Hundred of thousands protest Mr. Trump - Scots were way ahead

On one of our trips to Scotland in 2018 and Mr. Trumps first term we encountered a good deal of interest and hostility for him. The Scotsman newspaper of Edinburgh contained an editorial mocking him and mocking us for having elected him. The Scots were interested in our politics and how we felt.

I was left with nothing to say.

 

With eyes to see

I have posted some 3,000 photos here. Some were good and some just a poor reminder of a wonderful experience. There are some that I have posted more than once to make a point. All of them remind me of another time and another place. We have traveled a good bit, but we always come home. There is nothing like walking in to the "brand new" house we have called home for 35 years. The place feels familiar and has the feel of belonging. When we have been gone for a month or three weeks we can organize our lives again around the every day. The every day has something going for it.

This photo is of the central valley of California (USA) were we live. We have both called it home for over 65 years. It can be foggy or terribly hot. It can also be just right. There are mountains on both sides and the Pacific Ocean is a hour or so away. This valley is the most productive in the world. It is not any of these things that makes us want to come back. Our reason is that it is home.

 

Evening in Wenceslas Square, Prague CZ

Lovely evening in the square where the Velvet Revolution occurred in 1989. 

 

Neuschwanstein and more

Top view is of the castle from a vantage that calls for a hike.

The bottom photo  is of the gift shop at the base of the hill where some folks get their view.

 

Bolzano Italy -Iceman

This is a street scene from Bolzano Italy.

 It was take a few yards from the museum which holds the body of Otzi.

A man of the Ice Age his body was frozen and then discovered in 1991.

The museum is very interesting as is the story.

However, the way Otzi is displayed does not allow for good photos.

I suggest you log on to iceman.it.

By the way, Bolzano is a lovely city.

 

There are many reasons not to travel

        This unsavory character on the train platform in Italy could be a criminal. No one wants to get mugged. That is just one reasons not to travel.

          We are about ready to leave on a trip to Costa Rica. Someone reminded us that just recently a boy had died of food poisoning there. We are going to risk it.

         Paris has pickpockets. I encountered one. Rome has fast drivers.  We rode with one. The mountain roads of Austria are dangerous. We spent ten days in a car driving there.  In London ...

        Okay. There are lots of risks. There are also risks to walking down the street in a small town in Central California. There are reasons not to walk there.

        You can find any number of reasons to stay home, but there is a big world out there. Elephants run wild in Africa and not in my neighborhood. I like to see animals in their native environment.  You can not talk to a Swiss Guard at the Vatican by visiting a neighbor.

        It is true that you only die once, but you only live once too.

        

 

Sick in London? No problem.

Speaking from experience, medical systems are good all over Europe.

The counties of the European Union are not third world countries.

I had  cough in London and found out that the pharmacy is the first place to go.

The Pharmacist took my blood pressure, checked my symptoms and gave me what I needed.

I went to Urgent Care in Munich. Often on a long air trip I get a sinus infection.

Doctor in English checked me out and gave me a prescription. Total cost: $8 US.

They have medicine for all.

I have needed other help in Florence and Verona -easy.

I do not suggest you will need medical help, but most European are state of the art.