Looking to trim his beard amidst a luggage-free journey, Rolf stumbles into the most detail-intensive barbershop-shave of his life.
Embracing my inner tourist at Giza
Near Giza, Rolf discovers that the vendor culture that surrounds the Pyramids is nearly as interesting (and historically rooted) as the Pyramids themselves.
In Fes: Walk until the day becomes interesting
In the twisting alleyways of a Moroccan medina, Rolf does away with pre-planning and follows his instincts.
The wrong town in Morocco
Not long after mispronouncing the town of “Chefchaouen” to his Moroccan taxi driver, Rolf goes on to discover the accidental charms of a town called “Tetouan.”
Tapas for ignoramuses
Rolf explores the streets of central Madrid through seven drinks and nine dishes.
Rolling retro-style in Paris
Three days into his round-the-world no-baggage journey, Rolf explores Paris from the back of vintage Citroën 2CV.
19 London clichés in less than four hours
In transit between New York and Paris, Rolf tries to make the most of a three-and-a-half hour London layover.
Why Rolf is Traveling Around the World With No Luggage
From his home in rural Kansas, Rolf lays out the reasons why he wanted to circumnavigate the globe without so much as a fanny pack or a man-purse.
Update: Fall 2010
Friends and vagabonders, This fall I will embark on a journey that will take me around the world without using a single piece of luggage. From late August to early October I will explore 12 countries on five continents, crossing the equator four times, without carrying so much as a man-purse. The few items I…
The Difference: Living Well vs. Doing Well
Advice: There is an overwhelming social compulsion – an insanity of consensus, if you will – to get rich from life rather than live richly, to “do well” in the world instead of living well. This excerpt from Vagabonding explores the notion of simplicity.
Update: Winter/Spring 2010
Friends and vagabonders, Recent months have taken me to places like Wales, Italy, and France — though I’ll confess I’ve spent less time vagabonding than I have giving lectures about the art of vagabonding. 2009 was kind to me in terms of book accolades, as Marco Polo Didn’t Go There became the first American-authored book…