The Radio Vagabond

Welcome back to the second half of my day with Andrés at various places around Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. If you haven't heard the first half, you should go back and listen to that one first. We're in Panajachel in the northern part of the lake. While waiting for Siobhan to arrive, Andrés and I stopped for a slow lunch in the heart of the town. As it turns out, Siobhan arrived later than expected when it was getting dark, and the last regular lancha/boat had left. But Andrés managed to call someone to pick us up in Pana and take us back to San Lucas. While sitting at the pier waiting for the boat, Andrés told me how he ended up running an Airbnb in Guatemala. GUESTHOUSE IN GUATEMALA "It all began in 1987 when I visited Honduras for the first time at the invitation of a priest who was critical about US policy in Central America. He invited us to protest the USA embassy by pouring blood on the walls as a metaphor for the bloody policies and bloodshed US policies were having on Central America at the time. I was critical of US policy in South and Central America as my uncle was imprisoned and my cousin was killed by Ronald Reagan's Contras defending the revolution of Nicaragua." After being involved in another protest the following year in Guatemala, Andrés was caught and deported back to the USA. At a talk in Washington DC, he met Narda, a woman from Honduras who gave a talk. After he returned to Honduras to visit her, a true romance blossomed between them. The two dated long-distance, on and off for 13 years. But just as Andrés was getting into telling me the actual way he ended up in Guatemala, our boat arrived. A DOG'S LIFE We then made our way back to San Lucas Tolimán, and the guesthouse Andrés runs. He calls it Casa Catzij named after his wonderful dog, Catzij. She used to be a street dog but found out that she gets a lot of attention and good food with Andrés. You can take the dog out of the streets, but you can't really take the street out of the dog. So, she still runs around San Lucas Tolimán on her own, and it seems like everyone in town and around the lake knows her. She joined us on the day trip, and every time we strolled around town, rarely on a leash. One day when we were walking, a friend of André's was driving by and rolled down the window to say hi. And Catzij knows her too, so she jumped through the window of the car onto her lap in the driver's seat. And she's not a small dog. CASA CATZIJ Andrés, Siobhan, Catzij, and I eventually arrived at Casa Catzij where we met Alexa, a guest who regularly lives here for months at a time on each visit. There is a lot of "hygge" here (a Danish word for cosiness famous around the world). Andrés even has the book about hygge on his bookshelf. And together in the living room around the fireplace with a lot of hygge, we sat down to continue the story on how Andrés ended up running a guesthouse in Guatemala. "Unfortunately, my life partner Narda passed away after heart surgery which ended up breaking my heart. But Narda introduced me to my good friend, Chati, who I have known for about 25 years. Chati worked as an administrator for one of the poshest hotels in San Lucas Tolimán. Two years ago, I came here to write with my Goddaughter, Erica. I fell in love with the town, and after returning to California for a bit, I soon found myself back here. Chanti was house hunting and asked me along to look at this place. She wasn't interested and I wasn't even looking for a house. But I managed to strike up an agreement with the owner to renovate the house and turn it into an Airbnb." "PALLE'S PICKUP" FROM GUATEMALA I am so happy that I made some interesting new friends during my stay at Casa Catzij in San Lucas Tolimán at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Meeting Alexa, Siobhan, and Andrés was the best thing that has happened to me for a long time. Andrés' ability to talk to everyone and immerse himself into the small local community impressed me a lot. When we walked through town, I could see how much the locals like him (and his dog, Catzij). A short walk to the market can take a long time. He is clearly not just an American outsider. He is one of the locals, and that is so inspiring. Obviously, it helps that he's fluent in Spanish, but even though I'm not, I learned a lot from Andrés. Just a few words in the local language helps. And trying to remember the names of people I meet. VISIT CASA CATZIJ I definitely recommend staying at Casa Catzij and spending some time with Andrés and Catzij if you're visiting Guatemala. By the way, two tiny kittens also moved into the house when I was there. Go meet them and say hi from me. My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you. - - - - - - - COVID-19 TRAVEL AND TOURISM RULES FOR GUATEMALA AUGUST 2021 For the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions and tourist regulations, please visit this website. Make sure Guatemala is open for tourism before booking your trip.

I boarded the Celebrity Cruise ship, Equinox, on the pier in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with my cabin-roomie, Siobhan – that I featured in the latest episode. My name is Palle Bo. Welcome back to all new episodes of The Radio Vagabond. This is Season 7, episode 206, and today we're going to St. Croix – one of the US Virgin Islands. CRUISING IN A PANDEMIC This episode is recorded just a few days ago, as cruising is starting up again after the pandemic. And they are taking so many precautions for our safety. As we all know (from the beginning of the pandemic), a cruise ship is not the best place to be if there's a Coronavirus outbreak. They require that all passengers are fully vaccinated, and on top of that, we all need to have a Covid test to board. Plus, they are sailing with less than half as many passengers as they have the capacity for. Also, as I mentioned in the latest episode a few days ago, they changed the itinerary, and then at some ports, we're only allowed to leave the ship on port days if we go on one of their excursions. Everything is to prevent any cases of Covid on the ship. So, we're probably relatively safe – and thank God (even though it could make this podcast go viral). WELCOME TO SAINT CROIX As we set foot on land at the first stop on the cruise, we're greeted by local dancers, a DJ, and some guys on stilts. It's a special place for me as a Dane because the US Virgin Islands used to be a part of my home country, Denmark. But let's start with seven facts about where we are: 1. YOU STILL SEE A BIT OF DENMARK HERE Up until March 1917, they were called the Danish West Indies, and still, there is a lot of Danish history here. Like location names. The street sign in Kings Street also has the Danish name Kongensgade. There's also a Kirkegade (Church Street). Today, I'm visiting Frederiksted and Christiansted – also very typical names for Danish kings. 2. A VERY BIG REAL ESTATE DEAL Denmark sold the islands for 25 million USD in gold (around 554 million USD in current money). Someone might call it "a very big real estate deal"... 3. THE CAPITAL IS NOT ON THE BIGGEST ISLAND St. Croix is the largest of the islands in the territory. But the capital, Charlotte Amalie, is located on St. Thomas. 4. THE LAST VIRGIN Most people know that there are three main US Virgin Islands, but not that many years ago, a fourth was added: tiny Water Island, located off the coast of St. Thomas. And it is tiny – less than one square mile (around two square kilometres), and the USA bought it for a cool $10,000, making it what locals playfully call "The Last Virgin." 5. HALF OF THE POPULATION IS ON SAINT CROIX The population of St. Croix is a bit more than 50,000 – almost half of the populations on the islands. 6. AN ISLAND WITH A LITTLE MOUNTAIN The highest point of St. Croix is Mount Eagle, at 355 meters (1,165 ft). 7. TWO CITIES GAVE IT THE NICKNAME St. Croix's nickname is "Twin City", for its two towns, Frederiksted on the western end (where we dock with the cruise) and the bigger, Christiansted, on the northeast part of the island (where I'm going later today). ONE COFFEE AND TWO CHATS, PLEASE I start my day in Frederiksted, before I go on a tour in Christiansted. I went to a coffee shop for some coffee and better Wi-Fi than what is available on the ship. After walking around the city, I ended up in a place called Polly's at the Pier. I got chatting with the owner, Susan. She tells me that she's from Colorado and came here to the island looking for a warm place to retire. And then she ended up buying the coffee shop in the middle of the pandemic. In my conversation with her, she confirms that there is a thing called "island time" here, and you do get a bit of Island fever. But Susan likes it here and have no plans of leaving anytime soon. We're sitting in the courtyard behind the café with chickens running around us. And there's also a place where you can rent a bicycle. Here I meet Rebecca, who is she's born and raised here. Please have a listen to the episode to hear my conversation with these two women. Then you will also hear my alarm going off in the middle of the last chat – reminding me that it's time for me to get ready to go on the tour to Christiansted. CHRISTIANSTED AND THE TEN-DOLLAR MAN At the beginning of the walking tour, our guide goes into a 2-minute statement given to her by Celebrity Cruises. They asked her to read it to us, and it's all about the things we need to know about how to act when going on a walking tour in Covid-times. And guess what? We need to wash our hands, maintain social distancing, and always wear a mask. You know all the same things we've been hearing 200 million times in the last 18 months… But good to know that they are taking it seriously. OUR HEAVENLY TOURGUIDE Our guide is a slightly older woman with the wonderful name Heavenly Petersen. Yes, her first name is really Heavenly, and the last name is Petersen – which is a unique Danish way of spelling it. She confirms my sus

Welcome back to all-new episodes of The Radio Vagabond podcast. I hope you've enjoyed the flashback episodes; I've given you this month. But now we're about to start Season 7 – a season that will be different in so many ways. The next four months, I'll take you around the globe … to Andorra, Bali, Brazil, Chile, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, a few places in the United States, and then we'll be in St. Croix – one of the US Virgin Islands in the first one in a few days… That's a part of a Caribbean Cruise, that I'm on right now – as I'm saying these words. In fact, I'm recording this in the cabin on the good ship, Celebrity Equinox, with a view of the Caribbean Sea. It's a cabin that I'm sharing with today's guest. Her name is Siobhan Farr and she's the "spark originator" aka founder of the summit and community called Digital Nomads Beyond 50. Join her Facebook Group. Enjoy my conversation with her, and at the end of it, you can also hear a bit of my upcoming cruise – that got changed at the last minute.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Belgrade in Serbia and was recorded in August 2016. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/004-serbia/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

Next week, we're back with all new episodes of The Radio Vagabond, as we start Season 7 in a few days – a season that will be different in so many ways. The next four months, I'll take you around the globe … to Andorra, Bali, Brazil, Chile, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, a few places in the United States, and then we'll be in St. Croix – one of the US Virgin Islands. As always you will get travel episodes on Wednesdays and then a few interview episodes in the weekends. And in fact, we kick it off already Monday with a special episode where you get to meet my roomy on a Caribbean Cruise. Her name is Siobhan Farr and she's the "spark originator" aka founder of the summit and community called Digital Nomads Beyond 50.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Asheville and Greensboro in North Carolina and was recorded in September 2017. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/091-north-carolina/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Cap Skirring in Senegal and was recorded in January 2018. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/121-cap-skirring/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from the Philippines and was recorded in October 2016. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/010-philippines-1/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Antigua in the Caribbean and was recorded in May 2019. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/130-antigua/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Kosovo and was recorded in April 2018. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/174-kosovo-is-a-beautiful-little-country-with-a-lot-of-history/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is about the Oscar-winning documentary with Steven "Sugar" and was recorded in January 2018 in Cape Town. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/148-finding-sugar-in-cape-town/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Abu Dhabi, UAE and was recorded in September 2016. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/007-abu-dhabi/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Bahamas and was recorded in June 2017 EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/055-bahamas/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Pattaya in Thailand and was recorded in December 2016 EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/027-pattaya/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Jeju Island, South Korea and was recorded in March 2017. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/042-south-korea/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from Atlanta and was recorded in August 2017. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/083-atlanta/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. This episode is from The Nomad Cruise from Malaga to Athens and was recorded in April 2018. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/170-journey-meet-249-nomads-wheres-wally/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

