WANDEROUS

Slightly embarrassing and silly story of the time I ended up on stage after midnight dressed as a silver ALIEN! (Plus an embarrassing admission and a surprising connection to Ukraine.) Show Notes Right after I recorded this, I came down with a bad throat virus, so I’m not full of energy to make the most amazing show notes this time. Maybe I’ll edit this later. Forgot to mention that I kept my shor...

I finally reach Germany, am hosted by a wonderful person, and meet about one hundred sheep by the Ruhr River. Show Notes YouTube Short of my first day in Germany (and a hundred SHEEP!) And a short video of my host explaining that Cotyledon tomentosa (Bear Paw succulent) plant was hurting the sheep and people nearby, also tons of cute SHEEP! Luckily they were working hard to remove the dangerous pl...

I couchsurf with a stained glass artist and get more than I bargained for. Show Notes TRAVEL TIP: Use couchsurfing.com Here’s that video I shot of LIVE angelic music in St. Gudula Cathedral (the Wiki page is fascinating) And a video of the pulpit with Adam and Eve (also with music) Charles V and Charlemagne also depicted in stained glass (no idea why I picked Indiana jones music for this video hah...

In which I find the odd parallels between the Louvre Museum, the British Museum, and “Where’s Waldo” books by Martin Handford. Overall. a rather silly overview of a very remarkable place. Show Notes What do the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace have in common? Listen and find out the surprising connection! The Lapith & Centaur frieze sculpture that I saw in the British Museum...

A BIG episode today: my unfiltered experience of Disney Paris. The good, surprising, and even frightening aspects!  Show Notes This episode includes fun facts about the original Star Tours which I went on in the 90s… because of my extreme age. 😆 A very unhinged video of me entering the park TRAVEL TIP: Try out Couchsurfing.com - I’ve met some of the best people in the world thru this site! TRAVEL...

Let’s explore the Eiffel Tower in depth. I didn’t want to leave. 😂 Show Notes Travel Tip: You can save some money if you walk to the first 2 floors of the tower and save the summit elevator until the end! Here’s a YouTube Short that summarizes my journey to the summit! (Part 1) Here’s my YouTube short about the tiny museum I mention A rather silly video of when the strobe lights went off And a vi...

In which I discover Petit Palais and unexpected joyfulness. Show Notes Travel Tip: Petit Palais is a lovely, free museum that is worth your time. Correction: The plate with the woman with tree-arms was called “The Birth of Myrrha” from the Fontana workshop in Urbino, circa 1560. My apologies. Here’s a cute slow-mo video I shot of the kids and the huge bubbles And here’s a silly video I shot at Pet...

In which I discover the victory over Lucifer, and I learn my favorite French phrase. Show Notes Travel Tip: Walk around Montmartre, seriously. #SacréCoeurBasilica featured a battle with Lucifer on it! Here’s the video I mentioned. The video I shot at Au Lupin Agile a #JuexDeMots Patreon supporters will want to tune in on Wednesday for the gorgeous photos of Montmartre Follow my Patreon for free to...

In which I discover the amazing delights of the Gardens of Versailles. Show Notes Travel Tip: Try Couchsurfing.com , seriously My lovely video glimpse of Versailles (YouTube) (I had forgotten about the row boats!) Patreon supporters will want to tune in on Wednesday for the gorgeous photos of my first impressions of Paris Follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes & get...

In which I discover how to travel Paris like a pro, save money, and even find another Statue of Liberty. Wow. Show Notes Travel Tip: When in Paris, get the 7-day Metro Pas Here’s info on the Navigo Metro 7-day unlimited pass that I got The SNCF (national French Train) website, best place to book a train ticket across France Travel Tip: Get Google Translate (it can be a life-saver) People risk thei...

A wide-ranging, breakneck finale to the Marseille chapter of my adventure. Show Notes Can anyone figure out the reoccurring motif that shows up again and again in Marseille street art? A YouTube short I made  of my OhFaon experience OhFaon’s official website The amazing latticework on the roof of the MUCEM museum video  that I shot. Travel Tip: In this episode, I share how I slept in a loud, traff...

We expected culture. We found tons, plus a “Miaou” Box. Show Notes Here’s a google maps link to the Calanque bay that we visited Check out Couchsurfing.com  travel exchange site if you haven’t already A bit about the history of Vichy France in WW2 The webpage I mention that outlines why Le Panier The delicious little plant-based cafe we ate at: Flower Burger! Patreon supporters will want to tune i...

