Our last day in Germany brought us to Munich, from where we were scheduled to fly to Southern France the following morning. Once we arrived at the train station and secured our luggage in a locker, we were headed towards downtown. A wide pedestrian walkway right across from […]
The day we visited the castles of Mad King Ludwig, we also stopped in Oberammergau. This small Bavarian town looks like it comes straight from the pages of a fairytale book. Oberammergau is surrounded by mountains, green forests and meadows. The day we were there […]
There is nothing like a bowl of soup, especially the Vietnamese noodle soup “Pho”. The dish is generally served with a meat based broth and meat. However, vegetarian pho is becoming more common these days. There is a popular Vietnamese restaurant near my house. They serve a great […]
Our recent trip also took us to Germany, where my sister and brother-in-law not only were the most wonderful hosts imaginable, but also took us to see some of Bavaria’s beautiful sights. One day, we drove through parts of the Bavarian Alps, along the road which lead […]
We had been traveling for just about three weeks by the time we arrived in Oloron St. Marie. This small town, located in the foothills of the Pyrenées Mountains, had been on our radar from the beginning. It’s an out of the way, quiet, not much happening […]
We just got back from a trip to Europe. One of the highlights for me was, spending a few days in Brussels, where, as a teenager, I spent a year studying French and exploring this vibrant city. Our hotel was right smack in the center […]
I love beets! Red, golden, white and the candy cane striped Chioggia ones. Beets are delicious cooked, roasted and even raw. Here are some ideas for some different salads! Golden Beet Salad 6 to 8 medium sized golden beets 1 to 2 teaspoons toasted sesame […]
On our trip to Bali, we arranged to have a five day lay-over in Seoul, South Korea. Coming all this way, we figured we might as well see a bit of Seoul, a place we hadn’t visited before. In addition, adjusting to the time difference […]
I am sure glad we didn’t wait to have our friends over to watch a Portland Trailblazers playoff game. I made pizza, from scratch, for the occasion and we had some special release IPA from Hood River, Oregon. The Blazers lost the game, and therefore did not […]
One of the most enchanting encounters in recent memory occurred at a “one month baby celebration”. My friend’s new baby was being welcomed by family and friends. While sitting on a couch in a quiet corner, this little girl came over and took a liking […]
When all else fails, “Calpe Diem”! We arrived tired, sweaty and hot after a long trip by train, tram and bus. But somehow, it was not meant to be. We had been offered to stay at a friend’s small apartment in this town. The rules […]
This poem was inspired by one of the many hikes and explorations of Northern California my friend Greer and I have enjoyed over the years. Point Reyes is a spectacular place to go hiking. They also have a very affordable hostel, which costs a fraction of […]
Music: alternative bossa nova classical dance electronic funk guitar hip hop instrumental jazz karaoke latin metal new age opera punk rock qawwali reggae soundtrack tango urban folk vallenato world xoomii yodeling zydeco So many choices! How could I choose only three songs? However, I do […]
On our Bali trip last spring, we realized upon arriving, that the room we had booked ahead in Ubud, was not quite what we had envisioned. The location was perfect, the price was right ( $10.00 per night including breakfast for 2! ), and the host […]
Mangos are my absolutely favorite fruit! I could eat them every day. The tastiest ones I’ve had are the Kent and the Champagne varieties. When perfectly ripe, both are sweet and without stringy fibers. They feel silk-soft and velvety on my tongue. Last weekend, I […]
Not far from where I live, is a nature park. Beautiful hiking trails wind through white oak meadows, mixed deciduous forests and dark evergreen woods. The park is generally empty, except on weekends. We’ve seen deer, birds of prey, owls, pileated woodpeckers, songbirds and lots […]
I was quite surprised yesterday to have been nominated by https://vagabonvelda.wordpress.com/blog/ for the Liebster Award. I accepted her nomination, and while I was trying to figure out how to complete the requirements for this, I received two more nominations for this award. These nominations came by way of https://thesething.wordpress.com/home-3/ […]
Never been a gambler. However, when it comes to playing boardgames, I’m on board. No pun intended! A few years ago I took a Photoshop class at a local college. Once I got the hang of all the nifty things one can do with this […]
in cahoots with muddy boots 