Welcome to Chris Brady's Blog
"The only way to be happy, is to give happy."
Category: Travel
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I came across a statistic the other day that shocked me: only about 10% of U.S. citizens have a passport. While I know that Americans are often criticized for ignorance about the rest of the world, I didn't realize just how little we get out and about! I know of very few things that can…
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One of the themes in my upcoming book, A Month of Italy, is that Americans have lost the "art of vacation." According to a recent Harris poll, only 14% of Americans take more than one week of vacation at a time, while the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that 25% of Americans and…
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My new book is due out this July. Here is an excerpt from it (Chapter 8). I hope you enjoy it! “People travel to far away places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” – – Dagobert D. Runes I grew up on the shores of the Great Lakes. …
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My first view of it came from at least a mile away, across fields and woods and colored by a setting sun. The spires of the Biltmore mansion stood proudly in a group, sticking up above the pines and pointing into the sky. Even from such a distance, it looked enormous. I had tried once…
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Below is another excerpt from my upcoming ITALY book (chapter 19). One of the ways I’d sold this whole month of Italy concept to Terri was by emphasizing its educational aspects. Partly due to our regular travel schedule, and also the fact that we insisted on living in two states at once, we had…
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Here is a chapter (33) from my upcoming book (working title) A Month of Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation. I hope you like it. “Preach Christ with all your might, and if you must, use words.” That little quote, often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, was the only thing I really knew about…
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There is nothing like watching excellence in motion. I am always inspired by greatness in life, by someone who has mastered his or her craft, by professionals at the top of their game. In this mesmerizing video sent to me by my friend Ed Zentner, beautiful videography, music, scenery, and finely honed athleticism combine in…
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Stone steps greet my weary feet once again, while the sun keeps up its constant beaming from above, pounding on my hat and searing my skin. The bag on my back, though small, irritates me from long companionship, and the camera that produces the pictures I so love is an annoyance. My senses are overloaded…
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Below is another small excerpt from a rough draft of my “Italy book” (still as yet untitled): I had one more day left with the motorcycle and took an extended ride to savor the last moments with my new friend. It’s surprising the connection a man can develop with a vehicle, but I guess it’s…
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Here's a snippet from a manuscript I'm roughing while here in Italy; musings on the Colosseum in Rome. I also struggled, as I guess most do, with the purpose behind this amphitheatre. This enormous, beautiful structure was constructed as a showcase of cruelty. Only God knows how many murders occurred here, how many innocent victims,…
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