Wonderful to be back at the beach! Any beach! I was itching to see what our shore is like, though we arrived late in the day at our latest Airbnb and had to unpack just a little. By then it was dark. We can see birds from our deck and hear them all around ourContinue reading “We step onto Virginia Beach”
Category Archives: USA
Two Suitcases Again!
We’ve managed to get around our self-imposed two suitcase limit since we returned from Hawaii last fall (when you fly, you really need to keep your luggage to one checked bag). When we went to Peru in November, we had things we needed to move there, and when we returned in February, we were tryingContinue reading “Two Suitcases Again!”
Mardi Gras? In Chicago, it’s Paczki Day!
I knew nothing of Paczki until we moved to the Chicago area years ago. For those who haven’t heard of them, think: filled donuts. Originally a Polish specialty, paczki are now deeply Chicagoan. Available all year round at certain bakeries, their big day is Mardi Gras, when everyone with or without Christian heritage can haveContinue reading “Mardi Gras? In Chicago, it’s Paczki Day!”
Back in the USA
I am among the world’s most fortunate people. I can travel, though if I want to, I can stay home. I am warm, dry, and fed. My life is not threatened. I am retired and on a fixed income, but I have more than enough. As I was about to embark on this post, focusingContinue reading “Back in the USA”
Best laid plans are hard to follow
We did pretty well when you take in the big picture, but on our final Sunday night in Peru, we both were about to have our heads explode. Too many loose ends needed tying up and we were running out of time. Most of our luggage was packed, but we still didn’t know whether weContinue reading “Best laid plans are hard to follow”
November gets cold
There were a few beautiful days at the beginning of November when every day’s walk was gorgeous. Springbrook, Herrick Lake, and Greene Valley forest preserves have been our regular stops. Whether it’s midday or sunset, we always find something beautiful or interesting or both. We saw a bald eagle at Greene Valley, then chatted withContinue reading “November gets cold”
October’s Bright Blue Weather
My title is from a poem I had to memorize in grade school, and it still comes into my mind almost every year when the light slants sharply in the late afternoon, and the trees change color. The month of October sped by. It’s always a month of transition, when we return to the USContinue reading “October’s Bright Blue Weather”
So Much Hawaii, So Little Time!
I have written more about Hawaii than any place we’ve visited in quite a while. Part of the reason is because we had visitors (after a year!) and went to see many different things. It also turns out that I like the Big Island very much. The weather was perfect, 75 degrees F with breezeContinue reading “So Much Hawaii, So Little Time!”
Historic Hawaii
Hawaii is known for beach vacations, surfing, leis, and mai-tais. There is a lot of interesting history here, too, and we had a chance to explore some of it during our visit. We started just down the hill from our house, at the birthplace of King Kamehameha (Kamehameha l or the Great). It’s the bannerContinue reading “Historic Hawaii”
Snorkeling with Manta Rays
I’ve talked about beaches and snorkeling, the volcano, the botanical garden, and other activities we enjoyed. We owe some of the fun to the suggestions and planning by our visitors. Lyra’s research found Kona Style, a company that offers a sunset boat ride followed by watching manta rays feed in the dark. The opening photoContinue reading “Snorkeling with Manta Rays”
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