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The Spiritual and the Spectacular — a Pilgrimage in Japan

In 2004 the Kumano Kodo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site — making it one of only two pilgrimage routes to achieve this accolade. Many sections of the ancient mountain paths have recently been restored and there are a range of comfortable traditional guesthouses (known as ryokan and minshuku) along the way. Therefore, it is now possible to undertake your very own pilgrimage, and as such, walk your way into a small part of Japan’s history.

In the Land of Nye

On the creaky second floor there are fewer writings and etchings than on the first floor, but they are still clustered in certain places where the plaster has not broken off from the old wood. Many of the names were written over a hundred years ago. However, at the base of a grandiose door frame, carved rather haphazardly in bold letters, an etching reads: “Charlie Manson & Family — 1969”. It is hardly what one would expect to find in a ghost town, yet it has been interwoven into the long and interesting history of Nye County, Nevada.

From Earth to Earthenware, a Visit with a Tohono O’odham Potter in the Sonoran Desert

Angea warmly greets me and invites me into his home. His home is a combination living and work area. There is a hutch near the front door filled with finished pottery. The dining room table/work bench is filled with pieces he is making. Angea tells me that he uses two types of clay from the area, white and red. He learned his trade from his mother, who learned it from her mother. Pots made of white clay are used for decoration and those made of red clay for food and water storage.

Shangri La: World-Class Sanctuary in a Small Texas Town

Lazily strolling along, I was listening to the sound of my own steps crunching on the pebble-strewn path and stopping every so often to rest in a patch of shade that dappled the walkway before me. Watching the comings and goings of the bees flitting from one bloom to the next, inhaling the sweet smell of lilies and honeysuckle heavy in the air, and listening to the sound of trickling water, one could easily forget such things as deadlines and due dates. Luckily, Shangri La isn’t an escape available only to an enlightened few but to everyo

Tea in Wonderland

Tea time begins with small glass bottles filled with unique tea blends to continue the whimsical journey. With blends like Mint Chocolate and Strawberries and Cream, you will have a hard time choosing just one flavor. If you change your mind or simply finish your pot, you are more than welcome to try the other flavors on offer. The waiter will ask you to smell the jars to determine which hot drink you’d like. If you wish, you can also order a cocktail or champagne to accompany your other drinks.

Sand in Your Shoes – Sossusvlei, Namibia

It’s not unusual to see oryxes, impalas, springbok, jackals, ostriches, and zebras as you drive the area. At night, the sky is a wonder to behold. Sossusvlei is reputed to be the least light-polluted area in the world. The sky contains a million stars and all are highly visible! The Milky Way is enormous and very easy to distinguish. Since this is the southern hemisphere you can see the Southern Cross but not the Big Dipper.

Hockey Night in Florida

When I think about Florida I think sunshine, beaches, dozens of restaurants, swimming, shopping, shuffleboard, motor homes, and RV parks. The last thing I think about is hockey. Back when the earth was still cooling many of us started to play hockey. Outdoors. We changed into our skates in the snow. So it is a bit difficult for me to get my mind around hockey in Florida on a warm evening.

Colonial Spanish Luxury in Old Town Quito

As soon as you step inside the door, it is very easy to see that this truly was the home of colonial Spanish nobility. The reception lobby must originally have been the home’s greeting parlor, from where you step down into a lofty covered atrium. Today, the atrium functions as the hotel’s first-rate restaurant, called Rincon de Cantuna. A terrific breakfast buffet of the quito_buffetfreshest local fruits is displayed every morning on locally woven and beautifully colored Ecuadorian cloths. The buffet is a complete breakfast with eggs, meats, and breads, or you can order from the menu. Melody and I also had a delicious and tender Filet Mignon for dinner in the Rincon de Cantuna one evening.

Sailing Like Johnny Depp in Turks and Caicos

Almost on cue, a passenger pointed to a dark object swimming 30 feet from the Atabeyra’s stern. Junior exclaimed, “There’s JoJo and he’s got a girlfriend.” JoJo is Turks and Caicos’s most famous mammal, a dolphin known for swimming solo and loving the company of humans. Today, JoJo greeted the Atabeyra with a companion that Junior determined was a female. Perhaps JoJo’s potential romance had something to do with the Atabeyra name, which means Goddess of Fertility.