John Archives - Travel Examiner

Caribbean cruise, Holland America Lines Half Moon Cay island in the Bahamas, Caribbean visited from the ship ms Nieuw Amsterdam

Caribbean Cruise Vacation

November 24, 2024November 28, 2024 Bahama, Caribbean, Cruises, John 4

Story and photos by John Sundsmo. “Welcome to Half Moon Cay population 45, five miles long and 2.5 wide” our Bahamian nature guide said.

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Jack London, Jack London State Park, Glen Ellen, Sonoma, California

Inspiration at Jack London State Historical Park

November 17, 2023November 19, 2023 California, Destinations, John 0

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. As a child growing up in the Midwest, Santa brought me two treasured books, “Call of the Wild”

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In Germany the Carl Duisberg Japanese Garden

April 5, 2020June 4, 2020 Destinations, Europe, John 1

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. UPDATE 6/4/20: Although nonessential travel to Germany is prohibited at present, the land of poets and thinkers intends

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Golden Gate Bridge from Travis Marina, Fort Baker, Marin Headlands, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California

Marin Headlands: Just Across the Golden Gate Bridge

February 3, 2020March 11, 2020 California, California, Destinations, John, Marin County, San Francisco 2

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. Living in, or visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, we are blessed with the boundless beauties of nature.

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Venice For The Weekend

December 26, 2019August 17, 2021 Destinations, Europe, Italy, John, Venice 1

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. UPDATE 6/4/20: Travelers from the EU, along with the UK and the microstates and principalities of Andorra, Monaco,

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View of Sonoma Coast AVA, Russian River, from Thomas George vineyard in Guerenville

Russian River Rendezvous

July 20, 2019March 11, 2020 California, California, Destinations, Food and Wine, John, Russian River, Winery News, WineTasting 2

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. “Hurry up and drop your bags. We’ve been waiting for you”, urged Jersey Tom from the door of

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Three Gorges Cruise on the Yangtze River, Chongqing, China

Yangtze River Cruise in the Three Gorges.

March 8, 2019November 29, 2021 Barge Tours, China, Cruises, Destinations, John 2

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. A Yangtze River cruise was never high on my list of travel options, but it should have been.

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The Shanghai Bund as viewed from the Vue Bar at the top of the Hyatt Hotel, Shanghai, China

Revisiting The Bund in Shanghai with Harry and Selma.

January 15, 2019March 11, 2020 China, Destinations, John, Shanghai 5

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. Shanghai was where my Great Uncle Harry died and my Great Aunt Selma was imprisoned during World War-II.

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The Andes, Ollantaytambo, Peru, The Road to Machu Picchu, Cusco region, Peru

Road to Machu Picchu: Ollantaytambo to Aquas Calientes

October 6, 2018August 17, 2021 Agua Calientes, Destinations, John, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Peru, Road to Machu Picchu 2

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. This is the third article in a series entitled “Road to Machu Picchu.” My wife and I thought

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Croatian Wine Tasting in the Dalmatian Islands

June 11, 2018March 11, 2020 Croatia, Destinations, Food and Wine, John, Winery News, WineTasting 0

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. On a recent Katarina Line cruise of Croatian discovery, we learned that wine makers in the Dalmatian Islands

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Find Your Happy in Mendocino County

April 13, 2018April 14, 2023 Destinations, Food and Wine, John, Mendocino County 1

By John Sundsmo. The catchy logo of Mendocino County, “Find Your Happy,” was on display at the recent Taste of Mendocino held at San

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Sacred Valley of the Inca, Chincero, Peru

Road to Machu Picchu: Cusco to Pisac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

March 24, 2018August 17, 2021 Cusco, Destinations, John 1

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. Considering the once in a lifetime nature of a visit to Machu Picchu, my wife and I decided

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Exploring the Cheshire Ring Canals

January 26, 2018August 31, 2021 Barge Tours, Cruises, Destinations, England, John, UK 1

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo Exploring the Cheshire Ring Canals: “Wheer yo’ fro’?” said the man in tweed as he and his spaniel

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Taste of Travel, Bay Area Travel Writers Taste of Travel Fall 2017

Bay Area Travel Writers publishes Taste of Travel Fall 2017

January 18, 2018May 28, 2018 Food and Wine, John, Lee, Reviews 0

By Lee Daley and John Sundsmo Taste of Travel News: Reading the Fall 2017, second publication, by the Bay Area Travel Writers Taste of

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Georgos greek wine captures the spirit of wines produced on the island of Santorini, Greece

Greek Wines from Sonoma

January 11, 2018March 11, 2020 Destinations, Europe, Food and Wine, Greece, Greece, John, Santorini, Santorini, WineTasting 0

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. A memorable few years ago my wife and I visited the Greek islands of Santorini and Paros. There

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Road to Death Valley Meditation

March 26, 2017November 20, 2023 California, Desert, Destinations, John 1

Story and photos by John Sundsmo. Update November 20, 2023: In 2016, when my wife and I found meditative experiences in the tranquility of

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Willits The Heart of Mendocino County California; sign given to the city by Reno, NV

Willits Whistlestop Weekend

March 12, 2017March 11, 2020 Destinations, John, Mendocino County, Willits 3

Story and Photos by John Sundsmo. “You’re moving where? – Willits – where’s that?,” my museum guide, Dirk, told me his personal story as

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maritime heritage, Old Harbor Reykjavik, Iceland, wooden fishing boat, harbor

Old Harbor Reykjavik and its Maritime Heritage

January 10, 2017August 21, 2021 Destinations, Iceland, John 0

Story and photos by John Sundsmo. As our plane came in for a landing at Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport on Iceland I looked out

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Icelandic Viking Democracy – “Althings” (AlϷings) at Ϸingvellir

September 4, 2016March 11, 2020 Destinations, Iceland, John 1

By John Sundsmo. As an American I never really investigated my Swedish/Norwegian/UK heritage. That all changed after a spur of the moment decision to

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Che Guevara Mural, Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba, fifties cars

Cuba Libre? Documentary on Cuba travel history

August 5, 2016May 28, 2018 Cuba, John, Lee, News 1

By John Sundsmo. Photos by Lee Daley. UPDATE 3/6/2018: “Cuba Libre?” received the “Best Documentary Feature” award from the International Film Festival in Los

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