About the Author

Once I started posting, I noticed something unexpected: other bloggers were liking my posts. It turns out everyone has a story to tell—and I’ve got one too.

My mother was a WWII war bride from France, and my father was a GI from Richmond, Virginia. They settled in Richmond and had five children, but my mother often returned to France to visit family. As a child, I was fortunate enough to accompany her on a couple of those trips, wandering the streets of Paris, exploring Brittany, and soaking up the sun in Nice. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong curiosity about the world beyond my own backyard. My French? Let’s just say it’s a bit rusty these days.

I attended VCU, studying History with minors in Political Science and Geography. I’ve always been fascinated by how societies develop, how people live, and how the events of the past shape the world we see today. In 1973, I moved to Washington, DC, to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration at American University. Paying your own way through school isn’t easy, however, and I never completed the degree.

Instead, I found myself entering government service at a time when computers were beginning to transform how organizations operated. What started as training in computer programming evolved into a career spanning more than thirty years. I worked at the General Services Administration, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, and eventually the Federal Communications Commission, where I finished my government career as Chief Information Security Officer.

Throughout that journey, I discovered that my greatest professional strength wasn’t technology itself—it was understanding how complex systems work. Whether those systems involved computers, organizations, or the people who operate them, I was always driven by curiosity and a desire to understand what was happening beneath the surface. After retiring from government service, I continued working with organizations such as MITRE, (ISC)², and ISACA before deciding it was finally time to slow down and enjoy life a bit more.

That same curiosity that shaped my career now fuels my travels. I’ve never been interested in simply checking destinations off a list. I enjoy learning about the history, culture, architecture, landscapes, and people that make each place unique. Photography became a natural companion to that curiosity, giving me a way to capture and share what I discover along the way.

Today, Clare and I travel whenever we can, making up for some of the adventures we didn’t have time for earlier in life. During one trip, I met Marie, who told me about her travel blog. The idea stuck with me. Why not combine my love of travel, photography, history, and storytelling into something I could share with others?

This blog is the result. It’s part travel journal, part photography gallery, and part exploration of the places, people, and stories that make our world so fascinating. If my posts encourage someone to visit a new destination, learn something unexpected, or simply see a familiar place from a different perspective, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

For all you travelers out there—whether you’re packing your bags or simply dreaming about your next adventure—happy trails to you.