How far do you have to go?

Traveling quality isn't always in the distance. Those of us who live in California and Oregon can actually see much of the same scenery we might see all around the world. Above is a photo of Lake of the Woods near Ashland/Medford, Oregon. It is six hours from Portland and six hours from San Francisco.

Can you see 10 countries in Europe in 4 weeks?

Graphic from Google



     On the Trip Advisor site a 20 year old woman asked for suggestions on what to see in a four week tour of 10 countries in Europe. It was all I could do to keep from suggesting she either stay home or just choose two.
     At 20 she has plenty of time to go back and see other things. At my age I probably should join a Japanese tour bus and see all of the United States in ten days.
     Let's put this in another way. She has 28 days in her four week trip. Deduct a day going and a day coming home and that leaves 26. Deduct one day for travel between countries (packing/unpacking get to the train etc.) and she has 16 days. Deduct one day for laundry - she cannot do a month without it - and she has 1.5 days in each country. Now, to be fair, she only wants to see one major city or geographical area in each country. Thus, she has 1.5 days in Rome, for example. That is a drive by.
     I sat in an Roman café for three hours talking politics with an Italian who knew as much about the U.S. as I do. We had tea in Edinburgh which took two hours.  We went for a four hour hike in Dingle Harbor instead of kissing the Blarney Stone. You have to make choices. I choose to focus on a few things. I just cannot imagine a tour that sees five churches in Florence in one morning. They would be a blur.
     It is all a matter of style. She may have a great trip, but I don't think it would be for me. I'd rather spend two weeks in the Dolomites in Northern Italy and two weeks in Avignon in the South of France for my total of four weeks.

(Romanian viewers are now back in second place as visitors to this blog.)

Sunday - Church Day: St. Canice Cathedral , Kilkenny, Ireland

Tours given by members of the church help pay for the upkeep of  Saint Canice Cathedral in Kilkenny, Scotland. A distant relative of President Obama is buried there. The church stands next to an ancient "Round Tower" fortification. We learned more about Ireland from the volunteer elder tour guide than from any other source.

Close (narrow alley) in Lismore, Ireland - Favorite Photos

This photo, I think, makes me seem like a good photographer. I do not show the hundreds of other pictures I have taken with are really not so good.

Little surprises

 

For me, the little surprises are worth the trip. Indeed, I love the weeks or months of planning and I enjoy the larger things of travel, but I always bring back the best memories of the things that surprise me. The above photo is one I took in Multnomah Village in Portland, Oregon. It is in front of a "service" station - today known as a gas station - that long ago went out of business along SW Capitol Highway. Left behind and yet now restored is an old gravity gas pump.  I will guess most people do not notice it or if they do they do not know what it is. But, I have to stop and look at it every time I go by.

Below is another example of what I mean. It is an old, long un-used telephone booth in Castle Gregory, Ireland. I am going to imagine that the locals do not notice it at all as they go driving by.

 





Rock of Cashel, Ireland

Picture re-posted from Tourism Ireland Facebook site. Cashel is a pretty little town dominated by this Abbey high on a rock summit. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Ireland, which you might gather from this picture. Below are two that I took.

Can I take my smartphone to Europe?

People want to know if they can take their cellphone to Europe. 1) yes, it is legal and 2) do your homework. If you are using your smartphone for WiFi that is good. If you brought it loaded with a translator or specific maps - Okay. However, if you do not check your data plan or with your provider you could be very surprised. Some phones do not work at all. Some need a new sim card with a pay-as-you-go plan. Some U.S. carriers will have a plan that will not cost a good deal. However, the picture above is a ship in Cobh Harbour, Ireland. One tourist was telling another that "last night when I called you (another tourist on the ship) about your plans for dinner, the call cost me $27.00. I checked on it today" It is rumored that you can run up several thousand dollars in roaming charges and data charges if you do this wrong. It pays to check before you go or to buy a "throw away" phone just for calls overseas when you get there. Lots more about this on TripAdvisor.com.

First Day of Fall

Here are some bears we saw, this time last year, in Waterton National Park, Alberta Canada. They were not yet ready to find a winter home. This year, however, they have already had their first snow of Winter in the park. Can we all hope for lots of rain and snow this year? - especially in California.

(What happened to my readers in Romania and Dubai? The top three sources of views this week have been the United States, France and the Philippines.  Romania used to be higher. Come on let's get rolling over there in the Eastern Block!)

The Pantheon, Rome

With yesterday's post, I realized that all of the views of the Pantheon were inside. This is a shot as we walked up. It is impressive. You do not see buildings this old in the United States or many this old in good condition.

Sunday is Church Day: The Pantheon, Rome

The Pantheon was a Roman temple that was converted to a Christian Church. Bottom photo is of a group of monks who were visiting the same day we were. They had a picnic in the portico.

