Travel Tales amongst my Ramblings
True stories of our world-wide journeys interspersed with bits of my real life journey, retired now in Silicon Valley
And a Twenty-four Hour Nurse at the Hotel Nacional. Our last night. We’re scheduled for dinner at a paladar, a private home restaurant allowed to serve meals in exchange for CUC’s. In this country with two separate currencies, US dollars or Euros can be changed only to Cuban Convertible Pesos, spoken as C-U-Cs or slangily … Continue reading Our Final Night in Havana
Today's world presents real worries, but we still need to laugh. I admit, I’m a worrier. Even imagined worries make me happier, because I don’t like surprises. If something bad happens and I’ve been worrying about it, then it’s not a surprise. And if it doesn’t happen, then that’s a good thing and I’m … Continue reading Worries
Our little town––“Town” is part of the name, don't call us a city––moves ahead of the curve in trendy. Much of the wealth comes from the computer, electronics, and social media industries, so it figures that residents here are tech-savvy and stay woke to the latest. I have trouble keeping up with it all. The … Continue reading A Change. No Change.
In this wealthy little burg, young mothers with perfect figures push their babies in luxury SUV strollers (google the prices––you’ll be amazed) and their husbands drive Teslas. We have no grandbabies nor even pets to stroll, and we drive a Prius. Dogs abound. Couples walk their pampered pooches to the Coffee Roasting Company, where … Continue reading Three-Star Restaurant, a Town and a Poem
I've only seen Part I of Ken Burns' documentary on VietNam, but it caused me to remember our wonderful trip there, and the day a former Viet Cong hosted us in his home and proposed a toast with my husband who served a year in that war. This is a summary of our trip that … Continue reading Impressions of Vietnam
For the second year in a row, we missed the Viva Calle San Jose ride, but I remember our fun ride in 2015. This is the story I wrote then. My husband sees the announcement in the Metro, that free weekly paper, the one with ads for phone sex. The Metro piles up around the house … Continue reading Viva Calle SJ, 2015
We feel the first hint of trouble driving I-5 north from the Bay Area toward Oregon. No Mount Shasta to be seen. Not even an outline against the smoke-white sky. September can be the best time to travel––but not after a hot, hot summer in the Northwest. Ashland––what an appropriate name right now––is smoky too. … Continue reading The Fires This Time
Cycling in the Italian Alps. Wow. Sounds exciting and exotic. What bragging rights we could have! Best of all, I see the bike tour will end on the very day my sister and her family leave Rome. We can spend time with them in Florence and Venice. First, I must convince my husband. “Yes, of … Continue reading Biking the Italian Alps
A good read: Pompeii, by Robert Harris One of our tour guides recommended Robert Harris's book Pompeii––a fun and easy way to learn some real facts about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried the city of Pompeii. This novel, based on archeological findings, takes place over the four days of volcanic activity; it's … Continue reading Pompeii
We’ve been home from Italy for a few days now and I need to write up my stories. But are there any stories? We had no mishaps – the trip nice, the weather perfect. I may have nothing more interesting than a travel brochure description. “Do you want anything from Costco?” My husband, putting together … Continue reading Where Has My Mind Gone?
Travel Tales amongst my Ramblings 