropes, fine dining, or mega-resorts, you will absolutely loathe Cres. You won't find any of that here.

Cres is simple, raw, and wonderfully slow-paced. Bring a good book—or sit down and write one. Enjoy Cres, Croatia.

Cres, Croatia with coat of arms Shirt