It rained almost the entire time I was in Virginia Beach last month, giving me a moody view of Atlantic fog from my oceanside room. Living in a part of California where the sun shines just about every day and our sky is almost always blue, I enjoyed the change. Except for how wavy it made my . . .
I haven't laughed so hard in years! Texts and emails have been flying fast and furious this month. The question at hand: How to pack for Montana. Girlfriend and I are heading there for, well, an adventure. But probably not your definition of adventure. It's ours, though. Our adventure involves FLY . . .
A rooster crowed as I stepped out the door into the cool morning. Everything around me was green, including the mountain beyond the trees that framed the property. A large thermos of coffee was waiting in the lobby of the charming Sonoma B&B and I wanted a cup. Two, even. Locals who have been . . .
There's no getting around flying. If you want to go any distance from your home, you have to get on a plane even as every horrible "incident" is splashed all over the news constantly. Flying has never been more anxiety-inducing. So finding the best airline is important. It is a long haul to get to . . .
After two weeks touring Europe about 25 years ago and spending huge amounts of time viewing pre-medieval paintings in Florence and elsewhere I vowed that I would never again look at another 12th century gilt painting. And I've kept to that for 25 years. Now, after our last trip to Portugal, I'm . . .
Show me an arrow pointing somewhere mysterious and I'm going to follow it. I'm a curious girl. Despite what they say happened to the cat. Lisbon is a lovely walking city, with charming cobblestone sidewalks (watch your step!) and enough hills to give you a little workout. It was our second night in . . .
Lisbon is known for its mild climate. “It snowed 50 years ago,” our guide, Sandra, told us, “and it was a mixture of chaos and spectacle.” Back in 1755 a huge earthquake rocked the ocean and sent a gigantic tsunami uphill, destroying much of the city. It's still talked about today. My favorite . . .
This looks like any old European palace right? But if you’re a Boomer, think again. It’s the Portuguese palace depicted on this. Mateus Palace. Do you remember Mateus rose wine from your college days? In western New York we pronounced it MA-TOOZ. But it’s actually pronounced MA-TAY-US and it’s . . .
We are on our way to Portugal this afternoon to cruise the beautiful Douro River. Friends left yesterday on a different flight and we'll meet them tomorrow night in Lisbon, where we'll board a Viking cruise on what's said to be one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. We'll be passing through . . .
Walking through the dimly lit casino inhaling stale cigarette smoke and dodging flashing lights I spotted an elderly woman at a slot machine, sucking on her vape pen and pulling the machine's handle repeatedly. A rush of memories came flooding back. That woman could have been my mother. Mom loved . . .