ZIM-ZALA-BIM FROM FLORIDA Welcome to the season 6 finale of The Radio Vagabond travel podcast. In the true spirit of season finales, this one is extra-long and exciting. First, I travel to Key West and visit Ernest Hemingway's 6-toed cats. Then, I make my way to Orlando for something truly magical. UNLOCKING KEY WEST Key West is the southernmost point of the United States, and as I mentioned in the previous Radio Vagabond episode from Cancún, it is also the closest point to Cuba. It sits at the end of the Florida Keys as a series of hundreds of small islands spanning more than 100 miles (160 km) from one end to the other. The drive takes roughly 2.5 hours from end-to-end but you could make a full day of it and stop at some interesting places along the way if you're in the mood for discovery. Key West is famous for its watersports, lively nightlife, amazing beaches, historic sites, and its pastel coloured conch-style architecture. Walking around Key West is probably the best way to see it. You get to see some intriguing homes, courtyards, and gardens while enjoying an adult beverage, great food, and live music. You can start in the center of town at the Key West City Cemetery where you can get a glimpse of the island city's past and its morbid sense of humor, as exhibited by gravestones that read, "At least I know where he's sleeping tonight" and "I told you I was sick". Duval Street is one of the most energetic strips of shops, bars, and cafes anywhere in the world that is host to the famous Sloppy Joe's bar, a favorite hangout of famed American author, Ernest Hemingway. The tormented writer lived on the island in the 1930's and did a lot of his writing here (roughly 60% of his life's work) — when he wasn't getting sloppy-drunk at Sloppy Joe's. HEMINGWAY & KEY WEST The author's home is now converted into one of the biggest attractions on the island: the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. The house is now occupied by over 56 cats, and the cat theme is a special feature of the house. Hemingway was given a white six-toed cat by a ship's captain and some of the cats who live on the museum grounds now are actual descendants of that original cat, named Snow White. Key West is a small island, and it is absolutely possible that many of the cats on the island are related. Touring the house and the office where Hemingway did his writing was very interesting. But one of the more stunning and unusual features of the Hemingway Home property is the in-ground swimming pool — an extraordinary luxury for a residential home in 1930s Key West. The final cost of construction in 1938 was $20,000. Even more mind-boggling is the sheer labour of digging a massive hole in solid coral. The Hemingway pool — the only one within 100 miles in the 1930s — was truly an impressive architectural feat. Apparently, Ernest did complain to his wife Pauline about the growing expenses of construction costs. The story goes that he was frustrated and threw down a penny on the half-built pool patio and said: "Pauline, you've spent all but my last penny, so you might as well have that!" Now, there is a penny embedded in cement at the north end of the pool to memorialise Ernest's outburst. I got chatting to Rusty, one of the tour guides and Hemingway aficionado who told me a bit more about the larger-than-life author and his works. "The Old Man and the Sea is perhaps his most famous work as it is taught in most schools. But I think a good place to start is his first novel The Sun Also Rises which is a wonderful recapitulation of his time in France and Spain. It is a great novel based on real people he met while in Europe. But for me, I really love To Have and To Have Not, which is the only of his world based in Key West and even gives Sloppy Joe Russel a cameo." "Traveling made Hemingway the man we was. He was a journalist first and foremost, so he wrote about what he experienced that inspired his books. Without his traveling, he wouldn't have been as prolific as he was" Rusty tells me. MAGICAL ORLANDO Florida is a big flat state – and another part of it attracts even more visitors thanks to its boat load of theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, and many more. In Orlando, I met Stefan Oswald – my Airbnb host and part-time magician who turned out to be a really interesting guy. When he was younger, he travelled around Europe and did street magic. And I was curious to know how that happened. "I watched a lecture by the great magician Coz Cosmo who travelled around the world performing magic for a living. Thought to myself, "Wow, that's amazing. I want to do that". So, I put on a show in Dupont Circle in D.C. which was successful. It progressed into a bigger show with more audience members. I was working a part-time job at that time while performing magic on the streets. Performing street magic seemed like the perfect way to travel. So, I bought a one-way ticket to Madrid with only my show items in a carry-on bag with a ch

Hola from Cancún, Mexico In this episode, I visit one of the most visited and touristy places in Mexico: Cancún on the Caribbean coast of the country because, why not? Let's get into the fiesta spirit and kick off with a classic pub quiz question: what's closer to Cuba: Key West, Florida, or Cancún? If you look at a map, Cancún appears the closest to Cuba, right? Wrong. In fact, Key West is 151 km (94 miles) from the closest coast of Cuba, and Cancún comes in 2nd place at 206 km (128 miles). Now drink! After nearly missing my flight to Cancún due to the airport flight gate being in Spanish, I soon found myself in the air sipping on a travel-sized Cuba Libre to get into the vibe. After a little while, I looked out the window to see my next destination: a beautiful white sandy coastline with palm trees met with a crystal-clear ocean. The excitement was real. TOUCHDOWN IN CANCÚN The first two items on my list of things to do in Cancún were to visit a local art museum and go scuba diving. The only issue I had was to decide which to do first (#firstworldproblems). Being in complete holiday relax mode, I struggled to make up my mind so I decided to do both — at the same time. But first… 7 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT CANCÚN You Won't Burn Your Feet on the Beach You know how you burn your feet when you walk on a tropical beach without sandals somewhere in the world? Well, not here in Cancún. The 14-mile-long shimmering white sand beach is actually not made out of sand as we know it. It's actually crushed coral, meaning it will naturally feel cool underneath bare feet – no matter how hot the weather. Only Three People Lived Here Cancún is a major tourist destination that attracts a whopping 700,000 people every year, which is almost as many people as locals. Today, Cancún has a population of around 888,797 people. But this has not always been the case. In 1970, the official population was only 3. Not 300 or 3,000. No, only 3 people, and they were the caretakers of a coconut plantation. Now, it's completely different. The city currently has 4,674 hotels and around 30,000 hotel rooms. Cancún Has a Huge Mexican Flag If you're in the buzzing hotel zone, you will notice an enormous Mexican flag – or as they call it here, gran Bandera Mexicana. It's made out of the same material used to make parachutes (probably to make it lighter, but it's still quite heavy). The flag itself weighs 228 kg (503 pounds) and took 40 soldiers to raise up a 105-meter (344ft) flagpole. This is something you can see in other places in Mexico, as it's part of a program which started in 1999, called "banderas monumentales", Spanish for "monumental flags". They're a collection of tall flagpoles located throughout Mexico. The Beach Was Destroyed When Hurricane Wilma hit Cancún in 2005, it wrecked 8 miles of its beautiful beaches. And Cancún without a beach isn't really much of a tourist attraction, so it underwent a major beach restoration project from 2009 to 2010. They added 1.3 billion gallons of white sand – scooped up from the seabed to the coast at the cost of around $70 million U.S. dollars. Turtles Lay Eggs on the Beach Each May, thousands of turtles return to their original home here in Cancún to lay eggs on the beaches, and their nests are located right in the heart of the Hotel Zone. Thankfully, the hotel owners, employees, and even visitors help to ensure the eggs are protected and safe from harm. So, if you happen to go in May, areas of the beach are closed to tourists so that the turtles can go about their business in peace. Swim with Tons of Whale Sharks Between May and September, literally tons of whale sharks visit waters just off Cancún. They are absolutely massive – some of them the size of a bus, but they're completely harmless and will happily let you join them for a swim. The World's Second Biggest Barrier Reef is Here We all know Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef as the biggest coral structure in the world. But number two is right here: the Maya Barrier Reef is the second-largest coral reef in the world, and one of Cancún's major attractions boasting stunning marine life, swaying corals, and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Great for snorkelling and scuba diving. CANCÚN'S UNDERWATER SCULPTURE MUSEUM And speaking of scuba diving, as soon as I arrived, I planned a scuba trip and combined it with a visit to a museum. It's really two birds, one stone type situation. Thanks to the hands of British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor and five talented Mexican sculptors, the famous Cancún Underwater Museum displays a series of breathtaking sculptures in the ocean located between Cancún and Isla Mujeres. The underwater museum consists of over 500 life-size sculptures, making it one of the largest, and most incredible, underwater artificial art attractions in the world. While registering at the dive centre, I got a chance to chat with some of the other divers who are about to enjoy this incredible experience with me. Some of them hadn't done

BIENVENIDO DE NUEVO A MEXICO When I last spoke to you, I was mid-hike with Luis through to the Lastanzuela waterfalls. As we continue traversing the slippery landscape on our hike, I ask Luis about his favourite part about living in Monterrey. "The best part is that you can be in the city and you can also go hiking. Monterrey means 'mountain kingdom'. You have a lot to do here." That's certainly been my experience so far. I became curious as Luis had actually asked me what had made me decide to come to Monterrey. "Monterrey has a lot of business tourism, we don't have a lot of international tourism," he offered in response to his previous query. I TRUSTED A FELLOW NOMAD As a traveller and nomad, I am lucky enough to meet people who are always making recommendations of where to travel to and what there is to discover in these different cities around the world. I also have many people invite me to come to visit when I'm in the area. Then I put a star on my map as a reminder of a new destination to travel to. So while I was in Texas, I noticed that I'd starred Monterrey, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember who had made the recommendation. I was delighted someone had – because it's not a well-known travel destination and it had turned out to be really wonderful. It's an exciting city with a very cool historic downtown area, and just right outside of the city, there are many beautiful nature hikes and walks visitors can take. The reason I decided to save Monterrey as a destination came back to me when I got a message on Facebook. As it happens, I met a guy called Esteban in Bosnia. His journey is a fascinating one, and you'll get to learn more about him a little later on. BACK TO THE HIKE Despite feeling super out of breath, we find ourselves at the first waterfall, and it is simply beautiful. Even though we've gone on a foggy day, Luis says that during the summer months, you'll find people swimming everywhere here, and you can get your own free 'hydro massage." While I generally enjoy a hike, this one was a little tough for me, and sadly I did slip on the rock, hurt my ass (and my pride). But, don't get me wrong, it was worth it to see the absolute beauty of the waterfalls. Definitely make time to go there, especially in the summer months. MEXICAN FOOD WINS OUT OVER A LIFE ON THE ROAD In the latest episode, Luis had mentioned his passion for travelling but told me that if he ever left, he would just miss Mexican food way too much. Since I spent the day trekking with Luis, he has given up the guiding gig and didn't go travelling after all. His love for the craft of Mexican food eventually outweighed Luis' desire to travel, and he opened his own restaurant with his girlfriend and brother. I, unfortunately, have not had a chance to go back and visit yet, but it is called Paellas Sotomayor. And it looks fantastic. If you manage to go to Monterrey and you stop in there, say hi from me. FOOTBALL WITH THE LOCALS Now back to my Monterrey adventures and my visit to a local Monterrey football match. Interestingly, as another dive into Airbnb's unique offerings, I bought football tickets to a local game in Monterrey. Reuben was my personal guide, and he shared why he offered this particular experience. "I go with people (to the game) and I have a lot of passion for the team. It's interesting to join with other people from around the world." Reuben lived very close to the stadium and told me the stadium was just three years old. In fact, the local team had waited years for their own stadium. Now, this 50 000 seater stadium, Estadio BBVA is used for local and international games, as well as events and concerts. It is actually the 4th largest stadium in Mexico. As we enter the stadium, the atmosphere is electric, and the crowds of supporters are finding their seats. The stadium itself is round and very modern look. Quite the spectacle. I didn't know anything about the local teams, but there Reuben fills me in. "There is a big team that has its own university so it has a lot of followers because a lot of people study in that college. It's like half of the city." We were supporting the Royals, and the other big team was called the Tigres, which (at the time) had won 6 local championships. Mexican football supporters sing throughout the match, making the vibe incredible and the Spanish curse word, "puta" – shouted and sung about the ref, and the opposite side's players. It's an offensive word here, but even more so in other Spanish speaking countries in Latin America. So, it's been a big controversy when Mexican teams have played teams from other countries. Rueben assures me this is all part of the fun. Click on the link to learn just how bad a word it is. It was an amazing experience going to such a big football match, and I saw myself literally sitting at the edge of my seat most of the time. Especially going with a local who was so passionate about the game and his team, made it unforgettable. And "our" team, The Roy

