A Bus Called Forward

Southwest Ontario is renowned for its fall foliage, and the entire area is marvelous and mild during the spring and summer, but a Canadian winter hardly inspires road-tripping dreams—until now. [Read More]

Look at my picture. You might see a woman; you might see a man. That dissonance doesn’t trouble me, but it tends to trouble border officials. [Read More]

Tacos are arguably the most famous type of Mexican food, but what some people don’t realize is that across the country there are vast (and delicious) distinctions in everything from preparation to ingredients to presentation. [Read More]

All around the globe it’s Carnival this month! And while it may not officially be an LGBT celebration, most Carnivals have all the makings of a fabulous, big, gay party. Here are some Carnival events tailored to the LGBT crowd.  [Read More]

Not that you’d ever pack all 40 — but a quick review of this list of travel accessories should help you remember the essentials no matter what kind of trip you’re taking. [Read More]

KONYA WAS FREAKING me out, and that made me feel a little guilty, a little shallow, a little spiritually bankrupt. I was in the famously devout, conservative city to visit the Mevlana Museum. Mevlana (master) Celalledin Rumi was the 13th century founder of the Mevlevi order of dervishes popularly known as whirling dervishes for their practice of spinning in a ritual to connect with their divinity. Me? I was uptight. [Read More]

I write three names in clear block letters on a piece of paper: Çıralı, Patara, Kalkan. I fold the note and put it in my pocket, hoist my pack, and walk to the nearest busy street. My stomach is tense. I scan for an Internet cafe -- I want to send a message to my people to let them know where I am -- but all I can find is a convenience store. I buy a small water and a Mars bar. [Read More]

Originally published on Matador Goods on October 3, 2011.  Built to hold a full 46 litres while adhering to the carry-on restrictions for most major airlines, the Porter is compact, sturdy and versatile. I especially like the bag’s simple design and  [Read More]

The first leg of my departure, from Toronto to Paris, was on a 747 -- a plane so big it's got a second floor. The sight of a staircase on an airplane makes me regret not being old enough to remember the days when people dressed up for their journeys. I imagine myself in an outfit involving a cravat, enjoying a tumbler of something amber on the upper deck. [Read More]

29/03/2013: Note for those of you who found this post because you’re looking for information about Matador Network and Matador U. In the year plus since I wrote this post, my opinions of Matador Network and of Matador U have  [Read More]