Washington DC – Day 3
Blog, Washington DC, Freer Gallery of Asian art, Hirshhorn Museum, National Mall, National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Castle, Washington DCAfter my late night at the Kennedy Center, and without needing to walk Pookah, I slept in this morning. For me, that means until 7:30. By 11am I was at the National Mall, heading into the Hirshhorn Museum. It was the exhibit of the work ...
Washington DC – Day 4
Blog, Washington DC, Massachusetts Ave, Mural Tour, NOMA, Union Market, Washington DCYesterday I explored a neighborhood I’d never been to before—NOMA. NOMA, north of Massachusetts Avenue, is actually about a mile north of Mass Ave. There’s a good reason I’d never visited there before, until about eight years ago...
Washington DC – Day 5
Blog, Washington DC, National Botanical Garden, National Museum of the American Indian, NOMA, Union Station, Washington DCYesterday was my final day in DC before returning home. One of the great things about the Smithsonian museums is that they are open seven days a week, year-round, except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. My first stop was at the Nation...
An Outing
Blog, New York, Ft. Tyron Park, Hudson RiverPookah is a homebody. He loves nothing more than a day when he goes for very quick walks and spends the rest of the time in the apartment. Yesterday was a gorgeous day and I decided we needed to spend time outside. It’s an easy drive t...
The Holidays are Here
Blog, NYC, Holidays, NY Botanical Garden, Train ShowThis weekend will be filled with holiday events, even though it isn’t even Thanksgiving. On Friday, my destination was the NY Botanical Garden’s Train Show. I love the show and go every year. Apart from the trains, the highlights are...
Lantern Show
Blog, NYC, African Wildlife, China, Christmas, Lantern Show, Queens FarmIt was a warm, clear night. At 6:30 the sky was coal black with a perfect half-moon, ideal conditions for viewing the Lantern Show at the Queens Farm. The light show is enchanting if a bit helter-skelter. Large sculptures, beautifully cr...
Thanksgiving Prep
Blog, Colorado, Colorado, ThanksgivingI arrived in Colorado yesterday to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with my cousins. We have been sharing Thanksgiving since I was a small child, and I can count on one hand the number of times we weren’t together. The preparations f...
More Thanksgiving Prep
Blog, Colorado, Boulder, Pearl Street, ThanksgivingIn the morning we made cranberry sauce, worked on the stuffing, and various other bits and pieces. We bought wine for a huge crowd. Then, miraculously, we were ahead of schedule. It was a beautiful day, so we headed into Boulder for a st...
Louisiana – Day 1
Blog, Louisiana, Louisiana, New Orleans, Sazerac Bar, Selina Catahoula, The RooseveltMy body doesn’t quite know what to make of my travels. Freezing cold, arid Colorado to moderately cold New York to balmy, humid Louisiana. I’ve managed to get a cold, fortunately not covid, and am soldiering through. I flew to New Or...
Louisiana – Day 2
Blog, Louisiana, Cafe Beignet, French Quarter, Louis Armstrong Park, Louisiana, Magazine Street, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Osteria Lupo, Vue OrleansA uniform steel gray sky wasn’t a good omen. But in New Orleans “laissez les bons temps rouler,” let the good times roll, is the rule. My day started the Vue Orleans. Perched on the top levels of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans it...
Louisiana – Day 3
Blog, Louisiana, Congo Square, French Quarter, Louis Armstrong Park, Louisiana, New Orleans, Po Boys, Saints, SuperdomeGeaux Saints Geaux! A large part of yesterday was experiencing how New Orleanians participate in New Orleans Saints football games. The game was between the Saints and Detroit Lions at the Superdome. The first stop was a VIP tailgate par...
Louisiana – Day 4
Blog, Louisiana, Abita Mystery House, Abita Springs, John Preble, Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, New OrleansAfter a kerfuffle with Budget car rental, I finally got a Rav4 and headed out of NOLA. I had a very specific destination in mind, the Abita Mystery House. I had visited it in 2001, when it was called the UCM museum, I loved the ingenuity...
Louisiana – Day 5
Blog, Louisiana, Destrehan Plantation, Louisiana, Metairie, Mississippi River, New Orleans, Oak Alley, Plantation, VacherieYesterday was all about plantations along the Mississippi river. I woke up in a cottage on the property of Destrehan Plantation. Should you ever want to stay in this area, it’s a great place. Far larger than my apartment, the cabin is ...
Louisiana – Day 6
Blog, Louisiana, Atchafalaya River, Baton Rouge, Breaux Bridge, Lafayette, LouisianaAfter five days of nearly continuous activity, today needed to be at a slower pace. I slept in, wrote and leisurely packed. Once I finally got moving, it was just over an hour drive to Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge (or Red Stick in ...
Louisiana — Day 8
Blog, Louisiana, Atchafalaya Basin Swamp, Boudin, Cajun, Henderson, Lafayette, Louisiana, Moncus Park, RayneAfter my quiet day, I was back to serious exploring. After breakfast at @MaisonMouton B&B in Lafayette I headed west towards Rayne. My friends wondered why I was going there. As Leo said, it’s not much more than a dot on the map. Rayne...
Louisiana – Day 10
Blog, Louisiana, Arnaudville, Breaux Bridge, Cajun Country, Grand Coteau, Lafayette, Louisiana, NuNu Arts CollectiveI’m deep in Cajun country with my friends Liz and Leo. Liz and I set off to explore this morning. Our first stop was in Breaux Bridge for the zydeco breakfast at @https://www.buckandjohnnys.com. It’s held every Saturday morning. Peop...
Louisiana – Day 11
Blog, Louisiana, Avery Island, Breaux Bridge, Cypress Knees, Jefferson Island, Lake Peigneur, Louisiana, New IberiaToday, Liz, Leo and I set off to explore the area south of Breaux Bridge. Along the way we passed truck after truck filled with just-harvested sugar cane. They were heading towards the processing plant. On this cold morning, I could see ...
Louisiana – Day 12 – final day
Blog, Louisiana, Abita Mystery House, Charles Smith, Hammond, Louisiana, PonchatoulaMy friend Liz will be flying back with me to NY (she lives there part-time). We drove east to stay near the airport for our early morning flight. Along the way we made several stops. First was in Hammond to see the home of Charles Smith....
Gingerbread Houses
Blog, NYC, All Borough Gingerbread Competition, Gingerbread Houses, Museum of the City of New YorkLet’s start with a confession. I once baked and decorated a tiny gingerbread house. It took forever and the end product was less than stellar. So, I have a great appreciation for bakers who can create fabulous architectural models out ...
NYC in the Movies
Blog, NYC, Movies, Museum of the City of New York, NYCWhile I was at the Museum of the City of New York yesterday, I wandered into an exhibit about movies shot in the city. Apart from the gingerbread houses, that was where most visitors gravitated. When I’m traveling and mention I’m a N...
London – Day 1
Blog, London, Barbican Center, John Williams, London, London Concert Orchestra, Star Wars, Superman, The Brasserie, Tottenham Court RoadMy friend Sue and I arrived in London on Wednesday morning after an uneventful, though totally packed, flight. After checking in at the hotel and miraculously being able to get into a room immediately, Sue and I set out for a walk and lu...
London – Day 2
Blog, London, Bond Street, Burlington Arcade, Carnaby Street, Liberty House, Little Big Things, Pascale and Isabel, Regent Street, Senor Ceviche, SoHo PlaceMy plans for the morning included taking a long walk to see holiday decorations and what is new since my last visit. I should have known better than to make plans. It was drizzling when I woke. Rather than the sky brightening, it became ...
London – Day 3
Blog, London, Bette Midler, Convent Garden, DIVA, Fashion Institute, London, National Portrait Gallery, Operation Mincemeat, Trafalgar Square, Victoria and Albert MuseumIt didn’t rain today!!! It was cold and windy, and rain threatened but never came. But with the forecast for rain, I changed my plans from a walking tour of the street art of Brixton to visiting two of my favorite museums. My first des...
London – Day 4
Blog, London, Covent Garden, Financial District, London, Midlands, Millenium Bridge, Noel Coward Theater, Power Station, St. Paul's Cathedral, The Chai Guys, The Motive and the Cue, The ShardThis has been a whirlwind trip, cramming a lot into a brief time. Today our friend Jacqui took the train down from the Midlands to meet Sue and me. After catching up during a leisurely breakfast, we headed to the Tate Modern. The Tate Mo...
London – Day 5
Blog, London, Christmas, Fortnum and Mason, London Palladium, New Years, Oxford Street, Palladium, Pantomime, Peter Pan, Royal Academy of Art, SelfridgesI started the day off very slowly because I hadn’t slept well. Caffeine in my system, I had just about enough energy to board a bus to Selfridges on Oxford Street. In years past they’d had some wonderful holiday windows. This year mo...
London – Day 6
Blog, London, Bridge Theater, Covent Garden, Guys and Dolls, London, London Transport Museum, New York City, Tower BridgeFive out of six days have been rainy, but that hasn’t dampened my spirits. London has too much to offer, inside or out, to make me feel gloomy. I walked from the hotel to Covent Garden with the intent of exploring the London Transport ...
London – Day 7
Blog, London, Crypt\, Foyles, Heathrow Airport, London, National Gallery, St. Martin's Church, Trafalgar SquareThe weather on my final day in London convinced me it was time to go home. For the sixth day out of seven it was raining—not a drizzle but full-out drenching rain. Because my flight wasn’t until evening, I wanted to spend it producti...