After my last adventure in San Antonio at Tejas Rodeo, I began to make my way to the US/Mexican border on my way to Monterrey, the capital city of the Northeastern Mexican state called Nuevo León. I hop into an Uber where I manage to communicate a little in broken Spanish to my driver, who couldn't speak any English. Thankfully my host spoke English, but I was looking forward to practising my Spanish with the locals. FREE WALKING TOUR MONTERREY In order to immerse myself into the city's culture as quickly as possible, I decided to attend a free walking tour. Before I get into the sights and sounds of this new city, I need to mention before leaving San Antonio, I visited the Alamo and the River Walk, which is a 15-mile long winding waterway that offers visitors loads of options in the way of food and shopping. Sadly, I didn't have too much recorded for those two visits as I didn't really get a chance to run into a local who could share much of the history. So, imagine my surprise when I met Brent before the walking tour here. And he's a guide himself – from San Antonio. SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK I told Brent about the last few spots I visited in San Antonio, and I was gifted with some really great insights, especially about the River Walk. "The river is the whole reason the city began in that region because it was called Yaniguana, meaning 'refreshing waters'…." When Brent isn't proudly showing people around his wonderful city, he has a full-time job in finance. He began guiding because it offered him a creative outlet and a way to meet people from all over the world, so we got on just perfectly.Brent went on to tell me that… "San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the US, in terms of population. We're around 1.4 million people in the urban area. Urban downtown, we are ranked 31st in the US. What really sets it apart is the history you have there, in terms of what took place on the land but also the history that you see every day walking on the streets. We've become the top tourist section in Texas because of the things people can see and do there. Austin is making a great stretch towards that" We went on to speak about the music and the unique weirdness that made up Austin, another great Texan City, and Brent told me more about the differences between San Antonio and Austin. Specifically that San Antonio number 1 industry is ranching and cattle drives. Brent is a great guy, and if you ever find yourself in San Antonio, contact Amigo Free Walking Tours to have Brent take you on a guided tour of the city he loves so much. SIGHT-SEEING IN MONTERREY I enjoy taking free walking tours as one of my first activities in a new city because you get great tips on where to go, from restaurants to bars, museums, and other interesting spots to visit. Our guide on this tour is Clarissa, who like Brent, also has a very different day job. "I'm a geophysicist so I work from Monday to Friday, and on weekends I offer this kind of tour because I want to improve my English and because I want to know people around the world and know something about the cities where they live". During our two-hour walking tour, we visited 13 important places in downtown Monterrey Clarissa explains that the old town, where I was right then, happened to be the area that is the most representative of this charming city's culture and history. The Museo de Historia Mexicana is a magnificent building by the Canal Santa Lucía and one of the most important places to see in Monterrey. When you purchase a ticket for the museum, you get an additional ticket for a second museum next door. And that's an even more impressive building. I was excited to see the museum, so I visited it a few days later, but before I tell you all about my visit to the museum, let's get back to my chat with Clarissa. She grew up in this vibrant city, and as she explains, with it being such a big city, you need to adapt to a very different pace. Everyone is always in 'hurry up' mode, and if you want to live here, you'll need to get used to this chaotic rhythm. "We're the third most popular city to visit in Mexico", explains Clarissa – but that's more visitors for business. She also confirmed my suspicions that English wasn't as common in this city as one might think. "Education in this part of Mexico is not too good. A lot of people don't speak English very well." Clarissa was an excellent guide, and if you're looking to take a great tour through downtown Monterrey you can find her here on Facebook ­– Free Walking Tours Monterrey and meet her at the meeting point every Sunday. Remember to tell her I say hi! MUSEO DE HISTORIA MEXICANA A few days later, I took Clarissa up on her suggestion, and I made my way to the Museo de Historia Mexicana. While it's a historical museum, it's very modern and interactive, and while everything is generally in Spanish, three small screens were translated to English. Unfortunately, only one of the three was working that day. As I mentioned, everything was i

YEE-HAW FROM TEJAS – RODEO TEXAS STYLE As I was preparing to leave my housesit in Lockhart, I had one more thing I just had to do before leaving the great state of Texas! So I drove myself to San Antonio to a spot a little north of the city to see a Tejas Rodeo. A sporting event that happened every Saturday night making up a very important part of San Antonio culture. I was lucky enough to be invited backstage to see the whole event up close and personal by the co-founder of Tejas Rodeo, Yancey James who was more than happy to teach me all about this exciting sport. Yes, a sport! There's even a World Championship each year. Yancey explained: "They'll take the top 15 cowboys in the world and they will compete for 10 straight days to crown a champion. There is a world champion in each division." He went on to tell me that I would even see some of those 15 cowboys at the event that evening. Before I continue with the story, I also wanted to commemorate this my 200th episode. So if you're near a bottle of champagne or a snifter of whiskey, join me in celebrating this big anniversary for The Radio Vagabond podcast! Yee-Haw! It's Rodeo time. NOW BACK TO YANCEY JAMES AND TEJAS RODEO Standing backstage I was able to see the arena with the grandstands behind it. Next to me was a booth with 10-15 small cattle. They were for the roping event which would happen later. Another had some sheep which were for the children to ride and then behind me was a round arena with some cowgirls warming up their horses for the running of the barrel event later that evening. Scattered around backstage and the grounds, in general, was a hustle and bustle of cars, excited people, horse cars and there was an air of excitement that was tangible. Everyone was wearing their cowboy hats and those big belt buckles you always see cowboys wear in the movies. Of course, there were also the bulls in another booth, scraping the ground looking pretty mean and scary. Before everything really kicked off I had the opportunity to chat with Yancey who explained that they had held their first rodeo in 2006 and that over the years it had just evolved into this great event venue that was loved by everyone who loved rodeo. The venue is just far enough out of San Antonio to make visitors feel like they're out in the country. Yancey went on to explain that gates open at 5.30, and with vendors and the gift shop, among other attractions the crowd is kept quite busy until the official start of the event at 7.30 pm. And boy does it start off with a bang! The arena is flooded with riders circling the venue with flags, bathed in colourful lights and cheered on by the crowd. In the background, you can hear a trumpet announcing the start of something very exciting to come. PLEASE STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM If you've ever been to the States, no big event in the USA ever begins in earnest without the singing of the national anthem. It's the atmosphere is electric and the singer just nailed the Star-Spangled Banner. And so the evening began to unfold. One of the first events is called the Running of the Barrels – or "Barrel Racing". It's an event for women usually, and it's where the horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around a set of barrels in the fastest possible time. Then, of course, there is the iconic "Bull Riding" event where a rider gets on a bucking bull in an effort to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck the rider off. This particular event has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports." In order to receive a score, the rider must stay on top of the bull for a minimum of eight seconds using a one-handed grip on a rope that is tied behind the bull's front legs. And while you may think the second hand that you so often see held aloft a rider's head is for flare. It most certainly isn't! If you touch the bull or yourself, or you don't manage to stay on the bull for eight seconds you will get a no-score ride. You also get scores for how 'mean' the bull is and how much it bucks. It can get pretty crazy and if you ain't seen how nasty these bulls can be you best take a look at this video. BULLS ARRIVING Yancey has been involved in rodeos his entire life and he had some really interesting stories and I needed him to explain some of the terms he was throwing out so he begins: "These are cowboys and cowgirls correct, and this is how they make a living. They try and hit four or five rodeos a week. This is their office and they're not like the NFL guys who get a salary. They have to win, they need to pay their electric bill or their mortgage. They're coming to compete and they're coming for first place." He went on to explain "for instance in the bull-riding, they'll draw a bull. They don't get to pick one, they'll draw one." So it's a bit like a lottery and each rider is hoping it doesn't get the angriest bull. Yancey politely called these big bruisers awfully juicy and explained that a seasoned rider would likely prefer one of

Welcome to the second half of my drive in Texas with my old buddy, Paul Weyland. We're in the hill country north of Austin, and Paul will tell me a lot of interesting stories about this area, Austin, and Texas in general. And as you will find out, Paul is a talker and a great storyteller, so this episode is going to run a bit longer than the normal episodes because I simply didn't know what to take out. So, please enjoy.

Cock-a-doodle-doo from Lockhart, Texas After my wonderful time in Houston being shown around by my good friend Doug Harris, I headed to my next destination in the state of Texas. My GPS led me to the middle of nowhere in rural farmland Texas where I will be staying alone for the next few days. Well, not entirely alone: this area has loads of coral snakes and if they bite you, you can die. Oh, and my new neighbours are apparently deaf so they wouldn't even be able to hear my death screams if I ever crossed a hungry snake looking to taste my delicate Danish skin. Quite a welcome, right? SSSSSNAKES IN LOCKHART Mary and Charley own this charming country house in rural Lockhart, a small city south of Austin. They're going away for a few days and need someone to take care of their cats, house, and plants. So, they asked me to be their trusted house-sitter. While showing me around and giving me strict instructions on what to do and where everything is, they also tell me a bit about the dangers out here in the countryside of Texas. They have some animals roaming around that I'm not used to from when I lived in the countryside of Denmark. Like coral snakes when you step out the door, Mary tells me. "When you walk out the door, be sure to always look out as we have had to kill coral snakes on two separate occasions right here on our porch. They are very, very poisonous. They have tiny mouths, so they have to get you real' good for it to be dangerous, but still, be careful. And they're very pretty: black, red, and yellow." Pretty is one way to describe them. This guy on YouTube describes them as "...the most venomous snake in the United States and they have a very potent neurotoxin, more potent than any of the rattlesnakes around Texas, and you can die by the paralysis of your diaphragm: basically, you suffocate to death". Delightful. Well, no big deal for Mary and Charley apparently, as they "just kill them" sweet Mary says very casually. Charley adds that I can just leave them alone or kill them too if I want to… "that's what the shovel is for." During all this, I was thinking to myself: "I've never killed a coral snake before, and I don't really want to start my coral snake-killing spree now. And I wonder how long I will have to live if I get bitten living out here all by myself?". But they are pretty, very small, and they must bite me in a soft spot of skin like my hand or my bare feet. Thank God there aren't any bigger, more dangerous snakes around here. Oh, there are? "There are also rattlesnakes around here and cayotes," says Charley. Oh, great. Rattlesnakes. Even though Mary tries to calm me down by saying that they haven't encountered one in ages. To which Charley was quick to remind her that he killed one only two months prior… This is truly an interesting place with interesting animals around. So, we step inside, and they show me around the house where the only animals are cute cats...and a few spiders. I introduced myself to their cats that I was going to be taking care of before my hosts guide me through what I need to know about keeping everything going. Charley then takes me for a walk outside and tells me which plants out there I need to water and how much. I was listening and paying attention…but mostly looking down on the ground to make sure I wasn't stepping on a coral snake or any other dangerous creature. Charley tells me more about the dangers: "Coral snakes are very poisonous. And rattlesnakes are too but not as much, and they tend to warn you before striking. They have a strike distance that is the length of their body. Be sure to listen out for their tail rattle. We also have raccoons. They can be very mean, especially if you corner them. They look cute but I wouldn't want to corner a mom with her babies. They sometimes come to visit us on our front porch". SOUTH OF WEIRD Remember the unofficial slogan for Austin: "Keep Austin Weird"? Well, Lockhart is about 30 miles south of Austin, so locals like Charley say they live "about 30 miles south of weird". In fact, Charley even has a t-shirt that has this slogan on it, but with the 'weird' spelled incorrectly. Weird. LOCKHART IS THE BBQ CAPITAL Before I met up with Mary and Charley at their country home, they took me to an amazing BBQ restaurant. Yes, Lockhart is known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas. And it's official, something the Texas Legislature proclaimed them as in 1999. Whenever I told anyone in Texas that I was going to Lockhart their faces lit up and they started talking about barbecue. Lockhart is home to four famous barbecue joints: Kreuz Market, Black's Barbecue, Chisholm Trail BBQ, and the place we went to, Smitty's Market. Locals suggest you arrive armed with your appetite, good friends, and plenty of napkins. Mary tells me that it is frowned upon to eat your BBQ here with a knife and fork, and no sauce. You should eat it instead with your hands and with bread. As soon as we walked inside, I felt like I was walking into history. A

