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Outside Seoul – Suwon, Gyeongju, Busan – so much to see (video)
In South Korea
January 17, 2024
https://youtu.be/ufUcAaAe18o Map […]
The Old and the New in Seoul, South Korea (video)
In South Korea
January 4, 2024
https://youtu.be/C-EgH548hAI They talk about the 30 second view the tourist gets of the Mona Lisa in Paris – well, the picture above is our two seconds of photoshoot (after an extended wait) with the captain of the guard at Gyeongbokgung […]
Cloudy days at Halong Bay (video)
In Vietnam
January 3, 2024
https://youtu.be/451vPJDm5gg After the tropical storm disrupted our plans, we finally made it to Halong Bay. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the bright clear skies that often follows a storm; we got more overcast. Our views were not stellar, but […]
The Amazing Scenery of Ninh Binh, Vietnam (video)
In Vietnam
December 30, 2023
https://youtu.be/JTcFPj4GzzE When I wonder what to do in a foreign city, I always check out the offered Day Trips. What may be a day trip to one person is probably another night or several nights’ excursion to us. And so it was with the […]
The Old Town of Hanoi, Vietnam (video)
In Vietnam
December 28, 2023
https://youtu.be/My54g7XjFtQ During our 2023 ’round-the-world trip, we traveled from Delhi, India to Hanoi, Vietnam. We stayed in Hanoi a day and a half, then a tropical storm swirled in and disturbed all our plans. Instead of the Halong Bay […]
On safari in India with Cultural Safari Tours (review)
In India
December 26, 2023
Lions and tigers and bears, oh no! Needless to say, we saw no lions in India; they belong in Africa. But we did see Tigers and Bears, Birds and Leopards, Antelopes and Mongoose. Seeing wildlife on vacation is always a hit-or-miss proposition. With […]
Our Tigers in Ranthambhore National Park, India (video)
In India
December 26, 2023
and the Leopard in Jhalana too! https://youtu.be/H9-d4TrqscU Check out my review of Cultural Safari Tours, who made this experience possible. […]
On safari in Keoladeo National Park, India (video)
In India
December 25, 2023
Try as I might, I still can’t properly spell this national park and must look it up each time I write about it! It’s located between Agra and Sawai Madhopur. “Sawai Madhopur?” you ask, “Is that any easier to […]
The Golden Triangle of India – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur (video)
In India
December 18, 2023
For our first trip to India, I chose a traditional favorite, “The Golden Triangle”, which gave us key sites in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan: The Taj Mahal being our bucket list item. Many people go to Rajasthan in the wrong season – […]
Light and Sound Show at the Red Fort, Delhi
In India
December 10, 2023
https://youtu.be/zrQaOElT0d8 Light, sound, dancing, bigger than life size puppetry, a memorable history lesson and exclusive views of the interior of the Red Fort at night – what more could you want from your first night in Delhi, India? The […]
Is BOTTLED water safe to drink in Nepal? No!
In Nepal
December 6, 2023
Usually when planning a trip I ask, “Is tap water safe to drink in Nepal”, or in the country to which I intend to travel. If not, then I plan on my regimen of safe eating and drinking. I am very sensitive to microbes in water and have […]
A final tour around the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (video)
In Nepal
December 6, 2023
https://youtu.be/FryHpyv3Tp8 After the inevitable flight delay from Pokhara to Kathmandu, we arrived back in the Kathmandu Valley to spend two more nights and finish off our Nepal sightseeing. While the clouds still hung on the mountains surrounding […]
Two days in Pokhara, Nepal (video)
In Nepal
December 5, 2023
aka “Where are the Himalayas?” https://youtu.be/sHjdRI-fM8Y Pokhara doesn’t have the same name-recognition as “Kathmandu”, but to those who want to travel to Nepal, it is the location for seeing the majestic Himalayan […]
Chitwan National Park, Nepal (video)
In Nepal
December 5, 2023
https://youtu.be/Zu3AeYpXF0U Chitwan is one of Nepal’s oldest national parks, and known for its One-Horned Rhinoceroses, as well as tigers, although tigers are much more elusive. Chitwan is also known for offering elephant-back safaris. […]
Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley (video)
In Nepal
December 5, 2023
https://youtu.be/VXFfay8X2cA The first several days of our trip in Nepal – several peeks of blue sky, some rain, and mostly gray clouds. The weather could not dim the wonderfully friendly, sunny disposition of the Nepalese. Namaste! […]
Abu Dhabi (video)
In United Arab Emirates
December 1, 2023
https://youtu.be/1wucfoo6s5A Greg and I took a quick but intense day trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai. From the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace, to the top of one of the Etihad Towers, to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque we enjoyed an in-depth view of the […]
Dubai Sep 2023 (video)
In United Arab Emirates
December 1, 2023
https://youtu.be/JcM0bCbGxCU From the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, to a Dhow Dinner Cruise, we saw Dubai at day and night, from old to new. I was actually glad to be there at the end of the hot season, as the crowds were thinner, […]
David A. Kirkwood
In About Me
November 26, 2023
My father, his camera and my memories https://youtu.be/RRP5lZSmivc 1934-2023 Music: Carefree by Kevin MacLeod. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ […]
Andorra – a day trip to a tiny country (video)
In Andorra
July 14, 2023
A one-day driving trip from Barcelona to the tiny mountain country of Andorra. So where is Andorra? I've got a map. […]
Girona – city of stairs (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
Even cobblestone streets which should have been flat had strange levels to them. If you aren't going up, you're going down, in Girona. Mostly I hung onto Greg as I looked from side to side to capture all the wonderful medieval photographs. […]
Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
It seemed all very complicated to get to Montserrat: Metro to the Espana Rail Station in Barcelona, then a commuter line to Montserrat, then a choice between a cable car and a cog railway, each at different train stops. Somehow a funicular fit in? […]
Barcelona – all Gaudi of it (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
I was really looking forward to Barcelona because of its colorful and imaginative art and architecture. I don't want to see paintings in a museum, I want to see color in the ceiling, frescos on the wall - I want to be immersed in the color and texture. […]
Zaragoza – a quick stop-over (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
Lured by the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Aljaferia Palace" we interrupted our high-speed train trip from Cordoba to Barcelona in the city of Zaragoza. It was after the train tickets had been bought that I learned that the Aljaferia holds "siesta" hours which were completely incompatible with our train arrival time. […]
Córdoba (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
From Gibraltar it was a several hours' drive directly north to the city of Cordoba. We originally planned to see Andalucia in a clockwise direction beginning in Cordoba and heading south to Granada. But then I learned about Seville's world famous Corpus Christi celebration and I redesigned the wheel to start in Seville and end in Córdoba. […]
South from Granada to Gibraltar (video)
In Gibraltar, Spain
July 14, 2023
In our rental car we headed south from Granada to Nerja, Malaga, Setenil de las Bodegas, Ronda to arrive at Gibraltar. Our biggest surprises were the caves! We are not typically cave people but the Cuevas de Nerja and St. Michael's Cave in Gibraltar are among the most memorable sights from our entire 25 day trip. […]
Granada and Antequera (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
We rented a car in Seville and headed east toward Granada. Conveniently on the way is the town of Antequera, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Dolmen of Menga, as well as the Alcazaba at the highest point of the town. After a brief visit and lunch, we headed on to Granada where the list of sights to see, of course, merits more than a brief stop. […]
Seville, Spain (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
What a tremendous city to visit! We took the fast train from Madrid to Seville on Corpus Christi day, scheduled to put us at the cathedral exactly as the procession arrived. Sadly, the weather was spitting rain, and they cancelled Corpus Christi. The guard at the cathedral looked at me as if I had two heads when I innocently asked, "Are they postponing it 'til tomorrow?" We learned Corpus Christi is on the special Thursday, or not at all! […]
Six days in Madrid and its fascinating easy daytrip destinations (video)
In Spain
July 14, 2023
For the first six days of our Spain adventure in June 2023 we rented an airbnb apartment in the La Latina quarter of Madrid and visited Madrid, and took personally-guided day trips via train to Cuenca, Ávila, Segovia and Toledo. […]
Our Spain Itinerary in a Nutshell
In Spain
May 31, 2023
Actually, it’s not a nutshell, it’s a map. Here is how, when and where we went: Day 1: Flight from Boston on Iberia Air Days 2 to 7: Madrid and the surrounding towns for day trips (Cuenca, Avila, Segovia, Toledo) by train, metro and foot […]
My First Foray into Norway – Lofoten Islands and Fjords (Part 4)
In Norway
May 9, 2023
I slept well, but awoke to a foggy, ugly day. We packed up, and drove again through Geiranger, and up the switchbacks to the mountain range behind the town. We stopped at the side of the road, in the cold fog, to look for photographic opportunities. It seemed Dad took forever, trying to make something of a dense fog in an Arctic landscape. To me it was plain cold and ugly. […]
My First Foray into Norway – Lofoten Islands and Fjords (Part 3)
In Norway
May 9, 2023
The next day dawned as was foreseen, with a fresh layer of fog over the entire island chain. We found our way to the ferry terminal, and took the Skutvik ferry to the mainland, heading towards as much fog as we were leaving behind. If there is anything constant in Lofoten, it is the the weather never is. […]
My First Foray into Norway – Lofoten Islands and Fjords (Part 2)
In Norway
May 9, 2023
What excitement the next day as we awoke to blue skies! We quickly packed up and headed back to Reine, to take pictures, then north back to Sakrisoy, Olinsoy and Hamnoy. The night before I had been happy to be wearing my ski-jacket. This day was a little warmer. The day was picture-perfect. […]
My First Foray into Norway – Lofoten Islands and Fjords (Part 1)
In Norway
May 9, 2023
In June 2001, at the age of thirty-eight, I visited Norway with my parents Dave and Lila Kirkwood on a self-designed, self-planned and jointly executed twenty-one day expedition. It was truly a bonding experience! Part 1 - Oslo and first half of the Lofotens […]
Two Weeks in Norway – Our final Svalbard adventure to Nye-Alesund – Day 17 and 18
In Norway
April 30, 2023
Our destination today, on a ten hour small boat trip, is Nye-Alesund, home of the northernmost post office in the world, at 78 degrees north. We would be heading directly north from Longyearbyen, first crossing huge Isfjorden which dominates the area. In fact, everywhere we had been until now was basically Isfjorden and Billefjord. Now we would head up the narrow sea Forlandsundet, which separates the major landmass from the Prins Karl Forland island. […]
Two Weeks in Norway – ATV Safari and “Better Moments” – Day 16
In Norway
April 30, 2023
An ATV safari around Longyearbyen and to the Global Seed Vault followed by a museum visit, a hot tub experience and another boat trip in the midnight sun. […]
Two Weeks in Norway – Dog Carting and a POLAR BEAR – Day 15
In Norway
April 30, 2023
The Day to Remember of all the days in the trip - Dog Carting with Green Dog, and our POLAR BEAR with Better Moments. What could be better? […]
Two Weeks in Norway – Pyramiden, Svalbard – Days 13 and 14
In Norway
April 30, 2023
My goal was to get out on the water, far from the town, to increase our odds of seeing wildlife. We were partially successful in one respect and saw more than expected in other respects. Pyramiden is an abandoned Russian coal-mining town. […]
Two Weeks in Norway – Trondheim to Tromso – Days 8 to 12
In Norway
April 28, 2023
When I searched for the ultimate itinerary for two weeks in Norway I knew that I couldn't limit myself to Bergen and the Fjord Country - we needed to go north on the train to Bodo and ferry to the Lofoten Islands. After that? Onward to Tromso. […]
Two Weeks in Norway – the Heart of the Glaciers and Fjords – Days 5 to 7
In Norway
April 28, 2023
Continuing our trip throughout Norway, we traveled north to the Urnes Stave Church, the Norwegian Glacier Museum, Geiranger and Trollstiggen […]
Two Weeks in Norway – with a Svalbard add-on! – Days 1 to 4
In Norway
April 28, 2023
I've visited Norway five times since 2001 but for Greg I needed to develop one itinerary which would allow him to see it all, in two weeks! […]
Norway Diabetic Travel Tips
In Norway
April 18, 2023
One of the reasons for my "early" visit in 2001 and the subsequent frequent returns is its ease of diabetic travel. So much is so comfortable in Norway. You can focus more easily on the enjoyment of the vacation then on the management of your diabetes. […]
Dahabiya Minya Review
In Egypt
April 6, 2023
Our trip in the suite of the Dahabiya Minya up the Nile River was hands-down my best decision in planning our trip to Egypt last fall. Indeed, our ability to secure the "suite" dictated all other logistic decisions on the twenty-three day trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. […]
A Week in Curacao – plenty to see and do!
