I love living in the bow of the ship. It has its drawbacks for sure. Every seasoned cruiser will advise against choosing a cabin in the bow, arguing that low and center is preferable for optimal stability. And to prove that theory, our first four days of this journey were spent relentlessly rocking and rolling…
Continue reading →Packing to live somewhere else for 6 months feels a bit like moving. When I travel, I always have the best intentions to pack a simple, capsule wardrobe with basic necessities. In fact, I tend to pride myself on efficiency in packing, finding multi-purpose in items, and knowing I can always do laundry to save…
Continue reading →I cannot deny it. I am a mountain girl. Not the kind who believes that shaving in winter is a waste of time and warmth, or thinks that a pair of black thermal leggings are formal wear, and not quite like Carolyn “Mountain Girl” Garcia, former Merry Prankster and Grateful Deadhead. But ever since our family…
Continue reading →When we returned to the ship in the afterglow of our lovely day in Trapani, Sicily, gazing one last time at the city from our veranda, we curiously noticed the approach of a large boat arriving at the port next to us. It was filled, standing shoulder to shoulder, with black skinned people, some in…
Continue reading →I worked as a designer at Hallmark Cards during a charmed time, when the company was the social expression leader of the world, the country’s economy was flush, Hallmark was at the top of their game, and the company spared no expense to extract the best out of their broad artistic staff, searching the world…
Continue reading →We are packed…finally. Ready to leave for Copenhagen, the starting point for our cruise up the west coast of Norway, which has always held a special place in my heart. Norway is the homeland of my father’s ancestors. As young college coeds touring a summer in Europe, my sister and I were hosted on a…
Continue reading →There is all kinds of advice out there about what to pack when you travel, and I am not suggesting that my way is the right way….it’s just mine. Everyone has their favorite shirt/dress/sweater/jacket/accessory that they just cannot leave home without. But, here are a few of my pared down tried-and-true items that go with…
Continue reading →My travel bucket list has mostly included places that are foreign, exotic, distant, unfamiliar. Places that have names I cannot pronounce or languages I do not speak. But, curiously, in our cruising experiences, we have met fellow passengers from all over the globe, some from those very places I find so alluring, and many of…
Continue reading →“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” ~Mary Anne Radmacher A lot has been written about the value of travel. That it is the great practical learning experience that will change your life. That you will discover yourself, expand your awareness, build self-confidence, see the…
Continue reading →“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”, the daughter of my friend advised her, as she was choosing a travel destination. And, as Dean and I are about to embark on another cruise, I am feeling a bit out of my comfort zone. To fill in some of the cancelled itinerary of our…
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