We continue to enjoy this lovely little country. I made a mistake when I said it was built of sandstone, it is in fact limestone, which is porous and the sea levels under Malta are rising, and the subterranean caves are gradually filling with sea water which is bad news for the distant future. However, at the moment all is well. We have had some lovely food here. Of note is the De Mondion, a Miche Read on...
On my second day in Bulgaria, I went to Vasil Levsky school in Kolarovo to meet Vilma. I taught English in this school in the Peace Corps in 2000 and 2001. Vilma taught English and was my mentor. I forgot that school was still in session but only half days for wrapping up final exams. Some of the teachers were in the staff room; it felt like I had never left. They had flowers for me. Many teachers Read on...
With a final temple tally of 22, this morning it was time to leave Siem Reap. Steves guide book had a list of 12 ‘must see temples and we ticked off all of those. I had a list that someone had put on the internet of their 33 Best Temples and Ruins in Siem Ream. It was never my aim to tick off all 33 sites on that list, it was more of a rough guide just to know what temples were where to keep th Read on...
We made three trips to France in 2018/2019 before moving on to Hawaii. the photos, and this blog is mostly Provence (south of France) and the next one will be Provence to Paris and back to Switzerland.
As I said before, I love driving small backroads - the curvier, the better. And there are quite a few curvy roads in France. We try to get a small car, so Pete can usually, easily turn around and w Read on...
The Covid Relief Project had a very successful second event! We took food aid to 50 families who are out of work because tourism has stopped while the borders of Peru are closed to slow the spread of
Today I got the wonderful news that Canoe Island French Camp directors Meg & Ben had their baby last Wednesday and will bring her back to the island today. I spent a fair amount of time on Canoe Isl Read on...
Also eines steht fest: heute wird es gemtlicher! JJ hat eine Talwanderung herausgesucht: auf zum Mittelberg, dann bis nach Stillebach wandern und dort Kneipen. Nur etwa 10 KM, keine Anstiege. Unterwegs das Buch rausholen, lesen und entspannen. Hatten wir so auch noch nicht. Klingt nach einem Plan.
Ein Plan, der sofort wieder einkassiert wird. Der Weg ist mit Kinderwagen zu begehen - kann also nic Read on...
(including lots of small breaks) and with 3 hour siesta midday at picnic site (just off trail) and 1.5 hour break in Bera
Ready and raring to go (and pretty nervous!) we set off from the safety of our hostal in Irn in the cool morning air, nice and early, with the intent to get most of the climbing done before the midday heat. And what a climb out of Irn it was! Long and steep in parts, we start Read on...
Letztes Wochenende habe ich wieder einmal meine Mutter im Raum Nrnberg besucht. Am Freitagabend sind mein Bruder und meine Schwgerin dazu gestoen und wir haben gegrillt und den Universittsabschluss und vielleicht baldigen Beginn der Promotion der Frau meines Bruders gefeiert. Am Samstag, den 3. Oktober, sind meine Mutter nach Weiden gefahren, durch die Stadt spaziert und haben in einer traditionel Read on...
My favorite college town: Although Berkeley may be considered more bougie than bohemian these days, the counterculture vibe that made it so famous in the 60s is still recognizable in its local haunts, and food and art scene. Dine at Chez Panisse — considered by many to be the birthplace of the California cuisine food movement — where the focus is on locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.
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One Friday evening in fall 2010, Susan and I had the pleasure of dinner with Valene L. Smith, a travel friend of mine.
Valene is a very remarkable woman and traveler. An anthropologist and geographer, she has had a career as a university professor, researcher in Pakistan, Alaska, and the Southwest, documentary film maker, museum founder, travel agent, and tour leader and courier. She is one of t Read on...