Fabrics
Blog, Global, Fabrics, Liberty, London, V&AI can neatly sew a button or hem, but beyond that I’m not fond of sewing. That’s probably because of a home ec class in middle school. The wrap-around skirt we sewed and were required to wear to class was less than flattering. Conseq...
Women Dressing Women
Blog, NYC, Anxiety and Hope, Fashion Institute, Japanese Galleries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Woman Dressing WomenThis morning I headed over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were two shows I wanted to see: at the Fashion Institute, Women Dressing Women and in the Japanese Galleries, Anxiety and Hope. The fashion exhibit was interesting, but ...
Metropolitan Museum: Japanese Art Galleries
Blog, NYC, Anxiety and Hope, Japanese Art Galleries, Metropolitan MuseumThere’s a new exhibition at the museum, Anxiety and Hope. The art is from the 12th to the early 19th centuries. I was struck by a number of things in addition to the beauty of the work. Considering the age of many of the scrolls, they ...
Back to the Future—The Musical
Blog, NYC, Back to the Future, Broadway, Musical, NYCYesterday I went to see Back to the Future on Broadway with my nephew Scott, his wife Sherrie, and daughter Brianna. I’m always somewhat leery of seeing adaptations of movies into musicals, especially movies that I remember fondly. But...
Terence Blanchard
Blog, NYC, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Metropolitan Opera, NY Philharmonic for The Art of the Score, Spike Lee, Terence BlanchardUntil a few years ago I hadn’t been aware of Terence Blanchard. Then his opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, premiered at the Metropolitan Opera to rave reviews. Friends told me to see it, unfortunately I didn’t. But Blanchard’s name ...
Border Crossings
Blog, NYC, Border Crossings, Lincoln Center, NY Public Library for the Performing Arts, NYCThe NY Public Library for the Performing Arts is a gem located in Lincoln Center. Researchers from around the world head to their massive collections of theater, film, dance, music, and recorded sound materials. The public can also use t...
Manhatta
Blog, NYC, Manhatta, NYC, One World Trade, RestaurantThe building is now known as 28 Liberty. But the minute I saw it, I knew it was the old Chase Bank headquarters. It was a place I’d visited often; Chase was a client for many years. The building has since been sold. I never noticed or ...
Orchids in NYC
Blog, NYC, Botanical Garden, Florals in Fashion, NY, Orchid ShowYesterday, when it was gray, cold and windy I ventured north to the NY Botanical Garden for warmth and beauty, specifically to the Orchid Show. It is one of my favorite shows of the year, a riot of color, unusual varieties and fabulous p...
Orchids and more
Blog, NYC, Botanical Garden, NY, OrchidsI could easily write many posts about the orchids at this year’s show at the NY Botanical Garden. As I mentioned yesterday, I don’t like the theme of the show. But the individual specimens are glorious. As the orchid show had just op...
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) NYC
Blog, NYC, American Museum of Natural History, Aztec, Central American, Inca, NYC, SculpturesOn Saturday I visited the AMNH with my nephew, his wife and daughter. Brianna is in fifth grade and is studying the Aztec and Incas so she asked if we could go look at those exhibits. The museum is enormous and even though I visit it reg...
Quirky American Towns
Blog, United States, Quirky American TownsI’ll be teaching a couple of classes this spring focusing on offbeat small towns that have some of the best the US has to offer – and almost no one knows about them. They’ve got fabulous art, architecture, music, history, scenery, ...
More Small Quirky American Towns
Blog, United States, Quirky American TownsBy the time I was nearing age fifty I’d traveled extensively around the globe—visiting every continent except Antarctica and all fifty states. However, I’d mostly been to large U.S. cities and a few national parks. It was time to s...
Even more quirky American towns
Blog, United States, Quirky American TownsThe abundance of off the beaten path but fascinating American towns is nearly endless. The more I explore, the greater my admiration for people who have transformed their hometowns into fun, beautiful places. What sets a town apart from ...
More Quirky American Towns (and more to come)
Blog, United States, Architecture, Columbus, Indiana, Quirky American Towns, West Baden SpringsColumbus, Indiana is actually a city of 47,000. Not a town, but considering its small size, a mecca for world-renowned architecture. The American Institute of Architects ranked it sixth in the nation for architectural innovation and desi...
Quirky American Towns
Blog, United States, Arcosanti, Arizon, Jerome, New Mexico, Quirky American Towns, SouthwestI love the southwest for the scenery; the desert, cacti, vast expanses and endless sky are magnificent. But between the open spaces are slews of interesting towns. Here are just a few of my favorite towns in the southwest. Jerome, Arizon...
Quirky American Towns — West Coast
Blog, United States, California, Cannon Beach, Nevada City, Oregon, Quirky American Towns, Solvang, Washington, WestportCannon Beach in Oregon has a population of about 1,500. You don’t go there for the town, but for the beach, which is among the most beautiful on the west coast. When I first went there it was so foggy I couldn’t even see the famous H...
Hudson Valley
Blog, New York, Boscobel, Cold Spring, Garrison, Hudson Valley, Manhattan, Shakespeare Festival, West PointI decided I needed to get out of the city, even if only for a few days. So, I’m spending the weekend in Cold Spring. It’s a charming Hudson River town. And, in many ways fits in with my recent posts about quirky American towns. For m...
Beacon and Newburgh NY
Blog, New York, Beacon, Breakneck Ridge, Catskills, Cold Spring, DIA, Marian Royael Gallery, Museum of Art, New York, Newburgh, Velocipide Museum, WashingtonThis morning, I traveled a short way upriver to Beacon. When I was younger, I often hiked in the area. Just driving past reminded me of the difficulty of those trails, including the aptly named Breakneck Ridge trail. As I watched rain dr...
Heading South along the Hudson River
Blog, New York, Buchanan, Cold Spring, Croton, Hudson River, Italian Art, MagazzinoYesterday I headed home after my brief stay in Cold Spring. Driving back there were hints of spring—daffodils, weeping willows swathed in pale green, buds ready to burst. But, for the most part, branches remained bare and there was a g...
Fort Tryon Park, New York City
Blog, NYC, Flower Garden, Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan, New York CityEven though it’s not nearby and has hills, Fort Tryon Park holds the title of my favorite Manhattan park. Why? First, it is a ten-minute drive and has loads of free parking. Second, I’ve never seen it crowded, a rarity in the city. Thi...
Street Art Bushwick, Brooklyn
Blog, NYC, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Bushwick Collective, London, NYC, Street ArtThe last time I visited Bushwick to explore street art was during one of the worst parts of the pandemic. Streets were devoid of people but filled with fabulous art. This time, people swarmed the neighborhood. And, because marijuana is n...
Solar Eclipse (not quite total)
Blog, Global, Astronomy, Moon, Solar Eclipse, SunThin wispy clouds scurried across the sky as if trying to get out of the way of the nearing astronomical event. I’d tried to get eclipse viewing glasses, but when I looked for them, they’d all been given away or sold. The doormen in ...
Whirligigs
Blog, North Carolina, American Museum of Visionary Art, North Carolina, Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, Whirligigs, WilconEven if you think you’ve seen whirligigs, you’ve never seen anything like the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina. I’m visiting my cousin in Raleigh, and we took a drive because she knew I’d love the park. Any...
North Carolina Museum of Art – Raleigh
Blog, North Carolina, African art, Contemporary American Indian Art, Kehinde Wilde, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, Rodin sculptures, To Take Shape and MeaningToday my cousin and I went to see an exhibit at the NC Museum of Art: To Take Shape and Meaning – Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art. I’m fond of both traditional and contemporary Native American art and have seen a ...
Recycling
Blog, North Carolina, Mural, Raleigh, Recycled Art, Recycling, Scrap MetalA growing trend is using recycled materials to create art. Think of the quilts created in Gee’s Bend with old clothes and fabric scraps. Scrap metal is a favorite of many artists, as are abandoned plastics and construction materials. C...
Seattle—Day 1
Blog, Seattle, Crystal Pite, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Rube Goldberg, Seattle, Twyla TharpI’m in Seattle visiting a client, @Pacific Northwest Ballet. Last night, as their guest, I attended one of the best evenings of dance I’ve ever experienced. There were three pieces choreographed by women—Twyla Tharp, Jessica Lang, ...
Seattle Day 2
Blog, Seattle, Lake Washington, Lake Washington Ship Canal, Mount Rainier, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Puget Sound, Seattle, Space NeedleThe day began watching a professional class at Pacific Northwest Ballet . While I’ve viewed many classes, the dancers never fail to impress me with their flexibility, grace, and athleticism. Seemingly effortlessly, they get into positi...
Seattle – Day 3
Blog, Seattle, Belltown, Benaroya Hall, Native American Art, Northwest Coast Native Art, Pike Place, Pioneer Square, Seatown, Seattle, Seattle Jazz Repertory Orchestra, Space Needle, The Glass HouseI was glad to have gone to the top of the Space Needle yesterday because today started cloudy and never cleared. It seemed a good day to do two of my favorite things in Seattle—go to art galleries and to the Pike Place markets to see t...
Seattle – Day 4
Blog, Seattle, Chihuly Exhibition, Garden, Pacific Northwest Ballet, SeattleThe prediction was for a gray, chilly day. Fortunately, the forecasters got it wrong. Today has been sunny, though a bit cool. I’ve truly lucked out weatherwise, something to be grateful for in Seattle. I met an old colleague and frien...
Super Bloom Road Trip — Day 1
Blog, California, Castiac, Los Angeles, Ontario, Pacific Coast, SeattleYesterday I flew south from Seattle to Ontario (just outside of Los Angeles). My friend Jeanne picked me up for a week’s adventure on the Pacific coast. She’s got a truck camper that gives us the freedom to meander and stay overnight in ...
