Posts Tagged With ‘ Travel ’

      I’ve been away from home for a little over a week, with a week to go. We’ve had a good time. But honestly, traveling today is more trouble than it used to be.      There’s the usual trouble of remembering car keys, room keys, iphone, reading glasses, distance glasses, bug spray, suntan lotion, my knee brace — the list goes on. The reason we carry so much stuff? It’s part of modern life (the iphone). And it’s part of the aging process (the glasses, the knee brace).  We’re in Wisconsin, the dairy state       Then there’s the... Continue Reading

 Lisbon is the vibrant capital of Portugal, a gorgeous city steeped in history, impressive architecture, cultural diversity, and friendly residents.  The only things that could spoil a visit would be the weather, sitting in an enclosed tour bus, and not having enough time to take in a lot of the activities and sights to satisfy the curious tourist. Unlucky me and my fellow travelers.  We encountered off-and-on rain during our two days in Lisbon, a city spread over seven hills and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Of course, the weather is something you have no control over when on a guided... Continue Reading

By Linda Ballou, NABBW’s Adventure Travel Associate Camping tents glow beneath dramatic storm clouds on the edge of the Tatshinshini River in Alaska’s Yukon. As temperatures begin to soar, I dream of the rivers I have known and loved. Tension mounts as I hear the rumble of rapids roiling ahead. Sitting up straight, tucking a foot beneath the pontoon of the rubber raft, taking a secure position for the white water to come, I listen for commands. “Paddles ready!” calls the guide and then we are bouncing through rapids with cooling waves splashing overhead. Squeals of excitement fill the... Continue Reading

     We’re driving out to Wisconsin to visit my daughter. On the way we stopped in Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan.      The university is famous for many things — well, yes, a 108,000-capacity football stadium, the largest in the U. S. — but also site of a 1960 speech given by John F. Kennedy proposing the idea for the Peace Corps. Students from Michigan were largely responsible for getting the Peace Corps off the ground.      The highlight of our stay was a walk around the art museum, where several large sculptures are displayed on the grounds. But as... Continue Reading

 Portugal’s gorgeous Algarve region offers a variety of things to do and see with charming towns, beautiful beaches, rocky coastline, and historic sites. It is the southernmost region of Portugal with about a half-million inhabitants, but it triples during the vacation season with seasonal residents.  A marina in Portimão Our two-day visit in early March was somewhat marred by rain, but when the sun was out, the weather was delightful and places were inviting. We stayed two nights in Portimão, a modern and picturesque ocean-side town that has become a hub for tourism in the... Continue Reading

     My wife and I took a trip up to New York City to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We wanted to see the exhibit of Winslow Homer paintings.      I honestly didn’t know much about Winslow Homer, except for his famous painting called “The Gulf Stream” which depicts a black man stranded in a boat surrounded by sharks.      Homer, born in Boston in 1836, began his artistic career as a magazine illustrator, then went on to paint powerful scenes from the Civil War. He was able to capture the emotional struggle of both the enslaved people . . .  “Near... Continue Reading

 Évora is a charming and historic city in central Portugal with relics from Roman and Moorish influence before and during the Medieval period, including protective walls, a temple, several cathedrals, and remains of a royal palace. Group following the guide Our tour of the UNESCO Heritage Site began with a walk through a quiet park bordering an ancient wall as a local guide provided information about the city’s rich history when it was one of Portugal’s cultural and educational centers.  Church of St. Francis And then on toward the Old Town center, stopping... Continue Reading

After spending a couple of days in Porto, we traveled south to historic Coimbra, the fourth-largest city in Portugal.  Belltower at the university Our half-day visit focused on the University of Coimbra and the shopping area near the Mondego River. There’s a limit on what you can see before moving to the next destination on the itinerary. The Romans found the city, naming it Aeminium in the first century. In the succeeding centuries, the Suebi, Alans, Visigoths, and Muslims ruled for periods of time before King Ferdinand I of Leon reconquered the territory in 1064.  You might... Continue Reading

 I suppose one adventure of travel is making connecting flights at various airports. The ideal is to board a plane at your home airport and fly nonstop to your destination. That’s highly unlikely if you’re flying overseas in economy class. I like to think it adds to the adventure of seeing fresh places, even if it is an airport. For my wife and I on our journey to Portugal, we flew out of Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., to O’Hare International in Chicago, then a long flight to Zurich Airport in Switzerland (we can now say we’ve been to Switzerland), and then on to... Continue Reading

     My wife and I drove into Philadelphia so I could get fitted for a custom brace for my arthritic ankle. I don’t know if it’ll do any good; but it’s worth a try. While we were in the city, we decided to make a day of it.      We walked up to Washington Square, a six-acre park in Center City that features a statue of George Washington, as well as the tomb of an unknown Revolutionary war soldier. To me, the Revolutionary war seems abstract and far away. But this park is set on the site of a former cemetery. And when you stand in the park, gazing at the statue of Washington... Continue Reading