1st an early morning at the mass ascension, the ascension of both larger and smaller balloons in the morning. 2nd an evening for the balloon light up and Trick or Treating for the community.
The balloon festival is not as large as the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, but the Taos festival is fun and local. It is a topic that we heard about in the local restaurants and on the streets, the residents a Read on...
At 6:30 pm I am sitting on a swinging chair overlooking the astounding Viales Valley, a World Heritage site. An almost full moon is shining down the valley. Rounded karst mountains stretch along the horizon, facing into the dusk. The hotel is called the Horizontes Los Jazmines, because some rooms (as is our privilege) range along a downwards slope opposite the mountains, all with this breathtakin Read on...
Day 9 for us started nice and late! There was a contingent that got up at the crack of dawn to catch a balloon to travel over the Valley of the Kings. We enjoyed the luxury of a lie in!
Then after a delayed breakfast because the balloon participants arrived back late, it was on the bus to go to the Valley of the Kings. The Greeks named the Egyptian capital area around Luxor ‘Thebes‘ so this b Read on...
Isle of Man is a little island ( population of 86,000) in the Irish sea between Ireland and Great Britain. Indeed, fought over by the Vikings, English and Scottish for control, this three legged symbol wherever you throw it, it will stand- the land of the Manx people. I imagined seal puppies and puffins (thanks to my aspiring zoologist nephew). If lucky, a couple of porpoises.
Direct mega bus (1 Read on...
Despite more than its fair share of attacks over the years, the walls protected Dubrovnik for centuries without ever being breached, but one thing that has left its mark on them is a more recent conflict – the Balkan Wars. The city was subject to major bombing during the 1990s, though its hard to spot it now.
The walls are the main reason why Dubrovnik is well known as the Pearl of the Adriatic Read on...
Very recently I traveled internationally for the first time since 2019. It felt wonderful to be traveling again because when the COVID virus virtually shut down the world, I lost my nearly lust for travel. My friends were duly shocked when I told them in 2021 that I didnt want to travel anymore, and at the time I sincerely meant it! I didnt have COVID then, but I felt that some unknown malaise or Read on...
A long drive today, longest of the trip and Bob really had to psych himself up as still not 100% right after the iffy food of Monday. Not helped by knowing this was not going to be an easy drive. Circumventing Taragonna but worse, Barcelona, can never be an easy drive and it wasnt. The countryside and views especially on the first half of the drive are good with high peaks to the left, west and gl Read on...
When we got up in the morning we had not much of a plan for the day . Another trip over to North Wales hunting . We were determined to find something and though that we had hit the right one with the one we were viewing this morning . The drive over was uneventful . We try to find a different way to get there . Breaking the monotony by trying Buxton, Macclesfield , Knutsford and Chester . Down to Read on...
In my everyday life, I tend to live fairly simply. I work a great deal and when to decisions of spending money on coffee, fancy clothes or extravagant dinners, I usually opt to pass. That money is then put in my Vacation Fund bank account (yes, it is named this on my banks website) so when time to travel, I am fully funded and ready to go. Although I usually dont buy Starbucks on my day off, I wil Read on...
Le bateau part du port de Kissamos (Kavonissi) pour Gramvoussa et le lagon de Balos sur la partie de la Crte.
Gramvoussa et Balos sont des habitats Refuges fauniques, inclus dans linitiative europenne ΝΑΤURΑ 2000. En raison de la prservation de son environnement naturel, il ny a pas de routes dans ces zones,
Nous partons du port de Kissamos et nous naviguerons pendant environ une heure dans Read on...