The Alsace Region, nestled between Switzerland and Germany and the Vosges Mountains in France, is known for its aromatic white wines and charming villages. I visited the southern part of Alsace, known as Haute-Rhin, or Upper Rhine, on a recent trip that originated in Geneva. Since it was only a 3-hour drive from Geneva it … Continue reading
Trip insurance was not something I ever thought about. My husband and I weren’t old, didn’t have health problems and couldn’t see the need for the extra expense. We generally travel independently, eschewing tours, cruises and guides. Why would we need trip insurance? The First Time Somehow, as time passed, we weren’t so young anymore. … Continue reading
The Judd Trail to Manoa or Tantalus via the Nu’uanu Trail is an energetic 5-10 mile hike (depending on which trail you take on the second half) in Honolulu, Hawaii that starts in Nu’uanu near on the Old Pali Highway and ascends up a high ridge to Tantalus and down to Manoa Falls. The trails … Continue reading
Even adventurers sometimes need a relaxing vacation and for my husband and me there’s nothing more rejuvenating than a Hawaii beach vacation with a couple of day hikes thrown in. O’ahu is our favorite island because the best beaches in the islands are here, there are lots of great restaurants in every price range, entertainment … Continue reading
How to capture in words the experiences of a lifetime of tenderness, harsh lessons, heartache and joy on a Western Australia farm? Our two months there last year were the barest introduction to the ups and downs of farming life in the shadow of the craggy Stirling Range that anchors the flat fields to this … Continue reading
The Presidio of San Francisco, which in my youth was just a pretty, mostly off-limits place that we drove through to get to the Golden Gate Bridge, is being transformed into a first class destination, an oasis of green that is steeped in history. After 15 years of often rancorous discussion and community decision-making the … Continue reading
The best way to describe the harvest is that it was “the harvest that wouldn’t end”. Would it never end? That was the recurring question—the topic that came up in the Big House, the grocery store, the pub and any social gathering. “How long are you going to be here?” was the question our new … Continue reading
After lounging like Komodo Dragons in the tropical sun of Bali, we encountered a sudden change in pace, weather, well everything, when we landed in Perth. Before we get to that, can I just say how jealous I am that Perthites (otherwise known as sandgropers[?]) can reach Bali in 3 short hours? That’s 2 hours … Continue reading
It may be obvious from the vast amount of time between postings, but my best laid plans to post regularly have gone by the wayside. This is both good and bad. The good news is that once we got on a roll I simply didn’t have time to compose a readable note, though Twitter was … Continue reading
Hong Kong is such a small island but boasts an endless number and variety of world class restaurants, and every kind of eatery you can imagine, from bakeries to dim sum to international cuisine. There’s also a lot to do, and not all of it involves shopping, though there are plenty of opportunities for that … Continue reading
