When I visit DC, one of my first stops is the Renwick Gallery. It’s one of the Smithsonian museums, but one that is less well attended than the larger, more famous ones. It is dedicated to American crafts. The current exhibition is “State Fairs Growing American Craft.” As someone who is also a fan of state fairs, this was especially … Read More
Messina, Italy
We arrived in Messina early this morning. It is my third visit to Sicily, my first time in Messina. On my previous trips, I’d rented a car and explored the island; this was the one corner that eluded me, though I knew it would be interesting. The sun was shining brightly, and the temperature was warm, a great relief after … Read More
Katakolon, Greece
What does one do when you are on a cruise, have arrived at a new port, and there is torrential rain? I decided it would be the same as a day at sea and used it to enjoy the amenities on board. As it turns out all but one excursion was canceled because of the weather. One of the great … Read More
Corfu, Greece
Think I’m going to need to buy a new laptop when I get home. Mine is misbehaving badly. It’s seven years old, so I guess it is just tired. But onto Corfu. I visited here about fifteen years ago and remember it as beautiful. It remains so, but in the intervening years it has lost some of its charm as … Read More
Kotor, Montenegro
Still writing on the phone, so apologies for any typos. The ship arrived in Kotor early this morning. I was up in time to watch sunrise as we traveled through the narrow straight leading into the town. It was overcast, so no great photos,. But I was delighted that I remembered the landscape. I was here about 15 years ago … Read More
Split, Croatia
This will be a short entry. My laptop isn’t behaving. I visited Split about 20 years ago. It looks much the same, though it won’t for long. Two new huge hotels are being built, as well as a dock that can accommodate more cruise ships. But for now, it remains a beautiful ancient city. We hired a guide and saw … Read More
Athens – Day 2, Aboard the Oceania Marina
Last night we had dinner at a wonderful fish restaurant. The taxi ride took forever, even though the hotel concierge said it was close. Between one way, extremely narrow streets, and heavy traffic we probably could have walked there faster. But, I was happy to have a tour without needing to walk. The bars and restaurants were hopping, Athens is … Read More
Athens – Day 1
I just arrived in Athens this morning. With my friend Sue, we’re taking a cruise through the Mediterranean to Barcelona. We’ll be stopping in several places I’ve never been to before, including Tunisia and Malta. Considering that just over two weeks ago I had back surgery, this is nothing short of a miracle. But my doctor said it wouldn’t be … Read More
Dublin, Ireland – Day 2
The difference between Northern Ireland and Dublin has been striking. For me, it began with the weather. In Belfast and Donegal, I battled rain and chill; in Dublin, the sun has been shining, and the air feels almost warm. But the greater contrast is in atmosphere. Belfast and Dublin are both capitals, but their scale gives them quite different personalities. … Read More
Dublin, Ireland – Day 1
On my final morning in Belfast, the sun was shining, and the air was warm. My Uber driver chuckled when I commented on the weather. He said, “It probably won’t stay this way. We get more than two hundred days of rain. Sometimes just a short downpour, but often the whole day.” Belfast’s Central Train Station was modern and easy … Read More