The Charles Bridge, Prague CZ

The Charles Bridge is an ancient access to the city. It links the castle area to old town. We walked it both in the daytime and at night. The views are very different. The photo above is one of the many sculptures along the bridge that tell of Prague's history. They are wonderful. If you want to know who took this photo, note the man at lower right. It was not him.

 

Court of the Lions. The Alhambra, Granada Spain

A number of years ago, when I was in Grad School, my in-laws returned from Spain and brought me a book by Washington Irving titled "Tales of  the Alhambra". Irving had spent a good block of time there. When you are done with the book you have learned a great deal about the Alhambra, its history, and the lovely gardens. It became part of the bucket list and we went out of our way on a road trip of Spain to make a visit. It was worth it. But having read the book made it feel like it was a second visit. If you read Dan Brown's "The Di Vinci Code" and go to Paris or read his "Secret of Secrets" and go to Prague it makes a difference. Even if you read them when home it puts flesh on the bones. I remember reading "City of Falling Angels" and it made a priority for me to visit the opera house in Venice. I would not otherwise seen La Fenice, and was glad I read it the book.

 

Neuschwanstein - just a little cabin in the woods

If you find yourself in Munich you will be fairly close to Neuschwanstein the famous castle that some say was the model for the castle in Disneyland. If it were in Disneyland people would only visit once. In the heart of Bavaria it is the project of a man with too much money. It is worth the trip. It is the destination of a bus which leaves from the Munich Train Terminal. Once there you realize that it on top of a very high hill (I'd say mountain but not one compared to the Alps).  You can ride in a horse drawn cart, ride an overstuffed bus, or walk to get to the top. The bus is the better of the three. Now, you get to the top and you want to take a tour of the castle. Fine. There  are hundreds of steps inside. Because I am lucky to walk, I waited while my wife went in. We have had a long marriage where she climbed things or went somewhere and I waited at the bottom.

        When done you can take the bus which goes better down hill or you can do what we did and that is hike down. Remarkably it is as far down as up.
 

Angels in hiking bootd

 

 I have often talked about the fact that we do not worry about getting lost. We do get lost often, but our experiences have been good. We were on a walk in Seville. There are wonderful parks and interesting places. But as it was getting late we wanted to get back to the center of the tourist area so we might take the tram back to or hotel. First off we came to this (we think) beautiful structure. We found amazing. While looking  around we saw a likely helper and asked how to get where we wanted to go using mostly our hands to communicate. Surprisingly he was an American Expat living in Spain. He said  follow me. Around corners through narrow passages and streets away we went to our desired destination. Very grateful to our guide.

Venice Italy

 

This was taken from our hotel window. It shows some of what Venice looks like.

We enjoyed long walks after the tourists went back to their ships.

It is quiet even romantic. The thing that strikes you is the vast number of visitors in Venice and the burden it places on space. They have issued day passes to help but when we were there the crowds during the day were large.

Hint: great little cafe in the Ghetto.

Cheetah Reserve, South Africa

The Cheetah is related to the Leopard. It is smaller but one of the fastest land animals. It is built for speed and for capturing its prey.

Beautiful, they're not something I would try to outrun.

Then again, I cannot outrun most animals. 

 

Union Square San Francisco

            We live within the Great California Valley, but we are close to Yosemite and San Francisco. SF is known as "The City" around here and we go in several times a year. We volunteered in China Town, ran the Bay to Breakers, gone shopping, walked the Goldengate Bridge, visited many world-class museums and so much more there. Due to the high cost of housing, it is great to visit taking rapid transit and living in the valley.
 

Choosing an Airline

Air France at SFO

            We are frequent flyers on Air France and Alaska Airlines. We have flown many others. One outstanding airline that we only flew once was South African.

            The flight may not be the deciding factor for you, but a good flight helps make it a good trip. We have flown long haul from San Francisco on several  carriers and Air France stands out for us.  Some of the others were fine, one or two made a 12 hour flight seem  like a 12 day flight. Because of where you are going, sometimes you do not get a choice. We are fortunate in that we often choose carrier over price.  One surprise was flying Jet Blue across the U.S. It was both lower cost and an excellent flight. Ask your friends.  Look at reviews. Study their website. Choose your carrier.   For example, I did not expect much from Virgin to London and was pleasantly surprised. I also have been disappointed in Delta. Maybe one flight is not enough to judge, but it is for me.

 

Let's say that you wish to "Pop-in" for a wee bit of Scotch

You will have the choice of thousands of bottles in Edinburgh.

