Tag: travel
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What Was I Thinking? The Camino de Santiago
“What else do we have to do with our time?” I responded when Reg expressed his disbelief. Having just watched the Martin Sheen movie The Way, I was fascinated with the idea of walking The Camino de Santiago. Why? That's a tough question…or maybe it's really quite simple. Life is short. More and more…
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My life’s next step: Camino de Santiago
As I begin walking the Way of St. James, I am humbled by the millions who for centuries have trekked before me. Life's path can be too linear. Although the Camino de Santiago is a defined trail, I look forward to the detours. The Camino experience brings me to Asian philosophy. “Tao” in Taoism…
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One Foot In Front Of The Other: The Camino de Santiago
We knew if we were going to make this happen, we'd first need to put some serious miles on our hiking shoes. Living where we do, we're lucky to have places to train that include breathtaking scenery. We got down to business the day after Christmas, putting our rain gear to the test, as the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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