Yesterday I showed rooflines; today I’m focusing on architectural embellishment. While I didn’t have a preference for the rooflines in San Sebastian or Amsterdam, Amsterdam wins hands down for embellishment. Dutch merchants wanted to show off their wealth. On many of their buildings there are gold adornments, sculptures, elaborate coats-of-arm or fancy trimmings. They liked […]
The first time I visited Athens, in 1996, the Parthenon thrilled me, as did the Plaka, the statuary, and the overall vibe. The next time I visited, my enthusiasm had waned. Athens looked dirty, was hotter than hell on a bad day, the sky had a brownish tinge from pollution, and there were too many […]
Early this afternoon I arrived at the port of Piraeus (Greece) to board the Oceania Vista. The size of the ship surprised me, though it shouldn’t have. My stateroom is on the tenth deck and there are six decks above me. The ship can accommodate 1,200 passengers. The ship is just over one year old […]
Last night I slept better than I have in many nights—the gentle sound of the ship’s engines lulled me deep into dreamland. When I woke, we’d dropped anchor in Santorini, part of the Cycladic group of Greek islands. Santorini is a beautiful island. Well, it used to be a single island, now it is a […]
This morning the ship docked at Antalya, the first port of call in Turkey. I haven’t been in Turkey since 1997, and when I visited, I never made it to Antalya. I’d been hoping to visit some of the historic sites, but the excursion desk staff talked me out of even attempting any of them. […]
I’ve been told that Bodrum is the playground of wealthy Turks, Greeks, and other Europeans. Judging by the yachts in the area, it must be true. However, I never made it into Bodrum, just viewed it from the water. I took a tour on a “gulet,” a traditional two-masted wooden sailing vessel built and used […]
engAGE Your BrainBy LeAnne Stuver, M.Ed., BSN, & Dr. Krystal L. Culler, DBH, MA Most of us are very interested in getting the most bang for our buck. There are many self-help strategies and products advertised in the media that are often expensive and don’t necessarily have a proven benefit. We would like to suggest […]
Life has a way of presenting us with unexpected challenges that test our strength, resilience, and character. Adversities can be found in various forms such as loss, failure, disappointment, or even traumatic events. While it is natural to feel overwhelmed when faced with adversity, it is also an opportunity for transformative growth. In this blog, […]
Grandmother Corn is an Ancient Onewho shares the medicine ofplentyenoughnesslush nourishmentabundance Everyone’s included in the bountiful sharingnobody’s left out of the beauty and richnesswalls don’t separate the haves from have-notsthere is nothing you have to do to deserve the gifts In her languagewords do not existto evaluate who’s worthyof love, generosity, and respect In her […]
Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, often leaving us feeling lost, broken, and stripped of our once unwavering confidence. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a job, or an important relationship, these experiences can deeply affect our sense of self-worth and our ability to move forward. However, in this […]
