I’m in the process of putting together my “bucket” list for travel destinations and experiences, and will be posting it in a couple of days. A bucket list is a list of those must-do and must-see things that you want (or need) to accomplish before you die. The expression comes from the movie The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, where their two characters created a list of things that they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket. My travel bucket list is long, and every time I cross a few things off, it seems like I discover something new to add. Perhaps that doesn’t make it a true bucket list, but it’s my list and I get to call it what I like. One of the destinations that’s on my bucket list is Thailand. Best gal […]
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Pez Museum Puts Candy on Display
I enjoy museums, and try to get to one on a fairly frequent basis. Art, history, science, culture — it all has appeal to me. The the thirst for knowledge, information, or just seeing and experiencing something new is always a good time for me. And then there are other kinds of museums. The quirky ones, the ones with all sorts of odd collections and exhibits, the ones that you secretly want to check out even if everyone else laughs at you. The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia may very well fall into this latter category. Created by an Austrian candy executive in 1927, Pez is an abbreviation of the German word for peppermint (Pfefferminz), the original Pez flavor. Originally the candy was sold in small tins, and marketed as an adult mint for people who were trying to quit […]
Read MoreIsola Madre, the Largest of the Borromeo Islands
Lake Maggiore, with its low key atmosphere, has an extensive network of ferry service around and across the lake. In fact, ferries have landing stages in nearly every town along the lake, making it quite easy to get most places by boat. In addition to the traditional (and slower) ferry, there is also hydrofoil service. Not only is it a faster boat, but it has more direct service, rather than stopping at all the smaller towns. The boats generally operate between 7 am – 8 pm, with a reduced schedule in the winter. Fares can be found on a chart, and have a scale based on where you want to go. Hydrofoils have a small surcharge. Our first full day at the Lake, we struck out fairly early for the Borromeo Islands. The Borromeo’s are three islands located in the […]
Read MoreJulia Child’s Paris
During the holiday season it seems like I watch lots of movies. Whether it’s catching up on television, renting videos, or indulging in pay-per-view, it’s an enjoyable way to spend some lazy winter days. Assuming you like the movie, of course. I like a variety of movies, but the ones at the top of my list are those that give me a sense of time and place. Movies that make me want to be where the movie is, and sometimes even when the movie takes place. Earlier this week I watched Julie & Julia, a great movie, and one that made me long for a return trip to Paris soon. Julie & Julia was written and directed by Nora Ephron, and stars Meryl Streep as the famous chef Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell, a young, and somewhat […]
Read MoreParis Museum Pass Helps Save on Admission Fees
Since I’m a big museum buff, I knew that I’d be spending a lot of time visiting museums while I was in Paris. As part of my pre-departure research, I prepared a pretty long list of museums that I’d like to visit, and while I knew that I would only be able to see a fraction of those on the list, I quickly realized that admission fees were going to add up right quick. Further research turned up the Paris Museum Pass, a multi-day, multi-admission pass, that would save both time and money. Since time was at a premium while I was there, the saving time part grabbed my attention. Museums in Paris are notorious for long lines, and the ability to bypass the line for immediate admission meant the potential for a big time saver. With only five days, […]
Read MoreMexico’s Alternative to Halloween – Dia de Muertos
I’m not a big fan of Halloween. It’s not for any particular religious or cultural reason, I just don’t like dressing up in costumes and begging for candy. OK, as adults that’s not exactly how we celebrate Halloween, but I don’t particularly care for the adult version of the holiday either. But, this is a great time to be in Mexico, as they prepare for the Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead celebration, an extended holiday time that covers Young Souls Day (October 31st), All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). The celebration of the holiday varies within the country, but the observation of the Day of the Dead goes back to pre-Hispanic Mexico – back to the time of the Aztecs, Mayans, and other indigenous peoples of Mexico. The belief behind the celebration […]
Read More25 Things I Love About Italy
Italy has become an annual event for me. I fell in love the very first moment that I came up from the metro station and saw the Coliseum in front of me. Since then, no matter when in the country I am, or what I may be looking at, I still have that sense of wonderment. In no particular order, here are some of the things that I’ve come to love about Italy, and why I’m looking forward to a return trip next year. Sunflowers Gelato – at least twice a day Lake Maggiore Isola Madre Isola Bella (and yes, I know it’s gaudy and over-the-top) Latte de Luna (with wild mushroom soup that’s to-die-for) Brunello wine Giuseppe and La Montalla Florence (so much beautiful art) Trevi Fountain in Rome (I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return) […]
Read More10 Reasons I Want to Visit Barbados
I’m trying to come up with a warm weather vacation spot for this fall. Since it’s been awhile since I’ve been to the Caribbean, I thought this might be a good time to plan a return trip. Barbados, an island that I’ve not yet visited, is looming at the top of a pretty short list. Here are 10 reasons why I think visiting Barbados may be a good choice for me: I haven’t been there before, and visiting a new country takes me a step closer to the Century Club. It’s a small island, only about 14 by 21 miles, with over 70 miles of powdery, white sand beaches. Plenty of great spots to pull up a lounge chair and spend some quality time. Sun year round. Over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, in fact. And that means year […]
Read MoreWhat to do When you Can't Find a Hotel in Paris
When I headed off to Paris a couple months ago, it was a bit of a last minute trip. I had been wanting to make the trip for quite some time, but had to make some changes to the actual travel dates at the last minute. You can make things work at the last minute, so if you find yourself in this position, don’t abandon your plans, just dig in and make it work. When I set my travel dates, I set them around my schedule, and didn’t pay attention to what was going on in Paris. It turned out that the Rugby World Cup was being held during the time I planned to be there. The downside of that was that all the moderately priced hotels were booked up. In fact, I couldn’t find hotel availability at all, even […]
Read MoreVisit Some Avian Friends at the World Parrot Refuge
Polly want a cracker? At the World Parrot Refuge on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, winged residents get lots more than a mere cracker. This non-profit, educational facility operated by FLOPRS (“For the Love of Parrots Refuge Society”) provides a “Home for Life” for previously owned pet parrots. Parrots have a very long life span, so it is very likely that they will have a need for more than one owner over their lifetime. Many parrot owners fail to foresee or plan for this, making it increasingly common to have parrots turn up in shelters. The Refuge is a home for life for these parrots, and it does not adopt out. The estimated cost to care for a parrot in a good quality sanctuary is approximately $10/week. This amount covers a healthy diet, shelter, warmth, light, safety, free-flight enclosures, and skilled […]
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