As I celebrate another birthday, I can’t help but reminisce a little. Fifty five years ago, at the age of nine, my family and I emigrated to Chicago from Romania.
Continue reading “My First Trip Had a One Way Ticket – I’m Proud to be an Immigrant”
Category: North America
Jan. 9, 2025 Podcast: Winter Adventures in America’s National Parks
This month’s podcast is all about my adventures in the National Parks in winter. Many of the most popular national parks out west can be visited in Winter. Yellowstone National Park is an especially unique adventure in when it’s covered in snow, but it does require advance planning. Popular summer parks like Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zyon, Arches, and Canyonlands are a pleasure to visit in winter because they are not at all crowded and it’s not hot.
Podcast link: Winter Adventures in America’s National Parks
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Reflections From 2024
I am very thankful for yet another banner year of travel. For a total of 153 days I experienced destinations in Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the US.
The Princess 360 Experience – A Performance for All the Senses
Sharing my review of the Princess 360 experience, a one-of-a-kind, immersive dining event that I recently took part in on a Discovery Princess cruise.
The secret is out!
The Princess Cruises 360 experience is no longer veiled in mystery and intrigue. Until recently, this unique immersive dining “show” was by invitation only. But now, all guests sailing on the Discovery Princess and the Enchanted Princess are able to book this special event.
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Living Like Royalty on a Princess Cruise – A Complete Ruby Princess Review With Photos
In this Ruby Princess review I share detailed information with lots of photos from my recent cruise including a review of my cabin, public spaces and food options.
Some days I wish I had a maid. And a cook. And since I am dreaming, lets add a chauffeur and a gardener to the list. I’ve probably watched Downton Abbey once too often and read too many books set in Britain’s golden age where the hired help does all the work and the Lord and Lady of the manor just get to have fun.
Reflections from 2023
My annual recap after an incredible year of travel all over the globe.
“….changes in latitude, changes in attitude….”
This was certainly a year for the record books for me as I travelled across latitudes from the Antarctic all the way up to the Arctic. I can’t believe how many bucket list trips I was fortunate to indulge in. I have become very spoiled by all my travels this year, and I am very appreciative of the many opportunities I’ve had to see so many special places around the world.
Reflections From 2022
My annual review in words and photos from an incredible year of travel.
Wow! I have been so very fortunate to have had the most incredibly memorable year for travel! And what a difference 12 months can make!
It’s taken me a while to write this up as it was a very, very busy year, but I am continuing my annual end of the year post tradition by reflecting on where I’ve been in 2022 – and sharing some of my reflection photos in the process.
A Costa Rica Cooking Class – Forging Local Connections On An Atypical Cruise Excursion
A traditional Costa Rica cooking class showed me that I could still make local connections in a meaningful way on a cruise ship excursion.
I love cruising, but I am very picky about my cruise excursions. Typical ship excursion involve big busses and large tour groups that take passengers to the most popular sights. This may let you check off one more item on the “bucket list” but does nothing to provide a true connective experience to the local culture or the environment.
However, on my recent Princess Cruise through the Panama Canal, a ship excursion in Costa Rica billed as one of their “Local Connections” program had me intrigued. The tour promised to take us to the Macaw ecolodge high in the rainforest where we would take part in a cooking experience using locally grown ingredients. This sounded quite appealing and would not be something I could easily do on my own, so I signed up and hoped for unique glimpse into Costa Rican culture.
A Full Transit Panama Canal Cruise – Passing Through an Engineering Marvel
A full transit Panama Canal cruise was on my travel wish list for a long time. I finally had the chance to experience it and was not disappointed.
There are some places on this planet that are easiest to experience from the deck of a ship – the Panama Canal is one of those sights. This “Engineering Marvel” was built to aid in the faster transport of goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, thus bypassing the long and hazardous journey around South America and Cape Horn.
But transiting through the Panama Canal has also become a very popular cruise ship destination. I recently took a 16 day full transit Panama Canal cruise from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco on the Ruby Princess and going through the canal was the highlight of my cruise.
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I Loved these Panama Canal Cruise Excursions
Besides seeing an engineering marvel, my Panama canal cruise excursions also took me to other other unique and interesting sights at each port stop.
There are some place in this world that can best be seen from the deck of a ship. The Panama Canal is one such a place.
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