            You just don't walk to  the Scotch Museum. You must prepare:

1) Are you sure that is where you want to go? 2) Have you researched it on the Web? 3) Have you found your passport with more than six-months until it expires? 4) Having decided on a date buy plane tickets. 5) Call your credit card and tell them that you are going. 6) Call your cell-phone provider and asked about your phone. You my need a different sim card. 7 How are you getting to the airport and back? 7) Plan on how much cash to get at the airport ATM in Pounds. 8) If there is any chance at all, Get travel insurance (Your credit card may do this for expenses charged on it. 9) You do not need a VISA or shots to get into Scotland. 10) Print your itinerary and give it to neighbors and relatives. 11) You will not need a car, but if you want to go someplace else you need to rent it. 12) Carry Wet Ones to clean your seat hands and seat belt. See you when you get home

Lighthouse on the Oregon USA coast

You may not make them out, but there are people in the light

getting a view of the Pacific Ocean.

 

CABS

        We often take cabs in Europe. It is an easy way for us. For example it costs 15 Euros per person to take a cab from CDG into Paris and the driver handles the luggage. The photo above is a gussied up Black Cab in London. We would probably not take it as it it not traditional.

        Let's look at two of the many cab rides I have had. In Rome we were late for a meeting at the Vatican. The trip alone would give you religion. It was like an uncontrolled Disneyland ride. Obviously we made it.  In Vienna I had hurt my back and my leg hurt too bad to walk so I left the group and took a cab. The driver was to take me back to the wharf but there are many one way streets. I knew he was lost as I saw most of Vienna. He slowed and alas there was the wharf. I should have more faith. In Paris we were on northside and needed to get toward the river. I asked the cabby if he could go over Montmartre to get a view of the city. He did not charge us for it and enjoyed the view and much as we did.

    I am sure some folks like Uber of Lyft. We will take cabs.

Vienna: Art and Music

        When you live in the Artic you may not feel the cold as much. When you are in Mississippi you may think everyone talks that way.

        In Vienna a visitor is struck by the art and music which the locals likely hardly notice any more. Certainly they must take pride in it.  This photo is of a street corner outside a public building. It is just an example of the art everywhere. We went to a concert and on the same night there were others to choose from. Art and music seem to be everywhere.

        Vienna is a beautiful city with warm people.

 

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

The Pope came and declared the cathedral finished.

When we were there, it was awe inspiring.

But it will likely never be "done".

My photo here is looking through the nave to the chancel.

The gold round in the lower middle is Christ on the Cross over the altar. 

Granada Spain

This photo was taken in the Alhambra above Granada Spain.  It was a long-time goal. Later in the day we were visiting places in the city. Granada is a place visitors ought to go if they have time. We had three days.

While walking along I spied a shirt in the window of a man's shop.

I decided that I had to have it.

Inside the clerks let me try on various sizes. Something unlikely at home.

I was taking my time and realized that the clerks were pressuring me to hurry.

It seemed a little rude.

When I finally purchase the shirt they hurried us out and locked the door.

They were not being rude - I was.

It was Siesta and time for their break.

I ought to have remembered that I was in Spain.

 

Excuse Me Do You Know The Way To Zambia?

When the herd heard me they tuned to see who was taking their photo. Just me in a South African reserve. It is almost time for the great zebra migration.    
 

Not meant to be souvenirs

Photo has nothing to do with text. I just like it.

            We are not big shoppers on our trips. We do not come for objects to remember places by. It just sometimes happens. I put the paper coasters from drinks in my pocket and have a large number of them. They cost nothing and were just a part of a meal. In France each of our Airbnbs were furnished with everything but pepper. We have two small containers of it in the cupboard here at home. I have two boxes of OTC medicines I got in Slovakia but I cannot read the writing and I am not sure what they are for. We did buy a pretty wineglass in Murano but it is hardly used. As I walk around our house looking for things we brought back from overseas it appears that has been brought back is mostly great memories.

 

Ireland road sign

On a cliff near Dingle they express that they want you back.

Lying-man island in the rear.

 

Every village is a new adventure

We often rent a car and do a road trip.

No need to do it along the Danube.

This is the tower of a small church near the river.

The blue church (St. Elizabeth) of Bratislava, Slovakia

 

You should have gone to Benny's

So, you come home from a trip of a lifetime. You are sharing

some of your adventures in Spain. You visited four cities in a month on your trip. 

Someone who spent a day in each city says:

"But, did you eat at Benny's in the Plaza"

like you wasted your time because you missed "the best

salad I have ever had."

Murder is a crime in Spain as it is in the U.S. Don't do it.

Some more things to bring along that may help

Over Greenland which is white - Iceland is usually closer to green.

        There are a few more items to pack in my opinion: small Swiss Army knife: mine have always been the smallest that a finger nail file, a knife and scissors (wife carries a nail clipper). Just remember that the knife stays in you checked luggage. It carry it on it will disappear. (I am on my third.)  Plus I take a small roll of duct tape. It fixes everything from a ripped  suitcase to a loose hem. Next are three things for the plane: gum (take off and landing), ginger candy (if you get the least bit airsick (On Alaska they serve ginger ale.) and a small package of Wet Ones (Walgreens sell small packs) you use them to clean your set, tray and seatbelt because the plane service rarely clean them. The load above is smaller than a large candy bar - which are free to take if you choose,