Super Bloom Road Trip – Day 2
Blog, California, California Coast, Road Trip, Santa Margarita, Super Bloom, Vineyards, WildflowersToday we meandered on back roads heading north. We had to stay away from the coast because the recent torrential rains caused devastating mudslides. Many of the roads remain closed while crews make repairs. Even inland we saw evidence of...
Super Bloom Road Trip – Day 3
Blog, California, Northern California Wineries, Pescadero, Road Trip, Snaking Roads, Super Bloom, WildflowersStill driving inland because many sections of the coast road remain closed due to the recent flooding, we continued to make our way north. Rather than head quickly on the freeway to the coast and towns we’d both been in, we decided to ...
Super Bloom Road Trip – Day 4
Blog, California, Bodega Bay, California Coast, Golden Gate Bridge, Half Moon Bay, Road Trip, Sam's Chowder House, Super BloomAs is often the case on the California coast, the morning was overcast and misty—very mysterious looking. We continued our journey north, stopping frequently to admire the view and take short walks. It was so windy, short walks were th...
Super Bloom Road Trip – Day 5
Blog, California, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Bohemian Highway, Freestone, Japan, Occidental, Osmosis Day Spa, Road Trip, Super BloomToday was our first day of remaining within a small area. We drove to Freestone, a short distance from Bodega Bay. Our first stop was at Wildflour for breakfast. When we arrived the queue to buy loaves of bread, scones, cookies, and coff...
Super Bloom Road Trip – Day 6
Blog, California, Bodega Bay, Fishetarian, Fort Ross, Jenner, Pacific Coast Highway, Road Trip, Russian River, Sonoma County, Super BloomToday was a day trip north from Bodega Bay, up Highway 1 – the Pacific Coast Highway through Sonoma County. It was a perfect day—clear, blue skies with visibility for miles. Because it is early in the season, there wasn’t much traf...
Super Bloom Road Trip – Day 7
Blog, California, Bodega Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, Hiking, Mount Tamalpais, Pacific Ocean, Road Trip, San Francisco, Super BloomThe end of this trip is closing in. Today we headed back to San Francisco, my last chance to savor the gorgeous flowers, epic vistas of coastline and verdant rolling hills as well as more seal sightings. Route 1 heading south from Bodega...
Museum of Asian Art, San Francisco
Blog, San Francisco, Bronze Age, California, Fabrics, Museum of Asian Art, Phoenix Kingdoms, San Francisco, Southern ChinaOn my final day in California, I visited with several friends. Michael is a volunteer at the Museum of Asian Art and suggested I meet him there. The current exhibit, he said, is a knockout. The show, Phoenix Kingdoms, displays recent bro...
Baskets
Blog, San Francisco, Asian Museum of Art, Baskets, Lloyd Cotsen, Neutrogena, San FranciscoWhile at the Asian Museum of Art in San Francisco I visited an exhibit of Japanese bamboo baskets. Many years ago, I tried my hand at basket weaving. A simple basket isn’t difficult but once you get past the basics creating a beautiful...
Netsuke
Blog, San Francisco, Carvings, Collectibles, Museum of Asian Arts, Netsuke, San FranciscoOne last entry from exhibitions at the Museum of Asian Arts in San Francisco. Netsuke have always fascinated me. The small, intricate carvings, often in bone, ivory or wood, originally served a practical purpose. They were used as part o...
Galveston Texas – Day One
Blog, Galveston, Aquarium, Galveston, Gulf of Mexico, Houston, Jellyfish, Moody Gardens, TexasI’m in Texas attending the #NATJA (North American Travel Journalist Association) conference. #visitgalveston Galveston is an island in the Gulf of Mexico, about an hour from Houston. The last time I was here was decades ago, prior to H...
Galveston, Texas – Day 2
Blog, Galveston, Annie Arnold, Elizabeth Chiles, Galveston, Galveston Art Center, Juneteenth, native Americans, Sam Collins, Texas, Turtle Island Restoration NetworkGalveston, Texas – Day 2 If I were going to sum up the day three words would suffice—history, art, and food. The first two conference speakers talked about Galveston’s history, from it’s earliest native Americans to the present d...
Galveston – Day 3
Blog, Galveston, Africa, Asia, Cotton-top Tamarins, Galveston, Giant Amazon River Otters, Komodo Dragon, Rain Forest, Rain Forest Pyramid, Saki Monkeys, Sloths, Texas, The AmericasIn the morning, I met with representatives from the DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations). They gave me lots of great ideas for trips I hadn’t even considered and I’m now thinking of how to fit them into my 2025 travel schedule ...
Houston, Texas – Day 1
Blog, Houston, Barack Obama, Contemporary, Gavelston, Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, Old Master paintings, Tex-Mex, TexasThe conference ended last night, but I decided to spend an extra day in Houston. My friend Ann lives here, and I hadn’t seen her in a while. Getting to Houston from Galveston was interesting. Last night there were massive thunderstorms...
Houston Day 2
Blog, Houston, Contemporary Craft, Craft Center, Houston, Kehinde Wiley, Museum of Fine Arts, Sawyer Yards, Silver Street Studios, Smither Park, TexasMy penultimate day in Texas focused on the art of Kehinde Wiley at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. On my final day, I hunted down lesser-known artists showing their work in alternative spaces. Sawyer Yards was my first stop. I’d read...
Bilbao, Spain – Day 1
Bilbao, Blog, Bilbao, Boat Ride, Guggenheim, Nervion River, Soccer, SpainI arrived at my hotel at midday. With only about 3 hours sleep in 36 hours, a nap was a necessity, then it was out to explore, even though I remained a bit groggy. As it turns out, my hotel is in the central shopping area and close to th...
Bilbao, Spain – Day 2, Part 1 – The Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao, Blog, Architecture, Bilbao, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Frank Gehry, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Pop Culture, Spain, Walt Disney Concert HallBilbao, Spain – Day 2, Part 1 – The Guggenheim Museum Today needs to be split into a couple of entries, because there is just too much for a single entry. I spent many hours at the Guggenheim Museum, it was the major reason I wanted ...
Bilbao, Day 2 — Part 2 – Soccer and the Old Town
Bilbao, Blog, Blibao, Guggenheim, Old Town, San Mamés Stadium, Soccer, Spain, TournamentToday is a big day for soccer in Bilbao — the 2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League final is being held at San Mamés Stadium. The tram into town was jammed with fans wearing team gear, singing chants and ready for a good time. When I walke...
Spain – Day 3
Blog, Spain, Basque, Bay of Biscay, Biarritz, Blibao, France, Galician, Independence Squaew, Macarons, Pyrenees Mountains, Saint Jean De Luz, SpainWell, not really Spain, I spent a large part of the day in France. Whenever I think of Basque culture, I’d only ever heard of it in conjunction with Spain. The tour I took today taught me otherwise—parts of France are considered Basq...
San Sebastian, Spain — Day 1
Blog, San Sebastian, Barcelona, Bilbao, French, Queen Maria Cristina, San Sebastian, SpainThis morning, I wondered if I would get from Bilbao to San Sebastian, at least as planned. It was one of those, if it can go wrong, it will days. The bus was scheduled to depart at 11 am. From the hotel to the bus terminal, the trip is s...
San Sebastian, Spain – Day 2
Blog, San Sebastian, Basque, Boat Trip, Food, Mimo, San Sebastian, Spain, WineToday was the unofficial start of the conference. For those of us who arrived early, we had a choice of activities, like a city tour, rowing in the bay, a boat trip along the Basque coast, surfing, hiking, and the one I selected “cooki...
San Sebastian, Spain – Day 3 – part one
Blog, San Sebastian, Basque, Eduardo Chillida, Maria Christina, Monte Igueldo, Pinxhos, San Sebastian, Spain, Spanish, Wind CombThe official start of the conference is tonight, with what sounds like a lot of surprises for us. But before then. I took another pre-conference tour. This one was largely outside in lush, green sites. The weather cooperated, warm but no...
San Sebastian, Spain – Day 3, Part 2
Blog, San Sebastian, Basque, Cider, Jai Alai, Petritegi Cider House, San Sebastian, Spain, SportsAfter the tour was over yesterday I had just enough time to return to the apartment, relax for a few minutes and then head out to the first “official” event of the conference. We took buses to a town just outside of San Sebastian to ...
Amsterdam, Netherlands—Day One
Amsterdam, Blog, Amsterdam, Bicycles, Boats, Canals, Dutch, Ferries, Netherlands, Nxt Museum, PancakesSome of you may have noticed that I didn’t post anything for a couple of days, which is unusual for me. The first omission was because the conference I was attending so occupied me, there simply wasn’t time. Yesterday I took an early...
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Day 2
Amsterdam, Blog, Amsterdam, Central Station, Flower Market, Museum, Rembrandtplein, Rijksmuseum, Straat Museum, The Netherlands, TramI seem to have shaken the worst of my cold, so today was a packed day. After an early breakfast, I went out for a walk, heading vaguely in the direction of the Central Station. Within minutes I found myself at the flower market, a long l...
Amsterdam – Day three
Amsterdam, Blog, Amsterdam, Architectural Details, Hortus Botanicus, Museum, Oude Kerk, Red-Light DistrictYesterday was my final morning in Amsterdam before flying home. The friendly desk clerk at my hotel (the @NesHotel) helped me come up with a plan. He suggested that I walk over to the Oude Kerk. But, he cautioned, “go now. You have to ...
Roof lines
Architectural Details, Blog, Modern Buildings, Netherlands, Roof lines, San Sebastian, SpainWhile traveling in Spain and the Netherlands I couldn’t help but notice the two countries differing architectural styles. In both San Sebastian and Amsterdam older, traditional buildings showcased their approach to ornamentation and, i...
