Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Andrew Rowen
Occupation: Author. My first book, “Encounters Unforeseen: 1492 Retold,” dramatizes the history of Columbus’s epic voyage and first encounters with Native Americans from a bicultural perspective, presenting Native American beliefs, thoughts, and actions side by side with those of Columbus and other Europeans, all closely based on primary sources and anthropological studies.
Hometown: New York City
Residence: New York City
College: U.C. Berkeley
College major: Statistics/Political Science
Website: andrewrowen.com
Facebook: Andrew Rowen
Short bio: Andrew Rowen is a Harvard Law graduate who practiced law as a partner of a major New York City law firm for almost 30 years prior to retiring to write “Encounters Unforeseen.” He devoted six years to researching the underlying historical record and visiting nearly all the Caribbean, European and Atlantic locations where the action takes place, including the archaeological sites where the Taíno chieftains lived in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He lives in New York City with his wife and three kids.
Rowen has long been interested in the roots of religious intolerance. His inspiration in writing is not only to validly depict the encounters from both viewpoints, but to illustrate a civility and tolerance of the society and religion vanquished that are now often lacking in the modern societies and religions we have inherited.
How often do you fly? Four or five times a year.
How many countries have you been to? Too many to count, since I’ve been traveling my entire life. When I was a teenager, I took the hippie trail overland from London to Katmandu. I honeymooned in Africa, and we took the kids back when they were young. I’ve traveled South America and Asia, as well. In researching my book, I traveled extensively in the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, and various Atlantic islands.
How many continents have you been to? All but Antarctica.
Earliest travel memory: Taking the crosstown bus to get to school.
Favorite American city: To visit, San Francisco.
Favorite international city: Istanbul.
Friendliest people in the world: Cameroonians.
Aisle or window: Window, so I can write.
Favorite U.S. airport: Detroit Wayne Airport.
Favorite international airport: Hong Kong.
Favorite hotel: San Camp, Botswana.
Favorite island: Manhattan.
Favorite beach: Bord de Mer de Limonade, Haiti.
Favorite National Park: Canyonlands.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Tadich Grill, Downtown, San Francisco.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Jimbo’s Hamburger Place, 1st Ave, N.Y.C.
Favorite fruit: Pineapple.
Favorite food: Vegetable biyrani.
Least favorite food: Shark, which I tasted in Iceland—yetch!!
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Glass of malbec.
Favorite travel movie(s): Easy Rider, Endless Summer documentary.
Right now I am reading: Stephen King’s 11/22/63.
5 things you bring on a plane: Fresh cup Starbucks tall bold, laptop, books to research for sequel to “Encounters Unforeseen,” salted nuts, chocolate bar.
What do you always seem to forget? Birthdays.
What do you like least about travel? Cramped conditions on airplane travel.
Most embarrassing travel moment: When on a business trip with clients, I was fortuitously seated next to an enticing, beautiful woman with whom I couldn’t help flirting when I was supposed to be working—and who eventually became my wife of 30+ years.
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Beijing.
What’s your dream destination? Would like to visit southern India, which I’ve never visited.
Best travel tip: Don’t get impatient when the weather is the cause of delay. Columbus once wrote that the greatest cause of misfortune at sea is not waiting for the weather to be certain.
