Amateur Traveler Podcast | travel for the love of it

AT#372 - Travel to Stockholm, Sweden

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:13:49 +0000

Hear about travel to Stockholm, Sweden as the <a href="http://AmateurTraveler.com">Amateur Traveler</a> talks to Malin from HauteCompass.com about Sweden's beautiful capital city.

AT#371 - Travel to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe, Zambia)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Hear about travel to Victoria Falls as the Amateur Traveler talks to Nir Ben-Dov about his trip to this spectacular falls on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. This was Nir’s second trip and his wife’s first trip from their home in Israel to this famed set of falls in southern Africa.

AT#370 - Travel to Fort Worth, Texas

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:37:04 +0000

Hear about travel to Fort Worth, Texas as the Amateur Traveler talks again to Jason Hull about Fort Worth Texas the "City of Cowboys and Culture". Sometimes over shadowed by it's neighbor Dallas Jason shows us why Fort Worth is worth a visit.

AT#369 - Travel to Bucharest

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Hear about travel to Bucharest as the Amateur Traveler talks to Wandering Earl about visiting and living in that city. Earl calls Bucharest one of the most under-rated cities in all of Europe, certainly eastern Europe.

AT#368 - Travel to Extremadura, Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:11:53 +0000

Hear about travel to Extremadura in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks to Sam from indefiniteadventure.com about living and working there. Extremadura is a lesser known region in southwest Spain on the border with Portugal and adjacent to Andalusia, Madrid and Castilla. Sam lived in the city of Medira for 3 months teaching English.

AT#367 - Travel to Toulouse, France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Benny the Irish Polyglot about Toulouse, France. Benny lived in the city for 3 months to work on his French. He was drawn to the University city culture but fell in love with the "pink" city.

AT#366 - Travel to Vanuatu

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:26:11 +0000

Hear about travel to Vanuatu as the Amateur Traveler talks again to Chris Willis who comes back on the show to talk about a recent trip to the remote, tropical paradise of Vanuatu.

Travel to the South Side of Chicago - Episode 365

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:58:33 +0000

Hear about travel to the South Side of Chicago as the Amateur Traveler talks to Amy Bugbee, author of "Suffering and Celebration of Life in America", about her hometown, the South Side of Chicago. The South Side of Chicago is more than just the White Sox and the stock yards just as Chicago pizza is more than just deep dish.

AT#364 - Travel to Japan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:57:09 +0000

Hear about travel to Japan on the Amateur Traveler as I relate stories from my recent trip to Tokyo, the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto, the castle at Hikone, the shrines and temples of Nikko and Kamakura.

AT#363 - Travel to Puerto Rico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:47:06 +0000

Hear about travel to Puerto Rico as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kaleb Garcia about his home country of Puerto Rico. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory in the Caribbean with its own culture, language (Spanish), history and food.

AT#362 - Travel to The Guianas - French Guiana, Suriname, and Guyana

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Hear about travel to the Guianas (French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Marcello Arrambide from wanderingtrader.com about his recent trip to these three South American countries.

AT#361 - Travel to North Korea

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:42:00 +0000

Hear about travel to North Korea as the Amateur Traveler talks to Matt from England about his recent trip to this closed and insular country. This may be one of the most unusual episodes of the Amateur Traveler as this may be one of the more unusual countries.

AT#360 - Volunteer Travel in Uganda

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:57:29 +0000

Hear about volunteer travel in Uganda as the <Amateur Traveler talks to Shara Johnson about her experience volunteering at the Uganda Wildlife Education Center and her subsequent adventures exploring Uganda including an unheard of solo trek to see gorillas.

AT#359 - Travel to London part 2

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:48:43 +0000

Hear about travel to London as the Amateur Traveler talks to Amber from americantourguideinlondon.com. In this second part of a two part episode on London

AT#358 - Travel to Perth, Australia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:41:05 +0000

Hear about travel to Perth, Australia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Carmen from double-barrelledtravel.com. Carmen grew up in Perth and lived for 21 years in this city on Australia’s Western shore. Perth is a beautiful city located where a river his the white sand beaches.

AT#357 - Travel to Samoa

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 06:55:51 +0000

Hear about travel to Samoa as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jade Johnston from OurOyster.com about their recent trip to this remote pacific destination. Samoa is composed of two islands just north of New Zealand.

AT#356 - Travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:06:00 +0000

Hear about travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico as the Amateur Traveler talks to Billie Frank from SantaFeTravelers.com about her city, the second oldest in the United States and the oldest capital city in the U.S.

AT#355 - Travel to Guatemala

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Hear about travel to Guatemala as the Amateur Traveler talks to Shannon O’Donneal from alittleadrift.com about her recent trip to Guatemala. Shannon went to Guatemala to attend a language school but was surprised by the breath of diversity in the culture.

AT#354 - Travel to Myanmar

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Hear about Myanmar as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dustin Main from SkinnyBackpacker.com about Myanmar (Burma).

AT#353 - Travel to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:40:35 +0000

Hear about Queensland's Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane Australia from Annabel Candy. Long white sand beachs, hiking trails, a tropical zoo in the tropics.

AT#352 - Travel to London, England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 22:49:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Amber, an American Tour Guide in London, about her adopted city. Amber is an American expat from London who now takes people on walking tours of London.

AT#351 - Travel to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 01:50:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jim Lutz from Via Adventures about the Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. "The Galapagos has to be one of the most unique and wonderful wildlife destinations in the world."

AT#350 - Travel to The Hill Towns of Southern Tuscany

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 02:13:22 +0000

TheAmateur Traveler talks to Mary Jo Manzanares about 4 of her favorite hill towns in southern Tuscany: Contignano , Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza. Experience the food, the wine and the slower pace of some of these hill towns.

AT#349 - Travel to Peru

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 16:31:03 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Nick Stanziano, co-founder of SA Luxury Expeditions and newly minted Peruvian citizen about his new country of Peru. We talk about Lima, Machu Picchu and other well known Peru landmarks as well both ancient and modern.

AT#348 - Travel to Uganda

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 16:25:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Christian Cummins about his bicycle trip across Uganda. Christian is a British expat who lives in Austria where he works for radio station FM4. He had recently returned from the African state of Uganda where he was raising money for a children’s education charity called Link Community Development.

AT#347 - Travel to Kenya

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 13:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Gretchen about her two trips to Kenya. Gretchen's husband is a wildlife photographer and they both are birders. They went on a wildlife photography safari that emphasized bird watching and fell in love with Kenya.

AT#346 - Travel to Medellin Colombia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to David Lee about his parttime home, the “City of the Eternal Spring”, Medellin Colombia. If you just Medellin as a dangerous city and the home of drug lords, then your information is about 20 years out of date

AT#345 - Travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Western North Carolina

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Nathan from Wand’rly Magazine about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and about his current home of Western North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited U.S. National Park.

AT#344 - Travel to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lee Abbamonte, the youngest American ever to travel to every country in the world, about 3 islands off the coast of Australia: Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island.

AT#343 - Travel to Cambodia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Noah Lederman of SomewhereOrBust.com about his recent trip to Cambodia. Noah visited Anchor Wat, Rabbit Island near Kep, Battambang and the bamboo trains and Phnom Penh and the sobering Tuol Sleng - S21 memorial.

AT#342 - Travel to Tajikistan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:35:08 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Michael Soncina again about his trip to Tajikistan in Central Asia. Tajikistan is smack dab between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Unlike the other countries Tajikistan is mostly mountainous. A lot of its influences, history and culture is influenced by Persia while its neighbors have more Mongolian or nomadic influences.

AT#341 - Travel to New Zealand's South Island

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Erik Smith about his month long visit to New Zealand. We focus in this interview about the South Island of New Zealand. Erick started in Christchurch and then visited The Banks Penninsula, Lake Tekapo, the Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula, the Southern Scenic Route including the Catlins, Fiordland National Park (including cruising both Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound) Queenstown, the rainy west coast, Abel Tasman National Park, Kaikoura, and Picton.

AT#340 - Travel to the Microstates of Europe (Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 21:54:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to to Gary Arndt about the 4 micro-states in Europe: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino. "They all have very unique histories and the one thing that they are all very small"

AT#339 - Travel to Costa Brava, Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:41:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sherry Ott about Costa Brava Spain. Costa Brava is in Catalonia north of Barcelona on the rugged coastline of Spain. It also extends as far inland as the Pyrenees and includes farming country and medieval towns.

AT#338 - Travel to Las Vegas, Nevada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 03:44:12 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Hunter Hillegas author of the Vegas Mate iPhone app about Las Vegas. The Amateur Traveler has covered Las Vegas before but the city is constantly changing.

AT#337 - Travel to Segovia and Toledo Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Photographer Ralph Velasco about two of his favorite cities in Spain, Toledo and Segovia. Both Toledo and Segovia are a short distance from Madrid and both offer interesting and historically significant cities with UNESCO World Heritage sites.

AT#336 - Travel to Serbia and Kosovo

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 06:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Shawn Farris about his trip to Serbia and Kosovo. Shawn either visited two countries (or one) in this contested area of the Balkans.

AT#355 - Solo (International) Travel as a Woman with Janice Waugh

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:14:30 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Janice Waugh from Solo Traveler about solo travel as a woman, particularly solo international travel. Janice did not set out to be a solo traveler but after the death of her husband she gained her courage to travel again.

AT#334 - Travel to Yorkshire, England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 02:47:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Elspeth about her native Yorkshire in northern England.

AT#333 - Travel to The Island of Java in Indonesia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:48:18 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lash from LashWorldTour.com about the Island of Java in the nation of Indonesia. She cycled through the countryside and visited the major cities of this populous island in Indonesia.

AT#332 - Trekking Around Mont Blanc, France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The <a href="http://AmateurTraveler.com">Amateur Traveler</a> talks to Marc Barach about his recent trek around Monte Blanc. Hiking around the giant mountain on the tour Monte Blanc took him through portions of France, Italy and Switzerland.

AT#331 - Travel to the Islands of Kyushu, Japan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 17:14:50 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Andrew about the Island of Kyushu, the southern island in Japan. Kyushu is one of the warmer parts of Japan. Nagasaki is probably the best known city on the island for its tragic history as the second city targeted with an atomic bomb. The island has is green and hilly with a number of active volcanos. Andrew and his wife had a chance to visit a number of museums, the peace park in Nagasaki, visit a volcano, be buried in hot and and take in a local soccer game. They toured its large cities but also headed into the countryside.

AT#330 - Travel to Connecticut

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 18:47:26 +0000

The <a href="http://AmateurTraveler.com">Amateur Traveler</a> talks to Jen Russell about the 3rd smallest state in the U.S. Connecticut. Connecticut, the Constitution State, is located halfway between New York and Boston. It has a coastline sheltered by Long Island so more suitable for family frolicking than for surfing. Connecticut also has a long maritime tradition which is celebrated at Mystic Seaport. It's forested rolling hills are popular with people who come to New England in the Fall to see the Fall colors. Connecticut is rich in U.S. history producing people such Revolutionary War patriot Nathan Hale ("My only regret is that I have but one life to give to my country"). It is rich in natural history as evidenced by Dinosaur State Park.

AT#329 - Travel to Savannah, Georgia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 18:57:59 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Neil Kristianson about one of his favorite travel destinations Savannah, Georgia. Neil and his wife were drawn to Savannah originally because of the movie and the book “Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil”. They fell in love with the Antebellum architecture, the many public squares, the Southern hospitality and pace, and, strangely enough, with the cemeteries. Savannah is rich in history and has been a destination for travelers even before Sherman’s March to the sea. Learn where to eat and what restaurant is overrated. Stay in a local historic inn one one of the city squares in the walkable historic downtown.

AT#328 - Adventure Travel in Costa Rica

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 17:51:02 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks about adventure travel in Costa Rica. From rafting on the Pacuare river and ziplining through the Monteverde Cloud forest to snorkeling off the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica can be a great destination for adventure travel.

AT#327 - Travel to Sun Valley, Idaho

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:04:38 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Scott E. Jordan of Scottevest about his home in Sun Valley Idaho.

AT#326 - Travel to Belgium

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sam Oppenheim who returns to the show to talk about a recent trip to Belgium. Starting in Brussels, Sam and his wife Mina also visited Ghent, Antwerp, Brugge, Bouillon and Orval.

AT#325 - Travel to the Twin Cities of Minnesota (St Paul and side trips)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kirk Horsted in a two part episode on the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. In this second half Kirk looks at the state capital of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

AT#324 - Travel to the Twin Cities of Minnesota (Minneapolis)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:29:57 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kirk Horsted in a two part episode on the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. This first episode focuses on Minneapolis with day trips west of the Mississippi river.

AT#323 - Travel to Lithuania

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:52:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Katie Aune from KatieGoingGlobal.com about her recent trip to Lithuania. Katie visited Lithuania as part of a year traveling through countries that were part of the former U.S.S.R. She spent much of her time in and around Vilnius, the capital.

AT#322 - Travel to Puglia (Apulia) in Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:53:26 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Antonello Losito from Southern Visions Travel about his native region of Puglia (Apulia) in Italy. Puglia is the boot of Italy and does not get the same number of tourists as Northern Italy. But Antonello recommends his rugged coastline and mountain towns as a way to see the Italy that “most American’s picture”.

AT#321 - Travel to Umbria, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Rebecca about her adopted home of Umbria in Italy. Umbria is known as the green heart of Italy. Perhaps less well known than its neighbor of Tuscany to the North Umbria is a verdant region of hill towns, farms and national parks located in the center of Italy.

AT#320 - Travel to Lanai

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks about traveling to the Hawaiian Island of Lana’i. I recently spent a week in Lana’i as a guest of the Lana’i Visitor’s Bureau as one of their 2012 “Artists in Residence”. Lana’i only has 3,000 residence and a small town feel. I talk about some of the more unusual (for me at least) activities that I tried on the Island including riding a horse, going on a ride and shoot (to Lana’i Pines Sporting Clays), snubing, learning to play the ukulele, getting a lomi lomi massage, volunteering at a cat sanctuary and going 4 wheel drive tour. You don’t have to do this much when you go to Lan’i. You could also just golf or lie on the beach.

AT#319 - Travel to the Yunnan Province of China

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lee Moore again about China. Lee comes back on the show to talk about his time in the Yunnan Provence in the southwest corner of China. Yunnan is on the border with Laos, Myanmar and Tibet.

AT#318 - Travel to Southern Israel

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:57:47 +0000

The Amateur Travelertalks to Chaundra about her trip to Southern Israel, a barren but "stunning" land where every rock is full of history.