In Curacao
April 6, 2023
Weather and when to go. How to get around the Island. The town of Willemstad. Snorkeling with the Dolphins. Snorkeling is the best thing to do on the island. The National Parks. Fort Bleekenburg. Hof i Pastor. Rif Mangrove Park. […]
How Best to Spend A Week in Isabela, Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico
April 2, 2023
A one week itinerary of our favorite things to do, and places to bring our guests to, in Isabela Puerto Rico. From Jobos Beach, visit El Tunel de Guajataca, La Cara, El Faro Los Morillos, Joyuda, Rincon, Gozalandia Falls and Crash Boat Beach. […]
Memories Aicha Review
In Jordan
April 1, 2023
The Wadi Rum, Jordan, national park area is run by the local Bedouins which also gives character to the tours. The Bedouins provide the transportation and tours; the camps, though, are run by businesses. To enjoy the experience you must be ready for both extremes of service. Memories Aitcha is hands-down one of the most special accommodations we have ever stayed in. Choose the Panoramic Tent. […]
Curacao Diabetic Travel Tips
In Curacao
March 31, 2023
Vaccines and Malaria and the Travel Clinic, Flying with Diabetes, Drinking the Water, Preventing Dehydration, Keeping my insulin cold, protecting my supplies from theft, carrying glucose during watersports. All of these tips were important to me on our recent trip to Curacao […]
Puerto Rico Diabetic Travel Tips
In Puerto Rico
March 29, 2023
Puerto Rico is an excellent, nearby location for a diabetic to visit. Before you continue, you might check out my complete discussion of Diabetic Travel Tips for International Travel. Many of the topics apply to Puerto Rico and I’ve put the […]
Diabetic Travel Tips for International Travel – 2023
In General
March 28, 2023
While many people can buy a last minute flight, pack a quick carry-on, and zoom off to foreign lands, a diabetic has more to consider. Here are some Diabetic Travel Tips to review before buying that ticket or getting on that plane. After each new […]
Zaid Hlalat – the best guide in Petra (review)
In Jordan
March 26, 2023
What a wonderful guide was our Zaid! As we strolled down the path through the Al Siq, he taught us the Nabatean history, the meaning of the carved sculptures and Roman history as well. I was interested, but I was also very interested in taking pictures. […]
Jordan Horizons Tours (reviews)
In Jordan
March 26, 2023
The Planning During our travel planning, our Petra excursion grew from one singular place to a whole host of interesting sights in Jordan. This growth was in many ways due to the well-designed website at Jordan Horizons Tours. With tours for one […]
Ireland Travel Advice and Tips
In Ireland
March 22, 2023
For the non-diabetics among us, or should I say, “Things I wished I’d known before I traveled to Ireland.” I’ve visited Ireland several times over the past twenty-six years. Oh, that makes me sound so very old. Time just has […]
Ireland Diabetic Travel Tips
In Ireland
March 22, 2023
I’ve always envied people who watch for bargain airfare, gobble it up when it appears, and pop over to Europe on a whim. I’ve envied them not because they have the money to do this, but because they have the flexible lifestyle to […]
Vietnam Diabetic Travel Tips
In Vietnam
March 19, 2023
Vaccines before you leave - I always check out the CDC for my destination country or countries. Here's the link for the CDC Vietnam travel page. Of all the vaccines recommended, the typhoid vaccine is the one my healthcare plan considers non-routine, and I had to pay for it. […]
Postcards from Jordan
In Jordan
March 11, 2023
Come along with me as we travel for five days in Jordan in November 2022. Originally we planned the trip as a short, couple-day excursion to see Petra, from Egypt. As happens with most of my trips, the more I learn the more I want to see. The trip […]
Choosing the Top Sights to See in Cairo
In Egypt
March 10, 2023
I admit it. I overdid the planning for Cairo. I read up on every daytrip to take, every sight to see. For me, Egypt was a Bucket List event, and I didn’t want to skimp in any way. Cairo for me has become a lesson learned. There are reasons so […]
My Good and Bad Decisions in Planning our 2 week trip to Egypt
In Egypt
March 9, 2023
We traveled to Egypt for two weeks in November 2022, primarily using the services of the tour company Emo Tours. Our itinerary consisted of 1 night in Giza at the Best View Pyramids Hotel 3 nights in Zamalek in Cairo at the Hotel Longchamps a flight […]
Egypt – The Best Time to Visit and Photograph the Pyramids
In Egypt
March 9, 2023
When I travel I want to take the best possible pictures of the amazing sights I visit. I’m not a professional photographer, but I do have a more-than-average-quality zoom camera. I don’t want to cut off people’s ankles, and I […]
Egypt Diabetic Travel Tips
In Egypt
March 8, 2023
I’ve traveled in SE Asia, South America, Europe and Africa. I considered myself to be an old hand at managing diabetic concerns in foreign countries. I’ve thrown up in Costa Rica, Peru, Morocco, Cambodia, and even New York City! Egypt […]
Jordan Diabetic Travel Tips
In Jordan
February 28, 2023
Petra, Jordan lured us to extend our original two week Egypt vacation to include Jordan. As usual, in planning, I wondered, “While we are in Jordan, what else should we not miss?” Turns out there is a lot to see and do in Jordan – […]
South on a Dahabiya to Aswan, then Abu Simbel (video)
In Egypt
December 14, 2022
https://youtu.be/8pctWG1UX_c […]
Luxor (video)
In Egypt
December 14, 2022
https://youtu.be/YKeHdA9nK-k […]
Cairo, not for the faint of heart (video)
In Egypt
December 14, 2022
https://youtu.be/rHgLe3iNO6s […]
The Pyramids of Egypt (video)
In Egypt
December 14, 2022
https://youtu.be/ELe816ze8X4 […]
Jordan – Nov 2022 (video)
In Jordan
December 14, 2022
https://youtu.be/OxbuT3k01DI […]
Israel – Old Jaffa, Jerusalem and Bethlehem (video)
In Israel
December 14, 2022
https://youtu.be/OTxlhGXRVEk Did you know that Bethlehem is in the West Bank? We didn’t know this before our trip. What an extraordinary view we were given into both conflicting cultures. […]
Snorkel with the Dolphins (video)
In Curacao
September 9, 2022
https://youtu.be/X8WZpCEFWbw At Jan Thiel Beach, south of Willemstad in Curacao, lives the Dolphin Academy. The Dolphin Academy offers swimming, snorkeling and diving opportunities with the dolphins. As a diabetic I have never learned to dive. I […]
New York City (video)
In USA
August 13, 2022
First of all, it would be short - a 4 day / 3 night getaway. We would pack light. Secondly, we would do the things Greg wanted to do - go to a comedy show, go to a Korean restaurant, see Stephen Colbert at the Late Show. […]
County Waterford to Dublin Itinerary and Video
In Ireland
August 11, 2022
https://youtu.be/OkIre_kwId4 Although we didn’t spend a great deal of time in Waterford, it was key destination for us, as it is the home of the “Powers” family, aka, “dePooer” family. Me, I’m a Scottish […]
County Kerry and County Cork Itinerary and Video
In Ireland
August 10, 2022
https://youtu.be/OzZUlXh7Bks Several days spent on the Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry, followed by a quick visit to Blarney Castle. We watched others kiss the stone, but we had no interest. There was a man there who disinfected the stone from […]
Counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Claro Itinerary and Video
In Ireland
August 10, 2022
https://youtu.be/J5eSeaQho-A We dashed down from Killybegs through Sligo and Mayo, stopping for lunch at Ashford Castle, and arrived in Galway City. After a brief plane-ride to Innishmore in the Arran Islands, we took a pony-cart ride around the […]
County Donegal Itinerary and Video
In Ireland
August 9, 2022
Fast on the heels of Ex-Tropical-Storm Alex, our first day in Donegal was filled with gray scudding clouds, brilliant blue skies, fierce winds, raindrops and everything in between. […]
Dublin to Antrim County Itinerary and Video
In Ireland
August 8, 2022
https://youtu.be/V7LSS9mEAJI We arrived in Dublin for a quick one-day visit before grabbing our rental car and heading north out of town. We’d left most of Dublin to the end of the trip – a new COVID technique. We would need an extra day […]
Lila Kirkwood’s 90th Birthday Party!
In USA
July 4, 2022
A slide-show peak at Lila Kirkwood's 90th birthday party, held July 3rd, 2022 in Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth, ME. […]
Kyoto – Day 2 of an awesome 4 day itinerary
In Japan
September 20, 2020
My research led me to believe that Kyoto would easily be my favorite city in Japan. The results of my study churning around in my mind, I created our list of must-see attractions and quickly became overwhelmed. The temples, markets and castles were […]
Our Antarctica Adventure – planning tips and lessons learned
In Antarctica
June 1, 2020
I’ve read posts on some travel forums in which the poster says, “My husband is a diabetic, so he won’t go…” That statement makes me so sad. Of course diabetics can go. With the proper planning such a trip is no more […]
Qatar Diabetic Travel Tips
In Qatar
May 22, 2020
Dry heat, that’s what I think of when I think of Qatar, and sand, that is, of course. Sand doesn’t impact me as a diabetic (as a contact lens wearer, yes) however heat does, impact me for sure. I’ve written an article Diabetic […]
Laos Diabetic Travel Tips
In Laos
May 21, 2020
If any country in our Southeast Asia Odyssey required us to purchase medical and evacuation travel insurance, Laos was it. My studies of healthcare in Laos led me to understand how challenged the country’s healthcare system is, and how […]
Antarctica Diabetic Travel Tips
In Antarctica
May 21, 2020
If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to Antarctica, don’t let being diabetic stop you. Preparing for, and going on a trip to Antarctica is no more difficult than on an African safari. Hmmm, you may not have gone on an […]
Tanzania Diabetic Travel Tips
In Tanzania
May 21, 2020
For our safari in Tanzania, it being my first foray to Africa, I perhaps over-stressed. I worried about the water, the food, disease and balancing my blood sugars. My worries were for naught, having properly prepared and properly executed the trip. […]
Japan – trains, buses, trams – investigate your transport options, and take care of your feet!
