Author: carryoncouple.com

  • The journey begins: Camino de Santiago

    Camino Frances: The Way of St. James Last summer, Sue and I watched The Way, starring Martin Sheen. The film follows Sheen's character on his nearly 500-mile pilgrimage across Spain to Santiago. His backpacking odyssey was meant to honor his son (played by his real-life son Emilio Estevez), who had died in the Pyrenees Mountains…

  • If You Are in the Neighborhood: Going Up in Yosemite

    A series of posts from our travels. The next time you are enjoying a spring or early summer day in California's Yosemite Valley, the Four-Mile Trail is a great way to get to the high country while experiencing views of the park and its waterfalls that change as you turn every corner. The trail begins…

  • If You Are in the Neighborhood: Glens of Scotland

    A series of posts from our travels. Ah, Scotland! Indeed, it is a magical place in so many ways. After a year living there and two return trips, Scotland has a special place in our hearts. We are drawn by great friends as well as the good times and many laughs we always share with…

  • If You Are in the Neighborhood: Bon apéttit!

    A series of posts from our travels. Would you eat grilled centipedes? How about haggis? Would you wash down your meal with some wine fermented in a bottle with three poisonous snakes? For me, the answer to the first two questions was “no.” When walking along an outdoor food court in Beijing, some Chinese men…

  • If You Are in the Neighborhood: Ancient Beijing

    A series of posts from our travels. Beijing is a sprawling city marked by rapid modernization that has led to the leveling of many ancient courtyard homes (siheyuan) and narrow alleyways (hutongs). The destruction and resulting displacement of people has been controversial and there is an effort to preserve and renovate homes in areas near…

  • Pompeii mystery solved!

    What “lurked” behind the artifact in Pompeii? Yes, it was a dog, as a friend in Scotland wrote. Dogs have quite a history in Pompeii and still inhabit the city. They seem at home despite the parade of visitors wandering the ruins. I had not seen the signs warning about the dogs and nearly stepped…

  • A Floating Icon

    I snapped this photo as we wandered alongside the canals of Venice, not realizing the history that surrounds this one-of-a-kind shopping venue. After a little online research, I believe it is known as The Vegetable Boat at Campo San Barnaba.       A little while later, I couldn't pass up this red hot photo-op……

  • Surprise lurks behind ancient artifact in Pompeii

    We went on our recent adventure to Italy without a roadmap of expectations and were pleasantly surprised by our discoveries most of the time. In this case, I should have read the warning signs. Can you guess what living thing I have found in this photo taken in Pompeii?  

  • The Ziplock Method

    As we checked out of our San Baronto apartment this morning, our host commented (again) on our lack of luggage. She couldn't believe that we each brought just one piece of luggage for a three-week trip. With a roll of her eyes, she described the “other American couple” who had checked in three days after…