One of our primary reasons for visiting the Yucatan peninsula was my younger daughter’s fascination with the area after studying it in Spanish class, and one of her top desires was to swim in cenotes. Cancun area was a draw for us though, because Dad loves his lay-by-the-pool-and-beach-time and waitstaff to bring him refreshing beverages … Continue reading
Our family has talked often of trying SCUBA diving, but for some reason things never fully aligned to make it happen. So, when we spent Christmas in Mexico and the opportunity presented itself, we decided we were going to do it: as a family, we were SCUBA diving Cancun, Mexico! Whether you want to scuba … Continue reading
Isla Mujeres is a colorful and quirky island, and this is demonstrated with mural after quirky mural as you explore the island. At first as we drove around, I thought street art would be confined to the main populated area. But, as we continued to explore Isla Mujeres, I learned that not only was it … Continue reading
On the northern edge of the Riviera Maya there are a surprising wealth of things to do in Puerto Morelos, possibly the last authentic, quiet fishing town on the Mexican Caribbean coastline. An easy trip from more highly trafficked areas, this small town has purposely restricted commercial growth, keeping an entirely different vibe from the … Continue reading
The ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres takes only 18 minutes, and the small island offers a surprising number of things to do. From Isla Mujeres’ Punta Sur, to shopping, to the island’s famous snorkeling… your Isla Mujeres Things To Do list is stocked with what you are looking for. For a partial or full … Continue reading
If you are trying to decide where to stay in Cancun, hopefully this thorough review of JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, based on a two week stay over the Christmas holidays, will help you out! Two weeks gave us ample time to put our room to the test, sample the restaurants, use amenities, interact … Continue reading
Our travel to Cancun, Mexico was not one of my long-hoped-for and much-planned trips. It was a somewhat short-notice change after the hurricanes came through this year. (Though one daughter has been desperately wanting to swim in a cenote – you can read about where to swim in cenotes near Cancun here!) So, our Cancun … Continue reading
There is no question that Burano island in Venice, Italy, is a photographer’s paradise, and I found my camera especially drawn to Burano’s colorful windows and doors. I know most travelers head to Murano for the glass works, but if you are trying to decide between Murano or Burano, maybe this peek a Burano’s colorful … Continue reading
Before we arrived in Venice, I knew Burano was a must see for me. I know most go to Murano, but in the decision between Murano or Burano, Burano is so much more colorful – it called to the photographer in me. Just a quick internet perusal showed me the colorful homes, the canal reflections… … Continue reading
The Rialto Market Venice is the most historic and extensive foodie stop in the beautiful city. You will definitely want to visit, whether it is to grab a snack, dinner ingredients, or just a feast for your camera. If you like to see markets from around the world, check out my other posts: Mercado San … Continue reading
Today, I am sharing some photography of Windows of Venice, Italy. As a blogger, I will at times visit a place with a rough idea of certain posts that I will probably write. I’ve planned my time, picked the sites I want to see, and can pretty much predict I will do a post about … Continue reading
Yes, here I am with another post about Doors. This time I’m sharing photos of some of my favorite Doors of Venice, Italy. (You can also check out my post on Doors of Paris and Doors of Athens.) It’s a sickness. An addiction, really. I take photos of doors as I travel, especially in Europe, … Continue reading
Today is October 7th, and that, my friends, is also Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day. I bet you didn’t know that. A few years ago, I would have been right there with you. The first time I stumbled on the words ‘Trigeminal Neuralgia’ I had to sound them out. And as I kept reading, my heart … Continue reading
A series of fortunate (or un- depending on your perspective) events in our quest for places to eat in Newport, Oregon this evening led us to a quirky, healthy, and wonderful surprise in the form of dinner at Cafe Mundo. And, as a result, it became my must-stop restaurant in town! We wanted to go … Continue reading
Did you now you can sleep in the 2nd most photographed site in Heidelberg, Germany? The Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg’s incredible architecture and rich history make this hotel a must-see, and when we found the rates were reasonable and competitive, we were sold. Given the choice when traveling, I love finding historic and … Continue reading
Eclipse 2017 brought us to Oregon, but we didn’t just want to turn around and go home after the 2 minutes of totality! (Though it was amazingly cool and you should check out Katie’s awesome photos in This Post). So… I did my research and found activities I knew my family would enjoy, and we … Continue reading
A common attitude among students is the oppressive ‘prison’ that is school, usually accompanied by eye rolling, great tortured sighs and the whine of the persecuted when school and its requirements interfere with entertainment activities. Not that this ever happens with my teens. That I homeschool. Nooooo…. So when I discovered Heidelberg University Studentenkarzer, a … Continue reading
Eclipse 2017: Totality Planning Many months ago, Scott had come to me, put some info on Eclipse 2017 in front of me, and asked me to research the best place in the United States to see the whole phenomenon. So, I got to work. There were SO many details and questions to sort through. What … Continue reading
As my front desk friend used my map to show me where to go see the things he was recommending, he circled one big section to the north east, and told me not to go there. “It’s the poor section.” He then went on to say no one would bother me, there just wasn’t anything … Continue reading