Embellishment
Architectural Details, Blog, Amsterdam, Architecture, Buildings, Dutch, San SebastianYesterday I showed rooflines; today I’m focusing on architectural embellishment. While I didn’t have a preference for the rooflines in San Sebastian or Amsterdam, Amsterdam wins hands down for embellishment. Dutch merchants wanted to...
Athens, Greece – Day 2
Athens, Blog, Acropolis, Athens, Crete, Greece, horta, Parthenon, Plaka, spanakopitaThe first time I visited Athens, in 1996, the Parthenon thrilled me, as did the Plaka, the statuary, and the overall vibe. The next time I visited, my enthusiasm had waned. Athens looked dirty, was hotter than hell on a bad day, the sky ...
On Board the Oceania Vista
Blog, Greece, Greece, Oceania, Oceania Vista, Piraeus, Santorini, ShipEarly this afternoon I arrived at the port of Piraeus (Greece) to board the Oceania Vista. The size of the ship surprised me, though it shouldn’t have. My stateroom is on the tenth deck and there are six decks above me. The ship can ac...
Santorini
Blog, Greece, Crete, Cycladic Group, Greece, Greek Islands, Santorini, Tender, WineLast night I slept better than I have in many nights—the gentle sound of the ship’s engines lulled me deep into dreamland. When I woke, we’d dropped anchor in Santorini, part of the Cycladic group of Greek islands. Santorini is a b...
Antalya, Turkey
Blog, Turkey, Antalya, Architectural Details, Athens, Carpet Salesman, TurkeyThis morning the ship docked at Antalya, the first port of call in Turkey. I haven’t been in Turkey since 1997, and when I visited, I never made it to Antalya. I’d been hoping to visit some of the historic sites, but the excursion de...
Bodrum, Türkiye
Blog, Turkey, Bodrum, Coast, Gulet, TurkeyI’ve been told that Bodrum is the playground of wealthy Turks, Greeks, and other Europeans. Judging by the yachts in the area, it must be true. However, I never made it into Bodrum, just viewed it from the water. I took a tour on a “...
Kusadasi / Ephesus – Türkiye
Blog, Turkey, Ephesus, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Rome, TurkeyIn 1998 I came to Türkiye with two friends. After spending a few days in Istanbul, we rented a car and drove around the coastline. One of the most memorable places was Ephesus. While I’ve been to many ruins, few give the same feeling ...
Istanbul
Blog, Istanbul, Istanbul, Oceanic Vista, Ship, TurkeyToday I decided to hang out on the ship (the Oceanic Vista). We didn’t dock in Istanbul until 1 pm. Then, with most people off on excursions, I had the perfect opportunity to enjoy all the ship has to offer. I’ll be spending five day...
Istanbul – Day 2
Blog, Istanbul, Balat, Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Pierre Loti Park, Taksim Square, TurkeyDisembarkation from the ship was swift and easy, especially since I had a wheelchair assist. That was a good thing, since it was about half a mile from the gangway to the taxi stand (including clearing immigration and claiming luggage). ...
Istanbul – Day 4
Blog, Istanbul, baklava, Beşiktaş, Culinary Backstreets, Food, muezzin, Ottoman Empire, Syria, TurkeyIf you aren’t hungry now, be prepared—this post will definitely whet your appetite. At 5 am I was woken by the call from the muezzin at a local mosque. A muezzin is a person appointed at a mosque to recite the call to prayer, which i...
Istanbul – Day 4
Blog, Istanbul, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Mosaic Museum, Shopping, Spice Market, Turkey, Turkish DelightYesterday was about food, today was about shopping. My original plan was to go to the Mosaic Museum. Then I’d walk to the nearby hop-on-hop-off bus stop and enjoy a scenic trip around the city. I’d get off at the spice market, have l...
Istanbul – Day 5
Blog, Istanbul, Atatürk Cultural Center, Blue Mosque, Culture, Hodjapasha, Istanbul, Republic Monument, Taksim, TurkeyI’ve had a food day and a shopping day in Istanbul. Today was a culture day. My first stop was Taksim Square, a bustling hub of activity and a symbol of modern Türkiye. Located in the heart of Istanbul, it’s known for its lively atmos...
Istanbul – Day 6
Blog, Istanbul, Bosphorus, ceviz reçeli, Istanbul, Kadıköy, TurkeyToday was my final full day in Istanbul before returning home. I spent the morning wandering around my neighborhood. In the afternoon I visited with an American friend who has been living in Istanbul for the past fourteen years. To get t...
Olafur Eliasson
Blog, Istanbul, Icelandic Artist, Istanbul, Light, Modern Art Museum, Olafur Eliasson, Reykjavik, San FranciscoWhile traveling I visited the Istanbul Modern Art Museum specifically to see an exhibit of Olafur Eliasson’s work. Eliasson is an Icelandic artist whose light installations have been shown around the globe. My first encounter was almos...
Tiffany Lamps and Clara Driscoll
Blog, NYC, Clara Driscoll, Feminism, Museum, New York Historical Society, Tiffany LampsYesterday evening I met up with fellow Score mentors (the organization I volunteer with) for an evening at the New York Historical Society. It’s an often overlooked museum that has fascinating exhibitions. I immediately headed for the Ti...
Brooklyn Museum — Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo
Blog, Japan, NYC, Brooklyn Museum, Edo, Hiroshige, Takashi Murakami, Tokyo, Woodblock PrintsMid the July 4th weekend, I assumed the Brooklyn Museum would be sparsely attended. Nope. Two blockbusters shows brought in crowds—Paul McCartney’s photos and Hiroshige’s woodblock prints of Edo (Tokyo). The museum’s collection o...
Paul McCartney’s Photos at the Brooklyn Museum
Blog, NYC, Beatles, Brooklyn Museum, Ed Sullivan, Eyes of the Storm, NYC, Paul McCartney, PhotosThis exhibition of McCartney’s photos is titled: 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm. It was the period when the Beatles hit it big, starting when they left Liverpool. They began to perform internationally, first in Europe and then in the Uni...
Balloon Art
Blog, NYC, Balloon Art, Balloon Story, NYC, The ArmoryYou think you’ve seen it all. That, of course, is never true. Yesterday, at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC, I experienced something totally new to me: balloon art. The Armory is a vast, flexible open space. It is now filled to the rafte...
Beautiful Bridges
Blog, Global, Bridge, Brooklyn, Budapest, France, Iran, London, NYC, Prague, San Francisco, VeniceIn a recent article in Conde Nast Traveler, they listed the world’s most beautiful bridges. I didn’t agree with all of their choices and thought they left some iconic bridges off the list. So, I searched to see what bridges other pub...
Lincoln Center Festival
Blog, NYC, Dance, Festival, Henry Moore, Lincoln Center, NYC, Silent Disco, Summer-for-the-City, Theatrical PerformancesThroughout the year Lincoln Center presents festivals and special events. None is more anticipated than Summer-for-the-City. Every night, and many days, there are concerts in many genres, dance and theatrical performances, a silent disco...
Architectural details
Architectural Details, Blog, Architecture, Fes, Greece, Morocco, TurkeyAnyone who has been following me has figured out that architectural details capture my attention. On my recent trip to Greece and Türkiye the details were stunning, and very different from what I’d just seen in Spain and Amsterdam. Th...
Danger, Danger: White Sands, New Mexico
Blog, New Mexico, United States, New MexicoAn excerpt from my new book “Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine,” out October 4th. The White Sands National Monument is about seventy miles from Las Cruces and is notable for two reasons. First, it i...
For Cod’s Sake: Newfoundland
Blog, Canada, NewfoundlandFor the two weeks I traveled around Newfoundland, cod came up in conversation several times a day. I was never the one to bring it up....
Homestay: China 2007
Blog, China, AsiaAn excerpt from my upcoming book “Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine,” which is out this October. Our tour itinerary included a homestay in a small farming village ninety minutes outside of Xi’an, the ...
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina, Blog, Argentina, Buenos Aires, San Telmo, TangoI’m at the airport and will be boarding soon for my return flight home. Last night we went to a tango show. It was great fun, if a bit too commercial for my taste. Today, I spent the day on a tour of Tigre, a neighborhood about fifteen m...
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina, Blog, Arngentina, Buenos Aires, El Gran Cafe Tortoni, SanTelmoBuenos Aires We disembarked the ship this morning. With no fuss, we grabbed a taxi and went to our hotel. Amazingly, at 9 am, they had a room ready for us. After settling in a bit, we grabbed another taxi (which are inexpensive) and went...
Antarctic Cruise — Day 11
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, AntarcticaOur weather luck ran out Today was a port everyone was eagerly anticipating — Stanley in the Falkland Islands. It’s a great place to see King penguins. And, of course, to get souvenirs to prove we’d visited there. We’d been told there wa...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 9
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, Antarctic Cruise, Antarctica, Elephant Island, Fin Whales, ShackletonElephant Island Yesterday we experienced the one day in a hundred when the weather in this part of the planet is perfect. Today we got to see more typical summer weather in Antarctica. Early morning was clear and bright, then clouds and ...