Hello again from Houston, Texas. Welcome to the second half of my day with Doug Harris — a proud Houstonian and old friend who is taking me around his beloved city. If you missed the release of Part I last week then be sure to give it a listen to get up to speed with my time in Houston with Doug Harris. Let's jump back into it. LAKEWOOD CHURCH Doug and I continue our adventures through the city in Doug's car, and he takes me to a popular site in the city: Lakewood Church. The building was previously called the Summit (subsequently changed to Compact Center before becoming Lakewood Church), a 17,000-seater venue that used to be the home ground for the Houston Rockets NBA team. It is also where Doug saw ZZ Top and Aerosmith perform live a few years prior, but now it is a very large place for worship. Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen are on all the social media platforms: there's an app, a podcast, and a very slick website where they also live stream that includes a webshop with books from Joel and his wife Victoria, and his mother Dodie. HOLY FATHER AND HIS SON The church was founded by Joel's father, Paster John Osteen, and Joel worked in the background as a TV producer up until his father passed away. When that happened, he stepped up and assumed the role of Senior Pastor at Lakewood Church. I went to their website and saw a video from a sermon a few weeks ago. It does not look or sound like a regular church. As Doug said, it's an arena with 17,000 seats that starts with a band on stage with lights and a cheering audience. The production itself is very professional. It's like watching X-Factor or a big award show with several camera angles. Then Joel and his wife take the stage. With 17,000 people in the church arena and I don't know how many listening on Sirius XM satellite radio in North America, and a global audience watching the live stream, it's certainly not your average church experience. It is very different from what I grew up with in Denmark, where there would be just a handful of people in my local church on a regular Sunday. TRADITIONAL TEXAS BBQ Doug then took me to one of his favourite places for lunch, Charlies BBQ, where I got to taste some real Texan barbecue. He's a regular there and he introduces me to some of the staff, making me feel welcome and special. We sat down at the grill and the guy behind it who happens to be the owner, Fote Demires, recommended I try the brisket and sausage as they are the most popular choices (apart from the ribs of course). He tells me that brisket is a staple in Texas, and if you head further east, they enjoy pulled pork. After consuming a big plate of various tasty BBQ flavours, I carry on my chat with Fote. "We've been in the BBQ business since before my time — some 60 years. As part of the second generation, I have been involved in operations for 30 years, taking over from my parents. My parents came from Greece and decided to open a BBQ shop because, well, it's Texas. We've infused a bit of our Greece culture into the menu over the years, we offer gyros and make our own tzatziki." After a delicious lunch, Doug and I get back in the car and continue our Houston road trip adventure. REMEMBER THE ALAMO Doug tells me that Houston was named after Sam Houston, the first president of Texas and general of the Texas army. Texas used to be an independent republic that was once under the dominance of Mexico. After declaring independence from Mexico, the Mexican government sent a large army led by Antonio López de Santa Anna to attack Texas in bitter retaliation. Despite Santa Anna being an accomplished military tactician, he underestimated the strength of the Texan army led by Colonel William Barret Travis, who called for volunteers to assist his men in warding off the Mexican army's attacks. Famous American frontiersman and folk hero Davy Crockett joined the cause where he and his volunteers took the famous stand at the Battle of the Alamo — a 13-day siege where they battled against thousands of Mexican soldiers in 1836 in San Antonio, Texas, "The critical purpose of the Battle of the Alamo was that it gave Sam Houston time to train his Texan troops by the Gulf of Mexico to launch a surprise attack on Antonio López de Santa Anna's men. One afternoon while the Mexican army was taking a siesta, Houston's men surprise-attacked and took the Mexican soldiers as prisoners. Apparently, de Santa Anna removed his general's uniform as to not be identified by the Texas army, but his cover was blown when one of his men called him 'generalissimo'". The story with Davy Crockett and the Alamo is something I'll dive more into when I visit San Antonio in a couple of weeks. It's fascinating so stay tuned. YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS As folklore has it, Antonio López de Santa Anna had a mixed-heritage concubine who was with him during this time. Due to her mixed-heritage, she had what locals called 'yellow skin' and she is the inspiration for the famous folk song The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Welcome back to Houston, Texas. After leaving my new friends Jeanie and Big Ed in their trailer park in Houston, I jumped back into my sexy hired sports car to see an old friend of mine, Doug Harris. We made plans to meet at his office. I got to know Doug as a Broadcast Marketing Consultant for his company Creative Animal. For the past 20 years, he has also been running Noisemaker Communications. Here, he and his team work with businesses that want to make some noise and grab some attention. Doug is known for his crazy, creative, noise-making ideas. For instance, when one of the Star Wars films was about to premiere, he came up with the idea to offer $1,000 to the first listener that would legally change their name to Obi-Wan Kenobe. That got them some attention for his client's radio station, and the idea was later copied by stations all over. And I remember him telling me about his all-time favourite publicity stunt that never saw the light of day as the client got cold feet. He represented an electric razor company and pitched the idea of taking out a full-page ad in the newspaper offering Fidel Castro $1 million to shave his beard with their electric razor. The client was worried – what if the leader of communist Cuba actually took a capitalist bribe to shave his famous beard? It's ideas like these that pop up in the mind of this man that you're about to meet. So, strap in… MEETING AN OLD FRIEND IN HOUSTON, TEXAS "Houston is a cruel, crazy town on a filthy river in East Texas with no zoning laws and a culture of sex, money and violence. It's a shabby, sprawling metropolis ruled by brazen women, crooked cops and super-rich pansexual cowboys who live by the code of the West – which can mean just about anything you need it to mean, in a pinch." These are words by famous American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson. After receiving a warm and friendly welcome from my old friend, we jumped into his car and immediately began reminiscing. Doug and I met at a NAB radio event in London years ago and ended up sharing a hotel room "purely in the interest of camaraderie and economics". Our paths again crossed in Mumbai a few years later when the Indian government had just launched independent radio. We've certainly been to some interesting places together. And here we are together again in Doug's hometown of Houston. Doug tells me a few interesting facts about Houston, such as it is home to one of the finest medical centres in the world, Texas Medical Center, which receives many patients from all over the world. Houston is also home to a fabulous theatre district, second only to New York City (when you calculate the number of seats). Additionally, Doug tells me that it is also home to the "greatest Mexican food and BBQ on the planet". Doug is super well-travelled and a man of the world. But he's also a true Houstonian. He loves his city and knows a lot about it. So, he's the perfect tour guide for me as we're driving on our way to an original Texas BBQ lunch at Doug's favourite restaurant, Charlie's BBQ. "This city is amazingly diverse. We have a huge Hispanic community and a growing Asian community, consisting of distinctly Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese communities who have found their home here because Houston is a really welcoming place. It is a warm mix of culture and people, and there is a lot of opportunity here. There's something about Houston – we do things bigger and better here." Doug tells me he wants to take me to visit Houston's famous National Museum of Funeral History and tells me some fascinating things about what to expect. He also plans to take me to the Art Car Museum because he wants me to tell the world the people in Houston don't "ride horses to work and there isn't primary sagebrush/tumbleweed floating across the streets." FACTS ABOUT HOUSTON, TEXAS No one is actually from here. If you ask most Houstonians, most of them are from another city, state, or country altogether. Houston has an underground pedestrian tunnel system. The tunnel is 20 feet below the ground and runs for seven miles, linking 95 city blocks. There are no zoning laws. You will see a sex shop next to a mansion that's right down the block from a school that sits alongside what seems to be a Buddhist temple. They don't really wear boots and hats because they're not really cowboys. The only exception is during rodeo season – when they put on the finest bolo ties, hats, boots, and buckles, they can find and totally pretend to be cowboys. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the biggest rodeos in the world. This month-long rodeo attracts over 2.5 million attendees each year. And finally: don't bother doing your hair in August. Humidity wins —it always wins. A substantial portion of Houston's population is 'new arrivals'. In this tradition, Doug's family is originally from Greece. His father came over to Texas at the turn of the 20th century to work in his uncle's meatpacking plant. "That's how things wo

Welcome back to Texas. In this episode, I'm taking you to the 4th biggest city in the USA — Houston. Here, I'm visiting one of the most iconic places in the city that really put Houston on the map when NASA started going to space. I also get to stay with two Texans in a trailer park. But first, I needed a car to get me there. And I thought I might as well go there in style. TURO CAR HIRE I'm in Cedar Park in the northern part of Austin to pick up my rental car. It's in a beautiful residential neighbourhood with nicely trimmed lawns. My Uber drops me off at one of the houses where I meet Gary, the car owner. I bet you're wondering why I'm getting a car at a private home and not at Hertz or Avis or one of the other big rental car companies. So, let me explain — pay close attention because this is a cool travel tip: I'm using Turo. Turo is like Airbnb for rental cars. It's an online platform where people can rent out their car to strangers. It's a great alternative to traditional car-renting companies. The owners, like Gary, list their cars with Turo and renters like me can search the site and rent them for daily prices set by the owners. It's my first time using Turo. I was looking at normal car rental companies, but then I tried looking on Turo's website, and this little cute sports car came up at a fraction of the prices I had just been quoted. It seemed almost too good to be true. It's a black two-seater sports car where the roof folds back at the push of a button. This was just something I had to try, so I booked, and here I am, in front of the car chatting to Gary. "I just bought the car because I wanted to have a fun little car that I can rent out," says Gary. "I've always wanted to own a small, convertible sports car to take advantage of the great Austin weather. Turo made sense because it allows me to rent it out when I am not using it to make a few extra dollars. I bought it specifically to rent out on Turo, so I don't mind it being used by other people." Just like me, this was Gary's first time using the Turo service. After a brief chat, I was handed the keys and took control of the little black beauty. And boy, was it a great ride. ROCKSTAR OF THE ROAD During my first few days in Austin, I attended another travel bloggers conference and one night, over a few beers at one of the social events, I met Ed and Jeanie – a charming couple from Houston. We got along rather well, and at the end of the night, Ed offered for me to stay at their place for a few days when I got to Houston. I wasn't sure if it was the beers talking, but I took him up on his offer and said that I would love to. So here I was, heading from Austin to Houston in a little open-top two-seater sports car. It's a 2.5 hours' drive, and I had a blast hitting the open highways, feeling the wind brush through my hair; I felt like a rock star even though it was a bit scary being all the way down that close to the road with the huge 20-ton Texan trucks driving alongside me, hardly being able to see me all the way down there. I felt I was driving a go-kart and could drive under them without any problems… but I decided against it. TRAILER PARK LIVING As I'm sure you can imagine, the car made a few heads turn as I was slowly making my way through the trailer park to Jeanie and Ed's trailer — my home for the next couple of days. Ed is a tall Texan, so everyone calls him Big Ed. As I arrive, I'm greeted by Big Ed and his friend Randy who were on the front porch having a few cold ones. Keeping them company was a cute little white dog called Yogi Bear. "Woah, look at you man. Fuckin' pimpin'. That's great man, I can't believe you found us," says Big Ed as I head over to greet him. Jeanie's and Big Ed's trailer is big. It is 16x80 feet (5x24 meters), and if you didn't know it, you would think it's a normal little 120m² house. Especially when you step inside, it's got a corridor and several rooms including two bathrooms. So, it's not the kind of caravan that you would hook up to your car and go on a summer vacation. Well, maybe here in Texas with a big-ass truck in front of it, you could. But this one hasn't been moved since it got here a few years ago. Big Ed is retired, and since he doesn't have to get up early, he likes to stay up late watching sports or Fox News on their big flatscreen TV — easily until 3-4a m each night. Jeanie usually goes to bed earlier because she still works (or was at the time of the recording, but she just retired in 2021). So, for Ed not to wake her up in the middle of the night, they have separate bedrooms. But while I'm there, Ed is letting me have his bedroom and will sneak into her big waterbed, which he doesn't seem to mind. As the sun slowly started to set, it started to rain. So, I sat down with Big Ed on his front porch for a chat to find out more about my hospitable host. PORCH CHATS WITH BIG ED The rain, unfortunately, prevented Big Ed from making his "not-so world famous" BBQ spare ribs for us. But he assured me

