-
Recent Posts
Categories
- Alcorn McBride (28)
- Family (230)
- Lifestyle (367)
- Animals (2)
- Cooking (86)
- Dining (251)
- Theme Parks (17)
- Wine (121)
- Technology (17)
- The Arts (83)
- Art & Sculpture (6)
- Books and Writing (13)
- Music (33)
- Photography (5)
- Theatre (29)
- Travel (443)
- Africa (1)
- Morocco (1)
- Asia (9)
- Caribbean (12)
- Aruba (1)
- Grand Cayman (2)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- St. Thomas (3)
- Central America (11)
- Belize (1)
- Costa Rica (3)
- El Salvador (1)
- Guatemala (1)
- Mexico (5)
- Panama (1)
- Panama Canal (4)
- Europe (54)
- Austria (1)
- Denmark (1)
- England (20)
- London (8)
- Estonia (1)
- Finland (1)
- France (13)
- Paris (7)
- Germany (3)
- Greece (4)
- Greenland (6)
- Hungary (1)
- Iceland (3)
- Ireland (7)
- Italy (7)
- Monaco (2)
- Norway (1)
- Poland (1)
- Portugal (2)
- Russia (1)
- Scotland (1)
- Slovakia (1)
- Spain (5)
- Barcelona (2)
- Sweden (1)
- Switzerland (1)
- Turkey (3)
- North America (306)
- Canada (6)
- United States (301)
- Alaska (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (17)
- Central Coast (1)
- Death Valley (1)
- Los Angeles (8)
- San Diego (1)
- San Francisco (4)
- Sequoia (1)
- Three Rivers (1)
- Yosemite (3)
- DC (1)
- Florida (85)
- Hawaii (1)
- Illinois (130)
- Midwest (13)
- New England (3)
- New York (21)
- The South (12)
- Charleston (2)
- Georgia (1)
- New Orleans (3)
- Savannah (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wiliamsburg (2)
- The West (27)
- Arizona (2)
- Bryce (1)
- Colorado (2)
- Grand Canyon (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Las Vegas (13)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- New Mexico (2)
- Oregon (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Utah (1)
- Washington State (1)
- Wyoming (1)
- Yellowstone (1)
- WashingtonDC (2)
- Oceania (29)
- Australia (16)
- New Zealand (14)
- South America (4)
- Africa (1)
- Uncategorized (3)
Archives
Author Archives: steve
Aix-en-Provence, France
Our final shore excursion of the cruise took us from the dock in Marseilles into Provence. Our first stop was in the Luberon region, at the Val Joanis winery. We toured their award winning gardens and the cellar (a 200,000 … Continue reading
Posted in France
Comments Off on Aix-en-Provence, France
Monte Carlo, Monaco
I’m never sure whether to call this place the city of Monte Carlo or the country of Monaco, because they’re almost the same thing. The city nearly completely fills the valley that is this country. In fact, from our cabin … Continue reading
Posted in Monaco
Comments Off on Monte Carlo, Monaco
Livorno, Italy
Two quiet days recuperating on the ship, with not too much to look at, since Livorno was heavily damaged during WWII and hasn’t been rebuilt with anything but functionality in mind. The first day was raining all day, so our … Continue reading
Posted in Italy
Comments Off on Livorno, Italy
Civitavecchia, Italy
Well, Rome’s port isn’t the most attractive place in the world. It’s also not particularly close to Rome, almost 2 hours away in traffic. As it turned out, it didn’t matter, because I got sick and had to get some … Continue reading
Posted in Italy
Comments Off on Civitavecchia, Italy
Amalfi, Italy
Today we arrived in Amalfi, a picturesque city on the Italian coast that shares its name. Contrary to reports, the shops were almost all open, even though it was Sunday, a last chance for the shopkeepers before the season ends. … Continue reading
Posted in Italy
Comments Off on Amalfi, Italy
Taormina, Sicily
We spent a pleasant couple of hours in Taormina, a medieval city converted to a pedestrian tourist shopping street, on top of a hill in Sicily. The weather has warmed up to 71, and we had an alfresco lunch at … Continue reading
Posted in Italy
Comments Off on Taormina, Sicily
At Sea
Friday was a relaxing day at sea, our only one on this itinerary. Our butler, Miroslav, brought us breakfast in our cabin along with some complementary Perrier Jouet Champagne. Linda did needlepoint in the Horizons Lounge for a while and … Continue reading
Santorini, Greece
Today we visited one of the most scenic places I’ve ever encountered, the Greek Island of Santorini. We arose at sunrise to discover the ship sailing into the caldera of a giant volcano. We were tendered to a remote spot … Continue reading
Posted in Greece
Comments Off on Santorini, Greece
Patmos, Greece
Patmos is a small Greek island in the Southeastern Aegean. It wasn’t on our itinerary, but because of a strike in Rhodes to protest the Greek financial situation, that port was inaccessible, and Patmos was substituted. I don’t know what … Continue reading
Posted in Greece
Comments Off on Patmos, Greece
Kusadasi and Ephesus, Turkey
The port in Kusadasi was certainly busier than the last time we were here, when we were the only ship. Either things are quieter in the Middle East or people have just gotten used to it. No circling gunboats this … Continue reading
Posted in Turkey
Comments Off on Kusadasi and Ephesus, Turkey
Filippi and Kavala, Greece
The ship was rockin’ and rollin’ last night, I guess still feeling the effects of a cyclone over the Black Sea. It was still raining when we docked a bit late in Kavala, a hillside community in Macedonia (Northern Greece). … Continue reading
Posted in Greece
Comments Off on Filippi and Kavala, Greece
Istanbul
This is our first time on Oceania, although they are owned by Regent, a high end line Dani and I once took for an enjoyable Mediterranean cruise. The Insignia is a beautiful ship, with by far the nicest finish work … Continue reading
