See Me Now

       Although this space has served as my travel blog, I’ve decided to post an occasional non-travel entry because, well, it’s my blog and I can do what I want to. I don’t know how frequently this will occur – probably not very, as I will post only those writings that I feel are fit to print / fit to read. Here’s my inaugural non-travel entry – enjoy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few years ago, I made a resolution to not get upset when my birthday comes and goes with little notice. Still, it’s hard not to feel a little bereft when the only mention of this year’s birthday comes from the Honda dealership where I recently bought a new CRV after my last one was totaled. Folsom Lake Honda sent me a happy birthday email message festooned with bright balloons. In it, they encouraged me to print the email and bring it in to the service manager who would give me a free ice crea...

             Although I wanted to have one more travel experience before settling in for winter, I wanted it to be low stress and uncomplicated. As luck (or internet shenanigans) would have it, an email from REI Adventures landed in my inbox at just the right time. A women-only   three-night four-day cycling excursion caught my eye, but I soon realized those three nights would be . . . . camping, sleeping on the ground, in tents, with sketchy bathrooms, flashlights required, and all that. Hmmmmm. I hadn’t been camping in 30, maybe 35 years. On the plus side, we wouldn’t be carrying gear on the bikes. We’d have two guides, one of whom would drive a van with gear, tents, sleeping pads, and whatnot. Also, the guides would procure and prepare all the meals, so this would be camping ‘lite’ for sure. But still – sleeping on the ground! Oof! In the end I was won over by the assurance that this particular trip featured   “elevated food and wi...

 Spotty internet while traveling meant I couldn't upload all the video clips I tried to.  So here are links to some now posted to you tube. I've got a few more to post but apparently, you tube limits how many at one time.   Enjoy! Ashford Castle in Cong West Ireland Coast Connemara Wind Galway Buske r Guinness - mid pour Marseille Apartment View Les Halles market panorama Les Halles fish vendor Fontaine de Vaucluse Ducks at Hotel du Poete

Our return trip threatened to undo the well-being we had achieved on vacation, but we arrived home in good spirits. The train to Marseille airport, COVID tests, and night at the Best Western all went according to plan.   But our flight from Marseille to Amsterdam was delayed over an hour; after an attempted mad dash (during which we ran mistakenly through forbidden doors and ended up outside the secure area without having gone through passport control), we missed our connecting flight. Damn! Delta re-booked us on an alternate route -- but on the following day.   I’ve been a fan of Delta airlines since 2018 when they so kindly handled re-bookings and refunds after a family death disrupted my travel plans. I remain a fan. For this situation, Delta gave us vouchers for food at the Schiphol airport, and for a night + dinner and breakfast at the nearby Hilton hotel.   Although we didn’t love the delay, it worked out in a good way. For starters, the Hilton was ups...