HOWDY FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS I mentioned in the previous episode from Quebec, Canada that I was going to Finger Lakes in Upstate New York after my short visit to Canada. I went there to attend a TBEX conference for travel content creators, which was really fun. I was only there for a few days and didn't get a chance to explore the beautiful area around the lakes, so I didn't record enough for an episode. Soon after the conference, I jumped on a flight headed to Texas where another conference was waiting for me. And the flight wasn't without challenges that left me stranded in New Jersey… My flight out of Ithaca was delayed, which is not news. But I decided to get to the airport super early that day to catch up on some work while I waited, which was supposed to be only a few hours. But my flight was delayed once. Then twice. Then again. Then my connecting flight left without me. So, I had to spend the night and pay for my hotel without United Airlines helping me out with the inconvenience. Anyway, par for the course for a vagabond like myself, I guess. I finally made it to Texas so let's get rocking in Austin! KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD Austin's unofficial slogan is "Keep Austin Weird". It became a thing in 2000 when a local librarian, Red Wassenich, used the phrase on a local radio show. He later began printing bumper stickers and launched the website KeepAustinWeird.com. In the spirit of weirdness, let's get to know the city a little better with some facts about where I am. WEIRD FACTS ABOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS At some point, Austin was entirely underwater. But that was a little while back — some 66 million years ago. It was also home to 10 underwater volcanoes, which is why Austin's cliffs are made of white, crumbly rock known as "Austin Chalk." Austin is ranked one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. with its 12 off-leash parks, dog-friendly restaurants, and hotels. An average of 20 million people visits Austin every year. This is more than the annual visitors to Rome (4.2 million), Hawaii (8.3 million), and even London (17.4 million). Austin is the capital of Texas, and the Texas State Capitol building is the second largest state capitol building in the United States, after the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Which just goes to show that everything is bigger in Texas. U.S. News & World Report named Austin the best place to live in the U.S. in 2017. Austin has its very own Bigfoot named Hairy Man who allegedly lives on Hairy Man Road. Austin is home to the largest bat colony in North America. Around 1.5 million bats emerge from under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge just before sunset every day from March to October. And I got to experience that! And, most importantly, Austin has the only legal nude beach in Texas. I didn't get to experience that... AUSTIN MUSIC But what the city is most famous for is its vast and rich music culture. Austin's official motto is the "Live Music Capital of the World" because of its 200+ live music venues and over 2,000 bands and performing artists calling it home. The city hosts the annual South by Southwest conference and festival for parallel film, interactive media, and music that takes place every year in mid-March. The music part of it — South by Southwest Music — is the largest music festival of its kind in the world, with more than 2,000 acts performing. What's called "Austin music" in its modern form emerged in 1972 when a new form of country music exploded on the scene — a scene that turned its back on Nashville. That same year, Willie Nelson did the same, when he left Nashville and moved here. In the following years, Austin gained a reputation as a place where struggling musicians could launch their careers in front of receptive audiences at informal live venues. HOUSE OF SONGS Austin is also home to The House of Songs, a homely retreat that invites songwriters from around the world to the United States to craft their music. Here, musicians can share in the universal language of music through collaborations and live performances, and the house is designed to bridge cultures, build friendships, and cultivate peace. It was all inspired by a collaboration between Troy Campbell and Danish singer-songwriter Poul Krebs, who happens to be a household name in my home country. 100 points to you if you have heard of him before… if you're not Danish. Coincidentally, a friend of mine has been playing music with Poul Krebs for years, and when he heard that I was going to be in Austin, he introduced me to Troy Campbell. HOUSE OF SONGS I met Troy outside the House of Songs house and we immediately hit it off. He was excited to tell me about how he and my friend Poul came up with the concept of House of Songs. Troy and Poul got the idea for House of Songs at a writer's retreat on the Danish island, Samsø. And in 2009, they started a one-year project to bring Danish artists here to Austin. "At a South by Southwest festival, I was approached by a few people who were looking

BONJOUR A QUEBEC CANADA I'm heading north in Vermont after my road trip to all six states in New England. As I was getting close to the border of Canada, I pulled over and stopped at a rest stop at the side of the road to check some things and send a few messages before my American SIM card would lose connection. I travel with two phones. One with my Danish number and one with a local number, so I'm able to get online. As I was sitting there deeply focused with my eyes on my phones, I got a shock when there was a knock on the window. I turned my head and there was a police officer with his hand resting on his gun in the belt. The tightly built Hispanic looking officer asked for my driver's license and my passport – and with these, he walked back to his police car behind me. Unlike the time I was pulled over for speeding in North Carolina, this was a pleasant meeting with the US police force. And he even directed me to where I could get some wine cheaper than on the Canadian side of the border. So, I did exactly that before heading across the border. WELCOME TO GARDEN OF EDEN I've been invited to visit a unique place in the Bromont Mountains – where I meet Patricia. She's been a clinical nurse for 25 years and a college teacher for almost 10 years, she has a bachelor's degree in health science and received training in therapeutic riding. So, I think it's safe to say that care is her passion. But she's also had a passion for horses from a young age and in the middle of her career, she decided to combine her two passions… bought a ranch close to Bromont and named it Jardins d'Eden – the Gardens of Eden. The place is located on a century-old estate with access to a huge area and a magnificent landscape with a view of the Bromont mountain, lake, and river. A short walk into the forest she's got a very old small building that she calls "The Sugar Shack". It's without electricity and running water. And no Wi-Fi either or even a signal on your cellphone. So, if you decide to stay here, you are totally off the grid. HORSES AS THERAPISTS Horses are wonderful therapists, Patricia tells me. She offers therapeutic horse-riding sessions adapted to your needs according to a personalized care plan. The Ranch is a peaceful place where calm and healing are priorities. They also offer unforgettable hikes, and apart from the refuge in the forest (the primitive Sugar Shack), she also has a luxurious loft apartment above the stable. And there's a lot to do in a place like this… Two Airbnbs, therapeutic riding sessions, massage, hikes, plus 10 horses, 5 ponies, one goat, and two dogs that needs to be fed and cared for – it's a lot of work. But Patricia tells me that this doesn't feel like work. If you're in the area, and you want a pause in your life and spend a few days in Patricia's sugar shack or in her loft above the stables, surrounded by 10 horses, 5 ponies, one goat, and two dogs … you can find the link to her Airbnbs on her website. Due to Covid, it's not possible to visit right now, but probably again very soon. A special thanks to Patricia Senécal who took the time to show me around her Garden of Eden and educate me about the wonderful life with horses. I'm heading back to the USA, after a few days in Bromont, Montreal and Toronto, to visit some friends here. But I'm not going to record anything from this since I already did quite a bit from this area when I was here the last time. So, if you're interested go back and find those episodes. When you hear from me again, I'm at the beautiful Finger Lakes in upstate New York. My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you.

While I'm working on an episode from my revisit to Canada, I'll give you an episode from the last time I was in this country in the north.

Join me as I visit beautiful Vermont for another instalment of my New England road trip adventure. In this episode, I meet yet another guy named Ben, hike the gorgeous Mount Washington, and sink my teeth into all the ice cream at the Ben & Jerry's factory. Lick your lips for what's to come. 192 VERMONT: Ice Cream in Green Mountains Hello from Vermont, USA After wrapping up my adventures in Maine and saying farewell to my Couchsurfing friend, Blueberry Ben, I jumped back in my hired car and proceeded to head west. It was a drive of 243 miles that took me back through New Hampshire and just across the state line, where I eventually arrived at the last of the six states in New England — Vermont. Leaving Blueberry Ben back in his forest in Maine, I was on the lookout for another Ben: this time, the Ben from Ben & Jerry's. Spoiler: I didn't. But I met someone who has met the real Ben & Jerry. He is from Vermont, and funny enough, his name is also Ben. How weird is that? We'll call him Vermont Ben. VERMONT BEN While editing this episode from Panamá, I met Vermont Ben during a pool tournament hosted by the hostel I am staying at. How randomly serendipitous to meet a guy called Ben from Vermont that just happens to be the episode I was editing at the time. It's like the universal laws of attraction are working overtime, bringing me together with people from the podcast episodes I edit on the road! Next time, I think I'll edit an episode about tall Swedish models who have a preference for bald Danish travel podcasters…#hereshoping "I'm 19 years old and I have been living in Vermont my entire life. It is a really beautiful place, with amazing people. There are a million things to do: it's a very outdoorsy place, it is extremely clean and environmentally safe and friendly. I ski, mountain bike, and do all activities you can do on a lake as I live on the lake. Most people from Vermont appreciate the outdoors and are very active, and the Vermont lifestyle is very attractive. It's a really amazing place to live and raise a family, indicated by the number of people who move there each year". As a self-titled 'proud Vermonter', I decided to test Vermont Ben on his knowledge about his home state. He passed with flying colours. Here are a few facts about Vermont that Vermont Ben already knew... FACTS ABOUT VERMONT Vermont's name comes from the French phrase "vert mont," meaning "green mountain." Nickname: The Green Mountain State. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the US, producing over half a million gallons a year (almost 2 million litres). With a population of just 7,787 in 2012, Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the US. There aren't many people in Vermont: only about 645,000. The only state with a smaller population in Wyoming. Some people joke that Vermont has more dairy cows than people. Not true! It has one cow for every 3.8 people, which is still the nation's highest cow ratio to people. Montpelier is the only US state capital without a McDonald's. And no billboards on the side of the roads. Very non-American if you ask me! HIKING MOUNT WASHINGTON The lovely Airbnb I stayed at in Vermont is situated within walking distance to the border of New Hampshire, so each time I went to the grocery store down the road, I essentially crossed the state line. The day after I arrived, I decided to delve deeper back into New Hampshire to go for a hike on Mount Washington. It is the highest peak in the North-eastern United States at more than 6000 ft (almost 2000m), and it's the most topographically prominent mountain east of the Mississippi River. After my blood pressure health scare, I was told to increase my cardio to get my blood pumping regularly — doctor's orders. That morning, I already went for a run, so by the time I started on the trail, I was a little tired...and sweaty. There is a train that travels to the top of the mountain called Mount Washington Cog Railway, and it takes you on a dramatic ascent to the summit. The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world and the only one currently operating in North America. With an average gradient of 25% (some sections are nearly 38%), it's also the second steepest in the world. It primarily provided by a fleet of seven powerful biodiesel locomotives, and then the railway also continues to operate a pair of century-old, coal-fired steam engines. I saw four trains pulling the Cog: three diesel trains in the front and one steam train pushing the rear. It's located in the heart of the majestic White Mountains region, and even the drive up there along Base Station Road is beautiful – every twist and turn of the road is a new Instagram moment. One of the places you must remember to stop for some pictures is the Upper Falls. It's an impressive rocky cascade and popular swimming hole just a few meters from the road. Also, keep your eyes open for wildlife – it's not uncommon to see moose and bear along the Base road. BURLINGTON, VERMONT After my