AT#317 - Travel to India

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:33:23 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to David Grenewetzki about his first trip to India. His itinerary covered Mombai, Bangalore, Rajasthan, Delhi and then ended at the Indian wedding of friends. Along the way they visited alaces, temples, forts, grand hotels, ancient caves, and acted as Tiger bait.

AT#316 - Travel to Catalina Island off California

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Carrie from cruisebuzz.net about a popular vacation spot just off the coast of California, Catalina Island.

AT#315 - Cruise Barge Canals in England and Wales

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Richard Graw about his experiences cruising the canals of England in a canal boat (or narrow boat). The canals traverse through tunnels, up staircases of locks and even up over aqueducts.

AT#314 - Travel to Trinidad and Tobago

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to JD Andrews about his recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago. JD, who used to work for a cruise line, has visited many of the islands of the Caribbean but this was his first visit to Trinidad.

AT#313 - Travel to Bolivia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Michael Tieso about his recent trip to Bolivia. He was traveling from Argentina to Peru and at first Bolivia was just in the way, but he discovered a country worth seeing.

AT#312 - Travel to Bulgaria

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:29:10 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Craig Zabransky fro StayAdventurous.com about his recent trip to Bulgaria. He traveled with a Bulgarian friend and visited picturesque towns as well as the amazing blue waters of the Black Sea.

AT#311 - Travel to Northern Queensland, Australia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:32:28 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Dave Kerwin about his recent trip to Northern Queensland. Dave recommends 2 main stops on your trip: the Atherton Tablelands, Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.

AT#310 - Travel to San Antonio. Texas

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:55:17 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Carlos Gutierrez about his home town of San Antonio, Texas. Carlos gives us a guide to some of the obvious spots like the Alamo but also shares some of his favorite hole in the wall restaurants, a tip about the best time to come to San Antonio, and a great drive in the Texas countryside.

AT#309 - Travel to Bangladesh

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:22:01 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Audrey Scott and Daniel Noll about their recent trip to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the most densely populated country, but all those people are one of Bangladesh's strengths."

AT#308 - Travel to the Champagne Region of France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to well-known travel writer / editor Don George about his first visit to the Champagne region of France. Despite having lived in France after college, Don had never visited the area made so famous by the blind monk Dom Perignon and his sparkling wine. Don discovered a beautiful agricultural area and learned the secret to a good life is one bottle of Champagne a day.

AT#307 - Travel to Kazakhstan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:02:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mike about his recent trip to Kazakhstan. He explored this large area on a backpacker's budget. Kazakhstan is the 9th biggest country in the world. "In the very West end of the country you have old mosques. In the new capital Astana you have futuristic buildings."

AT#306 - Travel to Dublin, Ireland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Colm Hanratty from HostelWorld.com about Dublin, Ireland. Colm has been living working and studying in Dublin for the last 17 years.

“Dublin is the gateway to Ireland. It is a very welcoming city. It is a very compact city. You can see the main sites and the more off the beaten track sites in about 3 days."

AT#305 - Travel to Tampa, Florida

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:43:41 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Shannon Martin from Two Who Travel about her hometown of Tampa Bay (and St Petersburg) Florida. Shannon recommends the Tamp Bay area for a beach vacation, possible combined with a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

AT#304 - Travel to the Ring of Kerry, Ireland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jessie Voigts from Wandering Educators about County Kerry and the Ring of Kerry in Ireland. County Kerry is a popular tourist region in Ireland.

AT#303 - Travel to St. Kitts

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:36:46 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Long from LandLopers.com about his recent trip to St. Kitts (officially part of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis) which is part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. Matt was on a press trip to the Marriott resort on the island.

AT#302 - Travel to St. Augustine, Florida

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:39:15 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Alan from Jacksonville about St. Augustine Florida which is the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in what is now the United States. St. Augustine was founded in 1565 and is 42 years older than Jamestown.

AT#301 - Travel to Chihuahua, Mexico with Photographer Ralph Velasco

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:06:17 +0000

Chihuahua is also known for the beautiful Cooper Canyon which is best seen from the train that transverses it. Copper Canyon is a popular tourist destination with Mexicans. Copper Canyon is larger and portions are deeper than the Grande Canyon.

AT#300 - Travel to Quebec, Canada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:19:19 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ira Berstein again, this time about the Canadian Provence of Quebec. Ira suggests seeing both Montreal and Quebec City because of the contrasts in the two major cities in this French-speaking part of Canada.

Ira would personally recommend spending more time in Montreal but would understand those who like Quebec city better. Montreal is an international city with more than just French and English influence, all of which add their influence to a lively restaurant scene. Montreal sits on the Saint Lawrence River and at the base on Mount Royal from which it derives its name.

Quebec City is possibly the most European city in North America and one of the only walled cities. The city is so popular with American’s that we tried to capture it during both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Le Chateau Frontenac dominates the Quebec skyline as it has for more than 100 years.

AT#299 - Travel to European Russia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:19:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Francis Tapon about European Russia west of the Ural Mountains. Most people only know 2 cities in Russia – Moscow and St Petersburg. In St Petersburg he recommends the Hermitage and the Peterhof. Moscow is so central culturally to Russia that the trains all run on Moscow time across the 9 timezones of Russia. Francis extends the suggested itinerary to include Kazan and Kaliningrad. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan which is a mostly Muslim area of Russia. Kazan is over 1000 years old. Kazan is right by the Volga river with a large mosque and classic cathedral. Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave in what used to be East Prussia.

AT#298 - Travel to Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Bethany of the Nevada Tourism Bureau about Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is a high elevation alpine lake on the border of California and Nevada. It is surrounded by 18 ski areas so it is a popular winter destination. In the winter it is also a great place for back country hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. In the Summer, Tahoe is a popular area for hiking, fishing and outdoor activities. But, there is another side to Tahoe which is the casinos, restaurants, and entertainment of Nevada's South Tahoe.

AT#297 - Travel to Kyoto, Japan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Phil Smy about his second home in Kyoto, Japan.

"Japan is organized and meticulous and perfect. Kyoto is the number one tourist destination outside of Tokyo in Japan. The former capital of ancient Japan, it is history and I think you get a real sense of Japan's psyche by going to Kyoto."

Phil talks about the temples, palace, geisha culture, and food of Kyoto.

AT#296 - Travel to Newfoundland, Canada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to travel blogger Candice Walsh about St Johns and her her home province of Newfoundland (and Labrador). "In my opinion Newfoundland is maybe the most underrated unappreciated province in Canada".

AT#295 - Travel to Oklahoma with Robert Reid from Lonely Planet

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:04:31 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Robert Reid from Lonely Planet about his home state of Oklahoma. Robert recommends when you are driving through Oklahoma on your great American road trip you get off the interstate and explore for a few days. From the hills and woods of Eastern Oklahoma, to the tall grass prairies, to the oldest mountains in the United States (The Wichita Mountains) Oklahoma has more variety than you might have guessed from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. Even the shape of the state holds clues to its unusual history. It is a state shaped by treaties made and broken with the Native Americans and by slavery and the Compromise of 1850. Its people are influenced by its history, its oil, its tornadoes, and of course its football. Ever a storyteller, Robert talks about African American towns, football upsets, buffalo, songwriters, authors, cowboy poets, onion burgers and Route 66.

AT#294 - Travel to Spain's Canary Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:16:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Gary Arndt of Everything-Everywhere.com about his recent trip to the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are tropical volcanic islands that are part of Spain but are located off the coast of Northwestern Africa.They are not named after birds.

The first thing that struck me when I got off the plane was how much the weather was like Hawaii and I have heard a lot of people call it Europe's Hawaii. It is a part of Spain. There are two provinces that constitute the Canary Islands. One with its capital on Grand Canaria Island and the other on the island of Tenerife. Columbus's last stop over was in the Canary Islands. Each of the islands, and there are 7 main islands, have a very different character.

AT#293 - Travel to Northern Iraq

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Anil Polat who blogs under the name foxnomad about a recent trip to Northern Iraq. Anil is out to visit every country in the world which might lead him to visit a country before some others would deem it safe. Anil did not travel to the green zone but traveled in the Northern or Kurdish region of Iraq. Anil’s trip was made all the more interesting as he is ethnically Turkish. Says Anil:

Honestly that was one of my concerns before going. I did not know how people would respond to me, if people would not like me being there. The whole idea of a Kurdistan in Northern Iraq is a very controversial topic in Turkey to say the least.And also I had some security and safety concerns just because of the location. However, people were very friendly to me and it was a much more normal experience than I was expecting.

AT#292 - Travel to Losotho

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:38:26 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kim Mance about traveling to the mountain kingdom of Losotho in Southern Africa. Losotho is a small mountainous region surrounded by South Africa but is an independent constitutional monarchy. The country has a very rural population. Kim got around via rental car but also did a pony trek with guide out into the small mountain villages. Riding a small hearty and nimble Bosotho pony they headed out into a landscape of shepherds and glacier carved mountains.

AT#291 - Travel to Honduras

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:54:40 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Wall about traveling to and living in Honduras. Matt recommends the Bay Islands in the Caribbean for a beach resort vacation, scuba diving and snorkeling. The main island of Roatan have everything from all-inclusive resorts to backpacking accommodations in West End. Matt lived in the town of Copán Ruinas near the Guatemala border named after the "pretty incredible" Mayan ruins there. For the very adventurous who are willing to rough it Matt also suggests the Mosquito Coast at the far Western edge of Honduras which is a rain forest area sometimes called the "little Amazon". "You go there if you want to have a jungle experience".

AT#290 - Travel to the Azores

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to New York travel writer Jeanine Barone about the Azores. The Azores are a chain of islands belonging to Portugal. Your travel agent will extol the beauty of the beaches but Jeanine says that the best of the Azores can be seen through hiking its craggy islands.

If you want to be in a place that feels very unspoiled, but is so close actually to fly there, a place where you feel like you stepped back to another era, then that’s why you should go to the Azores.

These are just gorgeous islands. Each island has its own personality and character. I just adore them.

AT#289 - Travel to Nigeria

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:40:33 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to David from London about his home country of Nigeria. David recommends, against the advice of others, that people who visit Nigeria visit the largest city which is Lagos. Lagos is the second most populous city in Africa after Cairo.

David says “it’s chaotic, it’s crazy, it’s exuberant, it’s everything turned up to eleven, it’s the maddest place I’ve been. That is why you should go there. You’re not going to get a relaxing holiday going to Lagos. But if you want to see human life at the extreme, and I don’t mean extreme in a bad way, but just millions of people in a small place, everyone full of life, everyone exuberant, everyone seemingly happy, Lagos is the place to go”.

AT#288 - Travel to Rome with Andy Steves

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:33:17 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Andy Steves about Rome, Italy. Andy talks about practical issues like how to get into and around Rome, how to connect to the Rome of the Roman Empire (the Coloseum, Forum and Circus Maximus, Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, Pantheon). He also talks about a tour of the Sistine Chapel without all the crowds and not easy to do. Andy also gives us his favorite spots from Renaissance Rome like the Galleria Borghese and how to get under Saint Peter's to the excavation of older Saint Peter's. Follow Andy to places where you can meet modern Romans on your evening passeggiata to Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. And then meet one of his favorite Romans who runs a hang out for students near the Pantheon.

Andy is the son of travel author and tour guide operator Rick Steves and is following in his father's footsteps running weekend tours for students studying in Europe.

AT#287 - Travel to Alaska

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 00:37:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Joe Bickley of Alaska Backcountry Consulting about traveling to Alaska, particularly the interior and back country. Alaska is a bug state and Joe lives in the center of it near Fairbanks but at the northern end of the Alaskan road system. Joe gives us some directions on places to go to see Alaska’s vistas and encounter its wildlife. He takes us above the tree line at Denali National Park (aka Mt McKinley) which is not quite half the size of the state of Rhode Island. At that Denali is not even the largest National Park in Alaska. That honor goes to Wrangell-St. Elias. Alaska also has the largest National Forest which is Tongass National Forest. Joe takes us to one of his favorite spots off the Denali “highway”. He also directs us down to the Kenai Peninsula known for great fishing and also to the town of Homer with its artist culture. Learn what some Alaskans call those bells that a tenderfoot might wear to scare off bears.

AT#286 - Travel to Southern South Korea

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 23:36:14 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Rease from 2 Nomads, 1 Narrative about South Korea. Rease and his girlfriend Nicki taught English for a year in Southern South Korea and also took time t travel around the country. We start in the city of Busan which also called Pusan and the only part of South Korea not to fall to the North in the Korean Conflict. Rease recommends we see Busan fish market and some of the old temples and then move on from Korea’s second largest city to the ancient capital of Gyeongju. Gyeongju is over 2000 years old and includes ancient temples and burial tombs and also has the largest of the Buddist temples in the country. Then Rease recommends we move along to some of the beaches, seaside towns and islands on the south coast which most western tourists don’t visit.

AT#285 - Travel to St. Louis, Missouri

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:10:29 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Rease Kirchner about her hometown of St. Louis Missouri. St. Louis is known for its iconic Arch and is known as the gateway to the west. Rease claims that St. Louis has the largest urban park in the U.S., and now boasts about a surprising array of ethnic restaurants including a Little Italy area with toasted ravioli and a Little Mexico around Cherokee street. The city has an art museum made of entirely recycled materials, and Rease’s favorite the City Museum. Rease also tells us where we can find traditional St. Louis food including gooey butter cake and a slinger which she describes as “everything that can kill you all on one plate”. St. Louis is famous for Budweiser and for the associated Busch stadium which is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, but now also boasts micro-breweries and NFL and NHL teams.

AT#284 - Travel to Wiltshire in England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:50:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Keith Kellet about the area around his home in Wiltshire England. Wiltshire has been inhabited since the end of the last ice age and has a rich depth of history including the icon site of Stonehenge. Averbury which is an even older stone circle can also be found there as well as the Salisbury Cathedral and the ancient town of Sarum. Keith describes this verdant region with its chalky hills, its rich lowlands, its ancient barrows, and its industrial age canals. Wiltshire is only about an hour out of London on high speed train so it can even be visited as a day trip from your stay there. We have forgotten more about its history than we have remembered so its ancient sites are covered in mystery and speculation.

#283 - Travel to Gibralter

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:38:59 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to San Francisco Chronicle Travel Editor Spud Hilton about Gibraltar. This little patch of England at the bottom of Spain is more than just a place where you can see a large rock and get good fish and chips with your tapas. Explore the "rock" and meet the "apes" of Gibraltar. Hear about some of the history as well as the unique traffic challenges of this tiny peninsula. Also learn about Winston Churchill's secret World War 2 monkey plan for Gibraltar. Along the way let me introduce you to Spud Hilton who is one of my favorite travel editors.