Near Weed, California Fire

 

These photos were taken earlier this summer near were the Weed Fire destroyed the town and much of the surrounding area. It is just north of Mount Shasta.

Favorite Photos: The London Eye

The London Eye as seen from a boat on the Thames - posted in honor of Scotland remaining in the UK. My Scotland photos are on another computer. This will have to do.

Good and bad seatmates

     The first time we flew into London, we used Virgin Atlantic. It was a great flight. My wife always takes the window and I reserve the aisle seat in hopes that no one will choose the middle seat. This has not worked in the last five trips. In any case, on this first trip to London I traded my aisle seat to a rabbi who was returning from a conference. Two members of the clergy are almost two too many. But, the rabbi was a longtime citizen of London. As the plane came down in altitude over Scotland it turned west and followed the Thames from the Tower Bridge to Heathrow he pointed out each attraction as if he were a guide for Lonely Planet.
     The second time we flew into London it was a short-hop flight on Aer Lingus from Dublin. Again I was in the middle seat, the aisle seat now taken up by a huge man with a terrible cough. While I did not have to encounter him, I did receive his cold which lasted the week I was in London.
     On a return trip from Paris on Air France a couple of years ago, again I was seated between my wife and a total stranger. This new person was an attractive young woman who was coming into SFO for the first time and I could point out landmarks of interest to her. While being a generous host to this new flyer, I fooled no one. I would have talked to her even if she had a bad cold.

Large Urban Parks in London: Kensington and Hyde

Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park map. Marietta is in charge of navigation. We took the Princess Diana Walk all the way across Kensington. Well worth it. This is not for people who want to "see" all of London in three days.

The Columbia River Gorge

Just east of Portland, Oregon

Paris plus on our minds

     The picture above is the new Air France Terminal at CDG Paris. We had a layover there on the way back from Italy. So, now we are going back to see CDG again. The plan is one week in Paris, one week on a small ship down the Seine and One week in Normandy (it is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day).
     Knowing that many of you have been to one or more of these places, what advice do you have? What are the must-sees and forget-its? We'd like to  know what you think.

Sunday: Church Day - Cortina d' Ampezzo

Altar, Cortina d'Ampezzo Cathedral, South Tyrol Italy

 

The cathedral dominates the center of Cortina (the town played host to the Winter Olympics some years ago) and is very much a traditional style blending Austrian and Italian elements. This area of the Dolomites has been fought over for many generations and has picked up a variety of influences including Laden. Please note the modern public address speakers on each side of the ornate altar.

When physicians go on holiday, do they visit hospitals?

I hit every church I can in every town we visit.

Rainbow over the Half Penny Bridge

What great luck! The rain was clearing and we were returning from the Temple Bar area of Dublin and there it was - a rainbow over what is known as the Half Penny Bridge. It is a walking bridge from Temple Bar to the downtown area. Following it we found no pot 'o gold nor leprechaun. We did find our camera.

If you are not open to new things, stay home...

     If you have to have things like they are at home - traveling is not for you.
     The food is different, the climate is not the same... and, on and on.
     If you are in a café in London forget about getting ranch dressing for your salad. They do not serve chop suey in China. But, meat pies in England and Scotland are amazing and in Ireland the lamb stew is wonderful.  In Italy you will have to like tomato; that's a major crop. If you are a wine drinker the chances are not great for you getting a reasonably priced glass in Glasgow.
     But, when in Rome ... you know the rest. The toilet paper is different ( and better ), you likely will not see a wash cloth in France.
     Traveling is an adventure. If you don't like adventures you will be happier staying at home. The rest of us will also be happier because we will not have to hear you complain.

Bellagio (see last post)

 

We had this picture taken as "payment" for taking several pictures of a Finish couple visiting Bellagio, Italy. We have a good many pictures of us as a couple because asking someone to photograph you or to take someone else's photo opens a conversation. We have often noted that when we look around for someone to ask to take our picture the person is very likely to be French and we do not know why.  In any case, the Finish couple were great folks. At this point we had been traveling in five countries in Europe, gone for nearly a month, and felt rested and at ease.

Ferry at Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy

As Lake Como is wide and long, the best way to get somewhere is by ferry. A bridge would spoil it. This picture is of a ferry leaving from the pier at Bellagio. The city (town) sits on the tip of a peninsula that divides Como into east and west. If you look at the photo carefully or enlarge it, you will see a small town straight over the lake to the right side of the picture and another village high up on the mountain to the left. Many wealthy and famous people have homes on Como as do many not so famous people. It is, however, the high rent district.