Antarctic Cruise — Day 8
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, Admiralty Bay, AntarcticaAdmiralty Bay This morning Deception Island was spectacular. This afternoon cruising through Admiralty Bay almost made that scenery look pallid in comparison. Imagine being able to look in any direction and see towering glaciers. Emergin...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 7
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, Antarctica, Deception IslandAntarctica!! Deception Island We have made it to Antarctica. I woke up this morning at sunrise to see Snow Island glistening in the early sunshine. The ship is now circumnavigating Deception Island in the Shetland Islands. It could not b...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 6
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, Antarctica, Drake PassageGoing through the Drake Passage The Drake Passage is known for having some of the roughest waters on the planet. The explorers feared it and many ships succumbed to the ferocity of the sea. These days ships don’t break up or disappear, b...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 5
Argentina, BlogUshuaia, Argentina Ushuaia refers to itself as “fin del mundo,” the end of the world. It is currently the southernmost city on the globe. It may be in a remote area, but today it was very busy with four cruise ships in port on route to A...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 4
Blog, Chile, Chile, Punta Arenas, South AmericaPunta Arenas, Chile Thank the stars, the sea calmed down early evening. The swells subsided, the patch kicked in and I began to feel better. I even got a good night’s sleep. In the morning we were in Punta Arenas in Chile. It’s famous fo...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 3
Antarctic Cruise, Argentina, Blog, Argentina, Ouerto Madryn, PenguinsPuerto Madryn Argentina Without a call at Puerto Madryn, the ship would be at sea for two days. It is the northernmost edge of Argentinian Patagonia. We were the only ship in port, a good thing or we would have overwhelmed it. Nearly eve...
Antarctic Cruise – Day 2
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, Antarctic CruiseFirst day in open seas Today we are heading from Montevideo Uruguay to Puerto Madrone Argentina. A full day at sea. I’ve spent a lot of time watching the ocean, which has been getting progressively rougher. A couple of times I’ve had to ...
Antarctic Cruise — Day 1
Antarctic Cruise, Blog, Uruguay, Montevideo, UruguayMontevideo Uruguay The ship docked early this morning in Montevideo. We’d signed up for a tour of the city. I will confess the start of the tour didn’t convince me I’d ever want to return. The main square has a mash-up of many di...
Buenos Aires – Day Two
Argentina, Blog, Argentina, Buenos Aires, La Boca, Tango DancersAfter a leisurely breakfast Sue and I headed to La Boca, a neighborhood I remembered with great fondness from my previous trip to Argentina. Originally La Boca was an immigrant area. People used whatever they could find to build shelter....
Buenos Aires, Day 1
Argentina, Blog, Argentina, Buenos AiresAlthough the flight from New York to Buenos Aires is long, ten plus hours, there’s only a two hour time difference. I managed to sleep on the plane, not exactly great sleep, but sufficient. Sue didn’t do as well, barely sleeping at...
London – Day One
Blog, London, London, Matthew BourneGetting through Heathrow felt like a forced march. It took a full hour to get from the gate to the Heathrow Express train—and that doesn’t include getting through passport control. We did finally make it and in fifteen minutes were a...
Munich
Blog, Germany, Christmas Markets, Munich, Rathaus SquareToday in Munich was my worst nightmare weather—rain that froze upon hitting the ground and glazed over everything. Forty years ago, I fell on ice and shattered my elbow, so I’m now paranoid about it. I managed to get through the morn...
Salzburg
Austria, Blog, Cafe Sacher, Christmas Markets, Ratskeller, SalzburgThis is a whirlwind tour, frankly too fast for my liking. We boarded a train from Vienna to Salzburg in the early morning. Then we had five hours to explore a city that deserves at least a couple of days. The train ride was beautiful...
Vienna
Austria, Blog, Austria, Holiday Markets, Schönbrunn Palace, Spanish Riding SchoolI am on a tour of European Christmas markets — first stop Vienna. After breakfast I met the rest of our small group—six of us—plus our guide Rich. We headed out on a tram to see Schönbrunn Palace. At that point there was a gentle sn...
London Day Five
Blog, England, London, Bill Bryson, National Theater LondonThe weather today was dismal, which dampened not only our clothes but also our plans. We had matinee tickets for a play at the National Theater at Southbank. Southbank is an area that borders the Thames and is a favorite place to walk. B...
London — Day Four
Blog, England, London, Carnaby Street, Life of Pi, Rock Plaice and Sole, Senor CevicheMy good friend Pascale lives in London. Her friend Isabel who lives in Paris was visiting her. We’d arranged to meet for lunch at Senor Ceviche, a Peruvian restaurant. I had loads of time, so after exiting the tube station I wandered a...
London — Day Three
Blog, England, London, Ian McKellen Mother Goose, London Street Art, Spitalfields Market, Street ArtShockingly, the sun was out this morning and there wasn’t a drop of rain all day. That was a good thing, because I was scheduled to go on a walking tour of street art in London’s East End. I’m mad about street art and always try to...
London — Day Two
Blog, England, Pasta Brown, V&A, Victoria & Albert MuseumSurprise, surprise, it was raining in London. The skies went from slate gray to pale gray to steel gray. So, it was time to head to a museum. My favorite one in London is the Victoria & Albert, a museum of design. When I lived here, I ...
London — Day One
Blog, EnglandGetting through Heathrow felt like a forced march. It took a full hour to get from the gate to the Heathrow Express train—and that doesn’t include getting through passport control. We did finally make it and in fifteen minutes were a...
Italy Day 13 — Monreale, Sicily and Milan
Blog, ItalyToday was our final day in Italy before returning home to the States. Our mid-afternoon flight to Milan gave us time to do a little exploration, so we were up and out early. Leaving wasn’t as painful as it might have been because the s...
Italy Day 12 — Cefalu and Castelbuono
Blog, Italy, Castelbuono, CefaluThis morning the sky was nearly identical to Crayola’s version of sky blue. The temperature was warm, and we had no plans. It became our morning to go swimming. The pool at the Hapimag resort looks out over the sea. The contrast of t...
Italy Day 11 – Termini Imerse and Campofelice di Roccella
Blog, Italy, Campofelice di Roccella, Cooking in Sicily, Sicily, Termini ImerseOur big activity for the day was scheduled for 5 PM. With a full day ahead of us we headed to Termini Imerse, a city within Palermo. Much of it is industrial, but there’s also an old section that has Roman ruins and what is described a...
Italy Day 10 – Cefalu
Blog, Italy, CefaluWeather.com forecast rain for today. But what they didn’t say was whether it would be a drizzle or a downpour. I woke up to a slate gray sky and fine mist. That wouldn’t stop us from our plan to tour Palermo. While sipping my mor...
Italy Day 9 – Santo Stefano di Camastra and Pollina
Blog, Italy, Ceramics., Pollina, Santo Stefano di Camastra, SicilyOn my previous trip to Sicily, I happened upon the town of Santo Sefano di Camastra. It was difficult to miss, it was on the main road heading towards Palermo and along every street in town there were dozens of shops selling locally made...
Italy Day 8 – Cefalu, Sicily
Blog, Italy, UncategorizedWe were up and out early this morning, largely because we didn’t trust Ditzy, the GPS. We were scheduled for a food and walking tour of Cefalu. Giving ourselves a lot of time was a good decision because Ditzy misdirected us several ti...
Italy Day 7 – Cefalu, Sicily
Blog, Italy, CefaluKathy and I were both awake for the sunrise show—the sky morphed from pale blue to deep pink to orange. After that, we had a lazy morning–breakfast on our terrace, laundry, drawing (Kathy), writing (me) and both of us reading intermi...
Italy Day 6 – Travel to Cefalu, Sicily
Blog, Italy, Uncategorized, Cefalu, Hapimag, SicilyTaxi to train station, scurry to buy tickets and find seats while toting luggage, make our way through Malpensa Airport which required taking a bus to the plane, finally climbing the stairs (with luggage) onto our flight and departing Mi...
Italy Day 5 – Milan
Blog, Italy, Bulgari Milano, Milan, Trienalle MilanoFor the past four days Kathy and I have mostly spent our time exploring Milan’s historic sites. Today we did the opposite, looking at modern day Milan, even taking a glimpse into the future. We spent hours at the Trienalle Milano, desc...
Italy Day 4 – Milan
Blog, ItalyKathy and I made reservations to see Leonardo DaVinci’s Last Supper while we were still at home. We decided to go explore the neighborhood and have lunch nearby prior to our 1:15 reservation time. The refectory of the church of Santa...
Italy day 3 – Milan
Blog, ItalyMilan has dozens of tantalizing museums—nearly all are closed on Monday. Instead, we returned to the Duomo. As impressive as the cathedral is from a distance, the exterior is even more remarkable close-up. The walls are embellished wit...
Italy day 2 – Milan
Blog, Italy, Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala, MilanAs Kathy, her friend Gabriella and her son Cyril and I walked from the trolley towards the Duomo we each uttered a series of WOWs. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is without question the most glamorous shopping area I’ve ever experienc...
Italy – Day One – Milan
Blog, ItalyI’m in Italy with my friend Kathy for the next two weeks. The first day after a long flight always feels disorienting, especially when you arrive early morning. It was a long ride from the airport into the city, but I can’t tell you ...
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Blog, United States, Art in Wyoming, Boot Sculpture, Cheyenne WY, Street Art, WyomingSo, what do you want to do tomorrow?” Judy asked me. “How about driving up to Cheyenne?” “Cheyenne? Why would you want to go there?” “I haven’t been there in decades. Just curious.” I responded. And with that I did a go...
Loveland, Colorado – Sculpture in the Park
Blog, United States, Art Fair, Benson Sculpture Garden, Loveland CO, SculptureI didn’t come to Colorado specifically to see this sculpture show (family and friends first), but the timing wasn’t an accident. When I’d visited here before and we’d walked through the Benson Sculpture Park in Loveland, my frien...
