Category Archives: Uncategorized

Best estimates say that 14 inches of rain fell in the last three days here at Robinson’s Bay on the Banks Peninsula. We were turned back 2 days ago at the town of Little River by flooding and “slips,” dozens … Continue reading →

Q. – What happened to California in the early 1920’s? A. – It relocated to New Zealand. The South Island of New Zealand is a remarkably varied landscape of spectacular vistas, unique fowl and flora, and disarmingly friendly people (even … Continue reading →

Thirteen hours to Auckland, 3-hour flight to Nuku’alofa (main Tongan city), 1-hour hop to Vava’u (northern Tongan island group), 30 min. bus ride, and finally a 45 min. boat ride to Mala, our little private isle in the South Pacific. … Continue reading →

We rang the buzzer at the distinct yellow apartment building at 39 Aradi Utca, listed discreetly among other Hungarian residents names as Kapital Inn. Before we had a chance to collect ourselves from the sudden summer-like weather, the door opened … Continue reading →

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” – Pablo Picasso We were enjoying Frühstück (breakfast) at Pension Suzanne (http://www.pension-suzanne.at/index.html), our traditionally appointed (some say fussy) accommodation steps from the StaatsOper in the heart of Vienna. Oskar, a German scientist, sharing … Continue reading →

Czech please  (I just couldn’t resist…) Another departure from previous year’s itineraries was a 2-day excursion to Cesky Krumlov, in Sud-Bohemia (Czech Republic). Culturally trespassing into Eastern Europe (the neglected step-sister of tonier, more “familiar” Western EU destinations) we elected to … Continue reading →

“To have great poets, there must be great audiences.” -Walt Whitman Our train to Salzburg sped over the Alps through horizontally blowing snow. A steady rain upon our arrival sweetened the mountain air as we drove the recognizable 6km along … Continue reading →

Some say pomadoro, some say tomate… We have migrated to the northern Italian transitional community of Bolzano / Bozen, where the Dolomite Mountains rise into Austria. While we crossed no international border, it is culturally clear that we touched down … Continue reading →

  “I have lost myself, I am not here, This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.” Romeo e Giulietta; Act I, Scene I Italy has a cold. Coughing, Sneezing, Nose blowing. Thank God for Instant Hand Sanitizer, vitamins, and … Continue reading →

We are billeted amidst Tuscan vineyards and olivo orchards at Savernano, our most familiar and comfortable farm house inn. Last year I wrote, “There are more expensive retreats, perhaps some with more elegant food or designer accommodations, but nothing in … Continue reading →