TUE, 23 AUG 2022 – Day 11: Rome: Optional Free Day - Rome boasts ancient ruins, historical landmarks, religious buildings and a buzz like no other, and youve got a full free day to explore! Visit the Colosseum or the Roman Forum and drift backwards in time to when gladiators, chariots and lions dominated the arena. Join an excursion to the papal palace of Castel Gandolfo in the morning or spend Read on...
Midway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang on the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng is situated amidst gorgeous karst scenery. Although for some fifteen years or so at the turn of the millennium the limestone hills, their isolated monoliths and associated caves, the patchwork of rice fields and profusion of meandering streams, were not its primary attraction. That lure was the abundance of drugs, happy Read on...
Today, September 21, is the first full day on our journey. A day with sentiment. We left Lynden and the Puget Sound area on a beautiful day. We encountered a lot of traffic that Tom handled very confidently, while Natalie carried enough tenseness to need a chiropractic visit! The smoke around Issaquah area was unpleasant but the higher we climbed the clearer it became. So - we arrived in Ellensbur Read on...
This is my third blog about my ancestral visitations to Scotland. I reading my previous two blogs at Scottish Ancestral Visitations in Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and Ayrshire and Scottish Ancestral Visitations in Sterlingshire, Fife, Perth and Kinrosshire, Angus, and Aberdeenshire before reading this one.
My destination today was Tain, where my Ross ancestors lived. According to my DNA, Read on...
From the SF Chronicle: Bay Area broadcaster Joe Starkey, famous for his call of The Play in 1982, will retire as Cals football radio announcer after the 2022 season. Starkeys the band is out on the field call 40 years ago is widely considered one of the most recognizable calls in sports history. However, his legacy extends far beyond a single moment or play.
I remember (Nov. 20, 1982) that call Read on...
We have been carrying eggs with us for the last two weeks, so we finally had bacon and egg muffins for breakfast this morning before heading off to the HMAS Whyalla for the 11.30am tour. We actually arrived about 10.30am so had plenty of time to visit the museum beforehand. Our tour gave us access all areas despite a warning when booking yesterday that some areas would not be accessible due to mai Read on...
Today is the highlight of my trip and it doesnt disappoint; we are doing a partial transit of the Panama Canal. Its a southbound transit – ships travel northbound through the locks north in the morning and south in the afternoon - so we are picked up by a minibus around midday.
First, we have time to watch some of the Panama Ironman, with the cycling discipline passing by our hotel. The event s Read on...
After the amazing culinary extravagance of the previous evening, it was time to get down to some serious business. Shortly after booking this trip, we all agreed to that we wanted to do a cooking class. Dave, Merry Jo and I had taken a class in Jordan and loved it. Not to beat the proverbial dead horse, but as a chef, I sometimes need to remember why I do what I do. Spending a day cooking for fun Read on...
From time to time, to keep me occupied in my I decide to do a theme on Facebook. In the past Ive featured mythological paintings and LP covers. Ive to the end of my latest theme: favourite movie actors. I have posted one actor each day for 22 days. My selection includes both superstars and actors. It seems a pity not to post my opinions as a single article, so here it is – of all my Facebook Read on...
Well the plan today was to travel to see the summer residence of the Dutch Royal Family Het Loo . However , as normal things were not going to plan at all . It was Monday and Het Loo was closed . So a quick rethink had to be had . What else was on the way to the Tunnel ? We had rebooked the return trip so had to fill today with something , drive to our overnight stop near Antwerp and then to the T Read on...