AT#282 - Travel to the Guangxi region of China

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 May 2011 21:47:14 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Shawn Farris about his recent trip to the Guangxi region in China. Guangxi is a lesser known but spectacular region in south western China known for its rugged karst mountains and green terraced rice paddies. Shawn explored the area hiking, biking and even kayaking through the countryside. Shawn describes it as a region that still has that “wide open, blue sky, rural feel to it.” The region can be accessed through the cities of Guilin or Yongshuo. During his trip Shawn met the strongest lady he had ever met as well as two of the most enterprising sellers of soda.

AT#281 - Travel to Sydney, Australia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Alix (of Alix and Jace’s Amazing Adventure) about her hometown of Sydney Australia. Alix has many ideas about fun things to do in Sydney so you don’t just end up with the rest of the tourists on Darling Harbor. After you have climbed the Harbor Bridge and visited the Sydney Opera House she recommends a beach walk by word famous Bondi Beach, a chance to sleep with the animals of the Taronga Zoo and the out of the way Manly Beach. She tells us what’s the best day of the year to see Sydney (although also the most expensive). Alix also gives us a dizzying list of Sydney restaurants to try.

AT#280 - Travel to England's Lake District

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 May 2011 18:15:30 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Zoë Dawes from TheQuirkyTraveler.com about England’s Lake District. This beautiful pastoral area was made famous by the poets and artists in the romantic period, most notably William Wordsworth. Not far from industrial Manchester, the lake district is still a refuge for hikers and and other tourists tucked away in northern England. Zoë describes some of her favorite hikes like the coffin trail along the shores of Lake Windermere and favorite villages like Ambleside.

AT#279 - Travel to Cyprus

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 08 May 2011 02:25:08 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Roni Weiss about his visit to the divided country of Cyprus. Roni went to Cyprus in part to complete a quest to visit every country in Europe. Roni couchsurfed which gave him a chance to stay with Turkish and Greek Cypriots as well as a Turkish resident. T

AT#278 - Travel to the Four Corners Region in the American SouthWest

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:58:33 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Erik Smith again about his trip to the Four Corners area in the American southwest. Four Corners is the spot where 4 U.S. states meet: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. While the Four Corners spot itself is just a photo op (an probably at the wrong place), the area around it contains some amazing scenery and historic sites. Erik gives us a state by state break down of the area. He tells us about National Parks nearby like Arches Canyonlands, Hovenweep, Moab, Canyon de Chelly, Rainbow Bridge, Mesa Verde , Chaco Culture, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Petrified Forest and Aztec Ruins. The area also boats the spectacular and iconic scenery of Monument Valley and a stretch of road known as the “Million Dollar Highway”. It has many Native American sites including those like Canyon de Chelly run jointly by the Navajo nation and the U.S.

AT#277 - Travel to Charlottesville, Virginia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 07:03:58 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks again to Jason and Janie about their hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville was has deep historic roots and the homes of Presidents Jefferson and Madison with the home of Monroe close by as well. Charlottesville is also the home of the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson was more proud of founding the institution than of being president. The area is now the home to numerous wineries and numerous restaurants and hosts a thriving food culture. Charlottesville is also a gateway to the Shenandoah Valley as well as other areas for hiking and outdoor activities.

AT#276 - Travel to Southern Taiwan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:45:24 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Michael Soncina who returns to the show to talk about his recent travels in Southern Taiwan. Michael took advantage of a Taiwan promotion targeting backpackers that opened up army barracks to provide inexpensive housing in this less visited region of Taiwan. The highlight of Kaohsiung City is the Lotus Pond, an area surrounded by temples old and new. Usually the older style temples seemed to be dedicated to Confucius, but there are giant temples in the image of the Jade emperor, which you can climb inside, and each floor offers unique art, as well there are the famous Dragon and Tiger pagodas. Michael also celebrated New Years on Cijin Island with its famous seafood street.

AT#275 - Travel to Normandy in France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 19:47:07 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Michael Kenney about traveling to Normandy in France. Michael talks about at least two different invasions associated with this region of France. The oldest was the Norman invasion of England which left from Normandy and is documented in the 224 foot long Bayeux Tapestry which is exhibited in a museum in Bayeux. The more recent was the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War 2. Michael describes visiting the invasion beaches (codenamed Juno, Gold, Omaha, Utah, and Sword), the cemeteries, and the village of Sainte-Mère-Église which was the first French Village liberated. Michael also talks about visiting the medieval fortress and monastery.

AT#274 - Adventure Travel in Botswana

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Spencer Quong who is a adventure travel guide about his recent trip to Botswana in south central Africa. After reading the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency his traveling companions were drawn to this country and its incredible wildlife.

AT#273 - Travel to Lebanon

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:50:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sherry Ott again about a very recent trip to Lebanon. Sherry traveled to Lebanon as part of a program with a cultural exchange program with Geovisions which involved in a home stay. She stayed much of her visit in Beirut which at least used to be known as the “Paris of the Middle East”. Since that time Lebanon and Beirut in particular has come through a horrific civil war as well as a war with Israel. Now that peace has come again to the country Sherry could still see the scars from the prolonged conflict but also could enjoy the recovering city, the nightlife, shopping and food in Beirut. In March in Lebanon you can ski in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon. She also had a chance to visit the historic city of Tripoli where she say the traditional souk and the ancient city of Sidon (Saida) which is over 6000 years old.

AT#272 - Volunteer Travel to West Africa (Sierra Leone & Liberia)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Guillebeau from the Art of Non-Conformity about his years volunteering in West Africa with the NGO (non-governmental organization) Mercy Ships. Chris and his wife volunteered with this organization in Sierra Leone and Liberia which gave them a very different view of West Africa. For those not familiar with Mercy Ships, they provide medical services in under-served areas of the world from their floating hospital ships. Chris was in Sierra Leone shortly after the end of its costly civil war. This episode is not about travel to lie on the beach and work on your tan (although Chris does recommend bringing your sunscreen) but about life changing travel. And no, Chris is not a doctor.

AT#271 - Travel to Bodrum, Turkey

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Uluç from Indianapolis, originally form Istanbul, about his trips to Bodrum, Turkey. Bodrum is a popular Turkish beach resort but has been receiving tourists as long as there have been tourists. It is the home to the ruins of the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also the site of a 15th century crusader castle which includes a museum of underwater archeology. Uluç encourages us to adapt to the slow pace of Bodrum, stroll its markets, linger at its cafes and done forget to take a sail on a gullet from its harbor.

AT#270 - Travel to Brooklyn in New York City

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:34:46 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Andrew Hickey of TheBrooklynNomad.com about his home town. Andrew gives us reasons to visit this borough of New York City next time we are in town from some of the neighborhoods like DUMBO, Williamsburg, GreenPoint, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bay Ridge to Prospect Park and Coney Island. The second largest of the New York Boroughs offers good pizza and Italian food for sure, but Andrew will also direct us to a local chocolatier, coffee houses, ice cream parlors and of course Nathan’s Famous hotdogs. Along the way we will visit the Brooklyn Museum, mention where the American War of Independence nearly ended (badly) and ride the classic Coney Island Cyclone.

AT#269 - Pamplona Spain - The Running of the Bulls and the San Fermin Fiesta

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Vicente Perez about his home city of Pamplona, Spain. Pamplona is best known for the festival of San Fermin and of course for the running of the bulls. Vicente tells us more about that colorful festival, of which, the running of the bulls is actually a very small part. From the Txupinazo, the ceremonial firing of a rocket on July 6th until July 14th the population of Pamplona swells with celebrants. Processions of giant figures (the Comparsa), music, bull fights and lots and lots of partying fill the days and nights. But Vicente also tells of some of the other features of Pamplona and the Navarre region that can be enjoyed any time of year including wonderful food, beautiful mountains, castles, and the nearby cave of Zugarramurdi (Known for the Basque witch trials).

AT#268 - Travel to Albania

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Francis Tapon from WanderLearn.com about Albania which has gone from a totally closed society 20 years ago to a destination that Lonely Planet ranked as the #1 destination for travel this year (that was before some of the recent protests. Francis says the because it was isolated for so long it created an exotic and unique culture. Abandoned bunkers still line the country from back when their fear of invasion had nothing to do with tourists. He recommends we start in the capital of Tirana and from there go to Krujë and its legendary Skanderbeg castle.

AT#267 - Travel to Corsica, France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jeff Steiner from Americans in France to talk about a lesser known part of France which is the island of Corsica. The island is better known to Americans as the home of Napoleon Bonaparte but the French call the island L’isle Beauté – the Island of Beauty. Corsica boasts a mountainous interior, with a hiking trail from one end to the other, but is surrounded by gorgeous beaches. South of France, in the Mediterranean Sea, the island is sun-drenched in the Summer. Driving on the island can be scary with narrow winding mountain roads with wonderful views. The Corsicans also boast that Christopher Columbus was born there (The Genoese do not agree).

AT#266 - Travel to Los Angeles, California - part 2

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Eric Schwartzman (author, educator and podcaster) about his hometown of Los Angeles. In this second part of a two part series of episodes Eric will give us the last two days of his sample itineraries for 4 days in the Los Angeles area. In this insider’s look at LA Eric points out the cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and movie locations that he thinks you should know about.

Day 3: Hollywood – Sunset Strip, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Roosevelt, L.A.’s best chili dog, Academy Awards theater, Sunset Grill, Hollywood Cemetary and more.

Day 4: Downtown – Chinatown for dim sum, Olvera St. for Mole, Union Station for breathtaking Mission Architecture, Santee Alley and Los Angeles St. for discount children’s formal wear, Disney Hall for magnificent modern architecture and Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church.

AT#265 - Travel to Los Angeles, California - part 1

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Eric Schwartzman (author, educator and podcaster) about his hometown of Los Angeles. Over a two part series of episodes Eric will give us sample itineraries for 4 days in the Los Angeles area. Be forewarned that no theme parks will be involved in Eric's tour but instead an insider's look at LA. So pack up your swim suit, a sport coat and nice shoes and get in your car to explore LA. Along the way Eric points out the cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and movie locations that he thinks you should know about.

Day 1: Eric starts us at the beach at Santa Monica. We visit the Santa Monica Pier, the rides and the aquarium and then head to Venice with its pier, canals, and famous muscle beach.

Day 2: We follow Eric to Beverly Hills and Westwood. We look over the valley from the Getty Center above the valley. We visit Century City which is now the home for high rises but one was where John Wayne shot westerns. We go shopping on world famous Rodeo Drive.

AT#264 - Travel to Aspen, Colorado

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara Williams of TheVacationGals.com about Aspen, Colorado. Like so many locals who live in that area of Colorado, Kara came for the winters but stayed for the summers. She tells us about this historic silver-mining town that is better known as a winter playground for the wealthy now than for its mining past. Whether you are skiing, hiking or fly fishing it has a wealth of outdoor activities. It offers great, if not always inexpensive, food and a wealth of artistic events set in a gorgeous mountain valley. Kara describes side trips to the Ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence, to the continental divide at Independence Pass and to the caves at The Grottos. She also tells you whether the Aspen Crud is something you want to get. Aspen also hosts festivals as diverse as the Aspen Institute, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Summer Words.

AT#263 - Travel to Northwest Argentina

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:02:09 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jeff Jung from Career Break Secrets about a trip to Northwest Argentina that left an impression on this intrepid traveler. Jeff, an expat, who lives in Colombia, traveled to the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, far away from the normal tourist spots of Buenos Aires and Patagonia.

AT#262 - Travel to Bosnia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to intrepid “20 something” traveler Stephanie Yoder about the country that she thinks is the most beautiful in the world – Bosnia. In an area that was well known for first the winter Olympics and then a devastating war Stephanie found Roman ruins, medieval cities and beautiful mountains. She found a country that has recovered (or at least is recovering) from war and is ready to receive visitors again. Bosnia has deep Ottoman roots in its faith, architecture and its food. Visit Dervish monasteries, hidden tunnels, and the beautiful city of Sarajevo.

AT#261 - Travel to Melbourne, Australia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Andy Dye about his adopted hometown of Melbourne Australia. Andy grew up in England but fell in love with Melbourne. Sure the weather was better but Andy also discovered a city with street art, vibrant cafes, culture and sport. Melbourne is the home of Australian Rules Foolball which was apparently invented by people who thought that rugby was too tame. Andy talks about wandering around the Central Business District (CBD) and discovering out of the way cafes. Melbourne has museums (like the Melbourne Museum, the Australia Center for the Moving Image), galleries (like the National Gallery of Victoria) and an aquarium. Melbourne is a multi-cultural city and no places show it off better than the Queen Victoria Market or Sydney Road Brunswick. He also talks about side trips such as going to see the penguins at Phillip Island.

#260 - Biking Spain's Camino di Santiago

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ben Dixon about biking the route of the Camino di Santiago in northern Spain. The Camino di Santiago is a an ancient pilgrim trail that runs across northern Spain from the border with France to Santiago di Compostella. The cathedral in Santiago di Compostella reputedly holds the remains of St. James. Modern day pilgrims are sometimes drawn by faith and sometimes just drawn by the journey itself to trek for a month across the varied landscapes of northern Spain. As an American, Ben did not have a month of vacation but rather than be one of those pilgrims who only traverses the very end of the trail he chose to take on the pilgrim route on a bicycle. Along the way he stayed in the hostels that house the many pilgrims where he met people who had been walking from far beyond the border with France. Through countryside, cities and picturesque towns he rode in both sunshine and driving rain, but the highlight of the trip might not be what you think.

AT#259 - Travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Bogdon who talks to us about his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This former steel capital has undergone a renaissance since its steel business went away and Chris tells us some of the reasons to visit this city at the headwaters of the Ohio River. Pittsburgh boasts both historic Fort Pitt and nearby Fort Necessity where George Washington made a name for himself. It is the home to many different ethnic neighborhoods which it celebrates with food and festivals and commemorates in an Immigration Museum in the Carnegie Library of the University of Pittsburgh. The town now hosts students in greater numbers than steelworkers. It is near Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwaters and a wine region. Chris also talks about side trips to Bethlehem, PA and Jim Thorpe, PA.

AT#258 - Travel to Xi'an, China

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Brook about her recent trip to Xi’an China. Xi’an is the capital of the Shaanxi province of China and is perhaps best known for the Terracotta Army of Chinese emperor Liu Bang, but what Brook and her husband discovered was a city that warrants more time to explore. Xi’an has a wonderfully rich history as the Chinese terminus of the famous Silk Road trading route. This link to the middle creates a Muslim influence still obvious in the mosques and markets of the city. The city is also still surrounded by its ancient wall which provides a great place for biking around its nearly 12km distance. Brook tells some of the story behind the Wild Goose Pagoda. She also dubs Xi’an the dumpling capital.

