Category Archives: Cultures

Great post on lessons learned from world travel

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

As most of you know, we spent most of the time between 2003 and 2009 exploring the world. We’ve got our own list of lessons learned from those travels here: http://www.hackneystravel.com/index-lessons-byarea.htm Gary Arndt, who spent the last three years doing …

The Seekers – 2009

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

Back in 2004 I wrote a holiday message about our Christmas tree titled The Seekers. It turned out to be one of the most popular essays of that era.  We put up a Christmas tree last week for the first time since then. It …

The Stadium

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

In traveling through 43 countries across six continents, we’ve seen quite a few ancient stadiums. From Rome’s definitive Coliseum to lesser known examples scattered around the world, we’ve explored many. All share a sense of grandeur that matches the contests …

It’s a Small World After All

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

  Americans don’t get out much. That should come as no surprise considering that, according to the U.S. State Department, only 27 percent of Americans hold a valid passport. That means that 73 percent of Americans couldn’t get out to …

The Old Ways

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

Reentering the grid is a challenging experience when planned and voluntary. When unexpected, arbitrary and not of your own making, it is doubly so. At times, the pragmatic aspects are overwhelming in their breadth, requiring an entire life to be …

Expedition Detritus

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

Much to the chagrin of my long-suffering wife, I’m a bit of a pack rat, as well as a horizontal filer. What that translates into is an office that inevitably evolves into stacks of material covering every horizontal surface. To …

The Quotidian Effect

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

“The transition from ‘astronaut preparing to accomplish the next big thing’ to ‘astronaut telling about the last big thing’ did not come easily to me.” Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Astronaut, and second man on the moon. When we were still …

Harkin vs. Loring

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

We’re visiting my mother and grandmother in northwest Arkansas. They are at an age and in a place where politics are discussed, religion is assumed and passion is reserved for the important things, such as the best variety of peach …

Band Jocks

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

This year we’re participating in an American summer tradition: The Drive Across The Country. Our route this year takes us from San Diego, California to Austin, Texas. Via Minneapolis. Illogical and inefficient–true,  but it gives us the chance to see the kids …

Fishing Lessons

Posted ago by Douglas Hackney

A friend of ours is starting a new business. I recently spent a morning with the local fishermen, who had some things to teach those seeking business success. Click here for the rest of the story: http://www.hackneystravel.com/ecuador/fishinglessons.pdf .