Southwest USA
Blog, United States, Desert, SouthwestMy first trip to the southwest in 1979 began in Albuquerque. I’d never spent time in the southwest before, or in any desert environment. Everything seemed as different from New York as it could be. Buildings were low. Instead of steel ...
Paris – through an art lens
Blog, France, Paris, Atelier des Lumieres, France, Paris, TuileriesI’m getting fond of taking buses in Paris now that Google maps directs me where to board them, and then tells me stop-by-stop where I am. My first bus ride today took me to the Tuileries. It’s one of my favorite places in Paris—I a...
Paris – New and Old
Blog, France, Paris, Carnavalet Museum, Fondation Louis Vuitton, France, MaraisToday included some of the oldest and newest Paris sites. It started with the new – the Foundation Louis Vuitton. The building, designed by Frank Gehry, is in the Bois de Boulogne and was completed in 2014. It is an art museum, but I...
Beaune and Chateau de Chamirey, France
Blog, France, Beaune, Burgundy, Chalon Sur Saone, Chateau de Chamirey, MercureyI will have to return and spend a few days in Beaune. It is one of the loveliest places we visited, right in the heart of Burgundy. The town is best known for Hotel – Dieu, Des Hospices Civils. The hospital was founded in 1443 by w...
Disembarkation and on to Paris
Blog, France, Bon Marche, Paris, Saone RiverToday was disembarkation day, our final morning on the Saone River. I spent as much time as possible outside before heading to the train station. The ride to Paris had a couple of minor glitches—to get to the track required a long flig...
Tournus and the Saone River, France
Blog, France, Uncategorized, Chalon Sur Saone, Saone River, Tournus FranceToday was a lazy, relaxed day—a break from touring and endless walking. In the morning I headed off the boat to wander around town by myself. Curving back streets, with ancient doors and shutters, charmed me—they’re such a far cry ...
Macon, France
Blog, France, Chateau de Pierreclos, French Vineyards, Macon France, Saone River, VineyardsMacon is a city on the Saone River. It’s also a wine growing region known for white wine, especially chardonnay. Today I got to explore both. In the morning I ditched the tour and walked around Macon on my own. Most things were closed,...
Vienne and Lyons, France
Blog, France, Architecture, France, Lyons France, Vienne FrancePrior to this trip I’d never heard of Vienne, so I was surprised by how much I liked it. We took a “Toonerville trolley” to a high point above the city that had an expansive view of the city. The Rhone River snaked through a city a...
Valance, France
Blog, France, France, Valance FranceLast night we took a short scenic cruise to see Avignon’s famous Pont Bénezet (bridge) lit up. It’s famous due to a song about it. Most tourists assumed (as I did) that it was destroyed during the second world war. In fact, it w...
Arles and Avignon, France
Blog, France, Arles, Arles Amphitheater, Avignon, Van GoghToday was a tale of two cities with very different histories and looks, united by their dependency on tourism. In the morning we took a walking tour of Arles, known for its relationship to Van Gogh. He lived in Arles for one year, but d...
Marseilles to Arles
Blog, France, Arles, Burgundy, France, Marseilles, River CruiseWoke up this morning to bright sunshine and a gorgeous view of Marseilles’ old port. We started the day with the most typical of French breakfasts, a croissant and café au lait. We walked around the area, stopping at the morning fis...
Travel Travails
Blog, France, France, Marseilles, ProvenceIt’s 9:15PM and my friend Sue and I are in Marseilles, France. We just enjoyed a glass of wine and wonderful Bouillabaisse dinner, in a restaurant with a view of the old port. But since last evening it has been a crapshoot as to w...
Bainbridge Island, Washington State
Blog, United States, Bainbridge Island, Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington StateThe ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island takes less than thirty minutes. But step off the ferry and you feel as though you’ve been transported much further than that. It’s easy to walk to town, passing by several trailheads, unus...
Seattle, Washington
Blog, United States, Pike Street Market, Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, WashingtonNo trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the Pike Street Market. Though it is touristy, it is also great fun to wander around. I love taking photos of the flower bouquets and always regret I can’t take them home with me. A...
Pacific Northwest / Washington State
Blog, United States, La Conner, Pacific Northwest, Tulip Festival, Washington State, Whidbey IslandRain and sunshine played tag the entire day—one minute pounding rain (not the gentle mist the Pacific Northwest is known for) the next intense sun. I kept looking for rainbows, but never saw any. We started back at the tulip festival...
San Juan Islands, Washington
Blog, United States, Anacortes, Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington StateDespite rain forecasted for all day, we decided to head to the San Juan Islands. A friendly waitress had given us a tip to take the state ferry to Friday Harbor, where we could walk off the boat and into an artsy town. When we left the ...
Tulips — The Skagit Valley Washington State
Blog, United States, Gardens, Skagit Valley, Tulips, Washington StateI had been scheduled to travel to Amsterdam April of 2020 to see the tulip festival. The festival is globally renowned, especially Keukenhof Gardens. Covid cancelled those plans. Last fall I learned about a tulip festival in the Skagit...
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Blog, United States, Brandywine River Art Museum, Chadds Ford, Longwood Gardens, PennsylvaniaI am a lover of gardens. There is no such thing as too many tulips, orchids, roses, trees, or bushes. Each garden is unique in the way it is laid out, the design of the plantings, water elements, structures, rocks and so much more. Despi...
Richmond, Virginia
Blog, United States, Botanical Garden, Richmond Virgina, Street Art, VirginiaMurals and street art have definitely become a thing. Or maybe it was always there, and I’ve just become very attuned to it. Drive or walk around Richmond and the murals are everywhere. When I went to Mamma J’s for dinner, I had to...
Charlotte, North Carolina
Blog, United States, Charlotte NC, NascarWhen in Charlotte do as the locals do—go to the Nascar Hall of Fame. Nascar (stock car racing) is THE sport in North Carolina. While it isn’t something I’ve ever been to, I’ve long wanted to go to a Nascar race, as a slice of...
Charleston, South Carolina — Day Three
Blog, United States, Boone Hall Plantation, Charleston South CarolinaMuch of today was spent at the Boone Hall Plantation. The property is gorgeous, every inch of it filled with history—some very sad, much quite unexpected and all of it thought provoking. Here are a few of the things I learned: The owne...
Charleston, South Carolina — Day two
Blog, United States, Charleston South Carolina, Middleton Place, The CitadelThe forecast was for rain, not as intense as last night, but intermittent showers all day. What to do? Well, breakfast first at Poogan’s Porch, the oldest restaurant in Charleston. To make it even better, Poogan was a rescued dog. ...
Charleston, South Carolina – Day One
Blog, United States, Charleston South Carolina, GullahThe last time I was in Charleston immediately after hurricane Hugo (1989). My father was living here, and I came down to help him pack up and move—the devastation from the storm was so bad he could no longer live in his home. Every r...
Wilmington, North Carolina
Blog, United States, Gardens, Outsider art, Wilmington NCWilmington, NC is definitely not to be confused with Wilmington, Delaware. The Delaware city is home to many large banks and during my many business trips there was all about business. The North Carolina Wilmington is brimming with sou...
Norfolk, Virginia (day 2)
Blog, United States, Chrysler Museum, Naval Base, NEON district, Norfolk VAToday was a long but very satisfying day. I’d read that Norfolk has an arts district, “NEON,” and that it had a lot of murals and street art. That I could not miss. It surpassed my expectations—it covers a large area, with artwor...
Norfolk, Virginia
Blog, United States, Baltimore, Fredericksburg VA, Norfolk VAWhile in Baltimore we had two iconic meals. At the Crafty Crab Sue had blue crabs and I had crawfish (I’m allergic to crabs). This morning we had a fabulous breakfast at Miss Shirley’s Café. When we arrived there was no line, ...
American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland
Blog, United States, AVAM, Baltimore, Maryland, Outsider artToday was the first day of a road trip heading south. Baltimore is a city with many charms. But for me the place I must visit every trip here is the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM). The museum exhibits the work of largely unknown,...
Stained Glass
Blog, Barcelona, Istanbul, Paris, Stained GlassWhen I think of fine crafts and the arts, stained glass isn’t top of mind. Perhaps that’s because it is usually associated with religious themes and houses of worship. Still, the best examples are exquisite. Sainte Chapelle cathed...
Weaving in Peru — 2006
Blog, Peru, Crafts, Peru, South America, WeavingAs it is for many travelers, Machu Picchu was the highlight of my trip to Peru. But while there I had many memorable experiences and saw phenomenal sights. Throughout the country, I often stopped to see weavers. That included every step ...
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2003
Blog, United States, Jazz Festival, Music, New OrleansMy friend Kim had use of an apartment in New Orleans’ French Quarter and invited me to attend the Jazz Festival with her. Off I went, anticipating great music, fabulous food, enthusiastic crowds, and heat. Correct on all counts. What I...
Curaçao, 2020
Blog, Caribbean, Curaçao, Street Art, WillemstadIn February 2020, just before the start of the pandemic I was in Curaçao enjoying warmth, sun and fabulous street art. I anticipated the perfect weather, had seen photos of the colorful buildings lining the harbor of Willemstad, had eve...
Balinese Food Market
Blog, Bali, Food, Food markets, IndonesiaI joined a tour of the local market. Usually, I observe but don’t know what I’m looking at. This time I could find out. “What is that gelatinous, green goop?” I asked. “An herbal drink meant to make you strong. It’s got grea...
Into the Jungle: Borneo, Malaysia 1992
Blog, Malaysia, Borneo, malaysia, RainforestAn excerpt from the new book I’m writing. Leaving the city, we entered into an intense green world. Getting out of the car my glasses fogged. After cleaning them I peered and peered but couldn’t see a break in the dense jungle. “Wher...