AT#257 - Travel to Glacier National Park and Western Montana

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Karl Anders who returns to the show to talk about travel to Western Montana and in particular to the majestic Glacier National Park. Karl encourages us to drive the Going to the Sun Highway but then to get off the blacktop and hick some of the back country of the park (preferably in a group large enough to discourage the curiosity of bears). He describes some of his favorite hikes such as the trail to Hidden Lakes. Glacier is often rated as one of the top places in the United States to hike or backpack. The valleys of Glacier are carved by glacial activity although there aren't as many glaciers still in the park. Karl also talks about some nearby destinations like the National Bison Refuge, Bitterroot Valley and nearby Missoula with its museum to Smokejumpers.

AT#256 - Travel to the West Bank / Palestinian National Authority

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:46:28 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Matthew Long from LandLopers.com about his trip to the West Bank or the Palestinian Authority. Mathew did day trips into this emerging state from Jerusalem and tells us about visiting Jericho and Bethlehem, the city of David. The Dead Sea was a well known highlight while Hisham’s Palace proved to be an unexpected highlight. The area boasts monuments dating back to the Jewish patriarch’s such as Rachel’s Tomb, where childless woman come to pray, and the ruins of the community of Qumran, where the dead sea scrolls were found. Do you know what you should skip doing the morning before you go to the Dead Sea? Matthew will tell you.

AT#255 - Photo Tour of Egypt

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Chris, the Amateur Traveler himself, talks about the recent Ralph Velasco / Amateur Traveler Photo Tour of Egypt which was a guided tour of Egypt run by Cosmos. The tour started in Cairo with the Pyramids and the Sphinx, the Egyptian museum, old mosques, churches and synagogues before moving on to the port city of Alexandria. After seeing the historic sites in Alexandria like Pompey’s Column and the Catacombs we continued on to the site of the battle of El Alamein and then to Marsa Matruh in the Northwest corner of Egypt on the Mediterranean. We continued back to Cairo with a stop at a Coptic Monastery and then flew to Aswan to tour Upper Egypt. We saw temples from the Greek period and the New Kingdom from Aswan to Luxor including the Temple to Ramses at Abu Symbel, the temple to Isis, the temple of Etfu, the Luxor temple and the great temple of Karnak. We also visited the Valley of the Kings and a Nubian village. Along the way we shopped and photographed.

AT#254 - Cruising the Rhine River

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks about his recent fam cruise on the Avalon Luminary down the Rhine River from Basel in Switzerland through France and Germany to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Along the away he visited three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Strasbourgh in France, the Rhine River Gorge in Germany and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He talks about the castles, the history and what it is like to take a river cruise.

AT#253 - Cruising the Coast of Norway with Hurtigruten

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:52:51 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jeremy from Palm Beach Gardens Florida who talks to use about cruising up the Norwegian coastline into the Arctic Circle on a Hurtigruten cruise. Jeremy lives someplace warm so when he and his wife travel they often travel someplace cold so cruising into the small fjords of Norway during the Winter appealed to them. Hurtigruten started as the boat that delivered the mail to the isolated villages on the coast of Norway (which it still does) but added passenger and ferry service also.

AT#252 - Travel to the Black Hills of South Dakota

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Fred who talks about a road trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Fred and his wife went to Mt Rushmore for sure, but also to other sites in the area that are less well known like Devil’s Tower, Deadwood, Wall Drug, Wind Cave National Park, Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Wind Cave National Park. There are a surprising number of sites to see in the Black Hills and Badlands of Southwest South Dakota.

AT#251 - Travel to Papua New Guinea

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Beth Whitman of Waderlust and Lipstick about her recent Papua New Guinea. Beth was attracted to this remote country that produced more languages than any other country because of people separated by its rugged terrain. She tells us about the wonder, beauty and yes danger of Papua New Guinea. Beth was preparing to take a tour to the island nation and to the Mount Hagen Show which is a sing sing which allows the different tribes to compete with songs and costumes.

AT#250 - Travel to the Gulf Coast of Florida

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Chuck Prevatte about vacationing in the warm waters and on the white beaches of the panhandle of Florida. This is a vacation for those who want to slow down and relax. There are nightclubs in Panama City and water parks but this part of Florida is a good spot to take the family, eat some good sea food, rent a beach house and bath in 90 degree water. Tourism is off because of the gulf oil spill but Chuck and his family did not see much evidence of the oil on the beaches.

AT#249 - Travel to Milan, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jessica Spiegel of BootsNAll’s Italy blog “Why Go Italy” and the Eye on Italy podcast about one of her favorite cities in Italy: Milan. Jessica tells us about the fashion industry, the spectacular cathedral, and the first mall as well as some quiet neighborhoods and parks. She also tells us how far in advance you should get tickets to see Leonardo di Vinci’s Last Supper, what to expect when you watch soccer in Italy, and what to do when you see movie stars walking down the streets of Milan. We talk about wonderful Italian people and the joys of learning Italian.

AT#248 - Travel to Toronto, Ontario

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Corinne from Have Baby Will Travel who is a life-long Torontonian (that is to say that she lives in Toronto, Ontario). Corinne gives us an interduction to her city and its many parks, its great ethnic food, its iconic skyline punctuated by the CN Tower. Its neighborhoods includes two different Chinatowns, Greektown, the Irish-influenced Cabbagetown, Distillery District, Kensington Market, Harbourfront and St. Lawrence Market, She particularly suggests you visit during Thanksgiving (Canada's which is in October) or Toronto International Film Festival. Corinne also describes side trips from the city heading out towards Niagra and Ontario's wine country. The city houses both a working farm in Riverdale Farms and a warren of underground shops in the Toronto Underground PATH.

AT#2347 - Travel to Chile

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jodi Ettenberg of legalnomads.com about her trip to Chile. Jodi left the corporate world as a lawyer and started her trip around the world with a visit to Chile. She first went mountain climbing in Patagonia (both in Chile and Argentina) marveling at the glaciers and appreciating the view if not the taste of lama. She then took a 42 hour bus ride to Santiago for a wild soccer game (which is not for the faint of heart) before flying north to visit San Pedro de Atacama, Valle de la Luna. She also dipped into Bolivia to visit Salar de Uyuni, the immense salt flats. Along the way she saw the largest copper mine in the world at Calama. She dealt with bronchitis (brought from New York) and food poisoning (did I mention the lama?). She met locals including a helpful taxi driver and practiced the difficult Spanish dialect of Chile. Jodi also talks with great affection about the UNESCO World Heritage site of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar which were hit hard in the big earthquake earlier this year. Valparaiso is a colorful city of art built on the side of a hill and sloping down to the Pacific.

AT#246 - Travel to Northern Ohio

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Seth Oakley about traveling to his birthplace in Northern Ohio. Years ago Ohio and Northern Ohio in particular, had a very bad reputation for pollution that one can only get when a river (the Cuyahoga) catches fire. But these days Lake Erie is cleaner than it has been in maybe a hundred years and boasts sites like the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame, Cedar Point, surfing, and even a burgeoning wine region. The area is rich in history as the site of the Battle of Lake Erie, the birthplace of Thomas Edison and one of the first states added to the new United States. Seth also gives us a glimpse of small town life with a side trip to his hometown of Milan which is the home for both the Milan Melon Festival and the little-known superhero Melon Man.

News

Chris takes a new job

Show Notes

Northwest Territory
Cuyahoga River
Moon Handbooks: Ohio
Ohio: Off the Beaten Path
Milan, Ohio
Lake Erie
Zebra mussels
Ohio on Wikipedia
Firelands
History of Ohio
City of Cleveland
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Great Lakes Science Center
Ohio’s sports misery
LeBron adds to Cleveland sports setbacks
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
LeBron signs with Miami
Sandusky, Ohio
Cedar Point Amusement Park
Cedar Point
Destination: Cedar Point Amusement Park
Soak City
Sandusky Hotels
Lake-effect snow
Lake Erie Islands
Battle of Lake Erie
Paper Moon Vineyards
Paper Moon Vineyards, Vermillion, Ohio
Thomas Edison
Ohio Festivals and Events
Milan Melon Festival
Firelands Wineyards
Great Lakes Brewery
Melon Man’s Facebook

AT#245 - Travel to Miami, Florida

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kara from Miami about her hometown of Miami. Kara tells us Miami is not as it is pictured in TV shows like Miami Vice and Burn Notice (except perhaps that it is filled with beautiful people). She tells us about some of her favorite hotels and restaurants as well as cafes where you can sit and people watch. Miami is known for its beach life and Kara tells us where the daring can go to bare all or where you can find a quiet spot away from the tourists. Increasingly Miami is known for its fashion district and its food scene. The summers are hot but offer some of the best bargains on restaurants, hotels and spas… if you can deal with the humidity. Miami defines hot in all senses of the word. So whether you want to see snowbirds or eat stone crabs, Miami might be a place you should check out.

News

Muslim hostess and Disney still at odds over headscarf
French Flight Attendant Arrested for Stealing Cash and Jewels From Sleeping Passengers’ Pockets and Carry-Ons

Show Notes

Diamond PR
Miami Vice
Burn Notice
Haulover Beach
South Pointe Park
Top Ten Miami Restaurants
Brickell, Miami
Key Biscayne
Miami Museums
Miami Design District
Van Dyke Cafe
Miami Spice Restaurant Month
Miami Spa Month
Neighborhoods of Miami
Miami Design District
Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink
Calle Ocho Festival
South Beach Food and Wine Festival
Miami Public Transportation
Fontainebleau
Miami Heat
Miami Heat Tickets
Smith and Wollensky
Red, the Steakhouse
Joe’s Stone Crabs
Adrianne Arsht Center
Snowbirds

Community

Scott enjoyed the group interview in Travel to Namibia – Episode 243
Tricia hits the road
Amateur Traveler guest post guidelines
Amateur Traveler site redesign to add countries

AT#244 - Travel to Montpellier and the Languedoc Region of France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Christine Cantera about her time living in the Languedoc region of France in the city Montpellier. Montpellier is sometimes called the San Francisco of France. Christine shares with us a few thoughts about cafes, bars, which museums are worth it (and which aren’t), beaches, fortified cities, when to visit, and the one day of the year when nobody in France gets any work done. She discusses what are her favorite 3 places to see in Languedoc including one seaside town that still has jousts but with a very nautical twist.

News

Southwest attendant takes baby after slap from mother
American Airlines to Charge for Front-Row Seats
Nursing at Sea

Show Notes

France Travel Guide
Montpellier
Languedoc
Jardin des plantes de Montpellier
Le Petit Train Touristique du Centre Historique
Languedoc wine
Le Jardin du Champs de Mars
Paparazzi
La Dolce Vita
Aigues-Mortes
Carcassonne
Parc naturel régional de Camargue
Musee Fabre
Antigone District
Palavas-les-Flots
Sète
Nîmes
Beaujolais nouveau
Bar le Saint-Roch
MissExpatria’s photostream

Community

Sam was looking for a show on Malta
Don't use the first LukeDon’t use the first Luke

AT#243 - Travel to Namibia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Carla, Jason and Janie about their trip to Nambia. While traveling in southern African to attend some of the games of the World Cup the three made a visit to nearby Namibia after hearing from friends that it was one of their favorite African countries. Come with us as we learn about a country that is perhaps surprisingly prepared for tourists. We will talk about seeing 4 out of the "big 5" safari animals. Our trio talks about miles of sand, sand storms and riding camels but also talks about visiting the show and seal colonies. The camping was easier than expected and the food was more diverse (you won't believe what they found on pizza).

AT#242 - Day Trips from Florence, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Italophile Ira Bernstein who returns to the show to talk about day trips in Tuscany that you can take from Florence. We talk about visiting the walled city of Siena and its famous bareback horse race the palio, viewing the many towers of San Gimignano, climbing the leaning tower of Pisa (after you take the obligatory picture of someone holding it up), and walking on the walls of Lucca. Each town has its own character and attractions. Arezzo has a jewelry museum and the home of the “Father of Humanism” Petrarch. Fiesole is a rich enclave, a suburb of Florence with views of the city and a roman theatre. Montepulciano and Montalcino are both known for their wines. Ira talks about some of the events that the locals enjoy like the palios, flea markets and flag throwing competitions. So even if you just get as far out of Florence as Piazzale Michelangelo there are many places to explore in Tuscany.

AT#241 - Travel to Mali

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Dan Stromberg about his recent trip to Mali. Mali is a destination so remote that Dan says “I couldn’t imagine myself being here when I was there”. Dan started in the capital city of Bamako, before heading out to Bandiagara and Dogon country. The highlight of the visit was a trek along the Bandiagara Escarpment which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dan and his girlfriend, along with a guide, walked and hiked along the cliffs and then stayed in the local villages of the Dogon people at the base of this 200 km long sandstone cliff.

AT#240 - Travel to New Zealand's North Island

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Chris, the Amateur Traveler himself, talks about a recent trip to New Zealand’s North Island where he went to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and took a dolphin watching cruise up by the Bay of Islands. He visited the Coromandel Peninsula with Cathedral Cove and Hot Water beach, toured but can’t talk about Hobbiton near Matamata, climbed Mt Maunganui, saw (and smelled) the geysers and baths at Rotorua, journeyed south to the Capital at Wellington, visited a ski area on a volcano and rafted the caves of Waitaomo.

AT#239 - Travel to Prince Edward Island in Canada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Pamela Beck of the Department of Tourism for Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada. Pamela describes Prince Edward Island (or PEI) as a get away from it all location that is easy to get to. Surrounded by beaches this 140 mile long island features wonderful seafood and champion oyster shuckers. It has miles of bike trails and relaxed helpful locals. Pamela also describes it as a wonderful golf vacation or a place where you can try your hand at lobster fishing (be ready to get up very early), oyster raking or chocolate making through one of their experience tourism programs.

AT#238 - Travel to the Cook Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Melanie Waldman of TravelsWithTwo.com about a recent trip to the Cook Islands in the Pacific. Think of the Cook Islands as Tahiti without the French language and using the New Zealand dollar to make it more affordable. Melanie tells us about this corner of Polynesia with beautiful resorts that she and her husband visited for their 10th anniversary. They hiked the mountainous spine of Raratongo with Pa who knows all of the plants and their uses and cruised the small outer islands of Aitutaki with a guide named Captain Awesome. They also took an archeology tour, drove the ring roads, shopped in the farmer’s market and just hung out on the beach drinking the cocktails of the moment.

