Category: Travel

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Spain, Nov 2017 – Barcelona, Montserrat, Toledo and Madrid

Our first venture with a tour group – went very well. I was probably the youngest in the group.  Very good guide with guest speakers and guides on art, architecture, and politics.  We started in Barcelona, with a day trip to Montserrat. Then high-speed train to Madrid with a day trip to Toledo.

The highlights of Barcelona were the architecture and medieval/bohemian feel – and the political turmoil was evident and fascinating to be a part of.  Madrid was Paris-like cosmopolitan. Wonderful art museums and fine restaurants.

Montserrat was a beautiful day in the hills – Toledo a world heritage site with a fascinating sense of age and an interesting, ancient synagogue/church.

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Iceland, Summer 2016

During July 2016 I had the pleasure of traveling to Iceland. A beautiful and varied country. Mike, Kina, Robin and I drove the ring highway to see the sights. The first day out we drove a loop north and east of Reykjavik.  Lots of history, lakes, and waterfalls. Then we drove to the coast and traveled counterclockwise around the country.

Stunning scenery, friendly people – and all but one person we met spoke fluent English – a good thing as Icelantic is an extremely difficult language!  Great geology – from volcanic activity ( a rift zone crosses the country) to active glaciers.  The terrain went from barren rock (recent volcanic activity)  to lush fields fed by waterfalls and rivers to calving glaciers.

Lots of birds (yes, including puffins – but I did not really get a decent picture), one reindeer, many, many sheep, and gorgeous native horses.

We ended up in Reykjavik for a few days to see the city. Very clean and interesting. The entire country has a population of about 330,000 and 200,000 live in Reykjavik!

Food? Some interesting meals – yummy seafood (especially what they refer to as lobsters – langostinos) and delicious lamb. Throw in some reindeer meat, horse meat, various animal parts and you have an interesting culinary experience.

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Dominican Republic/Santa Domingo – Mar 2015

The AlphaGraphics Gold Circle trip during March 2015 was to the Dominican Republic.  We stayed at Paradisus Resort in Punta Cana.  It was very nice and very resort-like.  Nice beach. Great coffee.

The only day trip was to the old city area in Santa Domingo.  Long day, but worth seeing.  Well preserved/1500s!  Ancient by western standards – the oldest area in the Americas (non-native).  We visited Columbus House (his brother was the first Governor), the old cathedral, Columbus Lighthouse monument and wandered about the city a bit.

 

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Italy, Oct 2014 – Florence

Our stay in Florence – took the train from Rome, spent several days in the old city and a day in the Tuscan hills – bicycling and visiting wineries. Also took a bike trip through Florence one morning. Gorgeous city – like living in the 1500’s. Lots of churches, galleries, statues, great food, great wine, gelato, doors and amazing ceilings!

 

 

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Italy, October 2014 – Rome

A long flight to Rome made longer with a missed flight at JFK – got to Rome via Paris!  Lots of history – Forum area, layers of the old city (old Rome, medieval and “modern”), vestal virgins, Coliseum, Spanish Steps, Hadrians’ Tomb, Vatican, Pieta – lots of walking and great food!

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Saigon, Vietnam – November, 2012 (Day 10)

Walking tour of Saigon — cooking lesson — and head to the airport!  The War Remnant Museum was probably the site of the most anti-American propaganda we saw — my sense is that most Vietnamese recognize it as purely propaganda.