Meet Padraic Kennedy

Padraic is now Assistant Professor of European History at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he teaches courses on European, American, and World History. At the time of the BikeAbout–the Mediterranean journey, he had just earned his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, completing a dissertation that examined how 19th-century governments responded to early acts of terrorism and political violence. His current research focuses on espionage and intelligence work in Victorian Britain. For the past ten years, Padraic has combined his academic interests with his love of cycling and travel: organizing, leading, and participating in bicycle tours throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. Padraic has at times boasted (quietly) about his microwave oven skills, memorably winning the prestigious Iron Chef competition with his ingenious creations using Velveeta Cheese Products. Or not.

Send Padraic mail

Padraic's Packing List

Padraic's Project

Cultural Literacy

Padraic's Dispatches

September 25, 1997: Topics: thoughts about the upcoming trip
September 26-27, 1997, Tangier, Morocco: Topics: tajine (food), mint tea, clothing, Phoenicians, money
September 28-29, 1997, Tetouan, Morocco: Topics: artisans, education, kasbah, Moors, history, djellabas, clothing
October 5-6, 1997, Kaceta & Nador, Morocco: Topics: daily life, women in society
October 11, 1997, Melilla, Spain: Topics: tortilla con queso (food), Algeria, Melilla, border crossing
October 19-20, 1997, Tunis, Tunisia: Topics: brik (food), environment, Bizerte, wildlife, Utique (Utica), mosaics, Punic tombs
October 24-25, 1997, El Haouaria & Hammamet, Tunisia: Topics: Phoenicians, Punic artifacts, El Haouaria, falconry, environment, vegetation
October 30, 1997, El Jem/El Djem, Tunisia: Topics: Emperor Gordian I, Roman Amphitheater
November 8-9, 1997, Gabès & Tunis, Tunisia: Topics: tajine (food), mosaics, art and artifacts, Punic artifacts, mosque
November 21, 1997, Giza, Egypt: Topics: fatta (food), Seven Wonders of the World, building Pyramids, history, Pharaohs, ancient religion, antiquities, daily life
November 26, 1997, Saqqara, Egypt: Topics: Imhotep, Step Pyramid, Zoser, Old Kingdom, Memphis, Dahshur pyramids, Pharaoh
December 1-2, 1997, Zagazig & Ismailia, Egypt: Topics: Nile River, taxis, train travel, rules of the road, environment
December 17, 1997-January 11, 1998: Topics: thoughts during mid-trip break
January 24, 1998, Irbid, Jordan: Topics: border crossing, Dead Sea, Jordan River Valley, Jericho
January 25-28, 1998, Irbid, Jordan (01/25); Beirut, Lebanon (01/28): Topics: Amman (Jordan), visas, Irbid (Jordan), the Palestinian Question, King Hussein, HISTORY, Beirut first impressions
January 31, 1997 - February 1, 1998, Beirut, Lebanon: Topics: mana-eesh (food), social life, Lebanese civil war, Palestinian refugees, history, recreation
February 5-6, 1998, Tripoli (Trablous), Lebanon: Topics: Znoud el s'ett (food), Citadel of St. Giles, Ottomans, cedars, Crusaders
February 11-12, 1998, Istanbul, Turkey: Topics: travel
February 14-15, 1998, Silifke, Turkey: Topics: Adana, Mersin, Korykos, Kizkalesi, Silifke, traffic, HISTORY, Crusades, castles
February 21-22, 1998, Kas(h), Turkey: Topics: Turkish ravioli (food), St. Nicholas, Diocletian, Lycia, Myra, history, Chimera, Mount Olympos, scenery
February 27-28, 1998, Istanbul, Turkey: Topics: Minisa kebab (food), Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sofia/Aya Sofia/Sancta Sophia/Church of the Holy Wisdom, Justinian, daily life, Mosque of Sultan Ahmet/Blue Mosque, Ottoman Empire
March 7-8, 1998, Larisa, Greece: Topics: salanaki (food), sports, Mount Athos (Agios Oros), Greek Orthodox monasteries, salt and bikes, travel, mythology
March 15, 1998, Athens, Greece: Topics: tiropitakia (food), museum for the blind, village life, Internet, antiquities, National Archaeological Museum, Homer, Ptolemy, minotaur, Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations, Corinth
March 21-22, 1998, Patras, Greece: Topics: tighanopsomo (food), Delphi, Apollo, oracle, equinox
March 30, 1998, Konitsa, Greece: Topics: Bekri meze (food), schoolchildren, Greek playground games, parasailing
April 1, 1998, Tirana, Albania: Topics: sanduic (food), HISTORY, Illyria, Danube, Emperor Diocletian, Ottoman Empire, World War I, Skanderbeg, AEDP, school life
April 5, 1998, Bari, Italy: Topics: Adriatic Sea, seas, fishing, currency, border crossing
April 11, 1998, Dubrovnik, Croatia: Topics: architecture, history, Venice, Ottomans, Napoleon
April 16, 1998, Sarajevo, Bosnia: Topics: HISTORY, downtown Sarajevo, Barcelona-Srajevo A.D.L. Club, Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Princip, WWI, Sarajevo sights
April 21-22, 1998, Zadar, Croatia: Topics: prs(h)ut (food), Katja, CARNet, Trogir, wind, chat 'n' debate, private accommodation, cycling
April 30-May 1, 1998, Trieste, Italy: Topics: History, Trieste, FIAB (Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta), chat 'n' debate, Miramare Castle, Austrian Empire, Carducci School, Lanza family, Italian unification
May 6-7, 1998, Rimini, Italy: Topics: Parco del Delta, environment, Basilica di San Vitale, Emperor Flavius Honorius, Ravenna, Ostrogoths, history, Dante
May 13, 1998, Napoli (Naples), Italy: Topics: granita (food), Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius
May 20, 1998, Roma (Rome), Italy: Topics: capelletti (food), bicycle advocacy, Vatican Museum, history, art, Emperor Constantine, Roman Empire, Christianity, Etruscans, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel, Lateran Treaty, Vatican City (Holy See)
May 25, 1998, Pisa, Italy: Topics: pane Toscano (food), Unione Italiana Sport per Tutti, Campo dei Miracoli (Leaning Tower of Pisa)
May 31 - June 1, 1998, Valbonne, France: Topics: tapenade (food), Monaco, Grimaldi family, French Riviera, more rain, Menton, Côte d'Azur, Monaco, Cannes
June 6-7, 1998, Aigues-Mortes, France: Topics: pierrade (food), wildlife, environment, Crusades, Arles, Roman Empire, Rhône

Anthony Corinne andrEa Ethan Padraic


Itinerary/ Journal	Discussions	Resource Library	eDscape Projects	Scrapbook