EXPLORING ALLEYS - KORCULA, CROATIA

Tucked into a side strip of water on Croatia's famed Dalmatian coast, along the pastoral Adriatic, is a rocky outcropping seemingly designed, begging even, for a picturesque village.

From its preeminent position on that outcropping, the city of Korcula's Old Town is that village, a wonderful little wandering ground of alleys, shops, friendly people and history. Marco Polo himself is rumored to have been born in Korcula  where he grew up as the son of a merchant ,to the Far East and the town became the launching ground for Polo's world travels. A small museum features artifacts and a tour of his residence. 

Shops, galleries and other attractions are to be found here, with some excellent restaurants (and spectacular views) are found on the southeasternmost rim of the town.

A truly inviting and out-of-the-way destination for visitors who want to immerse 

themselves in a living history dating back nearly a thousand years - 

with access to the modern world just a (literal) drawbridge away.

EXPLORING ALLEYS - OLD TOWN NICE, FRANCE

One of the most charming aspects of the French Riviera is the cosmopolitan city of Nice. One of my favorite spots on the planet if I am to be honest about it. 

And among Nice's highlights, perhaps its best, is the wonderful old town section: Vieux Nice.

Occupying a central spot along Nice's impressive and expensive waterfront, the old town section is filled with alleyways and town squares featuring a variety of restaurants, nightlife and bohemian shops begging to be explored. 

Daytime or night.

Or best yet, instead of wearing out your shoes, pull up an alley side table at one of the dozens of sidewalk family-owned establishments. Order a fabulous meal and sit sipping coffee 

while you people watch and absorb the local "atmosphere".

QUOTES

THE FRIDAY MARTINI

It's Friday afternoon and time for the weekend's martini.

The below image is one of the chapter headers from the book Chasing Martinis, and based on an original martini photo from The Delaunay restaurant in London's theater district.

The original shot, part of the book's Bright Lights Big City chapter, is below.

Pinnacle vodka.

Have a terrific weekend!

AMERICAN HISTORY - RUINS IN THE MOJAVE

Along the westernmost part of The Main Street of America,  Route 66 carves its way across the unforgiving desert of the Mojave for more than 230 miles between Kingman, Arizona and Victorville, California.

The opening of the final stretch of Interstate 40 between Kingman and Barstow sealed the fates of tiny gas stations and motels along the Mother Road, and their carcasses still dot the landscape for adventurous travelers willing to bypass the Bypass.

Though the section between Ludlow and Newberry Springs is rough, the remainder of Route 66 through the desert is drivable, and offers an insight into our past as the West was bursting with adventure, novelty and promise.

A few hard-scrabblers still hang on, waiting for that traveler braving the desert
 in search of the past.