Wednesday Sept. 9, I first noted smoke as part of our day. We continued to spend time outdoors as we learned about the AQI (air quality index) and began following it as closely as we do Covid-19 stats. We tried to go out at first, but the air was yellowish with smoke. Oregon’s terribly destructiveContinue reading “A smoke-shortened month”
Category Archives: Paula
About Aruba
We don’t consider ourselves to be on vacation, but we had a wonderful two weeks of vacation in Aruba–it’s too hot to call it anything else. Here’s my advice based on our visit. Airbnb We rented a house in Savaneta that was quirky but worked well for us. I didn’t think a pool was veryContinue reading “About Aruba”
Snorkeling in Aruba
Our Airbnb house had snorkeling equipment and I found enough to fit, though Jonathan found that his knees don’t much like snorkeling any more. We went snorkeling at Rodgers Beach, in sight of the former refinery, and saw many small fish. We found even better underwater terrain right by our house at Savaneta beach. TheContinue reading “Snorkeling in Aruba”
Beyond the beach in Aruba
When we arrived, I thought we might spend two weeks making our way from beach to beach around the island of Aruba. We have been happily distracted along the way. My sister Paula and her guy Wayne are with us and wanted to see the California Lighthouse at the north end of Aruba. The lighthouseContinue reading “Beyond the beach in Aruba”
Aruba’s Beaches
Aruba is justifiably known for its white sand beaches and turquoise water. Directly across the road from our house is Savaneta beach. Sections of white sand beach are punctuated by small stands of mangrove. Snorkeling takes you into clouds of minnows and the occasional foursome of little squid. From here we skipped over the hugeContinue reading “Aruba’s Beaches”
Aruba, The A in A, B, C Islands
I’d never heard of the A, B, C islands and like people of a certain age, when I looked at the map I saw that west to east, the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire are not in ABC order…. People who visit these Caribbean islands have their favorites. Some prefer Aruba for the wellContinue reading “Aruba, The A in A, B, C Islands”
Harry Clarke, stained glass superstar
Harry Clarke isn’t a name well known outside the world of stained glass, though he should be. An Irish artist who died at age 42 (in 1931), at the time of his death he had completed 40 commissions, including one in Dingle for the convent of the Presentation Sisters. In the 1990s, the order decidedContinue reading “Harry Clarke, stained glass superstar”
Summer came on Monday–at Great Blasket Island
The boatman made the quip as we left, “Tell them this year summer came on Monday!” That’s because the weather is never forecast to be as fine as it was on our trip out to Great Blasket Island last Monday. The sun shone all day long. The boat ride from Dunquin to Great Blasket wasContinue reading “Summer came on Monday–at Great Blasket Island”
Jonathan takes the Prize–at Féile an Phráta
Months before we arrived in Dingle, Jonathan read about a local potato festival and decided that he wanted to participate. He emailed the organizers, sharpened his potato peeling knife, and marked the date. It wasn’t as easy as jumping in the car, because all the publicity for the festival was in Irish. Diligent work withContinue reading “Jonathan takes the Prize–at Féile an Phráta”
An Epic Day: Star Wars and Puffins in the Skellig Islands
Had my sister Paula not read in her guide book about an offshore rock group with an ancient monastery at the top, we might never have visited the Skellig Islands. We considered hiking to the top of the 600+ steps to see the domed stone cells that may date back to 600 AD. If thatContinue reading “An Epic Day: Star Wars and Puffins in the Skellig Islands”
