I know, my faithful friends and readers are wondering why I didn't finish the last blog! I will, I promise and will also add a quick note about the family's quick jaunt to Las Vegas! Meanwhile, we leave tomorrow for a gathering of eighteen family members, more and less, during a three-week stay at Le Buche Villa Wine Estate in Sarteano. This is a beautiful property in the province of Sienna, atop a hill in the midst of vineyards. We will be drinking lots of wonderful win

Can you believe in all of my many long years, not only of age but of travel, that I've never been to Chicago, unless in a plane waiting on the tarmac counts . . . don't think so! Next week we (Joe's Mom and Dad, Aunt and Uncle and Nonna) are off to witness my Grandson Joe's graduation from Kelley School of Business at University of Indiana. Hard to believe that this young man who was just a little one "yesterday" is now going to experience this wonderful lifetime milestone

Wednesday, November 26 - Paris, France A self guided tour of the Musee D'Orsay was scheduled for the morning. We all walked the long trek and stood in line waiting for the museum to open. I am walking the soles of my shoes bare!!! This was a much anticipated visit for me. The D'Orsay is my favorite museum of all that I've seen in the world. The collection of Impressionists is without equal - so beautiful! After we got into the venue I headed up to the fifth floor.

Tuesday, November 18 - Ghent, Belgium . . . a vibrant city known for its medieval architecture, picturesque canals, and lively cultural scene. Highlights include the impressive Gravensteen Castle, the stunning St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and a bustling city center filled with cafes, shops, and historic sites. . . . . but we decided not to go to Ghent. Instead . . . We bussed to Bruges. Poked around in the old and charming streets. Chocolate and sweet shops are everywhere. Who da

Wednesday, November 5 - SFO to Basel, Switzerland Welll . . . there were a few days last week when I thought I wasn’t going to get on the plane. A really sick cold had me in bed most of last week, lots of blowing and coughing and general malaise. Spoke with doctor, tested for Covid – negative – just as I’d thought, a truly rotten cold! The cough is what makes me feel like “Typhoid Mary”. Should I just wear a sign that I’ve tested negative for Covid? At any rate, have an

. . . the day before. . . . upon arriving in Cape Town, we were met and escorted to our hotel, one of the prettiest hotels in which I've...

All descriptions in italics at the start of some days, are taken from the internet, either Wikipedia, Britannica, or somewhere! - so that...

We have just left Hong Kong, on our way to Taiwan. Monday, January 20 - At Sea A trivia anecdote. In defense of Pete, he has had a...

Yes, that thing on top of the triple towers is supposed to be a ship!! Wednesday, January 1 - SFO to Singapore Had a special driver this...

Several months ago my friend and travel agent, Eric of Goldring Travel, posted that he’d been invited to come aboard the Sea Cloud Spirit...

This trip was supposed to be on Explora Journeys' new ship, Explora II - her maiden voyage from Barcelona to Barcelona. However, once...

In 2015, our daughter, Christina, learned that she had a recurrence of her glioblastoma (malignant brain tumor). We'd all lived on the...

This is an adventure for me without a ship! The whole point of this trip is to see my granddaughter graduate from University of...

Saturday, January 13 - Leaving Home In all of the trips I’ve done over the many years, this one will be remembered for the worst weather...

Flights from Hamburg and Munich were slightly delayed, but as luck would have it, so were John and Sandi's flights from San Francisco and...

Saturday, July 8 - Received word two days ago that the expected cruise departure on July 17, from Southampton, England, is cancelled due...

Thursday, SFO to JFK and JFK to Santiago de Chile Our long anticipated trip to Antarctica (my third!) is finally here. I begin this...

The "fun" of travel in these days has begun prior to my departure tomorrow morning. Have been dealing with Luggage Free who picked up a...

Granted, that although my journey will take place on a somewhat newer sailing vessel, thought this image taken from Google images would...

Tuesday, January 10 - Home One week prior to departure . . . . maybe . . . . "Maybe", because traveling right now is fraught with...