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
We're wined up, having finished the Prosecco, the last half bottle of red, and some white left from days ago. What to do with the remaining five bottles of beer and an unopened bottle of wine? Too much to leave for the maids. Three days before Christmas and we're heading to Maui after five days … Continue reading Inter-island? Fly Mokulele Air
In the countryside of the North of Vietnam, we visited a small village specializing in bamboo products like baskets and chopsticks. The village head and his wife served us a delicious lunch in a bamboo grove while their beautiful granddaughter ran around, happy for the company. Over tea, the headman answered questions and explained … Continue reading Bamboo
Of course I carry home stones or shells if not from a protected area, but my most valuable souvenirs are free ones that can be made useful. My husband likes beer, but personally, I appreciate an empty bottle with an interesting printed or pasted-on label more than what's inside. I have encountered no problems carrying … Continue reading Bottles
I still remember how excited I was when I saw a brown object tumbling in the surf and realized it was a mostly intact shell. We were in Florida for the first time, walking on a beach along the Gulf coast. I caught up with the object, and the thrill of the hunt was on. … Continue reading Shell Souvenirs
I don't know why I want to go. I only know I am lucky that my husband is willing to go to Antarctica. October 27, 2014. Our big red jackets arrive. We're really going! We’ve bought new long underwear – thin and soft with a bit of wool––found them at Costco. We have the doctor's clearance … Continue reading Antarctica!
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
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
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
Travel Tales amongst my Ramblings 