Noto, Sicily 2003
Blog, Italy, Holy Friday, Italy, Noto, Religious procession, SicilyAnother small segment from the chapter about Sicily I’m writing for my next book. As we wandered through Noto, we noticed groups of people walking towards a wooded area and followed see what was happening. Through a high arch, along a...
Agrigento, Sicily Italy 2003
Blog, Italy, Agrigento, Italy, SicilyAn excerpt from the new book I’m writing. Driving on Sicily would be a challenge according to the guidebook. It reported that in some towns, if you make a wrong turn, you’re likely to face a flight of stairs that you must drive up or...
Food Hall, Seoul South Korea
Blog, South Korea, Food, Food Hall, Seoul, South KoreaThe food hall at the Shinsegae Department store had Asian foods (both ingredients and prepared) from across the continent. They also had a wide variety of European and American foods. There were pastries that could have been on the...
Finland 2006
Blog, Finland, Finland, Licorice, ScandinaviaHanko a small town in SW Finland has grand seaside villas built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was a glamorous retreat for Russian nobles, czars and artists. Many of these “old ladies,” as the villas are referre...
Trinidad
Blog, Trinidad & TobagoThese photos were taken on Castara beach in Trinidad in 2006. At the time I was using an inexpensive Nikon with no special lenses—just point and shoot. I took a lot of photos and saved the ones that captured the beach’s beauty and th...
Rocky Mountain Sunsets
Blog, United States, Colorado, SunsetsLiving in Manhattan I rarely see the blazing sun set into the horizon. That makes nearly all sunsets attractive. Really colorful ones, at the shore, in the desert or on open plains are a special treat. This evening I saw a fabulous Color...
Alphonse Mucha — North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh
Blog, United States, Alphonse Mucha, North Carolina, North Carolina Museum of Art, RaleighMy friend Michael introduced me to the art of Alphonse Mucha when I lived in London in the early 1970s. Mucha, a Czech illustrator and graphic artist, lived in Paris and was known for his stylized Art Nouveau posters. I hadn’t seen mu...
Sunday in New York City — Halloween
Blog, NYC, American Folk Art Museum, Halloween, Lincoln Center, New York City, Upper West SideI will repeat something I’ve written many times—I love New York City. The plan for yesterday was to attend a matinee performance of American Ballet Theater, then return home and not emerge except for walking Pookah. After the perfor...
Young Monks — Myanmar
Blog, Burma, Amarapura Bridge, Buddhist monks, Burma, Children, MyanmarBefore traveling to Burma, I’d always pictured Buddhist Monks as older, wise gentlemen. Then I visited a teaching monastery. It’s customary for young boys, especially those from intensely religious families, to enter a monastery. In ...
New England Coastal Road Trip – Day Eight
Blog, United States, Halloween, Massachusetts, Old Burying Point Cemetery, Salem MA, Salem Witch TrialsWe are now traveling south, heading back to New York City. Our day was spent in Salem, Massachusetts, the stop we aborted last Saturday due to the traffic, crowds, and general mayhem. Today, a Tuesday, was significantly calmer, though th...
New England Coastal Road Trip – Day Seven
Blog, United States, Kittery Maine, Ogunquit Maine, Perkins Cove Ogunquite Maine, Portsmouth NH, Strawberry Bank MuseumThe forecast was for a cool, overcast day. Once again, the meteorologists got it wrong – fortunately in a way that was beneficial. On what turned out to be a warm, sunny day we tried to spend as much time as possible outside. We starte...
New England Coastline Road Trip – Day Six
Blog, United States, Massachusetts, New England Coast, Newburyport Massachusetts, Plum Island Massachsetts, Portsmouth NHAs we headed to Portsmouth NH, I pulled off the highway to get gas. Needing gas changed the entire day. I’d pulled off in Newburyport MA. Seeing a sign for the historic downtown, we decided to head into town and look. We spent the e...
New England Coastal Road Trip – Day Five
Blog, United States, Marblehead MA, Salem MAWhen I sketched out a rough plan for this trip, I was excited about the prospect of visiting Salem MA. Home of the witch trials Salem does Halloween in a big way. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only ones headed there, it seemed as if ...
New England Coast Road Trip – Day Four
Blog, Marble House, Narragansett Bay, Newport Mansions, Newport RI, The LawnNewport, Rhode Island is a vibrant town with so much to do that a single day doesn’t really seem enough. But we crammed so much in today that it felt as if we’d spent a week here. Our first jaunt was on Ocean Drive, marveling at the...
New England Coast Road Trip – Day Three
Blog, UncategorizedMystic Seaport Museum (Connecticut) has changed in numerous ways since I last visited it. And from my perspective, most changes have been positive. My only real issue was their map and signage, which need a lot of help. Hugging the Myst...
New England Coast Road Trip – Day Two
Blog, Mystic CT, Mystic River, Mystic River Bascule Bridge, New London CT, The Book Barn Niantic CTWhile this is definitely a road trip, the distances we are driving each day are short. This morning we went a whopping ten miles to New London for breakfast. Jake’s diner on State Street was a terrific way to start the day—a veggie ...
New England Coast Road Trip — Day One
Blog, Essex CT, Griswold Inn, New England Road Trip, Pez Visitor CenterToday is the start of a ten-day road trip up the New England Coast. I’m with my friend Sue, a wonderful travel companion. We had a plan, and then abandoned it completely. Driving up Interstate 95 I saw a tiny sign, “Pez Visitor Ce...
Thorncrown Chapel, Eureka Springs Arkansas
Blog, Uncategorized, Arkansas, Eureka Springs, Thorncrown ChapelIf you have no other reason to visit Eureka Springs (Arkansas) you should go to see Thorncrown Chapel. E. Fay Jones, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed it. The small mountainside chapel has received many prestigious architecture ...
Fantasy Destinations
Blog, Uncategorized, Dream vacations, Fantastic sites, Fantasy Vacations, travelYesterday the subject line on an email from Conde Nast Traveler read “Fantasy Destinations.” It intrigued me and I clicked to see where they had chosen. I’d been to many of the locations selected, from India to Italy, Spain, Morocc...
Excerpt from the new travel book I’m writing
Blog, Chile, Glaciers, PatagoniaPatagonia – Chile: 2009 The highlight of the cruise was a four-hour journey in a small ice cutter through the iceberg-strewn waters of a fjord. Because there were so few passengers, we all managed to squeeze onto the small ship. The ...
Springfield Massachusetts and Hartford Connecticut
Blog, Ai Wei Wei, Dr. Seuss, Dr. Seuss Museum, Elizabeth Park, Hartford CT, Springfield MAI knew that Dr. Seuss grew up in Springfield because years ago I’d been to a small exhibit there about his childhood. When I read that a whole museum is now dedicated to him, I had to see it. Part of a larger complex that includes art,...
Shelburne Falls and Smith College, Massachusetts
Blog, Bridge of flowers, Jenifer Morier, Massachusetts gardens, Molly Cantor Pottery, Shelburne Falls MAAs I sped down the highway on my way to Northampton, I saw a small sign indicating an attraction— “Bridge of Flowers.” At the next exit I got off and followed the signs to Shelburne Falls. It was a twelve-mile detour, but when you ...
New Hampshire Coastline
Blog, Exeter New Hampshire, Gardens, New Hampshire coast, New Hampshire gardens, Portsmouth New HampshireNew Hampshire has a very short shoreline on the Atlantic, a mere eighteen miles. Yesterday I explored most of it, going from pristine to honky-tonk. Most of the day was spent in Portsmouth, a town I’m astonished I’ve never been to be...
Canterbury, New Hampshire
Blog, Concord New Hampshire, Concord Shaker Village, New Hampshire, Shaker VillageThe torrential rains have disappeared, and the weather has rebounded to perfect blue skies and warm temps. I’ve left Vermont and am spending time in southern New Hampshire. First stop was the Shaker Village at Canterbury. Unlike the S...
Hanover, New Hampshire
Blog, Dartmouth, Enfield NH, Hanover NH, New Hampshire, Shaker VillageOver the years I’ve visited countless college campuses in the United States and abroad. For one memorable assignment, a client had me interviewing graduate students at some of the best European Universities—The Sorbonne, Oxford, Camb...
Southern Vermont
Blog, Uncategorized, Bennington Museum, Bennington VT, Gardens, Hildene, Manchester VT, Southern Vermont, Travel ManiaYesterday I traveled north from Massachusetts into Vermont. First stop was Bennington, a town I’ve been through numerous times. I stopped off to see the wildflower and sculpture garden at the Bennington Museum and visit the farmers...
West Stockbridge, MA
Blog, Berkshires, Massachusetts, Turn Park, West Stock BridgeYesterday was the first day of a one-week road trip. I’m heading up to Southern Vermont and New Hampshire. I decided to take it slowly, less driving, more sightseeing. But as usual plans and reality didn’t quite mesh. What should h...
Untermyer Garden Conservancy, Yonkers, NY
Blog, Gardens, New YorkI’d only been to the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy – which is about 15 miles north of New York, in Yonkers – once before. That was years ago for an outdoor concert. While lovely, the garden hadn’t been well maintained and so I forgot...
Columbia River Gorge — Oregon
Blog(Excerpt from my travel journal in 2001 when I was on a 9-month road trip) On the drive to the gorge the sky was a patchwork of clouds and hints of blue but not a single ray of sun. Paralleling I-84 and the Columbia River, but a whole l...
American Museum Of Natural History
BlogAmerican Museum of Natural History, New York City The newly reopened Hall of Gems and Minerals is a stunner. If you have any interest in geology, this is the place for you. If like me, you just like seeing beautiful things, get...
