My name is Joe Hanneken and this webpage is about my travels and my perspective on the places and people I encounter.  So what is that perspective, you may ask?

I was born in the Midwestern United States to middle class parents.  My father instilled in me an insatiable curiosity about the world and why things are the way they are. Thus my desire to experience new places and my “bent” toward history and science.  My mother abhorred conflict and thus I will only write about things in a positive way.  If the place or person has a negative effect on me, I will not write about it (“If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all”) — unless, of course, there is a funny story or humorous learning experience to tell.

I retired after 40 years in Corporate America (electronic components business) having traveled globally and lived in Chicago, Memphis, Dallas, Harrisburg PA., Minneapolis, Austin and Guadalajara, Mexico.  Hated retirement, then tried Property Management, Insurance Sales and Newspaper Reporting when I finally decided it was time to do what I love to do, which is to travel and write.   Thanks to ITMI (International Tour Management Institute)I found the Tour Director/Tour Guide business and am having the time of my life.