Austria is about the details

      There are some pretty, new buildings in Austria, but when I go out with my camera I look for the details. Austria is a land of details. Whether it is the small figures moving on the town clock, or the tidiness of a window, or leaving an old city gate in Innsbruck, the Austria that impressed me was the one that focuses on even the small things. The cities I saw were clean and kept. They were well marked for the visitor. They loved and nurtured their old central areas.
      They have been over run by the Germans and the Italians and others, Somehow they have retained the best of each foreign culture. I look forward to the chance to go back, have a beer and some great food, and meet another group of nice people.

The FULL English (Irish/ Scot) breakfast - best part of waking up.

     Some people in the U.S. face the day with cereal or a bagel and coffee. When you discover the full English (Irish. Scot) breakfast you will understand how they can skip lunch and have tea around 4 p.m. This may look like a good deal of bad cholesterol, but it really is not.
     Starting clockwise at 9:00 there are mushrooms. 11 and 12 are two eggs medium. At 1 you will see sausage (bangers) and then a strip of bacon which is more like ham or Canadian bacon than our version. At 6:00 there is an English muffin; there will be many kinds of jam on the table. Some places serve toast instead.
     In the middle is white pudding. It is made from pork meat and fat, suet, bread and oatmeal formed into a patty or tube and then sliced. The patty to the right is black pudding, the same as white with the addition of blood. They are a little like the filling in haggis.
      You fill this out with a side of fruit, tea or coffee, and you are ready for the day. Many times the cook will add a slice of tomato. The evening meal can be much lighter, although not necessarily.
     It takes time to eat it and the day therefore does not begin in a rush. I especially like black pudding, but then I also like haggis.

Sunday: Church Day - Village Church, Vaduz, Leichtenstein

When visiting churches in Europe, I am always surprised that they are open without anyone around in the middle of the day. I'm afraid we would have nothing left.

Scale Models

Kilkenny Castle, Ireland

 Part of Central London Model: London University

 



Lake Maligne, Jasper National Forest, Canada

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach. Oregon

Cannon Beach is about 90 minutes from Portland and the place to go if you want to get away from things. It is quiet and not as touristy as Seaside.

Artistic Chairs: Victoria and Albert, London UK

The Courtyard near the café, V & A Museum.

In the middle of all of the ancient and classical art, someone has stacked some chairs!

 

Favorite pictures: On the mountain above La Villa, Italy

The Dolomites (The Italian Alps) were high on my "bucket list" and we spent nearly a week there. On one of our first days  we took a tram to the top of one of the mountains above the town of La Villa where we were staying. There was hardly anyone else around. At that altitude you can get "dry" fast so I bought a bottle of water. I set it on a post for this picture. Notice the snow on the mountain behind it. It was September and still summer.  To the right rear is a warming hut for the wintertime and is the beginning of a hiking trail and cross-country ski trail.

What was your first flight like?

     When I was in graduate school I was offered a job traveling around the west coast giving speeches about the seminary and encouraging people to donate. This involved many drives from and within the San Francisco Bay area. But, then it began meaning taking flights to various cities.
      My mother had instilled in me a major fear of flying (along with a variety of other fears). We even took the train across the whole of the United States to avoid flying. Now, I had to get on a PSA plane and fly to Los Angeles International Airport. (There I would rent a car and make several visits before returning home to SFO.)
     My very first flight saw me terrified in the airport waiting to leave. We boarded the plane (a 727 I think), taxied out, and took off. It was amazing. It was wonderful. I did not tell my mother that I was doing this sort of "stunt" for many months. I therefore did not tell her that I really liked it.
     I suppose after, I have no idea how many, flights I don't exactly love it as much. The planes are more crowded, the airports crazy, the meals not as good, and seat pitch is about half - or it seems so at my age. But I still like to taxi out and take off for a different place and it all started with that first flight to LAX.

Children, Economics and Travel

      B.C. - before children - we took a number of long road trips. Our honeymoon was a month-long adventure from Redding, California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We were headed for Victoria and then returned along the coast to San Anselmo, California. We have been back to Victoria and the San Juan Islands a couple of times since then.
      After our daughters were born, we began long trips into New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. We once flew to Atlanta, joined another family of four in a BIG station wagon and drove north through the Civil War battlefields, Williamsburg, and New York up to Connecticut. From there we took the train across the United States to California via a long stay in Illinois.
      When our daughters got to college, most of our longer trips took to the air. Interesting to note that it takes as long to fly from our home in California to our place in Portland, Oregon than it does to drive. It is, however, more restful to fly, but we still need a car in Oregon so we drive.
      Styles change as is reflected in the fact that we no longer stay in low-cost motels and instead go for comfort and convenience. This may be due, in part, to having our kids out of college and the fact that we are older.
      Family economics are built backwards. You need more money when you are young but don’t have it. When older you need less and have more.