In Japan
May 15, 2020
We visited Japan in October 2019. Over the years I have tried to reduce the size and weight of our luggage, and the task seems fruitless. With every new trip I find new needs, new reasons that a previously unregarded item become critical. Diabetic […]
Queensland Travel Blog – a decision well made
In Australia
May 14, 2020
In early 2018 I began dreaming, and in August 2018 I began planning a trip to Australia which would occur in 2019. Planning out one full year? Yes, indeed. My biggest lesson learned was from a sadly executed trip to Australia in 1979 when my parents […]
Peles Castle, usually first, for us, our final glimpse of Romania (day 11)
In Romania
May 12, 2020
Peles Castle is located about two hours north of Bucharest and is a popular day-tripper tour destination. Peles Castle is a Neo-Renaissance style former royal “summer-home” castle set in dramatic mountain scenery. Only 30 minutes from […]
Brasov – another Transylvania Treasure (day 10)
In Romania
May 12, 2020
Following our exhausting visit to Bran Castle, we headed to Brasov, which would be our final city in this fantastic 11-day circuit of Romania. Located only thirty minutes from Bran Castle, it took us twice as long as it should have on this sunny […]
COVID-19-Time – Come Travel with Us
In About Me
April 21, 2020
With nothing to do but dream and remember, come travel with us, PowersToTravel.com. Glimpse our trips from the last nine years! Creating this show has kept me occupied, and I hope viewing it will occupy your time as well, and you will perhaps dream […]
Camusdarach
In Scotland
March 24, 2020
In the days before the Internet, we were vacationing with only our trusty printed guidebook in hand. We meandered down the single-track coastal road, which at that time was the only road, towards the village of Morar. The guidebook had proclaimed […]
Finding the heather at the Seilebost Beach on the Isle of Harris
In Scotland
March 24, 2020
The year was 2002. Work had been terribly stressful and one Saturday in the beginning of August I sat in the local breakfast café and said forlornly to a neighbor, “I wish I could just leave it all and see the Scottish heather. I’ve […]
Tokyo Top Sights
In Japan
December 2, 2019
Subtitle: You don’t have to stay five nights to feel you’ve really done Tokyo. Having stayed five nights, I can tell you that some Tokyo sights are amazing, while others are better experienced in other Japanese cities. Tokyo is an […]
An eye-popping time at the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan (video)
In Japan
December 2, 2019
https://youtu.be/NJGlcfP-v7k No words are necessary…. […]
A tale of two resorts on the Great Barrier Reef: Lady Elliot Island and Heron Island (reviews)
In Australia
December 1, 2019
Last fall as we planned our trip to the Great Barrier Reef from Rhode Island suddenly the airfare costs went up, just for the period we needed to fly (mid-September). Oh, No! What to do? Spend more money for the same adventure, or fly over early, […]
A quick day-trip to Shirakawa-go (video)
In Japan
November 30, 2019
While in Takayama, Japan, we took a quick day-trip to Shirakawa-go, a small village chock full of “gassho” houses, set in the mountains west of Takayama. Gassho houses are traditional A-frames built in the mountains of Japan. A UNESCO […]
The Breathtaking Takayama Autumn Festival (video)
In Japan
November 26, 2019
We designed the itinerary of our entire Australia and Japan trip around attending the Takayama Autumn Festival. It was advertised to be one of the top three festivals in Japan. We were also enticed by the promised small-town atmosphere and the […]
A Quest for Dr. Pepper in Japan
In Japan
November 21, 2019
Where to find Dr. Pepper in Japan Prior to our arrival in Japan, Greg had seen a picture of a Diet Dr. Pepper vending machine in Japan. He was so excited to think that he would be able to readily find Diet Dr Pepper. Oh, not so! And he was so sad. […]
Kyoto, Japan – Four days is not enough (video)
In Japan
November 20, 2019
I had read that many people rate Kyoto as their favorite city, so I did not hesitate to dedicate four days and five nights to finding out why. Kyoto is not a city of Ferris Wheels and crazy neon lights – it’s a city of beautiful temples, […]
Nara and Himeji Japan – a quick glimpse (video)
In Japan
November 18, 2019
Both Nara and Himeji are popular day trips out of Osaka and Kyoto. We visited Nara in October 2019 as a day trip out of Osaka, and then stopped in Himeji as a detour on our train journey from Osaka to Kyoto. We were very surprised by the huge number […]
3-Week Itinerary for Japan – Trains became our Best Friends
In Japan
November 17, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
Japan Diabetic Travel Tips
In Japan
November 17, 2019
Many of the travel tips for Japan apply to every traveler, not just diabetics. Japan is a modern, fast-paced place and is easy to visit in a healthy way. I’ve written a full soup-to-nuts article on Travel Tips for International Travel. Check it out […]
Osaka, Japan – so much more than a day trip (video)
In Japan
November 17, 2019
For so many, Osaka Japan is a day-trip out of its more famous nearby cousin, Kyoto. But since we flew into Osaka from Cairns, Australia, we made Osaka our first home-base city in our October 2019 tour through Japan, staying there four nights. What […]
Heron Island, on the Great Barrier Reef (video)
In Australia
November 5, 2019
Near the end of September 2019 we visited Heron Island, on the Great Barrier Reef, a part of our three week Queensland tour. I hope you enjoy the show and feel as if you are there… https://youtu.be/a7C8NtUlQUc Heron Island What is not apparent […]
Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef (video)
In Australia
November 5, 2019
Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef, a “bucket-list” destination, lived up to our very high expectations! https://youtu.be/USbkD1bvheo Lady Elliot Island The news out of Australia in these past few years has been the horrific […]
Queensland Australia Driving Tour (video)
In Australia
November 5, 2019
In mid-September 2019 we embarked on a 40-day ‘other-side-of-the-world’ trip. Queensland, Australia AND Japan seems an odd combination, but it worked for us. We rented an SUV and spent three weeks touring Queensland, Australia, visiting […]
Bran Castle – Dracula’s Castle, with a horror story of its own (day 10)
In Romania
September 10, 2019
It was at Bran Castle, near the end of our trip, that I fully appreciated the itinerary which Compass Travel had created, and which I had chosen. Bran Castle was a mob scene. We had previously bee-bopped around the countryside seeing all sorts of […]
Unexpected history at Cetatea (Citadel) Rupea (day 10)
In Romania
September 10, 2019
We headed off south from Sighasoara towards Brasov, the home of Bran Castle – Dracula’s Castle. However, on the way we passed a hilltop fort, Cetatea Rupea. “Would you like to visit?” asked Iulian. Would we like to visit a […]
Quebec – A taste of European French culture in the Colonies
In Canada
September 9, 2019
I wonder why it has taken us so long to visit Quebec Province. I’ve lived in New England more than half my life and never made Quebec my go-to destination. But this summer, we sliced out ten days to make a road trip from Rhode Island to […]
A 3-Day Itinerary for Doha Qatar
In Qatar
September 8, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
12 Day Itinerary for Southern Thailand – beaches and mountains
In Thailand
September 8, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
Laos – a 9 day itinerary of mountain and river
In Laos
September 8, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
Two Weeks in Cambodia – Our travel blog and itinerary from city to country
In Cambodia
September 7, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
Our 7-day itinerary for Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong
In Vietnam
September 7, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
Our Myanmar Itinerary – 10 days that should have been 20!
In Myanmar
September 7, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means that I […]
Our Thailand Itinerary – 12 days of bucket list items from Bangkok and points north!
In Thailand
September 7, 2019
When we travel, each night I download our photos to our tiny laptop. We select the best of the day and create a photo collage, and email it off to family and friends, and post it on Facebook – kind of like a newfangled postcard. This means […]
Diet Dr. Pepper – an abundance in Mérida Yucatan
In Mexico
September 4, 2019
Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico is a large city in the northwestern corner of the Yucatan. Famous for its picturesque colonial town center, both times we visited we took horse carriage rides around the cobblestone streets of ancient cathedrals, monuments […]
A marvelous day with Les Rives in the Mekong Delta near Ho Chi Minh City (reviews)
In Vietnam
August 6, 2019
The day trip to the Mekong Delta was extraordinary and in fact was more informative, more varietous and simply more stunning than our three day cruise! We actually spent as much time off the boat, exploring villages and country lanes, as we did in the boat viewing all kinds of extraordinary water vessels and life along the edge. […]
Gypsies (aka Roma) in Romania – a new perspective (day 9)
In Romania
July 23, 2019
The Gypsies, or Roma as they are generally called, are the second largest minority in Romania, and the relationship of majority to minority is a fascinating one. I can’t pretend to be an authority on their history or current culture, but on […]
Backyard Travel Review – Laos (reviews)
In Laos
July 21, 2019
I had already selected Backyard Travel for our Cambodia portion of our 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey, so it was easy to carefully consider and select Backyard Travel for the Laos portion as well. Pak Ou Caves Luang Prabang We settled on […]
Morocco Diabetic Travel Tips
In Morocco
July 21, 2019
Diabetics need to be prepared and careful, but this small amount of effort should not dissuade you from visiting this out-of-this-world location. Vaccines, traveling with insulin, avoiding the water, travel insurance, all considerations for the diabetic when travelling to Morocco […]
Taking a wee-wander around Chiang Mai, on our own (Day 11)
In Thailand
July 19, 2019
This was our scheduled day of rest for Thailand. One day at the end of the Thailand portion of the trip in which we would not be escorted by guides, not on a schedule, just a day to wander and relax. Well, that was dull. Greg slept away the morning. […]
An unexpected visit to the Tiger Kingdom (Day 12)
In Thailand
July 19, 2019
When planning our trip to Thailand I had read about visiting the Tiger Kingdom, and knew that there was two such locations in Thailand. I’d also read about allegations of drugging and mis-treatment. I knew that the tigers were not […]
Cambodia Diabetic Travel Tips
In Cambodia
July 19, 2019
Many of the travel tips Cambodia apply to every traveler, not just diabetics. Cambodia is a vibrant, engaging place, however it requires attention to your health and safety so that you not end up relying on Cambodia’s poor health system. […]
Myanmar Diabetic Travel Tips
In Myanmar
July 19, 2019
I’ve written an in-depth page on all travel challenges for type 1 diabetics regardless of the continent. Click here to read it. It is my intention to supplement that page with specifics for each country I’ve visited, specifics […]
The Biertan Fortified Church built by Transylvania Saxons (day 9)
In Romania
July 16, 2019
While staying in Sighisoara, Romania, we took a day trip out into the Transylvania countryside to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Biertan Fortified Church. Why are they UNESCO World Heritage Sites and why would I travel to visit them? […]
Sighisoara in a brand new light (day 9)
In Romania
July 14, 2019
As always, dawn brings a new day, and in Sighisoara, with the bright blue skies, we felt ever so much better than the previous evening. Next on our tour agenda was the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. […]
Thailand Diabetic Travel Tips
In Thailand
July 13, 2019
While there is much to say about Thailand regarding travel challenges, don't let the volume of words scare you. The excitement, colors and extraordinary sights far outweigh the travel challenges. […]
Sighisoara – a medieval walled city in Transylvania (day 8)
In Romania
July 12, 2019
Cobblestone streets, tall and narrow townhouses, winding alleyways, Sighisoara has it all, including the imposing and mysterious city hall with its clock tower. […]
Deco Beach Club – Chelem Mexico (Reviews)
In Mexico
July 11, 2019
Ah, Retirement! Ah, the beginnings of snowbirding… Experiment in Snowbirding in the Yucatan In March / April 2018 we tried our first experiment in snowbirding. I had retired in September 2017 and soon after we departed on our 65-day Southeast […]
Traveler’s Diarrhea and Diabetes – how do I stop it and quickly?
In General
July 10, 2019
Note: I am not a medical professional. I am simply a 50-something type 1 diabetic who has been diabetic for fifty years, and who has happily traveled for many years. (OMG – I’m now 61 years old. I’m not updating this blog post to […]
Iceland Diabetic Travel Tips
In Iceland
July 9, 2019
I’ve written an in-depth page on on my blog about all travel challenges for type 1 diabetics regardless of the continent. Click here to read it. It is my intention to supplement that page with specifics for each country I’ve visited, […]
Backyard Travel Review – Cambodia (reviews)
In Cambodia
July 9, 2019
For our 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey I could have searched for a single company which could have covered our entire itinerary – Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and then southern Thailand. I felt that would be cost prohibitive and I […]
Vienna, Austria Train Station – Dr Pepper Gum?