Fes, Morocco
BlogAs I passed through ancient key-hole gates, I traveled to the past. A world heritage site, this medina is believed to be the largest walled city on earth. Narrow lanes create a massive maze; without a guide any non-local is certain to get...
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY
BlogTwenty years ago today, I was was well into my 9-month road trip. The first sign I saw upon entering Lexington read “Leave racing to horses – work zone ahead”. It was non-stop horses for days; the town is horse crazy. There was hor...
Seneca Falls, NY
BlogMost people know Seneca Falls as a central location of the women’s rights movement. It is certainly that, but also so much more. But let’s start at the beginning. We started this morning at Connie’s, a timeless diner. Apart from ha...
Bryce Canyon, Utah 1991
BlogI’ve been focusing a lot on my extended road trip twenty years ago, but my ramblings around the US go much further back. The southwest has particular appeal for me and over the decades I’ve explored the area many times. In 1991, I tr...
Indonesian Kids
BlogEach Indonesian Island has a unique culture, partially based on the prevailing religion (Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic). On each of my trips to Indonesia I’ve been impressed by people’s friendliness on all of the isla...
Kentuck, Northport Alabama
BlogLocated about an hour south of Birmingham, the Kentuck Art Center is a mecca for outsider artists. There are studios, a gallery and shop. Once a year they host a huge outdoor festival. I’ve attended the festival twice and each time hav...
Pictured Rocks, Lake Superior, Michigan
BlogTwenty years ago today, I started with a cruise on Lake Superior to see the Pictured Rocks; a sight I’d been told I shouldn’t miss. I had some misgivings about going out on a gray, cold day, but assumed we’d be in a warm dry cabin....
Why I travel (Part 7)
BlogTravel has confirmed that music and dance bring universal joy. At a concert in Fez, Morocco I watched women dressed head to toe in jellabas, stand on chairs dancing and cheering to the music of the gospel group, Five Blind Boys from Alab...
Why I travel (Part 6)
BlogI travel because even when I’m not traveling, I like to think about it. I derive great joy from anticipating my next journey and sharing my experiences from previous trips. I travel because there are places in the world where I can liv...
Why I Travel (Part 5)
BlogI travel because it reminds me that no matter how savvy and smart I think I am, there’s always more to learn. There are people across the globe with very great talent and skills. They’ve had different life experiences, so think and d...
Why I Travel (Part 4)
BlogI travel because it makes history real for me. Ancient Egypt doesn’t seem so ancient after seeing the pyramids and Valley of the Kings. The Incas and Aztecs aren’t just civilizations that I learned about in school – they’re livin...
Why I Travel (Part 3)
BlogI travel because I like to shake up my routine. A college professor convinced me years ago that experimentation with different ways of doing things and breaking routines is exercise for the brain. It makes people more alert, healthier an...
Why I Travel (Part 2)
BlogI travel because it makes for good stories, even the bad experiences. Especially the bad experiences. How could I ever forget being on a converted fishing boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with seven people I couldn’t stand and m...
Why I Travel (Part 1)
BlogI travel because deep within me burns an insatiable hunger to try new things. I’m an experience junkie. When traveling it’s impossible to know exactly what will happen, who I’ll strike up a conversation with, what I’ll learn, wha...
Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia
BlogThirty years ago, I spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur before leaving for an extended trip through Indonesia. At the time the city hadn’t raised the towering skyscrapers for which it is now known. It was an eclectic mix of British influe...
Faces of India
BlogA good friend told me before I traveled to India ten years ago, “You’ll see some of the most beautiful sights and some of the ugliest, and they’re often right next to each other. Focus on the beauty.” She was correct. One constan...
Amish Market – Belleville, PA
BlogOn this day 20 years ago, I stayed with friends in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Close by is a large valley populated primarily by Amish and Mennonites. We spent the day taking in the beauty of the area and its unique culture. The valley is ...
MoPOP, Seattle
BlogWhen I last visited the Museum of Pop Culture, it was called the Experience Music Project. Since being established by Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen in 2000 it’s been evolving, changing exhibition focus, programs and its name. The one...
Craters of the Moon, Idaho
BlogI traveled to Boise several times for meetings with Idaho’s iconic company – Ore-Ida Potatoes. On one trip I took extra time, rented a car and traveled around the state. Craters of the Moon national monument was an unexpected delight...
Abel Tasman Park, South Island New Zealand
BlogI’ve told many travelers to New Zealand that Abel Tasman National Park is a must-see destination. It’s difficult to get to, but well worth the effort. A boat ride is needed to get inside the park. Once there, there are pristine hikin...
Cape Town, South Africa
BlogIn Cape Town’s center city we serendipitously came upon the Minstrel’s Parade. It commemorates the freeing of the slaves in the early 1800’s. It’s a bit like Mardi Gras, but more loosely organized. Teams, each from a different ne...
Ghost Ranch, New Mexico
BlogGhost Ranch is about an hour’s drive from Albuquerque. Formerly the home of Georgia O’Keeffe it is now a retreat center. As I drove closer, I recognized some of the surrounding landscape from her paintings. Landscapes in the US south...
St. Brendan’s, Newfoundland, Canada
BlogNewfoundland is a wild, largely untouristy place. On a road trip across the province, I stayed in B&Bs in remote areas and enjoyed unobstructed views of the land, sea and sky. It was an amazing place to stargaze; there is almost no ambien...
Chinchero, Peru
BlogWhen I traveled to Peru fifteen years ago, I visited a weaver’s co-op in the village of Chinchero. Located high in the Andes, not far from Cusco, the setting is breathtaking. It’s also literally breathtaking because of the altitude. ...
Naguar Camel Festival
BlogOne highlight of my travels to India was the camel festival in the desert town of Naguar. I had no idea what to expect other than a lot of camels. That was certainly true—more camels in a glance than I’d seen in my lifetime. The unex...
Silk Market – Seoul, South Korea
BlogEntering into a massive building, probably two city blocks long, we saw household goods, ordinary clothes and a few paltry silk shops. Could this really be the famed silk market? After stumbling about we went upstairs. We entered into a ...
La Jolla, CA
BlogThe La Jolla coast is known for its population of wild seals and sea lions. On any sunny day it is easy to see large numbers of them lounging or swimming along the shoreline. It took me a while to see the differences between the two mari...
One World Trade NYC
BlogThe deep blue cloudless sky made yesterday the perfect conditions for viewing NYC from above. A discount coupon and controlled occupancy made going there irresistible. I’d been planning to visit ever since the observatory opened in 201...
Crane Foundation – Baraboo, Wisconsin
BlogDriving through Wisconsin in pursuit of outsider artists and the environments they create, I came upon a sign for the Crane Foundation. Upon entering I was transported from the wacky worlds of fantastical animals and people made from scr...
London’s Sky Garden
BlogOne year ago today I visited one of London’s newest attractions – the sky garden. Located in the financial district, this free public space opened in 2015. Starting on the 43rd floor of an office tower is a three-story climbing garde...
Pennsylvania Station
BlogWhen I was a kid, Pennsylvania Station was a glory of NYC. The ceiling of the waiting room soared 148 feet high. Sun poured in through huge windows. In 1963 it was demolished to make way for the new Madison Square Garden. Its replacement...
Uros Islands, Peru
BlogAt an altitude of 12,500 feet, Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable body of water. It’s also home to the Uros Islands – manmade islands that float on the lake. There are roughly 120 islands that are home to about 1,200 pe...
Detroit Angels
BlogIn 2005 my friend Maggie took me to see the Delray neighborhood of Detroit. Maggie, a native Detroiter, told me that it had once been a vibrant neighborhood, but had fallen into decay. A local artist, Carl Kamulski, decided to help by de...
Thai Puppets
BlogThe intricate, life-sized puppets moved so realistically that within minutes I’d stopped noticing the puppeteer. Performed in Thai, I didn’t know what was said, but between program notes (in English) and their actions a clear story ...
Torres del Paine National Park
BlogThe dramatic skies changed minute by minute, dark clouds scudding across the sky creating constantly changing patchworks of sun, clouds and swirling mist as a backdrop to dramatic mountains. The strong winds propel tall grasses into an e...
Plitvicka Lakes National Park
BlogAfter one day in Zagreb recuperating from jetlag, I departed heading towards Split. Along the route is must-see Plitvicka Lakes National Park. Unfortunately, I was traveling in August, height of the tourist season. The park was gorgeous ...
Burma / Myanmar
BlogWhen I hear the news about the military takeover in Burma it breaks my heart. I visited the country in 2012 as the political situation was beginning to improve. Aung San Suu Kyi had recently been released from house arrest and everywher...
St. Martin
BlogEvery winter, except this one, I escape to some warm location for a week of soaking up restorative sunshine. Often this travel coincides with Mardi Gras and I’m treated to more than beaches. Sometimes I’m aware that there will be par...
ARCs — Advance Reader Copies
BlogThe Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of my book, Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust, have arrived. It is a thrill to finally hold a bound book in my hands after so many years in the making. Thanks to the many people who have helped make th...
Walking Beside the Camels on a Camel Trek
BlogAn excerpt from my upcoming travel memoir, Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust On the first morning of the camel trek, I walked at the front of two parallel lines of camels. A gentle Moroccan camel tender led each line, singing and chant...
Yaks at the Roof of the World
BlogAn excerpt from my upcoming travel memoir “Travel Mania:” “As our plane passed over, I got my first glimpse of the Himalayas. At first they didn’t look much different from the Rockies—snow-covered peaks with deep valleys and the occa...