Posted in Turkey
Comments Off on Istanbul
New York to Istanbul
With a lull in Linda’s projects for Disney, she was able to get away, so for her birthday we booked a cruise in the Mediterranean. When Delta changed their flight schedule, our connection through JFK became dangerously short, so we … Continue reading
Thai Beef Salad
This is my favorite salad recipe. We originally got it from Standolyn Robertson, Jamie Robertson’s wife. She served it at a dinner that was memorable because it was the night, twenty years ago, that a micro burst blew down our … Continue reading
Posted in Cooking
Comments Off on Thai Beef Salad
Rocco’s Italian Grille
It had been a while since we’d been to Rocco’s. The food is always great, but we’d had some disastrous wine service during a Wine Syndicate event, and hadn’t been back. Saturday Ron and Bev invited us to join them, … Continue reading
Coogee
Although it was an early morning, our plane flight from Aukland to Sydney was otherwise painless, and, taking advantage of the two hour time shift, we were in Coogee by 11am. this is the town where Pamela grew up, so … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Dani, Dining, New Zealand
Comments Off on Coogee
Rainy Days in Auckland
The rain caught up to us today, but that was okay, as it gave us an excuse to relax. At noon we walked down Queen Street and found a ma and pa Korean restaurant for a tasty lunch. After lunch … Continue reading
Posted in Dining, New Zealand
Comments Off on Rainy Days in Auckland
Back to Auckland
On the final day of our Tauck Tour we headed back to Auckland. We’ve had almost perfect weather on the trip, particularly considering that winter is just ending in New Zealand. It seemed that we’ve been ahead of rain almost … Continue reading
Posted in New Zealand
Comments Off on Back to Auckland
TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak Sheep Station
Today we got to sleep in, because our excursion to the sheep farm didn’t start until almost noon, when we walked across the street to the dock and boarded the TSS (Twin Screw Steamship) Earnslaw, for the 45 minute trip … Continue reading
Posted in New Zealand
Comments Off on TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak Sheep Station
Queenstown
We arrived at the Queenstown airport (actually in Frankton) about 6pm, and as predicted no one was there except security and the janitor. Since our luggage had magically preceded us, we were in Queenstown within minutes. The Crowne Plaza Queenstown … Continue reading
Posted in Dining, New Zealand, Wine
Comments Off on Queenstown
Milford Sound
In the morning we caught our same private jet for the flight from Wellington at the tip of the North Island to Manapouri Airport, about two thirds of the way down the South Island. Flight time was less than 90 … Continue reading
Posted in New Zealand
Comments Off on Milford Sound
Martin Bosley’s
While Dani had dinner with her friend Laura, I went across the street from our hotel and had a solo dinner at Martin Bosley’s, which has been voted New Zealand’s best restaurant. The emphasis here is on fish, which is … Continue reading
Posted in Dining, New Zealand
Comments Off on Martin Bosley’s
Wellington
Wellington certainly deserves its nickname as the windy capital. As the world’s southernmost capital city, it was surprisingly warm today–mid fifties–but a constant breeze made a good jacket a requirement. The day dawned with scattered drizzles, a contrast to last … Continue reading
Posted in Dining, New Zealand
Comments Off on Wellington
Marlborough Sound
At the Rotorua airport we caught our private charter jet for the 45 minute flight to the South Island. This is the way to travel! The 100-seat British Aerospace BAe 146-200 was pretty spacious with only 17 of us! The … Continue reading
Posted in New Zealand
Comments Off on Marlborough Sound
Rotorua
We departed from Auckland this morning for our drive across half of the northern island that comprises New Zealand. After a rest stop for some honeycomb and vanilla ice cream (who says 9:30 is too early for ice cream?) we … Continue reading
Posted in New Zealand
Comments Off on Rotorua
Waiheke Island
For our first day on the Tauck tour we met our group at the bus at 8:15 and headed to the ferry dock for the 40 minute trip to Waiheke Island. The island is a beautifully unspoiled place, with 8500 … Continue reading
Posted in Dining, New Zealand, Wine
Comments Off on Waiheke Island
Auckland
Today I had breakfast while Dani slept in, enjoying her last completely unscheduled day before we join our tour. We walked a mile or so down Queen street to the Quay, stopping on the way to buy ten used CDs … Continue reading
Posted in New Zealand
Comments Off on Auckland
Sydney to Auckland
After breakfast at the Four Seasons, where Dani got one last Crumpet, a new favorite, we headed to the airport and out flight to Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand is really into rugby, and the rugby World Cup is going … Continue reading
Posted in Dining, New Zealand
Comments Off on Sydney to Auckland
Tetsuya
Our concierge suggested we add Testsuya’s to our list of dining adventures in Sydney, and Pamela’s relatives all said we’d like it best. They were right. This is the restaurant that should have three Michelin stars. It’s located in a … Continue reading
Jenolan Caves
Our driver, Trevor, picked us up early for the 100 mile drive to Jenolan Caves. The caves are in the Blue Mountains, southwest of Sydney. Along the way we stopped near Leura, where Pamela used to live, to see the … Continue reading
Posted in Australia
Comments Off on Jenolan Caves