In Austria
July 6, 2019
As you may know by now, Greg is a Diet Dr. Pepper addict. Throughout our thirty-three day trip from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic to Germany, Greg searched for Diet Dr. Pepper. He never did find Diet Dr. Pepper, […]
Dr Pepper is just a stroll away, in Budapest, Hungary
In Hungary
July 6, 2019
Vaci Street in Budapest is the place to stroll. It’s a wide pedestrian walkway anchored on one end by the Hard Rock Cafe, ending on the main road Kossuth Lajos. Lined by cafes, souvenir shops and all manner of stores, it’s a nice place […]
Dr Pepper has found its way to Sofia, Bulgaria
In Bulgaria
July 6, 2019
Throughout Bulgaria Greg looked for Dr Pepper, and was sad to have been unsuccessful. However, in Sofia, his quest was fulfilled! We found a small kiosk in downtown Sofia which carried both regular Dr. Pepper and Cherry Dr Pepper: Greg at store […]
Just one can of Dr. Pepper, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
In Vietnam
July 6, 2019
We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec 7, 2017, after eight days in Myanmar. Greg had brought an entire suitcase full of Diet Dr. Pepper bottles to Bangkok at the beginning of our 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey, however it was now twenty-three days […]
Dr. Pepper in Phnom Penh Cambodia
In Cambodia
July 6, 2019
Yes! We found Dr. Pepper in Phnom Penh, Cambodia! It wasn’t easy. However, it was more the heat that made that day seem more grueling than it needed to be. Dr Pepper in Pencil Store Phnom Penh close up The trail to the holy grail began at our […]
Coping with motion sickness
In General
July 2, 2019
In my twenties, after having traveled quite a bit with my parents as a child and teenager, I swore off travel. Why would I want to travel? Why indeed? It can be expensive, especially the way we travel, in that we aren’t backpackers. Balancing […]
Citadel Neamt, along the long road from Gura Humorului to Sighisoara (day 8)
In Romania
July 1, 2019
Subtitle: It’s all Greg’s fault Subtitle: I should have prepared better for carsickness Subtitle: There had to have been an easier way to get from Point A to Point B How many subtitles can I create for this day? If you look at Google […]
How long can I, a diabetic, live without insulin while traveling?
In General
June 30, 2019
When your technology fails you My biggest fear while traveling has always been and will always be the destruction of my insulin by heat. One day your stash can be fully functional and the next it could be ineffective. This has never happened to me, […]
Inject some Humor (Monastery) at the end of the day, or not (day 7)
In Romania
June 29, 2019
Our last monastery of the day was Humor Monastery, just north of Gura Humorului. I can definitely say that the monastery is NOT photogenic later in the afternoon. While the weather continued to be superb, and the blue skies never waivered, the […]
Sucevita Monastery in Bucovina is still photogenic after lunch (day 7)
In Romania
June 29, 2019
We had started our day around 9am, visited Voronet Monastery, the Folk Heritage Museum, Moldovita Monastery and traveled forty minutes over the mountain to Sucevita, all before noon. Both Voronet and Moldovita are both excellent in the morning sun. […]
How to sleep in the midnight sun in Iceland or Norway
In Iceland, Norway
June 25, 2019
The problem with sleeping in Iceland or Norway The days are very long during the summer. The Arctic Circle crosses just above Iceland, and it chops Norway into two. In the summer. the twenty-four hour a day sunlight can be very disturbing to your […]
Diabetic Travel Worldwide – Why Risk It? Here are some travel tips
In General
June 23, 2019
I feel that today’s Type 1 diabetic has no excuse. No excuse not to take care of one’s self. No excuse not to travel. I have spent my life, most of which has been diabetic, by living from excuse to excuse. Granted, when one was diagnosed […]
Iceland Itinerary and Lessons Learned from two unique trips
In Iceland
June 23, 2019
With my Iceland Travel Blog I hope to introduce you to Iceland, a country I have twice visited and love for many reasons. For each trip, I have an itinerary to share which provided me with some valuable lessons learned. Gulls at Borgarfjordur Estri […]
Morocco Travel Blog
In Morocco
June 22, 2019
With this travel blog I’d like to introduce you to Morocco, a fascinating country we made our home for twelve days in May 2015. We flew into Casablanca on Moroccan Air, traveled to Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Merzouga, Ouarzazate, Marrakech and […]
Peru Travel Blog – Itinerary, Reviews & Diabetic Travel Tips
In Peru
June 21, 2019
Summary For my Peru Travel Blog I’m eager to tell you about a fantastic seventeen day trip to Peru in late August/early September 2015. This trip fulfilled one of my bucket list items – we took an Amazon River cruise. We also stayed in a […]
Bulgaria Travel Blog – Itinerary, Reviews & Diabetic Travel Tips
In Bulgaria
June 21, 2019
I hope you enjoy my Bulgaria Travel Blog as I describe our four day visit to Bulgaria in late September 2018. Compass Travels of Romania offered an “add-on” visit to Bulgaria and we couldn’t resist. It was the second country on our […]
Romania Travel Blog – Itinerary, Planning & Diabetic Travel Tips
In Romania
June 21, 2019
My Romania Travel Blog describes the thrill of our visit to Romania on an eleven day tour in September 2018, as the lead-in and most anticipated part of our extended thirty-three day trip around Eastern Europe. Of all the countries in Eastern […]
Qatar Travel Blog – Itinerary and Reviews
In Qatar
June 21, 2019
Our Qatar Travel Blog covers three nights spent in Doha, Qatar in mid-January, 2018, as a final treat to ourselves at the end of our 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey. We had chosen Qatar Airlines and on our way over to Bangkok from Boston, we just […]
Laos Travel Blog – Planning, Itinerary and Lessons Learned
In Laos
June 20, 2019
Thank you for visiting my Laos Travel Blog. We visited Laos as part of our sometimes dependent, sometimes independent, 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey from November 2017 to January 2018. Specifically we visited Laos from Dec 25 to Jan 2. We […]
Cambodia Travel Blog
In Cambodia
June 20, 2019
Welcome to my Cambodia Travel Blog We visited Cambodia as part of our sometimes dependent, sometimes independent 63-day Southeast Asia Odyssey Asia in November 2017 to January 2018. We arrived in Phnom Phenh by speedboat from Chau Doc, Vietnam. See […]
Vietnam Travel Blog – Itinerary and Reviews
In Vietnam
June 20, 2019
Welcome to my Vietnam Travel Blog. We visited southern Vietnam as part of our quasi-independent 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey. We flew into Ho Chi Minh City from Yangon, Myanmar on December 7 on Vietnam Airways. We stayed several days in Ho Chi Minh […]
Thailand Travel Blog – Preparation, Itinerary, Diabetic Tips and Top Places
In Thailand
June 20, 2019
With this Thailand Travel Blog I want to tell our story of our trip to Thailand in mid-November 2017 as a part of our quasi-independent 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey. We first flew into Bangkok via Doha, Qatar on Qatar Airways. We stayed four […]
Myanmar Travel Blog
In Myanmar
June 19, 2019
Welcome to my Myanmar Travel Blog. We visited Myanmar in early Dec 2017 as a part of our quasi-independent 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey. We first flew into Mandalay on Bangkok Airways, drove to Monywa, then Bagan, and finally flew to Yangon […]
The painted monastery of Moldovita and its modern cousins (day 7)
In Romania
June 18, 2019
After we left the Voronet Monastery, we headed out to Moldovita, but in the process we passed several modern churches. It was amazing to me that the tradition of painting monasteries carries on today in such a flamboyant way. In many cultures today, […]
If you thought the haystacks in Maramures were amazing, check out the haystacks in Bucovina! (day 7)
In Romania
June 18, 2019
As I wrote earlier, I was fascinated by the shape of the haystacks in Maramures. But in Maramures those haystacks stayed put, at least in daylight hours! They didn’t wander around, like the haystacks in Bucovina, Romania. Check this one out: I […]
Voronet, our first glimpse of the famous Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, Moldova, Romania (day 7)
In Romania
June 17, 2019
UNESCO has declared these monasteries World Heritage Sites, and we could see why! We spent a day driving a circular route out of Gura Humorului (say that five times fast, or anything Romanian for that matter!), and visited four of these amazing […]
An entertaining visit to the Folk Traditions Museum of Gura Humorului (day 7)
In Romania
June 16, 2019
I’m anxious to tell you about, and show you pictures of, the amazing painted monasteries of Bucovina, however I first have to introduce you to the awesome Folk Traditions Museum. There are times when traveling on a planned itinerary (not a […]
Crossing the Carpathian Mountains to Bucovina, Romania (day 6)
In Romania
June 16, 2019
To most people, crossing the mountains in good weather, in a car, is a spectacular experience. Mountains imply beautiful vistas and unique scenery. The Carpathians are particularly scenic, with the Romanian farmhouses and haystacks dotting the folds […]
Maramures, my top place in Romania (days 4 to 6)
In Romania
June 13, 2019
Tucked in Northern Transylvania up at the Ukrainian border, Maramures is a primarily agricultural county famous for its wooden churches, wooden gates, tiled facades and, dare I say, haystacks. I’d seen a couple of pictures of these wooden […]
Diet Dr. Pepper found in Bucharest, Romania!
In Romania
June 12, 2019
My husband, Greg, is always on the look-out for Diet Dr. Pepper wherever we travel. If it is possible to bring an extra suitcase, as was the situation going to Tanzania on KLM, Albania on Turkish Air, Bangkok on Qatar Airways, he brings his Diet Dr. […]
A brief but fascinating 4-day itinerary for Bulgaria
In Bulgaria
June 9, 2019
aka Valeri Grigorov, Tour Guide Extraordinaire (review) Prior to our visit of Bulgaria, when so seldom prompted to think of Bulgaria, I could only envision husky men, perhaps similar to the Barbarians of the Roman Empire. Turns out my ignorance was […]
Is a year-long Trip Around The World the trip of a lifetime?
In General
June 7, 2019
Or is it better to go around the world in spits-and-starts, in manageable and affordable chunks, and let that trip last a lifetime? A few years ago, as I approached retirement, I considered a “trip around the world” as a possible […]
Mandalay, first, in Myanmar
In Myanmar
June 2, 2019
Mandalay, Monywa, Bagan, Yangon. Recognize these places? No? I didn’t either. Myanmar? That name didn’t ring a bell when I first started planning our trip to Southeast Asia. Oh, “Burma”! Now that rings a bell. It’s the country which fought […]
One Stop Travel and Tours – Myanmar – Review
In Myanmar
June 2, 2019
In December 2017 we visited Myanmar as a part of a 63-day odyssey across southeast Asia. You can see lots of videos here and and stories about our trip here. As you may know from other articles and my about-me article, I am a Type […]
Laundries in Budapest, both serviced and self-service
In Hungary
May 31, 2019
Prior to our trip, I did a lot of investigation trying to find laundries in Budapest. Specifically I was trying to locate a laundry close to Deák Ferenc tér. Here are the results of my work: O Utca 24 Our chosen laundry, located in an unmarked […]
Day Four – Danube Bend Group Trip
In Hungary
May 30, 2019
We arranged the Danube Bend trip through Viator. The promised taxi driver picked us up promptly and took us to a staging area over near the river. We waited quite a while for the other taxis to pick up all the remaining people. It was a full […]
Day Three – Central Market, Shoes on the Danube, Parliament, Széchenyi Baths, Heroes Square
In Hungary
May 30, 2019
We had bought our transit passes and golly, we would use them! Central Market We headed off first thing to the Central Market, which isn’t central at all. It’s down by the river, to the south of the main city center, near Fővam tér, about a […]
Day Two: The Holocaust Memorial Center, Dohány Synagogue, retrieval of laundry, Gringos Amigos, the Széchenyi Bridge, Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s bastion, the Budapest Eye
In Hungary
May 30, 2019
Oh, and we even found time to eat! The Holocaust Memorial Center We walked from our Regency Suites Hotel past Astoria out to the Holocaust Memorial Center. The Center presented pictures and movies describing the history of the Jewish people in […]
Day One – Arrival, Laundry, St. Stephens, Százéves Étterem, a folk band and the Silverline Sightseeing Cruise
In Hungary
May 30, 2019
Arrival in Budapest On Sept 27, 2018, day 16 of our 33 day Eastern European adventure, we arrived in Deák Ferenc tér Budapest, on the 100E bus from the airport, just like clockwork. Laundry After checking into the hotel, we carried our laundry to Ó […]
How best to spend three and a half (3 1/2) days in Budapest Hungary
In Hungary
May 30, 2019
Aka “Itinerary for My Top Sights in Budapest” In September and October 2018 we visited several eastern and middle Europe countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany–Bavaria region. […]
Extraordinary Beachfront Luxury Penthouse – the inside scoop, Part 2 (video)
In Puerto Rico
May 8, 2019
During Part 1, we worked and worked and worked. Starting with Part 2 our family guests began to arrive, first Mom and Dad, in February, then Kyle, Greg’s son, also in February. We finished the winter off with Ian and Susan McConnell, from […]
Extraordinary Beachfront Luxury Penthouse – the inside scoop, Part 1 (video)
In Puerto Rico
May 8, 2019
This past winter we regaled our friends and family with daily Facebook posts as we renovated and redecorated our new Puerto Rican beachfront penthouse apartment. However, all our friends and family are not Facebook fans, so I have put together this […]
Spending an entire winter in Isabela Puerto Rico (2019)
In Puerto Rico
March 15, 2019
In May of 2018 we purchased a large condo in Isabela, at Haudimar Beach Apartments near Jobos Beach. Here’s a link to its current status with lots of pictures We flew down Dec 17, 2018, and intend to stay until the first week of May. […]
Is the water safe to drink in … Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, and Germany?
In Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
December 16, 2018
“Is the water safe to drink?” That’s one of the first questions I ask the Internet when I investigate a country to visit. I am very sensitive to microbes in water, getting the runs and vomiting even with the “filtered […]
Compass Travel Romania Review – an awesome itinerary with interesting cultural connections
In Romania
December 15, 2018
In planning a trip to a new country, I often start by searching for trips offered by local travel agencies, even if we aren’t intending on being accompanied. What sights do the locals want to show off? What sights do they find people want to see? […]
Germany – Bavaria Slide Show 2018 (video)
In Germany
November 18, 2018
Our visit to Germany was quick – we drove from Cesky Krumlov, in the South Bohemia section of the Czech Republic to Munich via Passau, and checked out the Munich historic downtown area. Then we took a day trip to Zugspitze which is a ski area […]
Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, Slide Show (video)
In Czech Republic
November 16, 2018
Cesky Krumlov is a small town in the South Bohemia area of the Czech Republic. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its preservation of 14th to 17th century buildings. Most people visit it as a day trip out of Prague, however we […]
Prague 2018 Slide Show (video)
In Czech Republic
November 16, 2018
Prague was our favorite city in our 33-day trip from Romania to Germany. The atmosphere in the town square, with its characters, living statues, BBQ, trdlenik and astronomical clock, was addictive. […]
Prague Castle Slide Show (video)
In Czech Republic
November 16, 2018
Prague Castle was so interesting that it merits a video of its own! From St. Vitus Cathedral to St. George’s Basilica and the Golden Lane to a horrifying array of implements of war and torture, our cameras just kept on clicking. […]
Prague Communism and Nuclear Bunker Tour Slide Show (video)
In Czech Republic
November 16, 2018
In Prague we took a half-day “Communism and Nuclear Bunker” tour. It was just a glimpse of the 40 years of Communism rule. Related Links Here’s the link to the Prague Communism Tour website. We highly recommend the tour. […]
Austria – Vienna Slide Show (video)
In Austria
November 11, 2018
We visited Vienna for three amazing days in early October 2018. What did we choose as our top sights to see? Arrival in Vienna from Bratislava on the boat Twin City Liner. St. Charles Church Schonbrunn Palace and the Imperial Carriage Museum, and […]
Slovakia – Bratislava Slide Show (video)
In Slovakia
November 11, 2018
We visited Bratislava for just 24 hours in early October 2018. We arrived around noon by train from Budapest, and left around 4pm by Twin City Liner to Vienna. The Hotel Carlton (Radisson Blu) had the softest bed we found in our thirty-three days […]
Hungary 2018 Slide Show (video)
In Hungary
November 11, 2018
We visited Budapest and the Danube Bend in late September 2018. Here’s our You-Tube video. I hope you enjoy it. […]
Bulgaria 2018 Slide Show (video)
In Bulgaria
November 5, 2018
Thank you to our excellent guide Valeri Grigorov. He is one of the best guides we have every had! I can provide his email address, if you write to me. Check out this article of mine too: Bulgaria Travel Blog – Itinerary, Reviews and Diabetic Travel […]
Romania 2018 Slide Show (video)
In Romania
October 26, 2018
Here’s our 11-day driving trip throughout Romania. What a colorful and beautiful country to visit, from Bucharest to Bucovina! Related Links: Compass Travel Check out this article of mine too: Romania Travel Blog – Itinerary, Planning and […]
Portugal Show (video)
In Portugal
September 10, 2018
In 2016 we visited Portugal for nine days – a couple of days in Lisbon, several day trips out of Lisbon, and then a three night trip to historic villages of central Portugal. What an amazing trip through a history we had never known. […]
Doi Suthep – my favorite temple in Chiang Mai (Day 10)
In Thailand
September 10, 2018
It appears we have left the best for last! For our last temple visit in Chiang Mai Bom took us up a funicular to the mountaintop temple called Doi Suthep. Actually the funicular was not terribly exciting, similar as it was to an elevator going up […]
Puerto Rico – See the whole island with us! (video)
In Puerto Rico
September 10, 2018
In December 2015 we took a road trip around the entire island, thinking that someday we would buy a winter home there! Well, the trip was a success, and a little over two years later, we bought the condo, in Isabela. (Here’s a link to it, in […]
Montenegro – an amazing journey at a fraction of the cost (video)
In Montenegro
September 8, 2018
This is a video of our trip throughout Montenegro in September 2014. I had not previously published this and thought today, “why not?” I haven’t been here in my memories in a while. We visited the seacoast first (Ulcinje, Budva […]
The Amazon River and our Cattleya cruise (review)
In Peru
September 7, 2018
Although we traveled in August 2015, I’ve just recently become aware how really interested people are in ship reviews, so today I packaged up all the pertinent information from my day-by-day articles into one single summary of our impressions […]
Wat Prasingh, one of Chiang Mai’s Top Temples (Day 10)
In Thailand
September 1, 2018
A member of the Chiang Mai triumvirate (the top 3 temples!), Wat Prasingh brought pleasure with more than just visual arts. It offered SHOPPING! The arts at Wat Prasingh were indeed amazing. Even now, after our return, I think of the golden […]
Wat Phan Tao, the peacock and the crouching dog (Day 10)
In Thailand
September 1, 2018
Next we visited Wat Phan Tao. For completeness, I’ve given it a page in my blog, although at the time, and now as well, it seems to me to be “just another temple.” Located just down the street from Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao is an historic teak […]
Chiang Mai’s Chedi Luang and whatever happened to the Emerald Buddha? (Day 10)
In Thailand
August 29, 2018
Yesterday I asked for colorful temples, and today I received them! We still did not get blue skies, but the gold of several Chiang Mai temples gleamed brightly under the overcast skies. Our first stop was at Chedi Luang, an historic temple on […]
Baan Dam Museum – The Black Museum of a dark spirit (Day 9)
In Thailand
August 27, 2018
From the White Temple in Chaing Rai we traveled to the Black Museum, nearby, also in Chiang Rai. Both privately funded by artists, both disturbing. The Black Museum was the brainchild of Thawan Duchanee, a national Thai artist. At least the White […]
The World’s Top Colorful Places to visit in 2024
In Top Places
August 26, 2018
Is your world looking drab? Need a little spice in your life? Need to stretch your imagination? Get out and travel. See some of the world’s top colorful places for breathtaking brilliance and gripping textures. Can’t travel right […]
The White Temple in Chiang Rai – the ghouls are loose (Day 9)
In Thailand
August 23, 2018
For our second full day in Chiang Mai we headed off on a long drive through the mountains to the Chiang Rai area, near the Golden Triangle where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. The skies were overcast. I had made an effort to plan the entire […]
Buatong Sticky Waterfalls – sticky or a floop? (Day 8)
In Thailand
August 17, 2018
The Buatong Sticky Waterfalls is located north of Chiang Mai in the Srilanna National Park. I did learn early on that sticky did not refer to the water being sticky, but I didn’t realize until just now how “sticky” the rocks were. It had become […]
Wat Ban Den – Buddhism seems ever fresh in Thailand (Day 8)
In Thailand
August 17, 2018
Wat Ban Den, also known as Muang Gan Temple and as Den Sali Sri Muang Gan Temple, sits on a hilltop north of Chiang Mai. Overlooking farms and mountain valleys, this temple is a more recent addition to the suite of Thailand temples. The […]
The Best Beachfront Condo in Isabela, in all of Puerto Rico!
