Journeys
When I travel, I search for opportunities to immerse myself in a new culture. The people, landscape, architecture, and history of a place reveal its stories.
On the road leaving Santiago, Cuba
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Traveling to Japan: Insights, Cultural Impressions, and Must-Know Tips
KONNICHIWA! A three-week dive into the wonders of the Land of the Rising Sun–– Japan––introduced me to a society steeped in rich tradition, yet at the forefront in twenty-first century modernity. Japan’s bounteous treasures saturated our senses as soon after we deplaned following the fourteen-hour ride over the top of the planet from New York’s JFK International Airport to Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport.

Southwest USA’s National Parks Display Nature’s Eminence
I’m a lifelong Eastern Seaboard resident, and my open space fix is gazing out at the vast Atlantic Ocean, with its uninterrupted, slightly curved horizon. Except for a few trips to California, I hadn’t enjoyed our country’s big skies “out west” (as we easterners refer to it) for many decades; it was time to explore the Southwest’s national parks. A few years ago, husband Rick and I boarded a September
I look for adventurous experiences, outside the norm, a bit edgy.
Other Journeys

The World’s Largest Hindu Temple Outside India is in New Jersey
Gazing at its majestic monumentality, you might think you’ve been transported to

San Miguel de Allende: One of the World’s Best Cities?
San Miguel is one of several sixteenth century Spanish cities established in

Springtime in Paris: Where to Explore, Linger, and Dine
It was practically a spur-of-the-moment decision for us. Rick and I always

5 Days in Istanbul: A Gift of Time in a Favorite City
When war broke out October 7, 2023 between Israel and Hamas, the

Escaping Israel: The Attack Shook the World And Upended Our Trip
In October, we planned a four-night stay in the city of Jerusalem,

Traveling to Three Medieval Spanish Towns by Train
On our two-week trip to Spain, four of us took high-speed trains

Three Stunning Churches Exemplify the Byzantine Painted Monasteries of Romania
Bucovina is the home of eight fifteenth and sixteenth century UNESCO World

Medellín’s Poor Comuna 13 Neighborhood Surprises as a Colorful Tourist Attraction
I crane my neck to catch an opening through bobbing heads peering

Traveling to Villa de Leyva in Colombia: A Trip Back in Time
I stand at the northwest corner of cobblestoned Plaza Mayor, central square

Traveling to Portugal: Medieval Towns and Monasteries
At the end of the last Portugal episode, the Fiat and its

Traveling to Portugal: Douro Valley and Porto
I learned to drive with a manual transmission on a used 1960

Traveling to Portugal: Lisbon & Sintra
Before I travel to someplace new, I pour over guidebooks, read travelers’
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Hop on over to the blog to read brief observations from my travels and at home.