top of page

Cases Travel & Explorations...

“Mostly, I want to see how the world works...”

- Richard Dean Anderson as MacGyver in The Gauntlet -

As a Romantic/Traditional Geographer, I know Travel. Exploring, wandering, pondering, and observing landscapes has always been one of my favorite things to do. For me, the lure of travel rests in the uncertainty. It’s life at its most exciting. I never know what Ill see next! And because of that philosophy, I’ve traveled a lot...Seen amazing things...Experienced harrowing situations. But regardless, it all begins with slowing down and taking time to see the landscape. Its okay to get lost. Its okay to not know your next location. Embrace the unknown. Keep an open mind. Be spontaneous (even if you have to plan for it).

Cases Traveling Style

My travel style revolves around five core behaviors: adaptability, flexibility, patience, humbleness, & gratitude. Without these traits, travel can become tedious, tiring, and even seem like an obligation – something you have to do because...well...you are already there.

 

Because of those traits, strict lists of things to do and see when traveling bother me. Though I often have an idea of what I want to see and a basic itinerary sketched out, both usually get modified because, once on the ground, things change. Sometimes really fast. Adaptability. Flexibility.

While I enjoy staying in posh places and high-class flying, for me, staying close-to-the-ground remain key aspects of my travel philosophy. For example, although I would never sacrifice health or safety when traveling, sleeping under the stars, in my car, staying in hostels, or sharing a Bedouin tent is not a big deal. Those experiences serve to enhance my overall appreciation for the privilege of travel, allowing me to savor times of extravagance. Gratitude.

As a Traveler and peripatetic topophiliac who likes to just see what they see, I relish any chance to wander and explore. Whether that means driving a foreign vehicle, riding a train, hopping a local bus, canoeing a river, riding a camel, or hiking through a jungle, I believe being with/in a landscape remains the key to truly appreciating it. Humbleness. PatienceGratitude.

 

My travel style also includes finding an effective yet light packing strategy, like what I usually pack for most any excursion. Once you begin packing less/lighter, you’ll be surprised how little you actually need, even for longer trips. Humbleness. Flexibility.

 

Finally, view some of my general tips for successful travel. Talk to people. Learn from their experiences. But remember: the most important souvenir might not always be what you think, and the ability to travel often rests in arranging priorities. Gratitude. Humbleness.

Cases Places

I’m not really a country counter, but I do keep track of where I’ve visited in case I want to return for something specific (this is why I always do my best to keep a travel journal). Still, once people find I’ve traveled to lots of places they tend to ask me where. So here are some countries I have lived in, studied in, and explored over the years – and many of them multiple times...

  • Africa:

    • Egypt, Morocco

  • Americas:

    • 49 US States, Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Bolivia, several Canadian Provinces, Chile, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Uruguay

  • Asia/Middle East:

    • China, Cyprus, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

  • Europe:

    • Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, England
      (and my family castle!), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, (Republic of North) Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales

Cases (International) Field Studies

One of my greatest joys centers on helping people gain field experience. To enhance this endeavor, I developed different programs over the years, such as my Geography by Rail® program, which I run for students and regular folks alike, as a novel way to learn about and appreciate the landscape better. Please contact me if you are interested. I enjoy leading GbR excursions.

A wise Traveler once said, “When is the last time you allowed yourself the time and space to simply go somewhere without any directions or expectations? Thats a true luxury that we rarely afford ourselves...were always out of time...Dont be afraid to travel boldly or carve your own path. Dont worry about losing time...or not seeing everything. You may just see enough. And maybe that enough is even more meaningful”. Indeed. What lies around that next corner or down that dusty road? Why not go...and see?!

bottom of page