AT#237 - Travel to Bali in Indonesia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sam Oppenheim who makes a rare 4th appearance on the show to talk about Bali in Indonesia. Sam started his exploration of Bali in Ubud which is the cultural capital of the area. He met two of the people mentioned in the popular book Eat, Pray, Love: Wayan and Ketut Liyer. In Ubud he attended some of the traditional Balinese dances (Legong, Barong and Kecak). Sam explored the Hindu temples and the resort area of Kuta Beach with its famous nightlife, dove a ship wreck and explored the island by motorcycle. Sam’s does regret was not getting down to Nusa Dua on the southern tip with its wonderful sunsets or out to Komodo.

AT#236 - Travel to Michigan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Erik Smith about his home state of Michigan. Erik has been on the show twice before talking about National Parks but this time he tells us about the beautiful state of Michigan. While Erik is from the Detroit area and describes some of its museums and other attractions what he really recommends is the west coast of Michigan with its sand dunes and sunsets, Traverse City with its boating, and the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula. He does manage to work some national parks (Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks and Isle Royale) and state parks into the conversation. We also talk about the European-style of Ann Arbor, the quirks of John Harvey Kellogg and the unusual location of Edison’s New Jersey lab (moved by Henry Ford to Michigan).

AT#235 - UNESCO World Heritage Sites

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Gary Arndt of Everything-Everywhere.com about UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage List includes 890 sites from around the world which are part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having “outstanding universal value”. We talk about various sites as well as how to use this list as a resource in your travels.

AT#234 - Travel to Ghana

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 May 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lillie Marshall of AroundTheWorldL.com about the 3 months she volunteered in Ghana in sub-Saharan West Africa on her round the world trip. She worked for the program Youth Creating Change. Lillie talks about some of the tourist spots in Ghana like the the slavery castle at Cape Coast and Mole National Park. Then she talks about what it is like to live and volunteer in a 3rd world country where the people are wonderful and some of the cultural differences can be striking (don’t ask why she didn’t like the beaches). She extols the wonders of food like fufu and how to buy a $10 hand made dress. She also talks briefly about the capital of Accra that Lonely Planet thinks is their second least favorite city on the planet.

News

Gun Taken From Suicidal JetBlue Pilot in Crew Lounge
Pushy fliers may show up on TSA’s radar

Show Notes

Around the World L – Lilly Marshall’s blog
Ghana
@WorldLillie – Lilly on twitter
Couchsurfing.com
Youth Creating Change
Cape Coast Slave Castle
Hostels in Ghana
Ahh!!! A White Person!!!
How to Get a Custom-Made Dress for $15
What the Heck is Fufu?
Ghana Student Life Stories Project

Community

Allan disagrees with Ralph in Travel to Montenegro – Episode 232, says “rent a car”
Sean says Travel to Kerala, India – Episode 147 missed catholic history
Kathy and John, Yemen warnings
Amateur Traveler Egypt Photo tour slots available - http://AmateurTraveler.com/tours
iTunes reviews of the Amateur Traveler needed
No Maimi Meetup in June 2010
NYC meetup June 23 2010
save 10% off Globus Tours - http://AmateurTraveler.com/globus

sponsored by Auidble - http://AmateurTraveler.com/freebook

AT#233 - Travel to Hong Kong

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Melody who has been living as an exchange student in Hong Kong. Melody tells us what to see in Hong Kong from the very western feeling Central neighborhood of Hong Kong island, the peak and the mid-level escalators to the more Chinese neighborhoods in Kowloon and the less populated New Territories. She also takes us out to some of the outlying islands like Lantau island with the Big Buddha & Po Lin Monastery, Cheung Chau Island with its famous bun festival, and the nearly uninhabited Po Toi island.

We talk about the 10,000 Buddha Monastery and eat dinner on plastic stools in the middle of the Temple street night market. We explore the fish, flower, bird and jade markets. Melody recommends the Star Ferry for a great view of Hong Kong island, especially at night.

For nightlife Melody recommends Wednesday and Thursday nights when ladies often get free drinks. Her favorite night spot is the Cavern and a famous one is the Fringe.

AT#232 - Travel to Montenegro

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 May 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to photographer Ralph Velasco about a trip to the very new country of Montenegro. When Ralph visited the country it was the newest country on the planet after it split off of Serbia. This mountainous country boasts the southern most fjords in Europe, old walled Venetian towns, fortresses, island churches, hikes, rafting, and some wonderful photography. Ralph stayed on the coast and visited the coastal cities of Kotor, Budva and Perast among others.

AT#231 - Travel to Taiwan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Anderson about a recent trip to Taiwan during the Chinese new year celebration. Matt, who is an English teacher in South Korea, started his trip in Taiwan’s capital of Taipei before exploring the eastern coast and the rich heritage of Taiwan’s aboriginal people in the south.

In Taipei Matt recommends eating at the Shilin night market where the fried chicken and the sausage are particularly good. Matt and his girlfriend also went to Taipei 101 (which is now the world’s 2nd tallest building), the Chiang Kai-shek memorial, and an assortment of temples including the Confucius temple, the Bo-an temple and the Longshan temple.

Matt explored the rugged and less populated east coast on a bike trip that started in Hualien. He visited the Taroko Gorge near to Hualien and nearly spent a night in jail… but it’s not what you think.

AT#230 - Travel to Portland, Oregon

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 May 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sean Keaner of the BootsNAll travel network about the city of Portland Oregon. Sean describes the independent character of the city that is expressed in its brew pubs, food carts and hip culture. It is also evident in the famous Powell’s bookstore. Portland has a reputation for being rainy but Sean tells us when to come to Portland, where to ride a bike and where to find some good Vegan food. If Vegan is not your style find out where to find a pork chop over 4 inches thick.

AT#229 - Travel to Northern Virginia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Matthew Stone about his home in Northern Virginia. Matthew describes things to do in Northern Virginia either as a side trip from Washington D.C. or a trip in its own right. We start at the famous monuments and Arlington National Cemetary just south of the District of Columbia and proceed to George Washington’s home of Mount Vernon. Matthew then describes some parks and places to escape the city a short drive away. Sure you know that the National Cemetery is in Virginia but did you know you can find a Black History museum, an Apothecary museum and a Tony award winning regional theater all within walking distance of the Metro? Add in some National Parks, Civil War Battlefields, and the SR 71 Blackbird and you may just have to rearrange your plans for your next vacation to the nation’s capital.

AT#228 - Travel to Yemen

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 03:19:08 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Rosenkrans from Pennsylvania about his trip to the country of Yemen. Chris started in the capital city of Sana’a which he thinks is one of the beautiful cities he has ever seen. Chris then recommends a trip to the Haraz mountains to see Shibam Hadhramaut (a shibam is a city built into the cliffs) and north to Kawkaban. In addition wander around Sana’a to some of the community gardens in the area. Chris did not make it to Socotra island where many of the scents like Frankincense come from. Yemen also does sport gun markets and khat markets to this has to qualify as adventure travel.

AT#227 - Three Weekend Trips From Shanghai

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 07:50:36 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lee from Atlanta about side trips that you can take when you travel to Shanghai this year for Expo 2010. Lee is currently living in China and talks about 3 different weekend trips to destinations that are located near Shanghai. Lee starts us the in history-rich city of Nanjing the site of “China’s Holocaust” in WW 2. Nanjing has been the capital for 6 different Chinese governments and still retains its ancient walls in addition to modern shopping and the tomb of Sun Yat-sen. It was also the location of the world’s worst civil war, the Taiping Rebellion. After Nanjing we explore the many gardens and the canals of Suzhou. Finally Lee takes us to Hangzhou with its beautiful West Lake which the Chinese compare to heaven.

News

Spirit Air to experiment with carry-on bag fees
Airlines losing 3000 bags – every hour of every day
Women try to smuggle dead relative onto flight
Paying to use the plane potty?
Ky. Judge Rules in Favor of Online Travel Sites

Show Notes

Expo 2010 Shanghai China
Travel to Shanghai, China – Episode 26

Nanjing
Nanjing, China
Nanking Massacre
John Rabe – a German businessman and Nazi party member who is best known for his efforts to stop the atrocities of the Japanese army during the Nanking Occupation
Sun Yat-sen – “Father of the Chinese Nation”
Ming Dynasty
Cheongsam or Qipao – traditional Chinese dress
Taiping Rebellion – largest civil war in history started by Hong Xiuquan who declared himself the brother of Jesus.

Restaurants
Skyway Bakery and Deli
Les 5 Sens
Tairyo Teppanyaki

Suzhou
Gardens – Master of the Nets, Lion’s Forest, Humble Administrator
Mingtown Suzhou International Youth Hostel

Hangzhou
Tea Museum
A History of Chinese in California
Braised Pork Belly – Hangzhou Dongpo Pork
Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe
Wushanyi International Youth Hostel

Shanghai
Captain Youth Hostel

elong.com, ctrip.com – for accompodations

Community

Egypt Photo Tour
Amateur Traveler Newsletter
Does Amateur Traveler work for you at work?

AT#226 - Travel to Maui revisted part 2

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:13:45 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks about a recent trip to Maui as the guest of the Maui Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this second half of a two part episode Chris talks about some of the local culture, food and festivals. He had a chance to explore his rancher roots at one of Maui’s cattle ranches, dine on local produce at some high end restaurants, mix with the locals at the Maui Ag Festival and learn more of Maui’s culture at the Celebration of the Arts.

AT#226 - Travel to Maui revisited - part 1

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:10:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks about a recent trip to Maui as the guest of the Maui Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this first half of a two part episode Chris gives an overview of the island and talks about the Hawai’i Nature Center, the beaches and the road to Hana. Learn about swimming or hiking in lava tubes, hidden beaches and some of the naive plants of Maui.

Show Notes

Visit Maui Blog
Rainfall map of Maui
Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Kamehameha I
Hawaiian Language

Beaches:

    * Makena (big beach)
    * Chang’s Beach
    * ‘Ahihi Bay
    * Maluaka Beach
    * Wai’ anapanapa State Park
    * Ka’eleku Caverns

AT#225 - Travel to Wales

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:46:07 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to John Clayton about a recent trip to Wales. John was the host of a radio travel show called “Travel with a Difference” for 16 years in the Los Angeles area and was invited to Wales by the Wales Tourism board. John is a train buff and was invited to ride on the restored narrow guage railroads of Wales which were built originally to carry slate from the Wales slate mines. He road the Mount Snowdon, West Highlands and Ffestiniog railways. John also recommends touring the slate mine at Llanberis. We also visit Port Meirion which will look familiar to fans of the TV show The Prisoner. Also find out what Bed and Breakfast you can stay at where some of the Royals used to live.

AT#224 - Travel to Hiroshima and the Chugoku Region of Japan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:37:58 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mike from Toronto who is living in Japan as part of an exchange program Mike talks to use about the Chugoku or middle region of Japan. Mike starts us out in Hiroshima with its world famous peace park and atomic bomb museum and its lesser known shopping and izakaya eateries. After we sample the okonomiyaki at okonomiyaki mura Mike sends us off to see the red Torii gate on Miyajima island. Mike recommends getting the Japanese railway pass because of the expensive local transportation. Mike then directs us to Yamaguchi which is known for its onsens (hot baths), 5 story temple and the church of Francis Xavier. Hagi which is a preserved walled town is our next stop. Hagi is Mike’s favorite spot in Japan. Hagi is also where many of the modernization movement came from.

AT#223 - Rafting Down the Grand Canyon

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:45:41 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to George Wendt from Oars.com about white water rafting down the Grand Canyon which is one of Chris’s dream vacations. The Grand Canyon can be traversed in motor pontoon boats, oars rafts, paddle boats or dories. Each has different advantages and disadvantages. The water is fast and cold and the rapids get up to class 5. All the while you are drifting through one of the wonders of the world with massive red stone walls on either side. You come around the corner and are surprised by waterfalls and a green oasis. You explore the side canyons where you can see fossils and the ruins of the ancient people who called this canyon home.

AT#222 - Travel to Borneo

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:53:58 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Betty from Betty in the Sky with a Suitecase about her recent trip to Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah) to see the orangutans and proboscis monkeys. Betty flew into Kuching in Sarawak and started in the Demai beach area where she stayed in a treehouse. She saw the Probiscus Monkeys at Bako National Park and the Bat “fireworks” at Mulu National Park. Betty also visited the market at Sandakan and snorkeled off the beaches at Mabul.

AT#221 - Travel to the Republic of Georgia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:53:06 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kathy from My Time To Travel about her recent trip to the Republic of Georgia. Kathy is a fan of mountains and Georgia has them in abundance because of its location between the Lesser and Greater Caucuses. She visited the Black Sea coast at Batumi, the capital of Tibilisi, the wine region, the cave city of Voronya and went part of the way up the legendary Georgia military highway into the Caucuses. Kathy talks about the history of Georgia and its location on the silk road, its religion and architecture.

AT#220 - Travel to Easter Island / Rapa Nui

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:29:19 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mike and Hillary of the SpotHopping blog about their trip to Easter Island / Rapa Nui in the South Pacific. They visited Easter Island as a stop on their round the world trip. Easter Island is a small destination and one of the most remote destinations in the world. When you are on the island the only other people within 2000 miles are the 50 people on Pitcairn island. Easter Island is, of course, known for its enigmatic Moai statues and Mike and Hillary were able to visit the quary where they were created. They also explored lava tube caves on the island.

AT#219 - Budget Travel Tips from Pauline Frommer

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:13:54 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Pauline Frommer again about tips for budget travel. We talk about booking tours and alternative places to stay instead of hotels. We talk about which travel destinations are inexpensive now and which ones have hidden fees. Learn where a travel expert takes her family on vacation.

Pauline Frommer’s London and the second edition of Pauline Frommer’s New York City were named “Best Guidebook of the Year” by the North American Travel Journalists Association (2007 and 2008, respectively).

News

Free aiport wi-fi
Travel Tip Tuesday : American Airlines Announces $8 Blankets
Dirty Hotels
This Week in Travel

Show Notes

Pauline Frommer
Pauline Frommer on Budget Travel – Episode 123
Houe of the Redeemer in NYC
UK Airports face chaos over departure tax rise
Argentina Visa Fee To Hit Tourists Starting Jan 1
ShoreTrips.com
Jamaica – Meet the People
Tlaxcala, Mexico
Oaxaca, Mexico – Felipe the Weaver (part 1) – Video Episode 46
Reciprocity in Brazil Tourist Visa Fees for American and Canadians

Internet Resources

oster.com – hotel reviews

Community

Celeste has Marquesas corrections
David has Marquesas corrections
David, “you break up the monotony”

AT#218 - Travel to the Marquesas Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:40:18 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Stefanie Michaels (better known as @AdventureGirl) about a recent trip to the Marquesas Islands which are near Tahiti (or part of Tahiti depending on who you ask). Stefanie sailed on the freighter Aranui from Tahiti out to these remote islands. She encountered a warm people living in a tropical paradise… with very nice cars and nowhere to drive.

