Creative Writing Workshop at the Paris American Academy July 1st through the 28th, 2010

For the sixth year running, I’ll be teaching an intensive, month-long creative writing workshop at the Paris American Academy. College credit is available for this hands-on English-language writing program, which includes courses in:

Fiction Poetry Travel Writing Memoir Screenplays and dramatic writing Literary journalism Journal Writing Presentation and Performance

In addition … Read more »

With all the self-reflection that seems to go on at this time of year, it seems only fitting that we at BootsnAll take a step back and reflect on what it is that makes us unique. You have lots of choices when it comes to booking trips, including RTW trips, so what makes the RTW tickets at BootsnAll different?

We let you pick any itinerary you want, regardless of what direction you’re going.

That may … Read more »

Have you ever considered travel to Antarctica? By bus? OK, maybe not the bus part, but you have to admit that it would certainly be an adventure. Andrew Evans, contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler, just boarded a bus on New Year’s Day in Washington, D.C.—headed for the frozen continent.

His bus trips will take him through the southern states to Texas, then across the border … Read more »

Us vagabonders are quite privileged to know our way around different lands.  Have you ever “donated” your travel expertise to newbies?  Matt Gross, writer of the New York Times Frugal Traveler blog, did just that.  He started doing time at JFK airport at a help desk staffed by volunteers.  Here is his article: Frugal, but with plenty to give.

Reading the article brought back memories.  I’ve done long stretches living in … Read more »

Selecting 250+ pictures to represent the expanse and wonder of the planet is a daunting task, but it is one that Earth Bound: A Rough Guide to the World in Pictures has done very well.

Best known for its guidebook series, Rough Guides has pulled from a collection … Read more »

When one vagabonds alone, there is a sense of ease, of freedom. There is no one to answer to but yourself. Want to stop for half an hour to take pictures? Want to climb that mountain? Want to hit that bar? Want to jump off that waterfall? No problem! One just has to know what they want to do and take action.

A number of vagabonders travel with their partners or families. This opens up … Read more »

America’s top intelligence officer in Afghanistan has a plan for fixing intel operations in the country — and he’s turning to vagabonding techniques to do it. Maj. Gen. Michael Flynn points the way in a new report that isn’t bureaucratic hardtack —  it’s sensible, easy to digest, and actually looks healthy.

First, the report’s view of the current situation:

It happens almost every time. I return home from a trip and, once the jet lag wears off, I find myself feeling a little down. The expectations I had before the trip, and the freedom and wonder I experienced on the road have been replaced with a vague feeling of sadness, a sense of “blah”.  It seems normal enough, I suppose. Just like brides say they go into … Read more »

One of the key tenants of vagabonding is consuming less stuff, both on the road and at home. On the road less stuff means a lighter load, and at home buying less stuff gives you more spare cash to put toward the next trip.

We’ve also pointed out in the past that less stuff generally leads … Read more »

You might be familiar with Where’s George, the US Currency Tracking Project that allows you to go to the website, enter the serial number of a bill, and find out where it’s been before you (there’s also Where’s Willy to track Canadian money).  Often, bills that have been entered into this project have a small stamp on them with a link to the website, indicating that, at least once, someone registered them.

If … Read more »