Hike Drinking Horse Mountain Trail in Bozeman, MT (USA)
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Hike Drinking Horse Mountain Trail in Bozeman, Montana.
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How did Helena become Montana’s State Capital?
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How did Helena become Montana’s state capital? Was it the architecture?
Read MoreGood Things in Small Packages
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In a disconnected world, run by electronics, Troy Homecoming reminds us of better days. Where people are friends in real life, and not on a computer or phone screen. Where sports are played outside under the big blue sky and not in front of a television. Where we get to hear truly talented musicians, not masked by synthesizers. The joyous activities of the weekend bring family, friends, neighbors and strangers together.
Read MoreTroy Homecoming, an Old Fashioned Community Festival
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This homecoming is not a high school dance (though you could dance to live music throughout the weekend). Rather, it is a century old, free, community festival held annually in southern Geauga County in Ohio. According to local historians, Troy Homecoming started in 1911 when the township celebrated its 100th birthday.
Read MorePreservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana. USA
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While in New Orleans, my traveling companions suggested going to Preservation Hall. I was rather elated about the notion and struggled to wait patiently for the treat.
Read MoreBelfast and Northern Ireland
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Northern Ireland is beautiful. I am a northerner and convinced that the further north you go, the prettier the world becomes. I had initially visited Belfast, Northern Ireland over a decade ago. At the time, there was still political strife and the air in Belfast was thick with tension. Fast forward 16 years, Belfast is renewed. People were out an about, walking the streets, shopping, mingling, exchanging welcoming glances. It is beautiful. My heart is glad for this city.
Read MoreScuba Diving near Okinawa, Japan
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Okinawa is known as the “Japanese Caribbean”. The seawater is clear blue and warm, ideal for scuba diving. We dove in Blue Cave, an underwater cave, as well as Kerama National Park.
Read MoreCigar Factory New Orleans in Louisiana, USA
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The diligence and skill of the folks rolling cigars at Cigar Factory New Orleans is captivating. They do not falter in their performance, even while being interrupted with admiration by observers. The warm, brown interior of the shop indicates years of producing and savoring a delectable leaf that has been enjoyed by countless people through history. The thick, spicy musk of unburnt tobacco mingles with the humidity of New Orleans and makes me smile.
Read MoreKnossos Palace on the Isle of Crete in Greece
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We flew into Heraklion on Crete, rented a car and drove a relatively short distance to the preserved historical site of Knossos. Sections are roped off for its protection, but you can still get an up-close look at the ancient ruins. Some of the ruins have been restored to give onlookers a vibrant notion of what Knossos looked like at its peak.
Read MoreHistoric Rauchbier (Smoke Beer) Brewery in Gorgeous Bamberg, Germany
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Bamberg, Germany is like a fairy tale. Gorgeous stone buildings are built flush against the Regnitz River. In the center of town is an old brewery that crafts smoked beer.
Read MoreScuba Diving on Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) in Cuba
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The water around Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) in Cuba is warm and the visibility is good for scuba diving. There is an oppresive atmosphere in Cuba, due to the their governing process, and the scuba gear is quite old and worn.
Read MoreRosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery on Algiers Point, Louisiana in the USA
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A short ferry ride from downtown New Orleans, across the Mississippi River will take you to Algiers Point. Algiers Point is refreshingly quiet and full of pleasant experiences, such as the Rosetree Blow Glass Studio and Gallery. The studio is housed in an old Art Deco movie house. You can watch the artists in action and even purchase a one-of-a-kind, hand-made glass item.
Read MoreDelicious Food in Krakow, Poland
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Krakow, I found, is amazingly rich in the history, architecture and culture I crave. Main Market Square on a Saturday night is alive with activity and food to tempt, even on a full stomach. Unparalleled street food, less tourists and more people from the countryside, are what you will find on a Saturday night in the Main Market Square.
Read MoreAuschwitz and Birkenau
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During my visit to Krakow, Poland I wanted to tour Auschwitz and Birkenau. I felt compelled to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, in order to remember and reinforce my awareness of the horror and inhumanity, the unfathomable capacity of humankind . . . lest we never forget. There are no words to describe the experience.
Read MoreScuba Diving from Sharm El Sheik in Egypt
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Scuba diving in warm, blue seawater with desert and sand dunes behind you. That is what you will find in Sharm El Sheik on the coast of the Red Sea.
Read MoreGo to Iceland to Walk in Lava Tubes
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Walk through lava tube caves, or volcanic veins, in Iceland. They will lead into volcanic chambers with stalagmites and stalactites. Watch out for sink holes.
Read MoreFlossenbürg in Germany
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Flossenbürg is a small town in eastern Bavaria near the Czech border. There is a small castle ruins here and the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp; where the remaining members of the Valkyrie plot to kill Hitler were executed just two weeks before the camp was liberated. One of these men was Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Read MoreBainbridge Swing Dance in Ohio
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The Bainbridge Swing Dance in northeast Ohio is a well-established dance that averages 180 people every first Friday of the month. New and seasoned dancers, from all generations, gather each month to hear a live band play Big Band, Swing, and/or Blues music. Attending the Bainbridge Swing Dance is like watching an old movie. It is, unquestionably and consistently, one of my favorite dances. The atmosphere is welcoming. No partner is required and there is an hour long dance lesson before the band begins.
Read MoreDublin, Ireland Ringing in the New Year
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Dublin, Ireland literally rings in the New Year. Church bells across the city ring throughout the day.
Read MoreChristmas in Crete
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We drove into Heraklion, from our apartment in Ligaria, just about every day of our trip to Crete. On Christmas Eve we toured the outdoor markets in Heraklion. The fish market was stocked with a variety of local catches. A little further, there was a young lady making Turkish coffee and giving it away as a gift to passersby. Crete was a treat.
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