AT#217 - The Life of Adventure Travel Tour Guide

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:56:29 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Madeline Jhawar from Italy Beyond the Obvious about life as a tour guide for an adventure travel company. Madeline was previously on the Amateur Traveler talking about Travel to Sicily. Madeline talks about her misconceptions about what being a tour guide would be like and the reality of keeping a group of people happy (and not lost). She guided hiking and biking tours primarily in Italy. What skills do you need to be a successful tour guide? It might not be what you think.

AT#216 - Travel to Malawi

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:36:18 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Joseph about his recent trip to Malawi in Southern Africa. Malawi is not know for its game parks like other countries in the region for for the relaxing shores of Lake Malawi as well as the lush green highlights. It is a country heavily influenced by David Livingstone and the Scottish Presbyterian church and one benefit of this legacy is welcoming church guest houses to stay in. So join Joseph and I as we talk about the people, the politics and the minibuses of Malawi.

AT#215 - Travel Photography

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:46:19 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to photographer Ralph Velasco about tips to keep in mind when you are taking pictures on your travels. We talk about:

    * telling a story
    * depth of field
    * giving your self assignments
    * giving a sense of scale
    * adding a human touch
    * reflections
    * avoiding the crowds
    * embracing the weather
    * seeking the unique picture
    * capturing the essence of a place

AT#214 - Family on Bikes

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Nancy Sathre-Vogel from FamilyOnBikes.com about their odyssey – a bike ride with two young boys along the length of the Pan-American highway from Alaska to the southern end of South America. Learn why they did this trip, how they have managed it and what they have learned along the way.

AT#213 - Travel to Berlin and Prague in December

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

I talk about my recent trip to Berlin and Prague in December. This trip was just after the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and 20 years after my last trip to Berlin. We will look at a 3 hour free walking tour of Berlin and at a paid private tour of Prague (a gift from OurExplorer.com). We will talk about the history of World War II, Communism and even the Hussite Wars. We will talk about the Christmas markets which are everywhere in both cities in December with their booths, crafts, food and mulled wine. I will tell you of some of the sites of these cities including museums, castles, churches, memorials, and even an Art Nouveau stain glass window in a very old yet also very new cathedral.

AT#212 - Travel to Geneva, Switzerland (with soundseeing)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:43:10 +0000

The Amateur Traveler travels to Geneva and experiences the Escalade which celebrates the defeat of the Savoy in 1602. Geneva is the home to many UN agencies, an old town, a cathedral and an excellent rare book collection. You can also find lots of ways to eat melted cheese and other Swiss treats on the shore of beautiful Lake Geneva. In this unusual episode Chris overcomes a technical microphone difficulty to record an episode on the road. This episode inlcudes some of the sounds of the Escalade festival.

AT#211 - Travel to Johannesburg, South Africa

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:10:09 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ilana Fayerman from Project Explorer about Johannesburg, South Africa. Project Explorer creates educational videos for kids and Ilana is one of the video hosts. She traveled to Johannesburg to meet its people, experience its culture and eat something very weird (see picture). She will take us on a virtual tour of neighborhoods like Newtown where she will introduce us to the New Market Theatre. She will take us into the township of Soweto. Out of the poverty of Soweto has come some of the hope of South Africa. It boasts the only street in the world (Vilakazi Street) to have produced two winners of the Nobel Peace prize. Ilana will also tell us which game animal is the tastiest and what happens when you put too much Chakalaka on your pap. We will dance in gum boots, take a safari to KwaZulu-Natal, learn when you can join a drum circle, lunch with art and visit the cradle of Human Kind.

AT#210 - Travel to the Ancient Capitals of Thailand

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:05:15 +0000

Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Kepkes of NomadicMatt.com about his trip to the ancient capitals of Thailand: Ayutthaya, Lopburi and Sukhothai. Before the capital moved to Bangkok it was in each of these three cities as invaders came in from what is now Cambodia and Burma and then were subsequently repelled. Instead of taking the night train to Chang Mai as many tourists do, Matt and his traveling companions explored these cities on the way. In their travels they found ancient temples (some in ruins and some well preserved), wonderful night markets, troops of monkeys, friendly people and a slice of rural Thailand.

AT#209 - Travel to Eastern Germany

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:34:33 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Eleonora about visiting eastern Germany. Eleonora grew up in Dresden and starts our tour there with a city restored from the rubble of World War II to one that boasts beautiful baroque architecture. She takes up verbally to the Master’s Gallery and also to the Green Vault in the old palace. She recommends the famous opera house as well as the recent rebuilt Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche). We climb to the old fortress (Festung Koenigstein) which protected the area. After Dresden Eleonora directs us to the mountains of Saxon Switzerland and to the Oer Mountains with its tradition Christmas wood carvings. From there we go to Leipzig and to Bauzen (capital of a slavic minority – the Sorbs). We make a sobering stop at Buchenwald concentration camp before hiking in the Hatrz Mountains. Then we head north to Saxony-Anhalt where we stop by the oldest chocolate factory in Germany in Helle. Eleonora encourages us to visit the palace of Sanssouci at Postdam and the Hanseatic cities Rostock and Stralsund. While in Eastern Germany we should try Christstollen, Baumkuchen, and Saxon Potato Soup. Two special tips from Eleonora are to visit the Hechtfest multicultural art festival in Dresden and the medieval Christmas market.

AT#208 - Travel to Turin and Bologna (or Eating our way through Italy)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:28:05 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ira Bernstein about two lesser visited cities in Italy - Turin and Bologna. Turin has the reputation as the Detroit of Italy because of its long association with Fiat but that nickname does not express the beauty of the city, the warmth of its people nor the quality of its wine. Bologna has a reputation for good food in a country known for its good food which may be one of the reasons that Bologna is known as "the fat". The city is the home of bolognese sauce and lasagna. It also lays claim to one of the oldest if not the oldest university in Europe. Ira takes us on a tour of surprising museums (like the largest Egyptian museum outside Cairo), pivotal history and of course wonderful food.

AT#207 - Travel to the Tyrol (Tirol) Region of Austria

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:32:07 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Edith about the mountainous region of Austria where she grew up, the Tyrol. Edith designs for us both a winter and a summer itinerary, both of which involve getting outside and enjoying the beautiful mountains. In the winter we would ski and in the summer we would hike. When we are not hiking or enjoying one of the mountain alms then we can explore the palace at Innsbruck, a hiking museum and the Höfemuseum which is a farm museum. Edith talks about traditional foods such as Wiener Schnitzel, Kaiserschmarrn (sweet pancake dish), Kaspressknödel (fried cheese dumplings) and Graukäse (literally grey cheese). To work off that rich food (and of course beer) she will recommend we hike between the mountain huts or up her favorite hike Nochspitze.

AT#206 - Travel to Molokai and Lanai in Hawaii

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View and the Holoholo Wale blogs about two less visited islands in the Hawaiian islands – Lanai and Molokai. Both islands are less developed than their neighbors and better islands for relaxing on a beach than filling up your time with excursions from the activity vendors. Molokai is the one of the two that stole Pam’s heart away with a more authentic Hawaiian experience. Molokai might be best known for recently sainted Father Damien who worked with victims of Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) on the island until he himself succumbed to the disease.

AT#205 - Travel to Nepal and Everest

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

AT#204 - Travel to Iceland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:02:07 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Dave Grenewetzki about his recent trip to Iceland. Taking advantage of the weakness of the Icelandic economy Dave and his family drove the ring road around Iceland and visited places with great names like the waterfalls Svartifoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss and Gulfoss, Lake Myvatn and the dark castles of Dimmuborgir, the glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon, the geysers of Geysir and Strokkur, the geothermal activity of Namaskard pass, the university town of Akureyri, the hobbit-like town of Glaumbaer. They went bird watching at Ingolfshofdi, took in the baths at the Blue Lagoon, took the free welcome walking tour of Reykjavik with Jonas, zigzagged between icebergs, hiked to Thingvellir, and took in the tourist attraction of the Midlina bridge.

AT#203 - Travel to the Gulf States: UAE (Dubai), Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:08:36 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Gary Arndt about his trip to the 5 different countries that make up the Gulf states: UAE (Dubai), Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. Each of these countries is an Arab country and a muslim country but in some, like Dubai, large portions of the population are from elsewhere. These countries include the very modern emirate of Dubai with its malls, hotels and an indoor ski slope. The gulf states also include the surprising country of Oman with ancient forts and the most memorable person Gary has met in his nearly 3 years of travel. Qatar is the home to Al Jazeera and of course Kuwait was the site of the first Gulf War. Hear about the world’s tallest building, fastest ferry and longest bridge.

AT#202 - Travel to Sri Lanka

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:38:12 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Karl Anders who has traveled to Sri Lanka 8 times after striking up a friendship with the late author Arthur C. Clarke who settled there. Karl takes us on a vital tour of Sri Lanka from the capital of Colombo to the beautiful beaches to some of the archeological ruins at Dambulla, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Dambulla is notable for some of the cave murals. Sigiriya is particularly notable for the rock fortress, ruins of a palace high on this rock outcropping and again some of the cave murals. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa both also have numerous stupas (a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics). The inland high mountains are home to the tea country, plentiful tea fields and numerous tea factories. Karl recommends the Galle Face Hotel and some of the other inexpensive hotels left over from the British era. He also recommends hiring a car and driver/interpreter and avoiding the traffic and public transportation. We also talk about the recent civil war.

AT#201 - Travel to the Philippines

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:46:36 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ivan Hernares, an award winning Philippines travel blogger, about his home country of the Philippines. Ivan leads us on a virtual tour of the 7107 islands of the Philippines archipelago starting in Manila. Manila has the walled city of Intramuros that reflects its Spanish colonial heritage as well as its asian heritage in Binondo (its chinatown where we can pick up some Lumpia or a winter-melon cake ). There are inexpensive places for backpackers to stay in the Malate neighborhood. Polish up your layup if you want to meet locals since the unofficial national sport is basketball. Then we head south to the power white sand beaches and nightlife of Borocay, the oldest city in the Philippines which is Cebu, the chocolate hills of Bohol and the underground river of Palawan. We explore the rice terraces of Ifugao (a world heritage site) and the WWII historic sites at Corregidor and Bataan. Ivan talks about unique architecture such as the Philippine Baroque churches and the vahay na bato” stone houses. Ivan loves a good hike up Mount Pinatubo or Mount Pulag in the Cordilleras. And if you go to the Philippines don’t forget to pick up some dried mangoes.

AT#200 - Travel to Wisconsin

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:56:16 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Christine who comes to tell us that Wisconsin has more to offer than just visiting my relatives. She starts us on a tour of the state from the college town and capital of Madison with its street fairs, concerts and capital building. We hear about the influence of Wisconsin born architect Frank Lloyd Wright who founded his school of architecture at nearby Taliesin. We enjoy the bike paths, breweries, badgers football and burial mounds. The we move on to Milwaukee with its neighborhoods, breweries and of course baseball. We stop in Kohler and then head up Wisconsin’s “thumb” to Door county. After visiting Green Bay and the home of the Packers we head up to the north woods with its many small lakes and Lake Superior with its one very big one. We wrap up by winding down the Mississippi river. Think there is nothing to see in Wisconsin? Think again.

AT#199 - Travel to Laos

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:14:53 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sam Oppenheim (who has previously been on the show talking about trekking in the Himalayas and traveling to Cuba) about travel to Laos. Sam Visited Laos as part of a year spent traveling around the world when he traveled extensively in Asia. Sam’s itinerary included the capital of Vientiane as well as Luang Prabang, trekking in the hill villages around Luang namtha and cruising on the Mekong River near Nong Khiaw. Along the way Sam photographed monks, children and little bottles of alcohol with snakes in them. Discover this beautiful country through Sam’s stories and through his lens.

AT#198 - Travel to the Yukon Territory in Canada (and nearby Alaska)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:42:42 +0000

#197 - Travel to Sicily in Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:52:56 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Madeline Jhawar from the Italy Beyond the Obvious blog about Sicily. Madeline was a tour guide for a number of years in Italy and says that Sicily is where the tour guides vacation. This beautiful island is more intense than the rest of Italy but it is also rich in culture and history. It is sometimes an assault on the sense says Madeline who honeymooned on the island. Madeline leads us in a trip circumnavigating the island from Messina to Palermo with stops in Taormina , Siracuse, Agrigento, Villa del Casale, Erice and Palermo. We take a side trip to climb the volcano at Stromboli and we touch on the many influences on the history of Sicily.

AT#196 - Travel to Uruguay

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:49:45 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lisa who has lived as student in Uruguay on two different occasions about that small South American country. Lisa talks about the capital city of Montevideo where she lived with independence plaza (and its statue to Jose Artigas), the markets, and the ramblas. She also talks about the food including the beef, chivito, mate, uruguay pizza, bizcocho, dulce de leche, and the local wine. Mostly she encourages us to visit Uruguay, meet the people and get out to the country side in Tacuarembo, Mercesdes, Colonia or Punta del Este.

AT#195 - Travel to Niue in the South Pacific

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:13:16 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Nick from Iowa about his stay on the remote tropical island of Niue in the South Pacific. Niue is a coral atoll which is affiliated with New Zealand. This country has only 100 square miles and around 1500 people so this is a place to get away from it all and explore some of the striking scenery such as the coral formations of Togo Chasm, Vaikona Chasm and the Limu pools. Nick stayed in Alofi at Kololi’s Guesthouse and explored the island on motorcycle.

AT#194 - Work and Travel Around the World

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:14:55 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lisa Lubin of LLWorldTour about her round the world trip which extended from a year to a two and a half year odyssey and a nomadic lifestyle. Lisa talks about her trip but also talks about the various jobs she worked along the way. Why would an Emmy winning TV producer want to work in a coffee shop in Australia, teach English in Germany, become a research assistant in Germany and do PR for a company in Spain?

AT#193 - Independent Travel to Beijing, China

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:15:56 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lee from Atlanta who is currently living in Qing Dao, China about traveling independently in Beijing, China. Lee describes getting around by bus, subway and taxi, eating street food, and biking through the Hutongs of Beijing. He guides us to lesser known sites like Beijing’s underground city and the site of the old Summer Palace. He leads us to the great wall at Badaling, Mutianyu, and Simatai. Lee also talks about side trips to see the Buddhas in the Yungang Caves near Datong and the nearby hanging monasteries and to see the Qing royal villas and replica of the Lhasa temple in Chungde. We talk about where to find a guide (and why you may not need one), Chinese history and what Lee suggested his parents should bring to China.

