Amateur Traveler is closing the gap in the votes in Lonely Planet Blog contest, will time will run out first? http://budurl.com/8n2x

Travel to Moscow, Russia - Amateur Traveler Episode 175 (best places to travel) - http://budurl.com/h8qk

Travel to Moscow, Russia - Amateur Traveler Episode 175

Episode 175 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to John from Dallas about traveling to Moscow. We talk about red square, the Kremlin, the towers of Saint Basil’s cathedral, night life, the National History Museum, Cold War Museum and Russian women in mini-skirts. John who knows only two words of Russian still finds it easy enough to both get around in and fall in love with this somewhat mysterious city. Just think how much much he would like it if he visited Moscow in Summer.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

On the way home from Mexico, one last stop in Guadalajara. Should I tell my mother I accepted a ride from a stranger? I think not.

Apparently if you like the Amateur Traveler (my travel show) you can vote for it in the Lonely Planet awards at http://budurl.com/8n2x

A friend of my daughter at Lehigh University (information systems engineering and finance double major) is looking for a Summer internship.

http://budurl.com/rrul - This is the first episode of a new travel gear/gadget show for the Amateur Traveler, this one shot in San Francisco

I know (and raised) a very smart marketing major at Lehigh University who is looking for a Summer internship in marketing/pr/advertising.

Travel to Nashville, Tennessee - Amateur Traveler Episode 173

Episode 173 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to Geoff Smith about his boyhood home of Nashville that he recently moved back to. What would bring a musician back to Nashville after he has lived all of the world? Geoff talks about the things that tourists come to see: the Grand Ole Opry, Honky Tonk Row (including his own piano bar the Big Bang Bar), the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Musicians Hall of Fame, The Opryland Hotel. Then Geoff tells us what he really loves about Nashville. Nashville is a place where creative and artistic people can live among the beautiful rolling hills of Tennessee in one of the USA’s big three music cities.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

Travel to Nashville, Tennessee with @GeoffSmith - Amateur Traveler Episode 173 http://budurl.com/xhsf

Travel to Liverpool - Beatles Magical Mystery Tour - Amateur Traveler Video Episode 45

Video Episode 45 at Amateur Traveler

Visit Liverpool with the Amateur Traveler. This video shows part of the Liverpool's wonderful Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. When John Lennon died Beatles fans started to come to Liverpool as a kind of pilgrimage. The city of Liverpool organized a tour that is a treat for fans but you can also enjoy this tour even if you are not a rabid fan. It is informative and entertaining.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

http://budurl.com/m5mj - Travel to Liverpool - Beatles Magical Mystery Tour - Amateur Traveler Video Episode 45 - iMovie '09 & new HD camera

Bike Travel in Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) - Amateur Traveler Episode 172

Bike Travel in Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to Friedel from TravellingTwo.com about their continuing bike tour around the world. Friedel was on previously talking about travel to Iran and has come back to talk about the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. This region of the world offers adventure travelers deserts, tea houses, camels, wild horses, yurts, tea houses, spectacular mountains, friendly locals and fermented mares milk.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

http://budurl.com/z7cu - Bike Travel in Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) - Amateur Traveler Episode 172

http://budurl.com/k77n - Arcos de la Frontera, Spain - Photo Friday

Travel Blog contest ends today - Favorite City - http://budurl.com/5get

Heather deserves a stumble for this nice article she did for me on Bristol England - http://budurl.com/pnqt, I always love her pictures.

Travel to Ukraine - Amateur Traveler Episode 171 - http://AmateurTraveler.com/2009/01/31/travel-to-ukraine-episode-171/

Travel to Ukraine - Amateur Traveler Episode 171

Episode 171 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jessica from Williamsburg Virgina who traveled last Summer to the Ukraine with an ethnomusicologist from Villiage Harmony to learn how to sing Ukrainian folk music. Jessica travelled both to larger cities like the capital Kiev and Ivano-Frankivsk and small country villages. She also journeyed into the Carpathian mountains on the Romanian border. Jessica relates some of the stories about the people she met, the food they ate and scary public bathrooms. Learn why you should not whistle indoors or give someone a dozen roses in the Ukraine.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

Travel to Cuba - Amateur Traveler Episode 170

Episode 170 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to Sam about his recent trip to Cuba with his brother. Sam visited Havana and Trinadad. He reveled in the local music, the warmth of the people, the beautiful and enigmatic scenery and tolerated the food. Sam who is one eighth Cuban also met family that he had not known about until recently. Sam’s highlights include walking with tourists and locals alike along the malecon on the shore of Havana. As a photographer he came back with over a thousand pictures of the people, the colonial architecture and the classic cars of Cuba. A small sample of Sam’s work can be seen in the iTunes enhanced version of the show.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best travel destinations

Travel to Cuba episode release... let the flames begin http://AmateurTraveler.com

Travel to Armenia - Amateur Traveler Episode 169

Episode 169 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to David Dougherty about his recent trip to the small country of Armenia. David talks about view of Mount Ararat (just over the border in Turkey), monasteries and churches, riding the packed minivan buses (marshrutkas), meeting locals with a shared interest, the food, the legends and some of the history (the Armenian genocide).

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

Travel to Armenia - Amateur Traveler Episode 169 - http://budurl.com/ppce

Lonely Planet has added a travel category to their blogging awards, feel free to nominate the Amateur Traveler - http://budurl.com/btev

off to church and then training (http://cicministries.org/)

Travel to Key West, Florida - Amateur Traveler Episode 168

Episode 168 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to Casey Wohl the author of the Girls Getaway Guide to Key West about Key West Florida. We will talk about how the area has changed in the last 20 years from Jimmy Buffet’s famous Margaritaville to an area with numerous nice restaurants, art galleries and hotels. We will also talk about beaches, Ernest Hemmingway and other sland characters and how to catch a spiny lobster with your tickle stick.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

Travel to Israel - Amateur Traveler Episode 167

Episode 167 at Amateur Traveler

The Amateur Traveler talks to Douglas Duckett about his travels to Israel and his popular travel guide to Israel. Douglas has fallen in love not just with the “holy land” but with the modern nation of Israel. Douglas lays out a one or two week itinerary for Israel.

Amateur Traveler podcast - the best places to travel

http://budurl.com/c8k3 - wonderful podcast episode from NPR - Coping With An Autistic Brother: A Teenager's Take