Welcome back to Maine and my stay at Ben's Blueberry farm! In this episode, I put a chilli finger in my eye and my foot in my mouth. So, this is not my proudest episode. You can stop reading now. But if you're brave enough to continue, just don't say I didn't warn you... In the previous episode, I arrived at Ben Perrin's blueberry farm in the middle of nowhere in Maine, USA. I got to hang out with him and his crew and saw how they sort their first-class organic blueberries and get them ready for shipping to stores. I also went to a place called The Pickled Wrinkle to eat pickled sea snails (gross) and walked around in the beautiful Acadia National Park. If you missed Part I of my time in Maine, be sure to listen to the episode before you continue. BEN AND HIS BLUEBERRIES For my last night in Maine, Ben invited me to go to a small local concert. He knew the singer and wanted to go see her ... and grab a few beers. So, I offered to be the designated driver. We piled into Ben's truck and headed out at dusk. As I was driving along the small, winding forest roads, I pulled out the microphone and asked Ben to tell me about how he ended up becoming a blueberry farmer. Ben tells me he has spent the past 15 years working on farms all around the United States, seeking out blueberry farms in particular as they are his favourite to work on. "When the machines started taking over our jobs, I started Burke Hill Farm as a way of protecting our jobs," says Ben. He was a roaming worker back then, and when he eventually arrived in Maine, he saved up enough to buy the land and build the farm. Ben's farm sees a lot of people coming to help out during the harvest season each year. "Every kind of person walks through our doors. Every different kind, and then some," he says. He's had people over the age of 80, and a few as young as 14 come to work on the farm over the years. This kind of work and lifestyle appeals to a wide variety of people, which makes each season different. Jason and Ben are the only people who work at the farm all year round. But during various times of the pre and postseason, he fires a small team to help carry the load. But Ben isn't one to shy away from hard harvest work. After around 15 years of working on farms for 20 hours a day non-stop for months, it eventually took its toll on Ben, and he found himself in hospital suffering from chronic fatigue. At that time, Ben wasn't eating for 15 days straight and getting around 30 minutes of sleep each night. After recovering, Ben realised he needed help, so he hired Jason, who helps out a lot. PODCAST RECOMMENDATION I want to give you a podcast recommendation. It's a short daily podcast called Everything Everywhere by a guy called Gary Arndt. It's a nice daily dose of random knowledge. Be sure to give him a listen. FOOT IN MOUTH On the first night staying with Ben, he made us some home-cooked spicy chicken. It really was delicious but very spicy. At the height of my gastronomic euphoria, I accidentally rubbed my eye with my spicy finger, and wow... it was violently unpleasant. Note to self: never extend hands above the mouth when consuming heavily spiced chicken limbs. After that, we had a beer and started talking about a bunch of things: and politics came up. I should have known that the US is very politically divided, unlike Denmark. Back home, we often talk about these things openly. But I wasn't in Denmark. I was in Maine, USA. On a blueberry farm. With spicy eyeballs. Then, I put my foot in my mouth like an idiot. For some reason, I assumed that being farmers in Maine, Ben and his friends would naturally be Trump supporters. Boy, was I wrong. After talking about the topic of immigration and comparing the situation in Denmark to that of the United States, things got awkward. After I started my standpoint, someone tried to stop the conversation by calmly letting me know that what I was saying sounded similar to what Trump's viewpoints were at the time. I was surprised that I was not in the right-leaning company here on a farm in Maine, but in fact, a very left-leaning crew occupies these barn walls. I was super embarrassed that suddenly, among these people, I sounded like a Trump supporter. Wow, along with my foot firmly wedged in my mouth, I thought about poking my spicy fingers in my eyes for good measure! We changed the subject quickly... BEN'S PHILOSOPHY Back in Ben's truck on the way to the gig, Ben tells me why he likes living in Maine so much. "Maine has the lowest APSM ratio (Assholes Per Square Mile) of the country, and that is in large part due to the fact that not many people live here to begin with, which significantly reduces the APSM". Ben plans to immigrate to Ecuador or Colombia sometime in the future. He isn't entirely happy with the way the country is being run. He doesn't seem to think the country is going to be very inhabitable in the future. These countries have a powerful military presence, according to Ben. He thinks the countries in t

Greetings from Maine, USA! After leaving the scandalous and oh-so-intriguing story of Belinda Rathbone and The Boston Raphael behind in Boston, I jumped back into my trusted steed of steel and headed for Portsmouth, New Hampshire for a 2-night stay with a Couchsurfing buddy. I needed to visit a medical clinic here to get my blood pressure checked after consulting my doctor back in Denmark. The saga continues... UNDER (BLOOD) PRESSURE After a thorough examination from a friendly physician, I was advised on how to improve things in my life to better my situation, like diet, exercise, etc. I was also given some medication to assist, which turned out to help me tremendously. Portsmouth was great, despite my stay being short and my medical tests taking up most of my time. Not one to dwell, my spirits remained high as I hit the road on the way to Maine for another Couchsurfing experience – this time on a farm. THE MAINE PRIZE Every single day since then – and probably for the rest of my life – I've been taking a small pill every morning to keep my BP levels in check. So, it was a "new me" with low blood pressure that was heading North towards a state with a lot of forests. In fact, 89.5% of Maine is covered in forest. That puts them at number one on the list in the US, and actually, number two on that list is where I am right now… New Hampshire with 84%. Both of the two states have a population of around 1.3 million – but Maine is around four times as big as New Hampshire. I then drove from Durham, New Hampshire to my next Couchsurfing host Ben's Blueberry farm in Burke Hill Farm in Cherryfield, Maine. It's a drive of 240 miles/386 kilometers, so I made a stop on the way at the iconic Portland Light Head (not to be confused with Portland, Oregon that was actually named after this Portland here in Maine). FUN FACTS ABOUT MAINE The official state animal of Maine is the moose. The state is home to approximately 76,000 moose, the highest moose population in the lower 48 states. The official state insect of Maine is the honeybee. The Maine Beekeepers Association was founded in 1976 to promote understanding of the insect's importance. Maine is the only state that shares its borders with only one other US state. That state is New Hampshire. The rest of the border is to Canada in the north. Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable. Maine is the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States. In fact, Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country. So, very appropriate that I'm heading to a blueberry farm to learn more about this. BEN'S BLUEBERRY FARM The reason why I chose to stay in the Northeastern corner of the USA in the countryside is that when I travel Southwest from here I will pass the Arcadia National Park, nestled on a small island. It is described as a beautiful 'must-see' part of the area so I planned to spend a full day there. The drive up to Ben's farm is really beautiful, with lots of farms and lakes and nature. He told me that it can be tricky to find his farm as it is really secluded, so he'd given me a long description on how to find it. We're so far away from anything that I can't rely on getting a signal and use Google Maps like I normally do. His directions included this special note: "You just need to aim the sextant at the North Star and go from there… you'll be fine." It had been a long time since I used a sextant... My alpha male innate sense of direction didn't let me down and I eventually managed to find the farm and met Ben and his dogs. He welcomed me into his newly built wooden house and I was welcomed with a fresh cup of coffee made by Ben's friend, Jezebel. Nothing like a good cup of coffee to forge new friendships over. A bit later, I met Ben's right-hand man, Jason, who impressed me with his limited handle on Danish numerals. Ben's farm is called Burke Hill Farm and it's a certified organic wild blueberry farm in Cherryfield, Maine, the heart of Maine's blueberry country. Here, Ben and his team farm about 200 acres of organic wild blueberries the traditional way, harvesting by hand to provide high-quality wild blueberries. Ben Perrin started raking blueberries in 1991 and started Burke Hill Farm in 2001. Inside the wooden house, you can almost smell the fresh wood and the sawdust. Ben built "every f@cking piece" of the house with his bare hands over 15 years, and only just moved in 3 weeks prior. So, there are few things that still require fixing. Ben tells me that it is a quiet and peaceful place for the most part until the team starts working on the blueberries downstairs…Later that day, Ben took me downstairs to show me the harvest process of sorting freshly picked blueberries. HARVESTING BLUEBERRIES Once the freshly hand-picked blueberries are harvested and brought to the farmhouse, they are placed on a conveyor belt. First, the leaves get blown away by a big fan, then the blueberries are sorted by a grainer (small ones fall thro

Hello again from Connecticut, USA! Welcome to Part II of my exciting visit to Connecticut, USA. If you missed Part I, then be sure to listen to The Radio Vagabond episode (#187) or read the blog post to get caught up with all the magic that this charming city has to offer. Quick recap: I arrived in Connecticut, USA from Providence and attended a CouchCrash organised by the Couchsurfing community here. They call it ConnectiCOUCH and it's a weekend full of exciting experiences and parties for locals and travellers alike to meet up and make lasting friendships. After a wonderful walking tour of Hartford with local Margaret, we got back into her car and headed towards Manchester. And here is where we start this episode... ORIGIN OF THE YANKEES Directionally challenged Margaret tells me that because Connecticut is situated between New York and Boston, the state is divided into Boston and New York sports fans: for football, they are either Patriots or Giants fans, and for baseball, it's between the Red Sox and the Yankees. The sports rivalry is insane here. "My son is a Yankees supporter, and I am a Red Sox fan, and he would taunt me by wearing his Yankees hat around the house as a joke. It's all friendly rivalry and it's the same in most households in the region - families split in terms of their support for different sports teams" says Margaret. Margaret tells me how the Yankees became the Yankees. "When the Dutch first arrived in Connecticut from New York, they set up a fort in the area - now known as Hartford. Around the same time, an English pastor from Massachusetts by the name of Thomas Hooker settled in Hartford with his followers, unbeknownst to the Dutch. When the Dutch returned to Hartford after being away for a few years, they were met with Hooker and his people on their land. Of course, little skirmishes ensued for the rights to the land, but ultimately, they let Hooker stay and they left. But they were unhappy about this and called the settlers 'Jankers' which in Dutch means 'thief'. In the Dutch language, the letter J is pronounced as a Y, hence the name Yankees." I wonder how many Yankees fans today know the original meaning of the name... CONNECTICOUCH WEEKEND OUTINGS The first day was our Hartford Day. There were four different things to choose from, and I chose to tour the Mark Twain House & Museum in the morning and the Hartford Walking Tour with Margaret in the afternoon (which you can listen to in Part I). Other options were a visit to the Old New-Gate Prison, a former prison and copper mine site, and adventures in nature: a hike, a visit to Wadsworth Falls State Park and then that River Tubing thing I talked to Jason about in the latest episode, where you flowed down the Farmington River just west of Hartford. Before Margaret joined us, when I was exploring Mark Twain's House, she did a tour of Coltsville National Park where Samuel Colt started his Hartford factory on the banks of the Connecticut River in 1847. Yes, that Samuel Colt, as in Colt Firearms. "Samuel Colt was an entrepreneur who wanted to get into the gun manufacturing industry. After a first failed attempt in Patterson, New Jersey, he returned to his birthplace of Connecticut to give it a try. At first, he wasn't received well by the locals: he couldn't secure land or finance, among other things. Somehow, he scavenged money and built up his Colt gun manufacturing empire which took off during the American Civil War. However, he passed away in his 40s and left the company to his wife which was a huge scandal back in those days. His wife, Elizabeth, was young (in her 30s) and was very short, but she ran that company like a badass boss. She took care of workers and ran the business even better than her late husband and propelled it into the household name we know today. She was a remarkable woman, and one of my personal heroines." Margaret tells me that Samuel Colt wasn't a pushover, either. Rollin White, a friend of Samuel's and an engineer in his factory, approached him with a suggestion about Samuel's gun design. Being the hardened man he was, Samuel dismissed White's suggestions. White then took his ideas and patent and approached Winchester gun manufacturers and gave them the designs - which they took. They began manufacturing Colt's guns and gave White $0.25 for each gun sold, which turned White into a wealthy man. Even when Colt tried to update his original designs, the Winchester gun company took Colt to court. After the great history lesson, Margaret and I headed to the ConnectiCOUCH kickoff party hosted at Tomato Joe's & Shea's American Bar & Grill in Margaret's hometown, Manchester, Connecticut. Margaret tells about Manchester: how the city has a unique blend of traditional and historic village type of set up, and a more modern side of the city with shopping malls and high-rise buildings. She tells me that there is a lovely community in the area, and it is a great place to raise a family. ENGLISH INFLUENCE IN NEW ENGLAND