AT#190 - Travel to the Napa Valley in California’s Wine Country

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:56:25 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Carole Terwilliger Meyers the author of Weekend Adventures in San Francisco and Northern California. Carole comes on the show to talk about California’s traditional wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valleys. This episode focuses primarily on the Napa Valley and the many wineries that can be found there. We explore recreated castles, wine tasting , tours as well as other none wine related sites like mud baths, petrified forests, and the CIA (The Culinary Institute). We talk about restaurants and hotels, picnics and the wine train. Whether you are a connoisseur, a foodie or just a tourist, the Napa Valley has much to offer.

AT#192 - Travel to Jerusalem

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:07:49 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks again to Douglas Duckett the author of a popular free travel guide to Israel. This time we talked to Douglass about traveling to the holy city, Jerusalem. We step back and look at Jerusalem through the eyes of the three major faiths for which it is a significant location: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. We look at significant sites for all three religions such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Al-Aqsa Mosque mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. We talk about surprises that are continually being uncovered in Jerusalem like Hezikaih’s tunnel, Robinson’s Arch and Burnt House. And in the process we talk about the practical considerations for visiting this amazing city.

AT#191 - Adventure Travel to Venezuela

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:07:44 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Diana Higuera who is a native of Venezuela who worked for a number of years as a tour guide on adventure tours to see Venezuela's wildlife and natural beauty. Diana takes us on a virtual tour starting in Margarita island, then heading to the Los Roques archipelago north of Venezuela, then in an indian canoe up the Orinoco river. From there we will head to the tepuis (table top mountains) in Canaima National Park in Venezuela's Amazon basin. There we will see the highest waterfall in the world at Angel Falls. We will also go behind Sapo falls. Along the way we will see birds, monkeys and anacondas. We will fish for piranas, pet crocodiles and eat street food in Venezuela.

4 Year Anniversary

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:01:05 +0000

This is a special Amateur Traveler episode that talks about the history of the show. It also includes one of the early episodes (episode 9 on Bad Hotels). It was recorded at the Park Royal resort on Cozumel

AT#189 - Travel to Prague in the Czech Republic

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Audrey Scott and Daniel Knoll of UncorneredMarket.com about Prague where they lived for 5 years. Audrey and Daniel are currently traveling around the world and talked to me from El Salvador. Audrey and Daniel talk about the touristy things to do in Prague like the Prague castle, the Charles bridge and Wenceslas Square. They also talk about the touristy things that they would recommend skipping like Karlova street and its souvenir stands (they even give us a shortcut through the university and the Karolinum to avoid it). They would not; however, skip drinking Czech beer in a beer garden like the Latna (but would pass on Czech wine). They tell us how to walk around the barkers in period costumes selling packaged concerts to tourists and find the real music scene in Prague from classical to Balkan. Since they have moved on you can’t crash on their couch but you can share in their expertise of how to cherish Prague.

AT#188 - Travel to Bavaria and Southern Germany

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jason and Janie about their trip to Bavaria and Southern Germany. Jason and Janie had perviously been on the Amateur Traveler on Travel to Barbados - Episode 109. The talk about visiting the Black Forest with its wineries, Geramany’s tallest waterfall and the world’s largest cuckoo clock. They also visited the walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Rothenburg (which may have been spared the ravages of the 30 years war by a hard drinking mayor) is the home to a wonderful Christmas market as well as a Christmas museum. The Rothenburg Nightwatchman’s tour is also something you should try. Jason and Jamie also went to Nurenburg with its wonderful market place and saw “Mad” King Ludwig’s castle Neuschwanstein. The finished the trip in the home of very large beer steins at Munich. In Munich they enjoyed the glockenspiel, the toy museum and some of the wonderful old churches.

AT#187 - Traveling to Beijing, China with a Tour

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Joy Dupont about taking a guided tour to visit Beijing, China. Joy talks about the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Lama temple, the Temple of Heaven and the Hutong area of Beijing which still looks like old China. We talk about shopping at silk factories, cloisonné factories, jade factories and the world's largest herbal drugstore. We also talk about an area of Beijing like a Chinese Greenwich Village called "798". Regent China Tours is the tour company that Joy uses. From street food, unidentifiable food to the Bai Family Courtyard Restaurant, China is a treat for those willing to try new foods and willing to try chopsticks. Although KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks can be found we recommend the tea houses instead. Great sites, amazingly large crowds, ancient treasures and the rush of modern life. All of these are China.

AT#186 - Travel to Estonia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:30:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer Jeanine Barone about Estonia. Estonia is a small forested country with picturesque islands, medieval fortifications, a thriving design community, a great restaurant scene and a young and vibrant culture. Estonia only recently regained its independence from the U.S.S.R. (1991) but is thriving and filled with innovation. This interview, like all the Amateur Traveler interviews, was recorded with Skype… which is headquartered in Estonia. We talked about hotels, restaurants, guide books, wine bars and chocolate.

AT#185 - Travel to Krakow, Poland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:22:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Raul from Atlanta about his recent trip to Krakow Poland. Learn about this former capital of Poland which is a treasure trove of history. Raul will take us to the cloth hall in the old town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle. We will also talk about his trips to the unusual Wieliczka salt mine with its rock salt carvings. A very poignant side trip to Auschwitz and Birkenau makes us confront the unspeakable evil done in those two places. Raul also traveled to Wadowice, the boyhood home of the man who would later be Pope John Paul II, and Black Madonna, the home of the Black Madonna. In between we talk about Polish food (lard for your bread sir?), museums, transportation and history.

AT#184 - Travel to Oahu, Hawaii

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Robin who is an expert on Hawaii about the island of Oahu. More specifically Robin is a Conde Naste "Top Travel Specialist" for Hawaii. We talk about populous and bustling downtown Honolulu and the see and be seen beach at Waikiki. We also talk about quieter beaches like Ala Moana Beach Park, Magic Island, and Haleiwa, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, kayaking, swimming with wild spinner dolphins and scuba diving out of Haleiwa. Robin gives us tips for visiting Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona memorial, the "Mighty Mo" battleship Missouri (and the Explorer's Tour) and the Pacific Aviation Museum. We talk about the differences between the windward and the leeward parts of Oahu. We hike the extinct volcano at Diamond Head (bring a flashlight). We discuss loco moco, a plate lunch and the upscale Alan Wong's restaurant Honolulu. We talk about nightlife from Kani Ka Pila to more trendy spots.

AT#183 - Travel to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Erik Smith (who was a guest on Travel to America’s National Parks - Amateur Traveler Episode 121) about Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We talk about all the different geothermal highlights of the park including Old Faithful, other geysers, thermal pools, etc. We also talk about wildlife, hiking, camping, floating down the Snake river, the grand canyon of the yellowstone, the grandeur of the Tetons (and the strange original of the name Teton).

#182 - Travel to Venice and the Veneto

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:45:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ira Bernstein about why he continues to go back to Venice and the Veneto (the Italian state where Venice is) annually. Learn about other parts of Venice besides the tourist filled Saint Mark's square. We talk about the Gheto in the Cannaregio sestieri. We talk about how to get around, where you can stay for less money and why you might want to stay outside of Venice. We talk about the glass blowers of Morano and the lace makers of Borano. Then we get outside of Venice to Padua, Verona, and Bassano del Grappa. We will stand in Galileo's lectern at the university of Padua (where they paid him his weight in gold to come teach). And we will visit the (fake) balcony of Juliet in Padua where we will rub a statue of Juliet for luck.

AT#181 - Travel to the Virgin Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Harry Pariser about the Virgin Islands. Harry is the author of Explore the Virgin Islands which just printed its seventh edition. Harry takes about the United States Virgin islands (primarily St Thomas, St John and St Croix) and the British Virgin Islands (primarily Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke). The Virgin Islands offer high end luxury resorts, cruise ships but also camping on a beach. They have gourmet restaurants but also local cuisine like conch salad and john cakes. They offer snorkeling, scuba, hiking or just lying on a beach. They take U.S. dollars and speak English making this and accessible island paradise. Harry is making his second appearance on the Amateur Traveler. He was also the guest on Travel to Costa Rica - Amateur Traveler Episode 116.

AT#180 - Cruise to the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:48:57 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to again to Chris Willis (Swimming with Whales off Tonga - Episode 38, Ethiopia - Episode 79, Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda - Episode 80, Travel to Mongolia - Episode 111) about his cruise with Quark Expeditions from Ushuaia, Argentina to Antarctica via the Falklands, South Georgia and South Orkney islands. We talk about wildlife photography of penguins, sea birds, whales and bad tempered fur seals.

AT#179 - Travel to the Kingdom of Bhutan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jose from Caracas Venezuela about a recent trip to Bhutan. Learn about this remote country in the himalayas. Jose, a friend, a tour guide and a drive explored a small portion of the beautiful country on a 5 day trip. They hiked to Buddhist monasteries, watched the national sport (archery) and even saw the youngest king in the world. The flight in may be harrowing but the country itself is peaceful.

AT#178 - Travel to the Eastern Slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:52:31 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Doug McConnell of OpenRoad.tv about his love for the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. Doug has been going to this rugged, stark and beautiful area of California and Nevada since he was a kid. He tells us about Hollywood's love of this area, the oldest trees on the planet, the water wars of California, the tufa fields of Mono Lake, the ghost town of Bodie and more. He also tells of his friends Galen and Barbara Rowell who called this area their home until their deaths in 2002. Galen was a renowned nature photographer and Barbara was his partner and pilot.

AT#177 - Travel to Mexico City, Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Anna Laura about her home city of Mexico City. We will talk about food, museums, architecture and history. We will puzzle about why the tourists stay in the Zona Rosa and we will tell you where they should go including Coyacan and Xochimilco. We will climb the world's third largest pyramid and eat street food. Discover this huge, bustling, diverse city. 20 million Mexico's can't be wrong.

AT#176 - Travel to Texas

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Dennis Cheatham of LoveforTexas.com about his home state of Texas. Dennis takes us on a virtual tour of the Lone Star state including some of the usually stops at Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and some of the more unusual stops like a fake Prada store, a replica of Stonehenge and a haunted railroad crossing. On the way we will learn more about the history and people of this state that has been part of 6 different countries.

AT#175 - Travel to Moscow, Russia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:09:33 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to John from Dallas about traveling to Moscow. We talk about red square, the Kremlin, the towers of Saint Basil’s cathedral, night life, the National History Museum, Cold War Museum and Russian women in mini-skirts. John who knows only two words of Russian still finds it easy enough to both get around in and fall in love with this somewhat mysterious city. Just think how much much he would like it if he visited Moscow in Summer.

Special Announcement - Lonely Planet Awards Voting

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:38:57 +0000

The Amateur Traveler was nominated for a Lonely Planet Travel Blogging Award in the Podcast category and I could use your help. You will find a link to vote on http://AmateurTraveler.com

AT#174 - Travel to Oaxaca, Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:15:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sarah Menkedick about her adopted home town of Oaxaca Mexico. Sarah talks about her love for this sunny tropical city with both colonial and pre-columbian roots. Oaxaca has recovered from its political troubles but tourism is still down so this may be the perfect time to explore its markets, sample its food, marvel at its ruins, and relax in its public square. Sarah's top three reasons to come to Oaxaca are all food: mescal, mole and chile.

AT#173 - Travel to Nashville, Tennessee

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:15:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Geoff Smith about his boyhood home of Nashville that he recently moved back to. What would bring a musician back to Nashville after he has lived all of the world? Geoff talks about the things that tourists come to see: the Grand Ole Opry, Honky Tonk Row (including his own piano bar the Big Bang Bar), the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Musicians Hall of Fame, The Opryland Hotel. Then Geoff tells us what he really loves about Nashville. Nashville is a place where creative and artistic people can live among the beautiful rolling hills of Tennessee in one of the USA’s big three music cities.

AT#172 - Bike Travel in Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Friedel from TravellingTwo.com about their continuing bike tour around the world. Friedel was on previously talking about travel to Iran and has come back to talk about the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. This region of the world offers adventure travelers deserts, tea houses, camels, wild horses, yurts, tea houses, spectacular mountains, friendly locals and fermented mares milk.

AT#171 - Travel to Ukraine

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:14:31 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jessica from Williamsburg Virgina who traveled last Summer to the Ukraine with an ethnomusicologist from Villiage Harmony to learn how to sing Ukrainian folk music. Jessica travelled both to larger cities like the capital Kiev and Ivano-Frankivsk and small country villages. She also journeyed into the Carpathian mountains on the Romanian border. Jessica relates some of the stories about the people she met, the food they ate and scary public bathrooms. Learn why you should not whistle indoors or give someone a dozen roses in the Ukraine.

AT#170 - Travel to Cuba

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:43:54 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sam about his recent trip to Cuba with his brother. Sam visited Havana and Trinadad. He reveled in the local music, the warmth of the people, the beautiful and enigmatic scenery and tolerated the food. Sam who is one eighth Cuban also met family that he had not known about until recently. Sam’s highlights include walking with tourists and locals alike along the malecon on the shore of Havana. As a photographer he came back with over a thousand pictures of the people, the colonial architecture and the classic cars of Cuba. A small sample of Sam’s work can be seen in the iTunes enhanced version of the show.

AT#169 - Travel to Armenia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to David Dougherty about his recent trip to the small country of Armenia. David talks about view of Mount Ararat (just over the border in Turkey), monasteries and churches, riding the packed minivan buses (marshrutkas), meeting locals with a shared interest, the food, the legends and some of the history (the Armenian genocide).

AT#168 - Travel to Key West, Florida

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:14:16 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Casey Wohl the author of the Girls Getaway Guide to Key West about Key West Florida. We will talk about how the area has changed in the last 20 years from Jimmy Buffet’s famous Margaritaville to an area with numerous nice restaurants, art galleries and hotels. We will also talk about beaches, Ernest Hemmingway and other sland characters and how to catch a spiny lobster with your tickle stick.

AT#167 - Travel to Israel

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:04:13 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Douglas Duckett about his travels to Israel and his popular travel guide to Israel. Douglas has fallen in love not just with the "holy land" but with the modern nation of Israel. We address the issue of "is it safe to travel to Israel" at this time when Israel is at war with the Palestinians in Gaza. He takes us on a virtual trip from the beaches and night life of Tel Aviv, through the working city of Haifa with the beautiful Baha'i gardens and the informative museum about the modern jewish immigration. We stop at Lake Kinneret (also known as The Sea of Galilee, also Sea of Genneseret, or Lake Tiberias) at the town of Tiberius. We make a detour to the historic site of Gamla the "Masada of the North" before turning our face toward Jerusalem. On the way to Jerusalem we stop at Megiddo (Armageddon in the bible) and the roman ruins at Beit-Shean. In Jerusalem we talk about the overwhelming religious and historic significance of the city and how some people come down with " Jerusalem syndrome". We suggest a walking tour of the city, a tour of the Mount of Olives, the holocaust memorial and the Israel museum. We also talk about the work the Jerusalem YMCA is doing to promote peace with their peace preschool that teaches Jewish and Palestinian children together.

