Photo courtesy of Ivan Walsh – flickr Ireland had never been high on my list of must-see world sites. Why make a trip to the Emerald Isle when I already live in the Emerald City? Could Ireland possibly claim a greener landscape from its year-round misty rains than the Evergreen State? But reading my mother’s initial journal […]
Destinations
F is for Farmers Market Destinations
Hong Kong Farmer’s Market – Photo courtesy of Crossroads Foundation – flickr One of my favorite pursuits when traveling is visiting the local Farmers Markets to get an authentic, sensory feel of my destination. Here I can discover fresh local produce, sampling and tasting as I saunter along from vendor to vendor, smiling while the […]
E is for Exploring Exotic Egypt
Photo courtesy of watchsmart – flickr As the site of my first overseas experience, Egypt holds a special place in my heart. Long before the 2011 Arab Spring uprising, I had been a teacher at the St. Mary’s School in Shoubra, a poor Cairo neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Arian Zwegers – flickr During one kaleidoscopic […]
D is for El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Photo courtesy of carmichael library – flickr One of the many cultural holidays that I have yet to experience firsthand is Mexico’s El Dia de los Muertos. Celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd, the holiday brings family and friends together to remember, honor and pray for the deceased. Photo courtesy of Elaphurus – flickr […]
C is for Catching Carnival Fever in Rio
Souvenir Postcard Simply put, there’s no adequate way to prepare for the over-the-top spectacle of Rio’s famous 5-day bacchanal celebration. Leading up to the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, Brazil’s most famous festival celebrates life on a grand scale, compensating for the Christian faithful’s fasting in the days ahead. WanderBoomer, before Carnival I had […]
B is for Biking the Backroads of Provence
Photo courtesy of Ell Brown, flickr Peddling a bike on a leisurely ride through the back roads of Provence sounds like a slice of heaven, doesn’t it? No crowds, no deadlines, no hurry . . . Just riding along from village to village, stopping only to quench your thirst, take in the scents and colors […]
A is for Aurora Borealis
Photo courtesy of Beverly & Pack, flickr Now I’ve done it. I just signed up for the April 2013 A – Z Blogging Challenge. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the challenge, the idea is to post on your blog six days a week during the month of April. We get Sundays off […]
Happy Pi (Pie) Day!
Today at my daughter’s school, the math department served each student a slice of pie in math class in honor of “Pi” day, serving about 110 pies in total. That’s a lot of pie! “Pi” Day celebrates the mathematical Greek symbol ( “π”) that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. […]
Girlfriend Getaway: 5 Fun Food Adventures in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Okay, wanderboomer gals. Let’s eat! After dropping off bags at your Gulf Shores lodging, it’s time to sample a few of the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama before You Die.” But why not make your food outing an adventure? Here’s how to kick your mealtimes up a notch: 1) Cheer on your favorite team […]
Happy Days at The Hangout in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Have a look at one of the most popular attractions in Gulf Shores. Do any of these lunchboxes look familiar? Not only does The Hangout feature this outstanding collection of lunchboxes, but the restaurant also spotlights an impressive display of Pez dispensers and movie memorabilia. Of course, I would zero in on one of my favorite all-time […]