Travel Articles Copy by Stephanie Ager Kirz

 

A Bicycle Trip Through Thailand becomes a tribute 

 

As seen in the the Los Angeles Times-One single strand of string bound us together: 17 travelers, 32 guardian spirits, four guides, and a Buddhist monk. We all sat on mats in front of the monk waiting for something to happen.”The Ageb and his helpers will put jasmine leis around your necks and unwrap a ball of twine to encircle the group like a spirit corral, as he chants his prayers to call in the entities who have strayed,” said Piak, one of our soulful Thai bike guides, who had been doing this for 20 years.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Pedaling through Ireland on our own 

 

As seen in the Chicago Daily Herald “Here, take this cell phone,” said Tony Boyd, owner of Iron Donkey Bicycling Tours, his bald head beaming in the morning sun. “Just give me a call if you have a flat or need a lift.”His thick Irish accent and jovial personality eased my churning stomach.We had just arrived in the historic Irish west coast town of Ennis, a funny little village laid out for pedestrians that’s slightly more somber then quaint.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Riding on Fire 

 

As seen in San Diego Union Tribune“Here, take this cell phone,” said Tony Boyd, owner of Iron Donkey Bicycling Tours, his bald head beaming in the sun. “Just give me a call if you have a flat or need a lift.” His thick Irish accent and jovial personality eased my churning stomach.We just arrived in the historic Irish west coast town of Ennis, a funny little village laid out for pedestrians, slightly more somber than quaint. Our new, all-terrain touring bikes leaned against a fence in the parking lot of the homely B&B next to a small picnic table where Tony spread out the route maps and the week’s itinerary of Ireland’s most scenic and popular cycling destinations – The Burren and Connemara.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Colours of Collioure 

 

As seen in Living FranceThe sun’s reflection slides across the bay and Collioure basks resplendent in its dazzling light.Postcard stands flutter in the Mediterranean breeze sharing the narrow sidewalk with wooden boxes of homegrown apples, rad and white radishes and lime-green heads of dirty lettuce.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Traveling by Two Wheels: Scottish Highlands 

 

As seen in the Portland OregonianPitlochry to Iona, the land of standing stones, lochs and ‘ley lines’ offers adventures, mystery and rugged beautyQuiet, single-track roads, with nary a soul in sight. Odd monolithic stones scattered throughout the countryside. An eerie overlay of something mystifying.No wonder those Harry Potter novels draw inspiration from Scotland.Read the entire article

 

 

Bicycling with La Famiglia 

 

As seen in the Adventure Cyclist MagazineThe King of Sicily towered over me, sweating liquid aggravation in the hot, midday sun. His bare, bloody hand clutched a razor-sharp hacksaw blade. It was just like a scene from The Godfather. Well, sort of. He’d accidentally nicked himself while trimming the tube of my bicycle seat so my feet could reach the pedals.Read the entire article

 

 

Cycle the Seine 

 

As seen in the Boston GlobePARIS — The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, has a love affair with cycling, which is very good news for all other cyclists in the city.Designated bicycle lanes and bike rentals that offer five-speed bikes as well as helmets, locks, baskets, water bottles, and even shoes are springing up all over the city. Picture yourself cycling along the Seine past the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Louvre.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Capital Cheese 

 

As seen in France MagazineStephanie Ager Kirz followed her nose around Paris to bring you a mouse’s guide on the best cheese shops in the arrondissements.Hungering for a taste of real French cheese? If you were a mouse, you’d hop on the nearest freighter or transport and head for the cheese shops of Paris.What distinguishes many of these cheese shops is that they carefully age their cheeses before selling them.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort 

 

As seen in the Inn TravelerWith the lure of having the most sunny days and one of the healthiest climates in the United States, Tucson became a warm winter destination starting during what local historians call the “Gold-Plated Decade.” Way back in the fall of 1922, a group of entrepreneurial visionaries dreamed up the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club to promote tourism to the area. Fortunately, some of that history can be experienced today at the Hacienda del Sol Guest Rand Resort with a total of 30 private casitas, guestrooms and suites, situated on 34 desert acres under the curvaceous silhouette of the Catalina Mountains.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Chasing the Irish Oyster 

 

As seen in the Copley Newswire“He was a bold man who first ate an oyster.” Jonathan SwiftSlide into a pub and order two dozen oysters harvested from the last low tide by a nearby oyster farmer. Top them off with an ice-cold Guinness and some Irish brown bread. Now that’s chasing the Irish oyster.And that’s exactly what my husband and I did on a recent excursion along the west coast of Ireland. Our rolling adventure took us not by car, but by bicycle on a discovery of Ireland’s national culinary treasure: the oyster.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

Published Travel Vignettes Copy by Stephanie Ager Kirz, Photos by Howard L. Kirz

 

 

 

City of Cyclists

 

As seen in the Dallas Morning NewsThe Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, has a love affair with cycling, which is very good news for all cyclists in the city. Designated bike lanes and bike rentals that offer five-speed bikes as well as helmets, bike locks, baskets, water bottles and even child seats are springing up all over the city.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

 

French Pets 

 

As seen in the Four Seasons MagazineParis has always been crazy for its chats and chiens, but finding a fancy gift for Fido or Fiffi has never been easier, with hip entrepreneurs opening fashionable pet boutiques all over town. The city’s first, wildly popular doggy day care was started a year ago by Sophie Kauffmann and her husband, Laurent, at Canicreche.Read the entire article (PDF)

 

 

 

Irish Guesthouse 

 

As seen in the Seattle TimesOne glance at the shiny, polished Sheffield knife blades retrofitted on the hotel silver and I knew this was no ordinary Irish guesthouse.The pedigreed pugs, Bunter and Babs, and the Maltese, Blinkey, politely greeted my husband and me right along with proprietors Juliea and Paddy Foyle at the Quay House in Clifden, Ireland.Read the entire article (PDF)