AT#166 - Travel to Scotland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Eden (an ambassador for Macallan Whiskey) about his home country of Scotland. Eden lays out a tour for Amateur Traveler listeners that starts in Edinburgh with its castle, royal mile and pubs and continues up to Saint Andrews (the home of golf) and the castles of Perthshire. We make sure to stop on the Whiskey trail of Speyside before continuing to the rugged countryside of the highlands. We also talk about special events, famous scotsmen and hagis.

AT#165 - Traveling to Acadia National Park in Maine

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Margot about Acadia National Park in Maine. Margot has been going to Acadia since she was a little girl to hike, bike, kayak, and connect with the beauty of this beautiful area. She talks about the sights, the seafood, the Maine people and why you should not go blueberry picking with her grandfather.

AT#164 - Travel to Zanzibar in Tanzania

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:54:38 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Tadzio about his trip to Zanzibar in Tanzania, off the east coast of Africa. Tadzio worked as a ranger on Chumbe then toured Stonetown, the northern beaches, the Jozani forest, and Pemba. Hear about the food, the people, the snorkeling, the swimming, the beaches and the history of this tropical island paradise.

AT#163 - Travel to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:24:54 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Zora O'Neil who is one of the co-authors of the Rough Guide in the Yucatan guide book. Zora talks about this very beautiful, very tropical and very isolated part of Mexico. Learn about the beach communities (Riviera Maya - Cancun, Talum, Playa del Carmen; Costa Maya - Majahual, Xcalak; Isla Holbox), getting around, the food (Xni Pec, Achiote), the colonial cities (Merida) and the Mayan ruins (the Ruta Puc, Uxmal, Calakmul).

AT#162 - Travel to Slovenia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:44:59 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Shel Holtz (from the For Immediate Release podcast) about his trip to Slovenia. Here about the food, the wine, the lake and the cake as Shel describes his visit to the capital of Ljubjana, the caves at Postojna, Portoroz castle and Lake Bled. Slovenia is one of Europe’s best kept secrets.

#AT161 - Transylvania in Romania

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:55:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Shawn about his trip to Transylvania in Romania. We talk, of course, about Vlad III the Impaler (Dracula) but also about the green rolling hills, walled towns, castles and people of this beautiful country.

#19 - Cruising - Formal or Barefoot?

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:02:07 +0000

The Amateur Traveler compares two very different cruise options, a Royal Caribbean cruise with formal nights and midnight buffets and the Windjammer Barefoot Cruise. Which cruising option is right for you?

#20 - Cruising - St George Bermuda

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:54:48 +0000

The Amateur Traveler goes to St Georges on the island of Bermuda. This World Heritage town is the 5th oldest European settlement in the new world and the home of the oldest English speaking church. This visit was part of a cruise to Bermuda on Royal Caribbean.

#21 - Cruising - Alaska by Small Boat

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:47:27 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Deanna about cruising to Alaska aboard a small boat from Cruise West In a nights ashore / days at sea program.

India as a Woman - Episode 160

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:18:27 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Beth Whitman, author of Wanderlust and Lipstick for Women Traveling to India, about the joys and challenges of traveling to India, especially solo travel as a woman. Learn what iconic image Beth has in her house, how she can go to the sub-continent with only the clothes on her back and how to fall in love with India

AT#159 - San Franciisco, California

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:59:55 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Richard Miller of the SparkleTack podcast (about San Francisco history) about San Francisco. Richard guides us in a driving/walking tour from west to east. We start at lands end and end up near fisherman's wharf while talking about the sites and history of many of the places in between. This is a great companion episode with the 2 part soundseeing walking tour of San Francisco.

#158 - Zimbabwe

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:41:37 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Alex Lindsay about his adventures in Zimbabwe. Alex has been traveling to Zimbabwe twice a year for a number of years where he has built friendships with the people there including some notable artists and musicians. Alex talks about the struggles of life in Zimbabwe and the beauty of the country and the people.

AT#157 - Seoul, South Korea

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:59:26 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Rachel about Seoul, South Korea. Rachel is a college student from Hong Kong who studied in Seoul for the Summer. She talks about historic palaces, museums, customs and shopping in this city that she describes as a "kaleidoscope."

AT#156 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:23:50 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Robin Noelle (author of next year’s edition of the Moon Guidebook for Puerto Vallarta) about Puerto Vallarta. Robin talks about the beach, the food, the jungle and 12 foot wide Manta rays.

AT#155 - Colorado

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:03:18 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to Brad Hugg soon to be the host of the Colorado Podcast about his state. He talks about the citieson teh frontal range and gives us a great circle route that takes in 14ers (peaks over 14 thousand feet), huge sand dunes, buttes, Mesa Verde, and the ski resorts near the continental divide.

AT#154 - Immersive Travel in the USA

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0000

The Amateur Traveler talks to author Sheryl Kayne about her new book Immersion Travel USA. She talks about volunteer travel, educational travel and other immersive experiences from experiencing zero G to quilting, from climbing frozen waterfalls to counting right whales.

AT#153 - Faroe Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Faroe Islands

AT#152 - Georgia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Georgia

AT#151 - The Outer Banks of North Carolina

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:10:00 +0000

The Outer Banks of North Carolina

AT#150 - The Bahamas

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:10:00 +0000

The Bahamas

AT#149 - Siberia, Russia - (Mis)Adventure Travel

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:15:00 +0000

Siberia, Russia - (Mis)Adventure Travel

AT#148 - Tokyo, Japan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Tokyo, Japan

AT#147 - Kerala, India

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Kerala, India

AT#146 - The Island of Dominica

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:00:00 +0000

The Island of Dominica

AT#145 - Ireland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Ireland

AT#144 - Singapore

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Singapore

AT#143 - Colombia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Colombia

AT#142 - Traveling with Small Children

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Traveling with Small Children

AT#141 - Madagascar

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Madagascar

AT#140 - Sailing In The Greek Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:10:00 +0000

Sailing In The Greek Islands

AT#139 - Lancaster County Pennsylvania

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:20:00 +0000

Lancaster County Pennsylvania

AT#138 - Enlgand and Greece Revisited

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 04:15:00 +0000

Enlgand and Greece Revisited

AT#137 - Valencia, Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Valencia, Spain

AT#136 - Western Australia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:50:00 +0000

Western Australia

AT#135 - Through Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at 10

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 04 May 2008 04:50:00 +0000

Through Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at 10

AT#134 - Iran by Bike

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:45:00 +0000

Iran by Bike

AT#133 - Croatia Backroads

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:10:00 +0000

Croatia Backroads

SE#2 - Amateur Traveler Live Dial-in Show

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Amateur Traveler Live Dial-in Show

AT#132 - Tunisia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:50:00 +0000

Tunisia

AT#131 - Walt Disney World

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:05:00 +0000

Walt Disney World

AT#130 - FInland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:30:00 +0000

Finland

AT#129 - Thailand

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Thailand

AT#128 - Micronesia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Micronesia

AT#127 - Cambodia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

Cambodia

AT#126 - Malta

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Malta

AT#125 - Volunteer Travel / Voluntourism

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:57:00 +0000

Volunteer Travel / Voluntourism

AT#124 - Nicaragua

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:35:00 +0000

Nicaragua

AT#123 - Pauline Frommer on Budget Travel

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:07:00 +0000

Pauline Frommer on Budget Travel

AT#122 - Barcelona, Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Barcelona, Spain

AT#121 - America's National Parks

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:00:00 +0000

America's National Parks

AT#120 - Biking Through Honduras, Guatemala and Belize

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:27:00 +0000

Biking Through Honduras, Guatemala and Belize

SE#1 - Amateur Traveler Live Dial-in Show

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:19:00 +0000

Amateur Traveler Live Dial-in Show

AT#119 - Tahiti and French Polynesia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:37:00 +0000

Tahiti and French Polynesia

AT#118 - London, England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:10:00 +0000

London, England

AT#117 - Syria and Jordan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:48:00 +0000

Syria and Jordan

AT#116 - Costa Rica

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:25:00 +0000

Costa Rica

AT#115 - Sweden

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:28:00 +0000

Sweden

AT#113 - Theme Cruise to Panama (Shakespeare at Sea / MacMania)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:13:00 +0000

Theme Cruise to Panama (Shakespeare at Sea / MacMania)

AT#19 Rerun - Cruising - Barefoot or Formal

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:00:00 +0000

Rerun - Cruising - Barefoot or Formal

AT#112 - Boston, Massachusetts

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:00:00 +0000

Boston, Massachusetts

AT#111 - Mongolia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:02:00 +0000

Mongolia

AT#110 - Puerto Rico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 17:20:00 +0000

Puerto Rico

#109 - Barbados

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:10:00 +0000

Barbados

#108 - Portugal

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Portugal

#107 - Solo Travel as a Woman

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 22:05:00 +0000

Solo Travel as a Woman

#106 - New Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:05:00 +0000

New Mexico

#105 - Rhode Island

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:50:00 +0000

Rhode Island

#104 - New Zealand

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 16:20:00 +0000

New Zealand

#103 - Baja California

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 03:35:00 +0000

Baja California

#102 - Italy - The Cinque Terra, Lake Como and Milan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:25:00 +0000

Italy - The Cinque Terra, Lake Como and Milan

#101 - The French Riviera (Nice, Cannes, Antibes) and Monaco

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:40:00 +0000

The French Riviera (Nice, Cannes, Antibes) and Monaco

#100 - Rothenberg Germany, Zurich and Interlaken Swizterland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 06:00:00 +0000

Rothenberg Germany, Zurich and Interlaken Swizterland

#99 - Malaysia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:30:00 +0000

Malaysia

#98 - The Netherlands and Belgium

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:45:00 +0000

The Netherlands and Belgium

#97 - The Seychelles (and Dubai)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 14:05:00 +0000

The Seychelles (and Dubai)

#96 - Greece

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:05:00 +0000

Greece

#95 - Andalusia, Southern Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:30:00 +0000

Andalusia, Southern Spain

#94 - The Greek Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:50:00 +0000

The Greek Islands

#93 - Life as an Exchange Student in Northern Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:49:00 +0000

Life as an Exchange Student in Northern Italy

#92 - Around the World, Family Style

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 27 May 2007 03:56:00 +0000

Around the World, Family Style

#91 - Rudy Maxa - Savvy Traveler

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 20 May 2007 01:20:00 +0000

Rudy Maxa - Savvy Traveler

#90 - Brazil

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 14 May 2007 04:30:00 +0000

Brazil

#89 - The Galapagos Islands

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 05 May 2007 22:29:00 +0000

The Galapagos Islands

#88 - Travel Photography tips

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:38:00 +0000

Travel Photography tips

#87 - Kingston, Ontario

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 01:23:00 +0000

Kingston, Ontario

#86 - Everglades

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Everglades

#85 - Burma / Myanmar

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:57:00 +0000

Burma / Myanmar

#84 - A Year In Europe

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:43:00 +0000

A Year In Europe

#83 - Istanbul Turkey

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:39:00 +0000

Istanbul Turkey

#82 - Turkey, Asia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 04:39:00 +0000

Turkey, Asia

#81 - Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:10:00 +0000

Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown

#80 - Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 14:00:00 +0000

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda

#79 - Ethiopia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:20:00 +0000

Ethiopia

#78 - Philadelphia

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:19:00 +0000

Philadelphia

#77 - Teaching English in Japan

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:23:00 +0000

Teaching English in Japan

#76 - Vietnam

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 12:40:00 +0000

Vietnam

#75 - Authors of "Europe From a Backpack"

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:13:00 +0000

Authors of "Europe From a Backpack"

#74 - Denmark with Howard Shepherd of the Word Nerds podcast

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:23:00 +0000

Denmark with Howard Shepherd of the Word Nerds podcast

#73 - Bike tour from Vancouver, B.C. to San Jose, CA

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:31:00 +0000

Bike tour from Vancouver, B.C. to San Jose, CA

#72 - Joe d'Eon, Airline Pilot and host of "Fly With Me"

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 10:00:00 +0000

Joe d'Eon, Airline Pilot and host of "Fly With Me"

#71 - Liverpool, England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 19:20:00 +0000

Liverpool, England

#70 - Cycling in Tuscany, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 01:00:00 +0000

Cycling in Tuscany, Italy

#69 - Peru and Ecuador in South America

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:00:00 +0000

Peru and Ecuador in South America

#68 - Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary, Alberta Canada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:53:00 +0000

Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary, Alberta Canada

#67 - Edmonton and Jasper, Alberta Canada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 03:40:00 +0000

Edmonton and Jasper, Alberta Canada

#66 - Norway

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 01:27:00 +0000

Norway

#65 - Seattle, Washington

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:00:00 +0000

Seattle, Washington

#64 - Cape Town, South Africa

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:30:00 +0000

Cape Town, South Africa

#63 - Trekking in the Himalayas in India

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:59:00 +0000

Trekking in the Himalayas in India

#62 - New York City (part 2)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:40:00 +0000

New York City (part 2)

#61 - New York City (part 1)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 21:04:30 +0000

New York City (part 1)

#60 - Vancouver, Birtish Columbia (plus Victoria, Whistler)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 06:00:30 +0000

Vancouver, Birtish Columbia (plus Victoria, Whistler)

#59 - China, Rob from Podcast411

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:03:30 +0000

China, Rob from Podcast411

#58 - Madrid, Spain

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 23:00:00 +0000

Madrid, Spain

#57 - Kauai, Hawaii

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 17:20:00 +0000

Kauai, Hawaii

#56 - Maui, Hawaii

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:35:00 +0000

Maui, Hawaii

#55 - Hawaii, the big island

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 04:20:00 +0000

Hawaii, the big island

#54 - Latin American Adventure

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:36:00 +0000

Chicago, Illionois

#53 - Chicago, Illinois

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:13:00 +0000

Chicago, Illionois

#52 - Tanzania, Africa as a guest

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 06:12:00 +0000

Tanzania, Africa as a guest

#51 - Tanzania, Africa as a tourist

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 18:47:00 +0000

Tanzania, Africa as a tourist

#50 - Washington D.C.

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:00:00 +0000

Washington D.C.

#49 - Antarctica

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:00:00 +0000

Antarctica

#48 - San Diego, California

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:33:00 +0000

San Diego, California

#47 - Las Vegas, Nevada

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 06:25:00 +0000

Las Vegas, Nevada