Getting 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 at Paddington Station, directly adjacent to our hotel. Our room, of course, wasn’t ready. Sue and I drank caffeine and … Read More
Munich
Today 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 morning with the help of a friendly arm from my travel companions. We watched as a couple of people … Read More
Salzburg
This 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, through a snow-covered landscape. That snow will stay for a long time, the temperature isn’t … Read More
Vienna
I 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 snowfall, enough to be pretty, not enough to be a problem. Years ago, I visited … Read More
London Day Five
The 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. But not today. The forceful blasts of wind snapped my umbrella. It got tossed into the dustbin. … Read More
London — Day Four
My 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 around somewhat aimlessly. Out of nostalgia I did a quick walk-through of Marks & Sparks (Spencer’s). In years … Read More
London — Day Three
Shockingly, 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 check out the local scene. I met up with the guide near the … Read More
London — Day Two
Surprise, 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 visited it frequently and knew the collection well. On arrival I headed towards … Read More
London — Day One
Getting 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 at Paddington Station, directly adjacent to our hotel. Our room, of course, wasn’t ready. Sue and I drank caffeine and … Read More
Italy Day 13 — Monreale, Sicily and Milan
Today 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 sky was a leaden gray with no sun predicted. Monreale, a UNESCO world heritage site, is … Read More