In Puerto Rico
August 12, 2018
Extraordinary Beachfront Luxury Penthouse Near Jobos Beach! Yes! In May 2018, we bought a penthouse beachfront condo in the northwest corner of Puerto Rico, in Isabela. It is the best place to stay in Puerto Rico. We know, because we took a long […]
The best adventure in Chiang Mai – Be an Elephant Mahoot for a day (Day 8)
In Thailand
August 10, 2018
I hardly want to write words to describe our elephant experience in Chiang Mai. I feel the pictures show the happiness and the excitement! However, I’ll give it a try. The elephants deserve it. To anyone hesitating, wondering about the […]
Where am I now? August 2018
In About Me
August 8, 2018
Right now, I am sitting in the living room of our harbor-view townhouse in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It’s in the mid-eighties (Fahrenheit) and the humidity is high. The fan is whirring, the sea breezes are blowing through the […]
Panama City with Albee Adventures, what a bonus! (review)
In Panama
August 8, 2018
Albee Adventures Several months before our departure to Peru in August 2015, Copa Airlines notified us that they were cancelling our return onward flight from Panama City to Boston, and putting us on the next day’s flight. Disappointed, we […]
Considering the ethics of a visit to the Kayan Long Neck women near Chiang Mai (Day 8)
In Thailand
August 6, 2018
I chose to visit the Kayan Long Neck women. It is easy to feel ethical while strolling respectfully through a Buddhist temple. I admire the workmanship and ask our guide about the meaning of murals or carvings. However, today I took a risk and […]
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai (Day 7)
In Thailand
August 2, 2018
Following our visit to the Jungle Market, Lucky turned the van down the road to Lamphun and Wat Phra That Hariphunchai. Due to the closure of one of the temples in Lampang for repairs we had an extra hour on our hands before lunch. When all else […]
You don’t understand, I could never…
In About Me
July 31, 2018
From Antarctica to Iceland, Australia to Africa, I’ve visited six of the seven continents of the world. (Update 11/17/2017: I have been to all seven!) I am not a wanderer, but a well-prepared explorer. My eyes are open to the unique […]
The Jungle Market – and insects, worms and frogs, oh no! (Day 7)
In Thailand
July 31, 2018
On the way from Lampang to Lamphun on Rt 11, Lucky stopped the vehicle at the Kad Tung Kwian Market, also known as the “Jungle Market.” At first it seemed like any other covered farmer’s market. But, where is the fresh corn? Where are the […]
A taste of Myanmar, in Lampang Northern Thailand (Day 7)
In Thailand
July 29, 2018
The day was Thanksgiving, November 23rd, and we stopped first at a temple, a more modern temple than the historic temples we visited yesterday at Sukhothai and the day before at Ayutthaya. “Modern” in this case means dating from […]
Our jungle hideaway at Lampang River Lodge (review) (Day 6)
In Thailand
July 27, 2018
I’m on the fence as to how I feel about the Lodge. It is set in a beautiful location on the side of a small river, and offers a swimming pool, an open-air dining pavilion and separate little cottages for each couple. The private cottages made of […]
A glimpse of rice paddies on the road from Suhkothai to Lampang (Day 6)
In Thailand
July 27, 2018
Our drive from Suhkothai to Lampang showed us a new face of Thailand. The road became more windy, the roadsides more agricultural, the vehicles less western-appearing. The roads were still excellent, well-paved, with a yellow line down the middle. […]
Sukhothai – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Thailand (Day 6)
In Thailand
July 26, 2018
Moving along from the traveling food buffet that was our vehicle, we arrived an hour later at Sukhothai, an important destination. We knew it was important because it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We didn’t know much beyond […]
Sticky rice in bamboo and tamarind (Day 6)
In Thailand
July 26, 2018
In Thailand vendors spring from the sides of the roads at any vehicle slow-down, at a traffic light, at a toll, at a turn. Covered by scarves to protect themselves from pollution, they hide under umbrellas and then rush into action. (More like a […]
Buddha Foundry and Sergeant Maj Thawee Folk Museum and an insulin pump emergency (Day 6)
In Thailand
July 25, 2018
This morning’s adventure began with a behind-the-scenes view to the golden Buddha images we had admired in so many temples. We entered the Buddha Foundry in Phitsanulok, Thailand with our guide, into a large industrial yard in which the […]
Finding Tranquility at the Pattara Resort and Spa (review) (Day 6)
In Thailand
July 24, 2018
The Pattara Resort and Spa in Phitsanulok… ah, I can still hear the soft tinkling of the music and I am still calmed by the views of lily pads, water features, and exquisite modern decor. More likely, my tranquility is due to my first good […]
On the road to Ayutthaya and Phitsanulok (Day 5)
In Thailand
July 11, 2018
I don’t know about you, but I’ve really enjoyed reading and remembering just the first four days of our trip. I hope I can keep up the writing, because it does make me very happy. My plan for Thailand was to reduce costs by performing the […]
Detailed Itinerary for four days in Bangkok
In Thailand
July 6, 2018
Bangkok, Thailand Itinerary Below is the results of all my planning – the moment by moment activities, links to the original sources, and map snip-its to guide me on our way. I printed the itinerary at home, and would put the day’s […]
A trek through Bangkok’s Chinatown (Day 4)
In Thailand
July 6, 2018
This morning we stepped out to the breakfast patio to find the heat and humidity much less than yesterday. Once again we enjoyed our gourmet breakfast overlooking the river traffic. It’s really a good thing that we are exercising so much, because […]
Wat Benchamabophit, say that three times fast! Jim Thompson House is easier but Chatuchak was memorable (Day 3)
In Thailand
July 5, 2018
I also entitled this day in my itinerary “The Multi-Transport Day.” This would be our most ambitious day in Bangkok. Yesterday was spent entirely in Rattanakosin, but today we would venture out to the “modern” world for some geographically […]
Ending our 2nd day in Bangkok with the incredible Wat Pho (Day 2)
In Thailand
July 4, 2018
After our Khlongs Tour, we trudged back that long half-mile road from Tha Chang to our hotel where we deposited my batteries in my charger. They had just made it through the canal and then the final one pooped out. So, the hotel became our next […]
Bangkok – An unexpectedly wonderful Khlongs Tour (Day 2)
In Thailand
July 4, 2018
But first, a moment to pay our respects to the memory of the great King Bhumipol Continuing my narrative from my previous post… we exited the Grand Palace complex. We saw that the crowds were heading to the right, towards the […]
Bangkok’s Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Day 2)
In Thailand
July 4, 2018
Day Two of my prepared itinerary says: “Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew – Take bottle of water. Leave 8am. 13 min walk up Maharat Rd, then right. 500 bht or $15; 2 hours. Open at 8:30am. Be at the entrance gate no later than 8:15am.” I actually […]
Our first day in Bangkok – traffic, the beauty of Wat Arun, and exhaustion!
In Thailand
July 3, 2018
Safe arrival in a modern city We safely arrived in Bangkok on Nov 17, 2017, arriving 20 minutes early, at about 7am, after twenty-two hours in transit. We were met at the airport by a private shuttle van. It was less expensive for this luxury in […]
Top Local and not-so-local Things to Do in Isabela, Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico
May 29, 2018
Before you continue on, check out my new article How Best to Spend a Week in Isabela Puerto Rico, if you are looking for our Very-Top places and how to efficiently combine them into a great week. Continue reading here to learn about ALL the […]
Doha, Qatar Break (video)
In Qatar
February 13, 2018
We bought our plane tickets on Qatar Airways before the recent troubles popped up between Qatar and several other Middle East countries. So it was with some trepidation we paused our return to the USA from Thailand and visited Doha for three days. […]
Relaxation in Southern Thailand (video)
In Thailand
February 13, 2018
At the end of our 63-day Southeast Asia odyssey, we spent two weeks in the south of Thailand. We divided the time between the Elephant Hills Camp near Khao Sok National Park, Koh Yao Noi, a small island off Phuket, and Railay Beach near Krabi. […]
Lao is Wow (video)
In Laos
February 13, 2018
We learned in Laos from the locals that the country is called “Lao” (instead of Laos), and that the people are also called called “Lao” (instead of “Laotians”). What I don’t know is whether to spell it […]
Cambodia, Siem Reap: more than Temples (video)
In Cambodia
February 13, 2018
It was a unique experience to see the temples with our guide Riyen. She was amazed that as a diabetic I could travel so far, and experience so much. She has relatives with type 2 diabetes who don’t get the same level of care […]
Cambodia: Land of Hope (video)
In Cambodia
February 10, 2018
Of all the countries we visited on our Southeast Asia Odyssey, Cambodia made the most lasting impression. (That’s a good impression!) Related Links Backyard Travel Check out this article of mine too Cambodia Travel Blog – Itinerary, […]
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong River (video)
In Vietnam
February 7, 2018
Two separate river experiences: a one-day speedboat trip with Les Rives, and a 4-day Mekong River private cruise from the Delta up to Cambodia, with Mekong Eyes. Related Links Les Rives Mekong Eyes Check out this article of mine too: Vietnam Travel […]
Bagan Myanmar – no, the balloon doesn’t go to Yangon (video)
In Myanmar
February 7, 2018
There’s more to the movie than balloons. Related Links One Stop Myanmar Tours Balloons over Bagan Check out this article of mine too: Myanmar Travel Blog – Itinerary, Impressions and Diabetic Travel Tips […]
Monywa Myanmar, that’s a mouthful (video)
In Myanmar
February 7, 2018
It’s pronounced “MON-u-wa.” A road trip slightly off the beaten path, from Mandalay to Monywa, then Monywa to Bagan. From Monywa we visited Pho Win Taung and Shwe Ba Taung. On the way from Monywa to Bagan, we visited […]
Mandalay, Myanmar, Mysteries (video)
In Myanmar
February 7, 2018
From monasteries, to schools, to temples, to craftsmen, to boats, to villages, the variety of sights we experienced in Mandalay was breath-taking. Related Links One Stop Travel and Tours We chose “station” guides and were very happy […]
The Powers and Weikerts hit Chiang Mai, Thailand (video)
In Thailand
February 6, 2018
As a part of our 63-day odyssey in Southeast Asia, the Weikert family (Greg’s daughter and family) joined us for trips out of Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was a non-stop week of adventure brought to us by the Chiang Mai Tour Center. Music by […]
North from Bangkok Show (video)
In Thailand
February 6, 2018
A slide-show video of our road trip north from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Lampang and Lampun, accompanied by the Chiang Mai Tour Center. With music by Kevin MacLeod. Related Links Chiang Mai Tour Center Check out this […]
Bangkok Show (video)
In Thailand
February 6, 2018
The first stop on our 63-day Southeast Asian odyssey – the great city of Bangkok. We visited Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Wat Phrae Kaew, the Khlongs (Canals) in a “long-boat”, Wat Pho, Wat Benchamabophit, the Jim Thompson […]
Westminster Abbey, oh for more time – a lesson learned
In England
October 28, 2017
My biggest regret in my London planning is that I didn’t allot enough time for Westminster Abbey. I squeezed it in between arrival on the tube, and our Parliament visit at 10:20. Parliament required a timed visit, and there were […]
The Jurassic Coast – England, UK
In England
October 28, 2017
I was somewhat suspicious of the Jurassic Coast England as a destination option. I bumped into it on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and learned that its unique characteristics are its fossils and cliffs. Cliff and beach […]
Norway and Svalbard Travel Costs
In Norway
October 25, 2017
Total and per-day Norway travel expenses (costs) for 2 people for 18 days during early high season (2nd half of June to beginning of July) 2016 traveling throughout Norway. This includes: Bergen, driving through the fjord country up to Trondheim, […]
A Diabetic Travel Packing List for Southeast Asia with a Gotcha – that’s two months
In Asia
October 24, 2017
The days are counting down to our epic sixty-three day I am Retired! trip around Southeast Asia. We will be visiting Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the beaches of Thailand, and finally, a stopover on the way home in Doha, Qatar. With […]
How to keep insulin cold while traveling for more than 28 days and more than 24 hours
In Asia
October 24, 2017
The Challenge Only a few weeks before our planned departure on our 65-day Southeast Asia Odyssey I learned that I needed to keep my insulin cold while traveling, that is, REFRIGERATED, for the entire first month of the trip. I had planned to travel […]
A Swim at Playa Azul, Luquillo, Puerto Rico
In About Me, Puerto Rico
October 17, 2017
I feel almost foolish writing about swimming at Playa Azul, in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Foolish because, after all, hasn’t everyone who grew up within a few hours of the sea enjoyed a swim? I grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, just a couple of hours […]
The View of Machu Picchu
In About Me, Peru
October 16, 2017
Nestled in a saddle near the top of a mountain in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu long represented for me an unattainable great wonder of the world. Evidence of the great Incan empire, now rubble, causes me to question the permanence of our great […]
The Fes Medina
In About Me
October 14, 2017
As a teenager, I had read mystery novels of young women traveling the world, facing danger, solving the puzzles and rescuing their men. Some novels were set in earlier years, during the time of the British Empire, in places to which I would […]
Our Tropical Beach-front Cabaña
In About Me, Mexico
October 14, 2017
In 2014 we searched for the right Christmas vacation destination. With a nine-day Christmas shutdown provided to me courtesy of Raytheon Co., each year we looked for a near-by destination which would give us that away-from-it-all feeling. After […]
Lions on the Serengeti – At our tent!
In About Me, Tanzania
October 12, 2017
Then, in 2012, just one and a half years after our wedding, my husband Greg and I somehow found ourselves woken up suddenly in our tent on the Serengeti, in Tanzania, by the sound of lions roaring. They paced around the campsite, never more than […]
Trekking through the jungle
In About Me, Costa Rica
October 12, 2017
If the plains of the Serengeti weren’t enough, one year later we somehow found ourselves in the jungle lodge “Tortuga Lodge and Gardens” in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. All of my life I had feared the bugs and heat of the Central and South […]
Heart-stopping Moments of Light and Texture
In About Me
October 12, 2017
My heart races and I see bright flashes of color. I briefly hold my breath and, with my eyes closed, slowly look around. I am experiencing a flash-back. It’s not deja-vu, although truly, I have already seen these visions already. I am remembering […]
Sitting on the steps of a Mayan pyramid
In About Me, Belize
October 12, 2017
Somehow, in 2011, my new husband convinced me that we should go to Belize for our honeymoon. I don’t know how that happened. I chose the Mariposa Jungle Lodge near San Ignacio. The lodge promised cabanas with screens and mosquito netting, […]
Monteverde Cloud Forest Show (video)
In Costa Rica
October 6, 2017
Carlos our trusty driver transported us from San Jose up to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, with our wonderful guide Jonathan Ramirez, both of Costa Rica Expeditions. After a quick visit to the Ranario (Frog Zoo), we were soon […]
Tortuguero Show (video)
In Costa Rica
October 6, 2017
Tortuguero is located on the Caribbean coast, in the Limon Province of Costa Rica. It is a National Park along an estuary which hugs the coastline. It is chock full of beautiful birds and wetlands creatures. Just […]
Costa Rica – The Adventure Begins
In Costa Rica
October 4, 2017
The year was 2013, relatively early in our traveling history. I had not yet developed my enjoyable, time-consuming vacation planning analysis (described in my post Amazon Dreams on my first day of Retirement). I had not yet gained a level of […]
Wendy Kirkwood Powers – she’s all over Scotland!