Greetings from Connecticut, USA! Welcome to the third instalment of Season 6 of The Radio Vagabond travel podcast series. In this episode, (#187 of my entire nomad journey!) you'll join me for an exciting Couchsurfing adventure through Connecticut, New England. But first, let's start where I ended off in the previous episode in the smallest state in the USA, Rhode Island. I'm about to check-in to my Airbnb in Providence...let's do this! SEE PICTURES IN THE BLOG POST – CLICK HERE ARRIVING IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND As I knocked on the door of my Airbnb, I was immediately greeted by my wonderful host family with a small, very energetic (LOUD) dog. It took a day for the puppy to warm up to this dashing Danish vagabond, but we established an understanding. I spent my first day in Providence working in my room directing a voice-over recording from Denmark, which meant I had to set my alarm for the early hours of the morning (#nomadlife). After I finished work, I decided to take a drive through the city while continuing to listen to Crime Town, a true-crime podcast set in Providence. NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND The next day, I decided to trust the internet suggestions of 'things to do in Rhode Island' and headed South to the famous Cliff Walk to take in the scenery. The cliff walk is exactly that: a slow, wandering stroll on the cliff edge overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. It is so peaceful here, I really love the smell of the ocean. After I had enough of soul-searching on the cliff edge, I returned to my Airbnb in Providence and gathered my things: it was time to hit the road again. NEXT STOP: CONNECTICUT The next day, I arrived in Connecticut - the 3rd of the 6 states I will visit on my road trip. I decided on trying out a different method of accommodation this time around...I joined the Connecticut Couchsurfing community! CONNECTICOUCH: A COUCHSURFING COMMUNITY Let me tell you a bit about the Couchsurfing concept before I meet my new friends here. Couchsurfing.com is a free platform where travelers and hosts can find each other and organize a place to spend the night. It's called Couchsurfing, but you typically don't sleep on a couch. I've done it all over the world and every time I've had my own room. SEE PICTURES IN THE BLOG POST – CLICK HERE You basically just sign up and get free access to all available hosts. Couchsurfing was launched in 2004 and today they have more than 15 million users. You can search for hosts in over 200,000 cities all over the world and you have the opportunity to message these hosts and kindly ask for them to open up their home for you – for no cost. No money changes hands, but you shouldn't see it as a free hotel. It's expected that you talk to your hosts and get to know them. I mean, that's why they are opening their doors in the first place. It's nice to save money when you're travelling, but that shouldn't be the main reason! It's also normal to give them a small gift. It can be a bottle of wine, or you take them out for dinner or bring something iconic from your hometown. But it can also be you singing a song or telling a story... MEETING JASON A man walks into a bar and meets Jason and his partner, Lee… I know it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but that's what's happened. The bar was expectedly noisy and not ideal for podcast recording, so we went out back and found a quieter location for a chat over some ice-cold beers. Jason is one of the main organisers of ConnectiCOUCH, a Couchsurfing meetup (CouchCrash) hosted in Connecticut. Ittakes place over a weekend every other year. "This is our second event after a successful launch event two years ago. We're trying to bring people from all over the world together to show how really great Connecticut is" says Jason. SEE PICTURES IN THE BLOG POST – CLICK HERE Not only is this my first CouchCrash, but it's also my first time in Connecticut. And I'm not the only one – not that many tourists come here even though it's so close to both New York and Boston. "Even though Connecticut is a tiny state, there is a lot of really interesting and neat stuff happening here. There is a lot of history and outdoor beauty. But Connecticut is a place of a lot of 'firsts': the first American hamburger was made here, and the first telephone booth in the country was made here too." When Jason is not hosting vagabonds from all over the world, he works as a manager of the retail department of a big casino in the state. COUCHCRASH The Couchsurfing community also organises CouchCrashes: multi-day events that members put together to celebrate their local Couchsurfing community. This is an awesome way for locals and travellers alike to connect, learn about the area, and see the cities in the state in a whole new way. It's also a great way to make new friends and enjoy an unforgettable and unique travel experience. I've heard about them during my travels but never had the opportunity to join – until now. "It's a great way to bring all the devoted Couchs

Cheers from Boston, Massachusetts Welcome to the 2nd installment of the 6th season of The Radio Vagabond travel podcast. I'm continuing my stay in Boston, Massachusetts with my friend and travel-writer (and awesome host) Brianne. If you missed Part I then you can listen and/or read it here to catch up! CHEERS! A few famous things from Boston include the Red Sox baseball team, the wicked Bostonian accent (think the film 'The Depaaaded'), and the birthplace of the 35th president of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy. But perhaps most importantly, Boston is known as the setting for one of the most beloved American TV shows of all time: Cheers. So, when you find yourself in Boston you simply have to visit the bar where "everybody knows your name"... SEE PICTURES ON TheRadioVagabond.com/186-boston/ Inside, the bar actually doesn't really resemble the one in the TV show, and I couldn't make out the areas where Sam and Woody would usually be, or even Norm's corner. But despite this, the place is packed daily with fans from all over the world eating overpriced burgers and drinking overpriced beer. It has 2 shops where you can buy any and all Cheers merchandise: t-shirts, mugs, hats, fridge magnets – you name it! It's a tourist trap, and because I'm a vagabonding tourist I had to buy a Cheers t-shirt… THE FREEDOM TRAIL After my visit to Cheers, I walked around downtown Boston for a few hours to get a feel for the city. I walked along The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long (4 km) path that passes 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. The trail is marked by a line of red bricks set in the pavement and connects the city's historical sights through downtown Boston between Boston Common across the Charleston Bridge through to Bunker Hill. It's a fun and unique way to experience all of Boston's history while on the move. SEE PICTURES ON TheRadioVagabond.com/186-boston/ One of the places I passed was the Old State House. Built in 1713, it was a seat of British power and the site of the Boston Massacre. Today it serves as a museum and stands as a small house in between the skyscrapers. BUY MY BANANAS – GOD DAMMIT..!! After following the red brick road, I tapped my ruby red slippers together and ended up at a fruit and vegetable market that was about to close up. Here I witnessed a uniquely Bostonian situation. A vendor was aggressively teaching his young associate how to scream and yell at people to get more customers. Screaming: "DOLLAR BOARD! DOLLAR BOARD!" while handing over boxes of fruit one dollar apiece. While doing that, he would turn around and yell to his employees "See, it's not that hard!" Yeah, that's what I want when grocery shopping - a crazy guy yelling in my ear, terrifying me into an unwanted banana purchase. BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS Cheers, The Freedom Trail, and iconic accents are just some of the things Boston is famous for. Unfortunately, the city is also renowned for the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, where 2 homemade bombs detonated near the finish line of the race, killing 3 people and injuring hundreds of others, including 17 people who lost limbs. SEE PICTURES ON TheRadioVagabond.com/186-boston/ Brianne had her father visiting during this period and he really wanted to get as close to the finishing line of the world-famous marathon as he possibly could. He tried to talk her into it but Brianne wasn't keen on the idea at all as all Bostonians know that the area is chaotically crowded with runners and tourists. So, Brianne suggested they stay home and watch the race on the TV. And thank goodness they did... "It was a really rough day," Brianne recalls. "I live across from a subway stop which they shut down as there were rumours going around that the subways had been compromised and weren't safe. The bombing occurred over a mile away from my apartment and there was so much commotion happening that day which added to the terrifying and frantic atmosphere." The hunt for the bombers took 3 days. "It was the longest and hardest 3 days of my life. We stayed home and waited for it to be safe to go back outside. We didn't know what was happening. There were high-security measures throughout the city and you were searched when you entered any buildings or subways". "After they apprehended the final suspect, we all breathed a sigh. We all came together as a community during this time of tragedy, which is about the only good thing you can take away from something like that." Check out the film Patriots Day about the incident which I found interesting. Brianne isn't ready to see it yet because it's still too soon. ROADTRIP: VAGABOND STYLE The next morning was my last day in Boston, so I organised a rental car for my month-long road trip across North-eastern USA. I said a sad goodbye to my Bostonian friend and her elderly dog, Lucy, and started my trip. I headed south from Boston to the tip of Cape Cod, a delightful hook-shaped peninsula in Massachusetts state and a famous s

Welcome to Season 6 of The Radio Vagabond! This season I'm back in North America and will be releasing travel podcasts from my visits to New England, Canada, Upstate New York, Texas, Mexico, and Florida. But before we start, let's pick up where I left off last season in Czechia. CHECKING OUT OF CZECHIA After staying a few days in an old wooden house reconstructed into a charming little hotel in the middle of the forest close to a lovely lake, it was time to check-out and head to the airport to leave the Czech Republic. I chatted quickly to hotel owner Malena about a camel I saw walking past my window (yes, a camel). She tells me that I am not going crazy, the camel is indeed real, and it belongs to local farmers. Phew, I thought I was going around the ben. BOSTON BOUND Not long after camel-spotting, I was on a plane over the Atlantic on my way to Boston, Massachusetts, for a bit of vagabonding. In the Boston International Airport immigration line, I was about to use my new ESTA visa as my previous one expired a month ago, which got me sweating like a gipsy with a mortgage. Thankfully, all my paperwork was in order, and the friendly immigration officer allowed me to enter the country. After collecting my backpack from the desolate carousel, I was on my way to meet up with my local friend, who offered to host me for a few days. BOSTON BRIANNE I met Brianne Miers at a travel bloggers' conference in the Philippines 2 years ago. We kept in touch, and she offered to put me up when I got to Boston, so here I am. She has a really great apartment which she shares with her adorable elderly dog, Lucy. The next morning we took Lucy for a walk at Castle Island, a 400-year-old British fort on a little peninsula near South Boston, or Southy as the locals call it. It was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with Brianne. Brianne was born in New Jersey, lived in Denver for a bit, attended Graduate School in Washington DC before moving to Boston about a decade ago. Although Boston is far smaller than New York City, Brianne enjoys its history, nightlife and cultural scene. We chat more about Boston being perhaps the most 'European' city which is maybe why I like it so much. BRIANNE'S BLOG Brianne is a freelance writer, photographer, and travel blogger, who has been to 45+ countries since her first trip overseas to China at the age of 11. Her blog, A Traveling Life, focuses on balancing a professional career with a life of travel, and it's her goal to take at least one trip each month. "I started my blog a few years ago with the intention of showing that it is possible to maintain a professional career while travelling significantly. Although it is for everyone, it is particularly aimed at Americans, who don't commonly receive many vacation days each year, and choose to travel close, like Mexico or the Caribbean. I just wanted to show that with a little planning and creativity, it's possible to see a lot more of the world," she says. Brianne could be a full-time nomad like me if she wanted to, but she tells me that she likes to have a home-base to return to after a long 3-4 month haul on the road. And she has to take care of Lucy, of course, who is no spring chicken. "I have a car and a house just for my dog", she jokes. But living in Boston has its perks with regards to work. "I have built up a really strong network here which has really helped my career. So for now, living in one place makes sense." FACTS ABOUT BOSTON Boston is named after a town in England. Many of the city's first settlers came from Boston, England, and simply kept the name. And it's a city that was first with many things in the USA: When you think of old Subways in the US, you might think of New York. But in fact, America's first subway was built here in Boston in 1897. They also have the oldest public park in the USA. It's called Boston Common and was established in 1634. The first Dunkin' Donuts was located in Quincy, Massachusetts, about 11 miles from Boston. The very first chocolate factory in the USA was in Boston. The year was 1765 when Walter Baker opened his chocolate factory here. The first American lighthouse was built in Boston – the Little Brewster Lighthouse in 1716. The first Thanksgiving in the country was celebrated in Boston. And Boston is home to the first college in North America. I'm talking about Harvard that was founded in 1636. After a relaxing stroll with Lucy in her favourite place, Brianne continued telling me more about Southy. "Typically in this neighbourhood, including towns along the East coast of Massachusetts, the housing architecture is rather unique. There are many 'triple deckers': narrow wooden homes with three storeys with a front porch built to house factory workers. Over the years, they have been renovated and remodelled, but many of the outer structures are kept intact." We continued our drive and passed a Starbucks, which had a few protesters outside. Brianne tells me that chain stores are generally not well-receiv

