Travel with Bernie: A bit about Me.

I grew up in southeastern Massachusetts, and say what you want about New England, but it gave me four actual seasons. That is something I didn't fully appreciate until I ended up living in a humid hot box of misery I now call home (more on that later). Travel was always the escape hatch. I remember being the kid who was asking to see the map instead of the menu.

Then I joined the Air Force. Nine years, two duty stations that couldn't be more different: Florida, where the humidity tries to kill you, and England, where the sun can be more of a rumor than a weather event. England is where the travel bug stopped being a mild itch and became a full-blown addiction. Base pay doesn't go far, but budget airlines and a weekend pass go further than you'd think. I was able to turn five years there into a crash course in eating my way across a continent, one questionable street food decision at a time. History was the bonus round. Turns out standing in a 900 year old castle hits different when you grew up where the "old" building is from 1954.

These days, I'm in Central Florida. What I picked up along the way wasn't just stamps in a passport; it was a working knowledge of exactly how travel goes sideways and how to fix it before it ruins the trip. I've made most of the mistakes myself, so you don't have to.

I still love swapping stories with fellow travelers — the good, the disastrous, the "we don't talk about my boat ride to Amsterdam" kind. If you're planning something and want a second opinion, or just want to hear about the time I got hopelessly lost in a language I didn't speak, I'm around. No pressure, no sales pitch. I'm just here if you need me and I'm willing to help.

Happy Travels!
- Bernie

P.S. Please feel free to check out my profile for further details and contact links. Of course, following would be fantastic too if you'd like to keep up on all things travel.