In Scotland
September 12, 2017
I’m retired now and I’m doing what I please, when I please. This morning that meant I Googled myself, and I found I was all over. Of course, because there are Wendy’s Restaurants all over, I kept bumping into the Wendy’s in […]
The Amazon River – a video says it all
In Peru
September 10, 2017
Well, it almost says it all. The video can’t express the humidity and heat. You’ll have to go to the Amazon River yourself to experience it all! I’m ready to sign up again, to see the high-water season […]
The Amazon River – Day Eight and Final Thoughts
In Peru
September 9, 2017
The next morning at the Treehouse Lodge I once again waited for the troop of squirrel monkeys. They had arrived the first morning, but did not show for the second, and this would be our last opportunity to see them again. Sadly, no monkeys, but […]
The Amazon River – Day Seven – A Home Visit
In Peru
September 8, 2017
Once again, the next morning our Treehouse Lodge guide asked us what we wanted to do. What a question. We had seen the cayman, birds from afar, the monkeys. What more did the lodge offer? He seemed not to know. Later, too late, we learned that […]
The Amazon River – Day Six – Excursion to the Monkey Island
In Peru
September 8, 2017
Monkeys trapped in the Jungle Our outing this morning was to another stream, this time to a slightly more inhabited area. Surprisingly, the bird-life was more abundant and we saw many beautiful birds. We visited the monkey island, an island […]
The Amazon River – On to the Treehouse Lodge
In Peru
September 8, 2017
The motorboat for the Treehouse Lodge met us at the confluence of the Marañon and Yucayali Rivers where the Amazon River itself began. W.C., Elaine, Raymond, Mae, Greg and I left our lovely Cattleya boat to jump into the motorboat. Shaped like a […]
The Amazon River – Day Five – Happy to visit and sad to leave Nauta, and the Cattleya
In Peru
September 8, 2017
Forums and blogs had warned me about Amazon River cruises that advertise four or five day journeys with the option for nine days, saying that the middle day was always spent in the town, as supplies are on-boarded, departing travelers move on, and […]
The Amazon River – Day Four – Birthday Girl with the Ribereños
In Peru
September 8, 2017
The next day was my birthday, and what a day it was. The village of San Pedro, and the people called ribereños, was the destination of our morning adventure. I have since learned that ribereños means river people and are not a distinct ethnic […]
The Amazon River – Day Three – Recovery, More Catfish and Bird-life
In Peru
September 7, 2017
Black and Muddy Waters The next day we anchored at the convergence of the black and muddy waters. Each stream and river that feeds into the Amazon has its own unique characteristics. Here you could visually discern the mixing of the two rivers. […]
The Amazon River – Day Two – A Hike among the Wildlife
In Peru
September 7, 2017
The next morning on the Cattleya we were treated to more lovely food for breakfast, then taken on the speedboat to a location from which we could hike and see the nature. This time I made sure to fully pack the backpack. On each outing, the medic, […]
The Amazon River – Day One of the Cattleya Experience
In Peru
September 7, 2017
The Cattleya Cruise Interestingly enough, the part of the trip which I spent the most time planning turned out to be the most successful. We flew from Boston to Panama City then to Lima on Copa Airlines. We spent the night at the airport hotel in […]
Planning: The Amazon River and the Adventure Cruise Ship World
In Peru
September 7, 2017
Through my research I learned about the huge variety of cruise ships running up and down the Amazon River and the rivers that feed the Amazon. Wedding Cake Cruises The huge wedding-cake cruise lines that operate Amazon cruises start at the coast and […]
Amazon River Dreams on my First Day of Retirement
In Peru
September 7, 2017
Dreaming? When one shops for greeting cards one reads so many trite sayings about following dreams, and making “it” happen. That certainly has not been the case for me. I can’t remember ever having a list of dreams. I’ve always wondered what I […]
Wendy and Greg’s World Travel Adventures
In About Me
September 2, 2017
A collage of all our destinations… […]
Estoril and a conflict of emotions
In Portugal
August 26, 2017
We stopped to stretch our legs, and take a couple of pictures of the Casino in Estoril. “No thanks, we don’t want a coffee.” What kind of travelers are we that we don’t want to stop every hour for a coffee? We are diet […]
Learning Blue and White in Évora
In Portugal
August 26, 2017
No, we are not students at the University of Évora, Portugal. Led by our guide, Carla Carita, we spent a fascinating hour wandering the classrooms, chapel and arcades at the historic University. My fingers gently touched the blue and white tiles […]
England Show
In England
June 27, 2017
England, 2017 Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devonshire, Dorset, East Sussex, Kent – all names from the mystery novels I’ve read over the years. We spent 12 days traveling the southern counties of England, wishing we had more days to […]
London Show
In England
June 27, 2017
London, England, June 2017 What a wonderful city to visit! We stayed in South Kensington, near the Waterloo Tube station, at the Bailey’s Hotel. It was superbly located for getting into the central area quickly. In four days we visited […]
Making 10 days in Portugal seem like months
In Portugal
May 6, 2017
The first tip to making the trip seem like a lifetime, and a good lifetime, is to walk the city of Lisbon. Lisbon is well mapped in Google maps, and the entire city is accessible with the little Google man. I would find an apartment I might rent, […]
Costa Rica Show (video)
In Costa Rica
January 6, 2017
This will be a record, I’m sure. Home from Costa Rica on Monday night, and my show already completed and posted by Friday! Our itinerary included just one night in Jaco, a visit to the Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos, five […]
Tanzania Safari movie
In Tanzania
December 2, 2016
Movie of our safari in Tanzania and the Serengeti with MKSC (Mount Kilamanjaro Safari Club) and our outstanding guide Mweta. Our trip started at Rivertrees Lodge near Arusha. Then we stayed at Oliver’s Camp in Tarangire National Park, and […]
Lisbon, Portugal Show
In Portugal
December 1, 2016
Check out my video slide show of our 4 days in the fabulous city of Lisbon, Portugal. We stayed in the district of Chiado on Rua Garrett, not far from the Praca de Cameos. […]
8 days in Portugal with MyWayTours (review)
In Portugal
November 27, 2016
The first trip of the year was the budget-busting tour of Norway and Svalbard. So, for the second trip, I searched for a budget-affordable trip. Ultimately, I arranged for five nights in Lisbon and a three night excursion on the MyWayTours‘ […]
For Peru, Rainforest Cruises and Haku Tours (review)
In Peru
November 27, 2016
Rainforest Cruises Our trip to Peru combined an Amazon River cruise with a trip to the Andes and Machu Picchu. We found an excellent cruise package which combined four nights on the Cattleya boat with three nights in the “luxury” Treehouse Lodge. […]
Sun Trails Morocco Review
In Morocco
November 27, 2016
For Morocco I chose Sun Trails. An agency that is willing to publish prices for standard trips always gets my attention. I know that there is a great deal of competition, and agencies don’t want to give prices unless they are somewhat certain […]
Tours-Albania Review
In Albania
November 27, 2016
After our experience with Costa Rica Expeditions, and with more time available, my research into Albania was more extensive. I emailed three different providers – a local company in Albania, a company local to Boston, and an international […]
Costa Rica Expeditions Review
In Costa Rica
November 27, 2016
My recommendation for Costa Rica Expeditions is wholeheartedly positive, however due to circumstances which were entirely within my control, I feel we over-paid for our adventure. We had just moved from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, and were soon […]
Galapagos Islands aboard the Royal Galapagos Majestic – Review
In Ecuador
November 26, 2016
I couldn’t possibly write on a single page the whole of a eight day journey aboard the Majestic. However, I can express my feelings in a single word: Majestic. We arranged for the full eight-day trip in August, during the first year of the […]
Galapagos Islands via Adventure-Life Review
In Ecuador
November 26, 2016
The Mansion del Angel, Quito I arranged our eight day cruise on a luxury yacht in the Galapagos Islands, plus a pre-cruise visit to Quito, Ecuador, using the tour company Adventure-Life. I had used this agency to arrange the adventure cruise to […]
Tanzania – Africa Travel Resource Review
In Tanzania
November 26, 2016
That’s Mweta and Greg in the picture above. Africa Travel Resource (ATR), a UK company, arranged our safari trip with Tanganyika Expeditions (also known as MKSC, the Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club). ATR’s web site provided an awesome amount of […]
Belize Mariposa Jungle Lodge Review
In Belize
November 26, 2016
To this point in my life I had never vacationed to a jungle or hot location. Due to need to keep my insulin cold, I had always chosen the cold spots – Norway, Iceland, Scotland, even Antarctica. Due to fear of water-born illnesses, I had […]
Dog Carting / Dog Sledding in Svalbard with Green Dog (review)
In Norway
November 25, 2016
Maybe I am a dog person after all? As a child I loved cats and dogs, but never owned one. My father is allergic to cat and dog dander in a big way, an “air passages close up and you die” kind of way. So I petted the passing dog or cat on the […]
My Polar Bear in Svalbard
In Norway
November 25, 2016
I knew that by staying in Longyearbyen I was limiting my chances to see a Polar Bear. While they are known to wander into the inhabited areas during the winter, the likelihood of seeing one in June was very low. That is why I chose to go out every […]
Svalbard at Half the Price
In Norway
August 4, 2016
This summer included one of my bucket list events – the long awaited trip north to Svalbard. I had wanted to visit Svalbard since I had returned home from Antarctica in 2007. I had learned that the Polar Star (no longer in service) […]
10 of the UK’s best hidden beaches for the weekend – my picture!