SELAMAT DATANG DI BALI Before the next season of The Radio Vagabond, I'm going to give you an episode from a unique luxurious place. This episode was recorded in January 2020. I've kept it on the shelf because of the Covid-Pandemic, but now with the vaccine on the way, I feel it's time to give you some inspiration for a super special vacation in Bali. I MET JOHN IN LONDON A few months earlier, in November 2019 I was at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London. This is a huge travel fair where the world's destinations, hotels, airlines, and anyone else working in the travel industry show what they are doing and make deals. I was there walking around with a press badge with my name on it, and when I came to the Indonesia stand a guy behind a table started speaking Danish to me. I have a very Danish name, and he guessed that I was a fellow countryman. John Nielsen is his name, and he is the manager of Fivelements Retreat in Bali. I told him that I would be in Bali a few months later, and he told me to get in touch and we could organize a visit. He showed me a brochure and a few videos of the place on his smartphone and it looked very idyllic and beautiful and I just had to accept his offer. So, fast forward a few months and I see him again. At the resort in Bali. ECO-CONSCIOUS WELLNESS Retreat Nestled on the banks of the Ayung River in the center of Bali, Fivelements Retreat Bali is a multi-award-winning eco-conscious Wellness Retreat. It's deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of Bali, and that's a part of why it's a peaceful sanctuary to embrace authentic Balinese Healing, Plant-based Cuisine, and Sacred Arts. They opened in 2010 as the company's flagship wellness destination bridging the wisdom of traditional healing cultures with innovative wellness concepts. Getting to the place, I was driving through a small authentic village with narrow streets and tiny (not so fancy) houses. So that made the contrast to what I was faced with inside the Retreat even greater. I know I say this a lot in the podcast, but this time it's even more important that you take a look at the blog post for this episode. I will try to explain what I see as best I can, but on theradiovagabond.com you can see both pictures and videos. It is truly amazing what I'm about to experience for the next few days. At the reception, I meet the manager John Nielsen again. He takes me for a walk around the resort. JUNGLE-LIKE FEELING Fivelements Retreat is in a very green area with small, curved pathways leading through the area with a lot of grass-roofed huts and houses. I hear the soothing sound of the river running through the area, the birds in the jungle-like forest, and occasionally the sound of a bell and a crackling fire – where people are meditating, mindfulness, or having a traditional fire ceremony. SACRED SPACE Right next to the fireplace, is what they call The Sacred Space. It was actually their plan to build the reception right here but then they discovered – almost by coincidence that there was something weird going on at this place. The rocks get warm even on a cloudy day, metal has seen to be spinning on a rock and some people will feel a sensation when meditating here. PLANT-BASED RESTAURANT We move on down a small pathway. On our left hand is their award-winning Sakti Dining Room – based on a farm-to-table philosophy. Here they serve a plant-based menu that's prepared with love, passion, and attention to detail. The menu is designed to give optimal plant-based nutrition and high energy and at the same time inspiring a gastronomical journey aimed to nurture body, mind, and soul. The food was phenomenal. I'm not a vegetarian, but I must say I did not miss the meat. Not only does it taste good – it also looks fantastic. A thing to experience is the Signature Chef's Specialty Tasting Menus. See pictures of some of the things I had here on theradiovagabond.com. IN THE GARDEN WITH TWO CHEFS This cooking process starts with sourcing the finest local ingredients at the height of the growing season. They support local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and environmentally friendly products. But they also have a small garden themselves, and as I was walking through the area with John, I got to meet the talented Balinese chef, Sr. Sous Chef, Made Tantra. As I'm standing there chatting with the passionate chef for this episode, John interrupts us, to introduce me to another chef: His good friend Brad French who is a renowned chef and cuisine lecturer from Le Cordon Bleu in Australia. Brad is not here to cook, only to relax, have a few massage treatments, get some inspiration from the local food here – and visit his old friend John, and see what he's up to here in Bali since he worked with him in Australia. THE HISTORY OF FIVELEMENTS They started out with nine Eco-Luxury Sleeping Suites. Independent villas along Bali's sacred Ayung River. These suites feature lofty, grass-roofed ceilings, breezy interiors, and recycled timber flooring. Each

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in June 2017 and is from the Bahamas. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/055-bahamas/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in October 2017 and is from New York. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/101-new-york/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in January 2018 and is from Ethiopia. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/135-ethiopia/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in August 2017 and is from Nicaragua. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/082-nicaragua/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in January 2017 and is from Vietnam. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/034-vietnam/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

While I'm working on the next season, I'm sharing a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in November 2016 and is from Singapore. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/023-singapore/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast.Spotify.Google Podcast. YouTube. Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message or fill out the form.

Hey guys! To keep your wanderlust ignited during the season break, I want to share a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in December 2017 and is from Morocco. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/088-north-carolina/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/30xyDnp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/30xymB3 Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2XBslBv YouTube: https://youtube.com/theradiovagabond Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message: https://telb.ee/uaz8k

Hey guys! To keep your wanderlust ignited during the season break, I want to share a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in May 2017 and is from Toronto, Canada. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/088-north-carolina/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/30xyDnp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/30xymB3 Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2XBslBv YouTube: https://youtube.com/theradiovagabond Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message: https://telb.ee/uaz8k

Hey guys! To keep your wanderlust ignited during the season break, I want to share a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in September 2017 and is from High Point, North Carolina. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/088-north-carolina/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/30xyDnp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/30xymB3 Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2XBslBv YouTube: https://youtube.com/theradiovagabond Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message: https://telb.ee/uaz8k

Hey guys! To keep your wanderlust ignited during the season break, I want to share a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in April 2017 and is from Memphis, Tennessee, USA. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/063-memphis/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/30xyDnp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/30xymB3 Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2XBslBv YouTube: https://youtube.com/theradiovagabond Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message: https://telb.ee/uaz8k

Hey guys! To keep your wanderlust ignited during the season break, I want to share a few flashback episodes of some of my favorite places around the world. If you missed them the first time, then here is your chance to get filled in! Just tune in and vicariously travel from the comfort of your home, car, office, bar, or wherever you are. This episode was recorded in April 2017 and is from Japan. EPISODE LINK: https://www.theradiovagabond.com/043-japan/ SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/30xyDnp Spotify: https://spoti.fi/30xymB3 Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2XBslBv YouTube: https://youtube.com/theradiovagabond Or in any place you listen to audio. Send me a voice message: https://telb.ee/uaz8k

VÍTEJTE V ČESKÉ REPUBLICE The main reason, I went to the Czech Republic at this time was because of TBEX – a conference for travel bloggers and other travel content creators like me. In their conferences around the world, they have interesting keynote speakers and useful workshop. In fact, I did one about starting a travel podcast. It took place in Ostrava, a small city in the eastern part of the country – and not in the capital Prague, as one might think. I'm actually glad it was here, because I've been to Prague many times before, and even though it's a wonderful, beautiful and historic city it was great to see another part of the country. And after the conference, I got to see even more. I was invited on a press trip in The Liberec Region in the northern part of the country. They called the trip "Finding Your Peace in a Bohemian Paradise" – so that's also the reason for the title of this episode. A quick disclaimer. Even though this is a press trip, where I was invited obviously in the hope that I'd say something nice about the region, I won't say anything I don't mean. Everything I say is my own genuine opinion. FACTS ABOUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC The Czech Republic is also called by its short-form name, Czechia. It's a landlocked country in Central Europe and is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the east. The country ranks as the seventh most peaceful country in the world according to the 2019 Global Peace Index. The country has the most castles in Europe – more than Beer is a big deal in the Czech Republic. Czech people are the world's heaviest consumers of beer. The first pale lager, Pilsner Urquell, was brewed in the Czech city Plzeň in 1842. Soft contact lenses were invented by a Czech chemist in 1959. The world-famous Škoda Auto is based in the Czech Republic. Their cars are sold in over 100 countries. WELCOME TO THE LIBEREC REGION Despite being the second smallest region in the Czech Republic, Liberec region is well known for local glass and jewellery, and romantic scenery provided by rock towns and a mountain range. The Liberec Region lies in the north of the Czech Republic boarding Poland and Germany. On the first day, we head just outside the region's capital, Liberec, to the top of Ještěd Hill. It's got a stunning view and a very unique round building containing both a hotel, a restaurant, and unique TV transmitter on the roof. This is considered the dominating feature of Liberec and the whole region. Our main guide on the tour is Eva Hornová, and throughout the episode, she will help me pronounce the different names of the places we visit. SUNRISE AT JEŠTED HILL After our visit, Eva asked us if we would like to come back the next morning to see the sunrise. And since she said it would be spectacular most us said yes… even though it meant that we needed to leave the hotel at 4.30 am. GLASS ART IN LIBEREC After breakfast, we went to see something this region of the Czech Republic is famous for, Glass art. The place is called Pačinek Glass and named after Master glassmaker, Jiri Pacinek. He is a talented glass artist-craftsman is truly a master – and captivating many glass art collectors and admirers around the world. Besides his own creations, he's cooperating with several world artists and designers. A lot of their unique art objects have been created and many of them became a part of famous world museum collections. The garden is very unique. None of these glass flowers and plants can be found and seen anywhere else than right here. You can come and see it anytime through a day, and you should, since the garden looks differently in daybreak, in midday sunshine, or at a sunset… And there are new glass plants appearing every year. The Glass Garden is open yearlong. You don't need to book, and the entrance is free. I'M BLOWING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC And then the glassmaker hands me the tube with a piece of melted glass on the end and I start blowing gently and turning it slowly, so gravity won't make it drop to the floor. The rest of the group is standing in a circle around me – looking very impressed. I bet they are thinking: "Hey, that radio guy is really a professional glass artist… he kept that a secret for a long time" … but then the bubble burst. Literally. CVIKOW BREWERY As I mentioned before the Czechs are famous for its beer. And this small microbrewery is called Cvikov Brewery. The beginnings of brewing beer in Cvikov dates back to 1560 when a privilege was granted to brew wheat beer and produce malt. They continued making beer here for more than 400 years, but in 1968 they shut down. First, after nearly half a century of nothing, an entrepreneur bought the devastated complex in 2013 and brought the tradition back. ART AND A SHARK The next day after a wonderful breakfast we started The Regional Art Gallery Liberec. Not only is it an interesting gallery but it's also in a beautiful building. On the way to The Botanical Garden, we