Janet's Jaunts Blog

Just back from Cuba

That’s me in an old car serving as a taxi in Havana. A week without cell phone,  internet, or credit cards in Cuba underscores the profound impact those things have on our...

Headed to Cuba

The I’m soon headed to Cuba on a legal people-to-people study trip flying from Miami. Most go there illegally from Toronto, Jamaica or another Caribbean island, since Americans have been permitted legally...

Memorial Day weekend with Civil War

Learned a lot while talking to Civil War reenactors for the story that will run Monday about the Memorial Day weekend encampment and reenactment of the Battle of the Wilderness at Lake...

Big contest win makes my day

Bustin’ my buttons over this: Veteran News-Herald staffer Janet Podolak has won a handful of honors from the Society of American Travel Writers, awarded at the group’s March 31 to April 5...

Twa-let by any other name is still a toilet

This is a beautifully painted squat toilet – co-ed, of course – that I encountered in back of a wine bar in Paris Although we all have basically the same male-female equipment,...

Ever tasted horse?

This market in the Place d’Aligre neighborhood of Paris included a butcher selling horsemeat. Me either. But I understand it’s often eaten in France and every time I get a menu on...