In Scotland
March 22, 2016
My husband happened to Google me recently and found my picture in 10 of the UK’s best hidden beaches for the weekend ! My picture of the beach at Camusdarach was published in the travel article by “The Guardian” British newspaper […]
Travelling the world with Diet Dr. Pepper
In General
March 20, 2016
My husband Greg Powers is a Diet Dr. Pepper addict. He has loved Dr. Pepper since he was 12 years old, since the day he tasted it at a roadside restaurant on his way to summer camp. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Air Force, and when they […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #1 Swimming in El Yunque Waterfall
In Puerto Rico
March 15, 2016
El Yunque truly is a busy place. This is partly due to the beautiful rainforest and partly due to its proximity to San Juan. Guidebooks tell you to arrive early. Don’t think that they are exaggerating; simply do. We arrived around […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #2 Cueva Ventana, Arecibo
In Puerto Rico
March 2, 2016
Thud! Thump! A woman cried out. You could hear everyone gasping in the dark cave. The guides rushed back to where someone had tripped on the rocks in the dark and crashed to the floor. “Is she ok? Is she ok? Is she ok?” the […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #3 Tropical Trails Horseback Riding in Isabela
In Puerto Rico
March 1, 2016
Tango and Zuma. They sound like a pair of cowboys, or perhaps a rock band, or even a couple of private-eyes. Actually Tango and Zuma were especially chosen for us by the staff at Tropical Trail Rides. The leader had announced to the […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #4 Tibes Ceremonial Center
In Puerto Rico
February 22, 2016
El Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes is located a short distance northwest of Ponce and a visit there includes a museum, movie and a guided visit through the entire open-air archaeological site. It is the largest ceremonial center in the […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #5 Hiking at Punta Tuna Lighthouse and el Humedal Punta Tuna
In Puerto Rico
February 21, 2016
We stayed the night at Yabucoa, at the Parador Costa del Mar. Turns out there are two hotels from the same chain within 1 mile of each other. The chain is called “Tropical Inns.” I’m really glad we stayed at the Parador Costa […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #6 Feeling the breeze at Los Morrillos Lighthouse
In Puerto Rico
February 21, 2016
Is it Rojo Cabo or Cabo Rojo? It means red cape. Cabo Rojo appears to be the town and Rojo Cabo appears to be the cape. Regardless, we headed towards the cape, the home to the Los Morrillos Lighthouse, in the southwest corner of the island, […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #7 Parasailing at Fajardo
In Puerto Rico
February 21, 2016
We live in Newport, Rhode Island, and in the summer it is possible to parasail in the Narragansett Bay, or the Atlantic. My husband had that opportunity when his daughter and her family visited two summers ago. Unfortunately I had to work […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #8 Jet-skiing in Guánica
In Puerto Rico
February 21, 2016
Many people may wonder at my choice of Puerto Rican highlights. A banana boat? A jet-ski? How old are you, and why would you find such wonder in such ordinary events? I presently am 53 years old, and due to a number of factors have never been a […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #9 Picnic’ing in the Toro Negro State Forest
In Puerto Rico
February 20, 2016
The title of this adventure could also be called “Taking Rt 514 to the top of the world”. We left Ponce on Christmas Day, anxious to have an Adventure in spite of the closure of businesses and tourist attractions. We headed east along […]
Top Ten Puerto Rico Travel Destinations: #10 Banana Boat Riding at Villa Cofresi, Rincón
In Puerto Rico
February 20, 2016
We aren’t “hang out at the beach” type travelers. We enjoy seeing new sights, learning new cultures and history, and trying new activities. We call them “Adventures.” Puerto Rico is very high on our […]
Riding Camels in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi
In Morocco
December 6, 2015
We conversed with Sun Trails and decided to up our level for one night from “Dreamers” to “Divine” to stay in a luxury tent in the Sahara. Actually I am not certain about the exact cost of that night, since we paid for the […]
Fes Medina
In Morocco
November 15, 2015
As a teenager, I had read mystery novels of young women traveling the world, facing danger, solving the puzzles and rescuing their men. Some novels were set in earlier years, during the time of the British Empire, in places to which I would never […]
Pirates of Salé, Morocco
In Morocco
November 9, 2015
The Bab Mrisa Our guide Mohamed Krounbi led us from the quiet of medersa to the Bab Mrisa. We stood within the medina and looked at what appeared to be an ordinary gate. In fact, we took no picture of it. But this was not just any gate, as we […]
The Medina at Salé, Morocco
In Morocco
November 7, 2015
Meet our guide Mohamed Krounbi, the historian at Salé, a small community near Rabat, on the northwest coast of Morocco. He was our guide for several hours, taking us from the Grand Mosque to riad, to medersa, to city walls, to the Bab (gates), and […]
Butrint, an ancient resort
In Albania
October 6, 2015
When we originally were planning our trip, we noted the several UNESCO World Heritage sites in Albania, and they became part of the required justification for our choice of Albania. “Oh, Albania has several heritage sites, including several […]
Ahhhhh, Saranda
In Albania
October 4, 2015
We have read and heard that many people feel Saranda has grown far too populous and far too over-built in recent years. Apparently the growth of the town has been so rapid and uncontrolled that the government is finally enforcing property and […]
The Albanian Riviera Unfurls
In Albania
October 4, 2015
The Albanian Riviera unfurled like a turquoise ribbon along the mountains. As we drove south along the coast, each successive curve, dip and rise presented new and interesting sights. We stopped at Cabo Del Mar, a small resort in the middle of […]
Bringing home more than memories, from Fes Morocco
In Morocco
May 24, 2015
We followed our guide Hamid through the narrow alleys of the historic medina in Fes, Morocco. The medina dates back to the 9th century, and flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries. My camera swiveled with its own curiosity among the amazing […]
Llogara to Historic Himarë
In Albania
April 4, 2015
It was at this point in the trip that I looked at my husband and said, “Albania is supposed to be beautiful. It’s been very interesting, and the ruins and castles have been fantastic, but I haven’t seen any beauty.” He […]
Albanian Independence in Vlorë
In Albania
March 14, 2015
From Apollonia we headed south through Fier towards Vlorë. It seemed that a remnant of an old and different civilization awaited us at every turn: Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, even the Italian Occupation of WWII. In Vlore we finally met […]
And now the Romans, at Apollonia
In Albania
February 15, 2015
We continued south and the weather deteriorated; it began to rain as we arrived at Apollonia, a significant Roman ruin west of Fier. It sits alone on a plain, apparently far from any valuable natural features, such as rivers or bays. The town of […]
Skanderbeg saves Ardenica Monastery
In Albania
February 14, 2015
Leaving the Bektashi mosque and the city of Berat behind, we headed west towards Ardenica, Albania, a drive of approximately 1 and 1/2 hrs through the countryside. Once again we were entertained by the variety of country life – the peculiar […]
A Bektashi Mosque in Berat
In Albania
February 14, 2015
The following morning we left our Hotel Mangalemi and walked the narrow alleys of Berat. On the street level the alleys were wide enough for two to walk abreast, however at each successive floor above, the extensions of the houses grew ever […]
Pumping my way through airport security
In General
January 11, 2015
I’ve been traveling for years with my Medtronics Paradigm pump. I had always focused on how to get through airport security with the least inconvenience. I had never focused on the risks to my device. Recently I had reason to call Medtronics’ […]
Amazing Berat
In Albania
December 19, 2014
It’s hard to believe that at this point we were only halfway through our first day out and about in Albania. Today would be our first visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Albania. I occasionally visit the UNESCO World Heritage […]
Albania in a Roundabout Way
In Albania
December 18, 2014
We drove south from Durrës through a town our guide called Bochova, however I was unable to find it on any maps; perhaps I mis-heard. It was an oil town and such a surprise to see. I had no idea that Albania had oil reserves. Apparently the […]
Lavazho and loss of control in Albania
In Albania
December 9, 2014
If Albanians know anything, it’s how to keep a car on the road and looking its best. In the more populated areas it seemed as if every quarter of a mile we would see a car wash. No village was complete without a selection of Lavazho. Lavazho […]
Of Albanian Windows and Farms, since…
In Albania
December 8, 2014
Leaving Durrës, we headed south and then east into the countryside. The road south lacked scenic beauty but the road and our guide continued to be chock full of interesting sights and stories. As we left Durres, we noticed a very large stuffed dog […]
The Ancient City of Durrës Albania
In Albania
December 3, 2014
Arriving at the outskirts of Durrës, we paused in traffic next to the train, which also idled at the train station. It was covered in graffiti and looked more like a NY City subway car than an intra-city commuter train. We remarked on its […]
On the road towards the ancient city of Dürres
In Albania
December 1, 2014
We drove west from Tirana towards Durres, excited to experience our grand tour of Albania. Would it be full of plazas and strip malls? Would we see slums? We had read that Albania was still not as modern as the rest of Europe, and had been clawing […]
Tirana – the capital of Albania
In Albania
November 27, 2014
What a wonderful day we spent in Tirana, Albania. It was a great start to our 13 day trip traveling throughout Albania and Montenegro with Tours Albania, also known as TAB. I can’t claim credit for the fact that we had great timing, […]
Jökulsárlón the Glacial Lagoon
In Iceland
November 23, 2014
We stayed the previous night at the Hotel Skaftafell, and traveled about 45 minutes north to Jokulsarlon, the Glacial Lagoon. I had visited Jokulsarlon with my parents in 2004. In 2004, we had taken the left hand turn right BEFORE the bridge, to a […]
Top Iceland Waterfalls
In Iceland
November 21, 2014
Iceland waterfalls extravaganza shown in order driving Rt. 1 southeast from Reykjavik to Vik, north to Egilsstadir, then west to Akureyri, and finally south back to Reykjavik. Check out this article of mine too: Iceland Travel Blog – Itinerary, […]
Iceland Slide Show
In Iceland
November 20, 2014
A glimpse of the wonders of Iceland from the Blue Lagoon, to Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik, to Kerid, Vatnajokul, to Skogafoss and Seljalandsfjoss all the way around to Akureyri. […]
Lupines in Iceland’s south coast lava fields
In Iceland
November 19, 2014
This is a very low-key favorite. It is entirely dependent on whether you visit during lupine-season or not. (That could be all summer for all I know). I can definitely say that lupines are NOT in season in May. My husband and I went during the […]
Borgarfjörður Eystri – Iceland’s un-heard-of Top Place
In Iceland
November 16, 2014
Borgarfjörður Eystri is located on the north coast, a long drive north from Egilsstaðir. The drive itself was very nice, and it didn’t rain! Our goal was the Puffin Colony. The drive was part on paved road, and then the road turned into gravel. […]
Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss – Two of my Top Places in Iceland
In Iceland
November 16, 2014
There are two beautiful waterfalls on the south coast east of Reykjavik and west of Vik: Seljalandsfoss, and Skógafoss. Seljalandsfoss is a ‘gentle’ veil of water flowing over the glacial headland. You can walk completely behind the falls and out […]
Luxury Tent Camps
In Tanzania
November 15, 2014
Our travel agent at Africa Travel Resource (ATR), knowing the migratory habits of the animals, designed the route of the trip based on the season. In the summer, the Great Migration of wildebeests moves in the grasslands of the Massai Mara, on the […]
Choices, Choices, Choices
In Tanzania
November 15, 2014
Masai guide at Oldevai Camp Through my study of the tourism infrastructure in Tanzania, I realized there were three important choices in planning our wildlife safari: private vehicle and driver versus tour group, tents versus lodges and drive […]
Dreaming of the Serengeti
In Tanzania
November 15, 2014
I surfed the web looking for special travel locations for Christmas vacation. I was originally reading up on Egypt, however the political climate was not favorable. In the original search for Egypt I had landed on travel agency sites for Africa, […]
Antarctica: Voyage Beyond the End of the World (excerpt)
In Antarctica
November 15, 2014
This is an excerpt from my book describing my experiences aboard the M/V Polar Star from Ushuaia to Antarctica, December 2007. See the column on the right for purchasing information. Shortly after breakfast we donned our shore attire, packed our […]
The Magic of Kiloran Bay on Colonsay
In Scotland
November 14, 2014
I was a teenager when my father took me to New York City to a British oldies film revival. We saw the 1945 film, “I Know Where I’m Going!” starring Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesley. It is the ultimate romance movie, set in the Scottish Isles, […]
Skaftafell National Park – One of my Top Places in Iceland
In Iceland
November 14, 2014
Skaftafell National Park is on a headland that protrudes between two glacial arms reaching eastward on the east coast of Iceland. There are beautiful views of mountains and glacier as you travel on Rt 1 towards the park from the south, but once you […]
Albania Travel Blog – Itinerary, Impressions and Diabetic Travel Tips
In Albania
November 14, 2014
Albania (Shqiperi) – definitely is the “place to go.” My husband Greg and I recently returned from our nine day trip traveling throughout Albania in September 2014. I have traveled to Antarctica, and we have together traveled to Tanzania, Iceland, […]
Traveling with Relatives who Photograph
In About Me
November 9, 2014
I’ll not mention the names, that they may remain anonymous. It’s really about a difference of goals. I travel because I want to see new things, generally natural things, such as Mountains, or Beaches. I prefer them wide-open and empty. I […]

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