Phil and I got off to an early start this morning. Our destination was Comuna 13, an area that has a wrenching history from the Pablo Escobar days. At that time, it was one of the most dangerous areas in the city, plagued by gang violence, drug trafficking, and clashes between armed groups. The neighborhood runs up the side of … Read More
Medellin, Colombia – Day 1
I’ve wanted to visit Medellin for many years, ever since the downfall of Pablo Escobar and the drug lords who terrorized the city for many years. Since his demise in 1993, Medellin has experienced a transformation into a safe (mostly), very livable city. Situated high in the Andes mountains, it has been described as a small slice of heaven, with … Read More
Oslo- Day Three (final day)
My trip to Norway is winding down. Tomorrow, I will fly back to New York City. This journey wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for—I never did get to see the northern lights. Still, it was a fascinating experience. On board the ship I met a group of wonderful women who were part of the JourneyWoman 30th Anniversary Cruise on Hurtigruten. … Read More
Oslo- Day Two
So glad I enjoyed the sunshine yesterday and spent most of the sunlight hours outdoors. Today it snowed in the morning and after it ended, the skies were slate gray. I’m hopeful for tomorrow, the forecast for my last day in Norway is for sun. Given the weather conditions, this was a good day to stay inside. I headed to … Read More
Oslo- Day One
I will start by saying the best part of today was the sunshine. For almost five hours there was bright sun, at one point so bright I wished I had brought sunglasses. After a week in near darkness, it came as a huge relief. Sunshine has the ability to cheer me up. When I get back home to New York … Read More
Arctic Circle Arrival
Today, in rain and wind, the ship crossed into the Arctic circle. Though about 8am, the sun wasn’t close to appearing. Official sunrise in Bodo, where we were headed, was 11:05 with sunset following quickly at 12:47. Our ship is the Midnitsol (Midnight sun). For this journey it should more appropriately be named the nosol (no sun). At 11:15 we … Read More
Trondheim, Norway
The ship has traveled north to Trondheim. It’s colder, but manageable. No snow, but definitely icy areas. But best of all, sun!! Not for long however–sunrise about 9:40, sunset at 2:30. And from here, the days get shorter. This trip is part of JourneyWoman’s 30 anniversary celebration. I took a bus tour to see the major city sites. Most famous … Read More
Alesund, Norway
When the ship docked in Alesund, Norway this morning it was raining. The forecast was, however, promising–rain to end at 11:30. I decided to wait for it to clear. Magically, the forecast was correct. When I disembarked to walk around the city the rain had stopped. That lasted about 45 minutes and I even got a glimpse of blue sky. … Read More
Bergen, Norway
I’m on board the Hurtigruten cruise north to the Arctic circle. Wi-Fi is spotty at best. So, this will be a short entry. I’ll share my full writeup when I return home. Don’t be surprised if some days there is no entry, it just means there was no connectivity. Spent the day wandering around Bergen, which is lovely with horrible … Read More
Escape to Hyde Park, NY
Though this mini trip was planned a long time ago, the timing was perfect. I’m spending a few days with two friends who I’ve known since childhood. We’re doing everything possible to avoid thinking about the election. Dutchess County, NY is about a two-hour drive from NYC, mostly on scenic highways. The area is filled with historic sites, including FDR’s … Read More