The time I stumbled upon an ancient fountain in the South of France and then climbed Massif de Marseilleveyre, somehow not falling in the process. Show Notes The very silly video I shot at Fontaine de Voire  (YouTube) More about the The Legend of Fontaine de Voire here. A Google Maps link to the Voire Fountain  (again, I recommend Terrain view) Patreon supporters will want to tune in on Wednesday...

We almost made it to Portland. Almost. But JJ made a big mistake. Show Notes Travel Tip: Don’t switch license plates with another vehicle. 🤦‍♂️ Another example of how a Couchsurfing.com  member saved my butt Follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes & get member-only exclusive episodes: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe Follow this show on Spotify and never miss an adve...

In which I share the most bizarre thing a policeman has ever said to me. Show Notes Travel Tip: Craigslist can be a good way to find people to carpool with, but trust your gut, too I’m 95% sure this is the same website  I used, all those years ago, to find the cheapest gasoline. Tune in next time for an even-more-entertaining travel story Follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future e...

Barely made it there. But it was worth it. Show Notes Travel Tip: When in Marseille, get the 7-day unlimited pass. The bus to Cassis , there and back, is included. Patreon supporters will want to tune in on Wednesday for the gorgeous photos of this area! Follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes & get member-only exclusive episodes: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe Foll...

Did you know you can find stalactites in downtown Marseille? It’s true, at Palais Longchamp. That, and then an inspiring visit and night movie at La Friche, “The Wasteland.” 😆 Is it a wasteland? You decide. Show Notes Travel Tip: Join Meetup.com  for free to find great local events Some screenshots of Portal 2 , which La Friche vaguely reminds me of Follow my Patreon for free to submit questions...

The tale of my first and only visit to Notre-Dame De la Garde at the highest point on Marseille, and the fun performance I went to afterward. Show Notes One example of a Esther Hicks channeling  that I mention Pardon me if my example was confusing. I know the elephant man was a real person. But Robinson Crusoe wasn’t. lol La Plaine, the market space I mention (google maps link) Oh Faon is the dair...

At last! The finale of my 2024 eye story, in which many things happen — my credit card got rejected at the worst possible time, and I found myself in room that’s like a tiny temple. How would I get out of this one? Listen and enjoy. (Part 2 of 2.) Show Notes If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend you read this pretty good overview of the machine and the procedure of SMILE PRO Where all the action...

And now for something completely different. A 2024 story of what led me to getting a SMILE PRO laser eye surgery consultation in India, and what came of it. (Part 1 of 2.) Show Notes A pretty good overview of the machine and the procedure of SMILE PRO Follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes & get member-only exclusive episodes: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe Follow...

The tale of my first calanque hike and why you should get the 1 week metro pass. (A calanque is basically a cove formed by limestone rock formations.) A lot has been going on with me personally lately, but I wanted to make sure I got a podcast out for you guys. Hope you enjoy! Show Notes Here’s an idea of what this place looks like in perfect weather Some real science about the “cancer killer cell...

A picnic on the beach foreshadows my adventure to the International Experimental Thermonuclear Reactor, a groundbreaking fusion power project in the south of France. An app called BlaBlaCar was basically a lifesaver. Show Notes A quick summary of how Couchsurfing helped me get to ITER Learn about the ITER project at ITER.org Learn how to visit ITER here You can listen to the interview I did at Int...

A frank exploration of the City of Marseille, full of wandering, wonder, and, more importantly, I probe the most stunning bit of modernist architecture in France: Unité d'habitation, the “vertical garden city.” Also, there was a DeLorean car on the roof for some reason. Show Notes My original interview with TedTalk speaker & physicist Garrett Lisi The Beach Walks with Rox   video podcast that...

Musings about language barriers and the magic of being humble in foreign lands, as I finally arrive in South France. If there's something specific you want to hear about PLEASE reach out or comment on this episode! This is a co-creative podcast and I've been disappointed at the lack of engagement, to be honest. Coming up soon is some epic and haunting architecture, killer views of the Mediterranea...

In this ep, my great uncle takes me to Château de Suscinio and leaves me there. Also, it turns out you can’t go on the boat if you don’t have a partner. Or something. Show Notes I didn’t have enough time this time to edit this as tightly as I normally do. But there’s also a lot of food-for-thought in here. Some good views and info on the Castle on this Tripadvisor page. The chapel I went to with t...