The archives record it as Historic Jerome, Arizona. However, people visiting from around the world speak of it as picturesque, distinctly western, fun, friendly and HAUNTED. Jerome is located at an elevation of 5,200 feet on the side of Cleopatra Hill, a portion the east rim of Verde Valley. It occupies a prominent status on […]
Archive | Travel
A Walk in Historic Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona
Looking for Historic buildings and businesses . . . quaint shops and diners . . . top-shelf wineries on both sides of the street . . . all are yours to enjoy in a two block stroll on Main Street in Historic Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona. With its mild climate, friendly people and wide variety of […]
Riding the Verde Canyon Railroad
Fresh, clean country air with just a hint of pine and mesquite . . . peaceful sounds of the slow moving river . . . the vibrant orange Arizona sunset . . . . wildlife along the river’s edge. The rhythmic clickety-clack of a slow-moving historic train. The Verde Canyon Railroad carries passengers through one […]
Our Stay at the Hotel Edelweiss, Wengen, Switzerland
From our vantage point in Wengen, the Jungfrau Range is a lot to take in. It’s a dramatic backdrop, especially today. The billowy white clouds float effortlessly in the bright blue sky, allowing an occasional glimpse of the tops of some of Switzerland’s highest and most rugged peaks. The Classic Swiss Village of Wengen Wengen […]
Climbing the Dome in Florence Italy!
Ever since I watched one of Rick Steve’s programs on Italy and he talked about climbing the dome in Florence, Italy, I decided it was something that I wanted to do. Before his program, I didn’t even know that it was something that people could do. While in Florence, I got the chance. Florence has the […]
Pope Visits Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica viewed from Mecenata Palace Hotel
Rome, Italy is best seen from a base camp located in an interesting area of the city. Our favorite hotel offers just that. With its convenient location five blocks from Roma Termini railway station, the Mecenate Palace Hotel at Via Carlo Alberto, 3, is the place we like to headquarter. This year we found that […]
5 Not-so-Subtle Differences between Americans and Italians
I’ve always heard that travel expands our horizons. I believe that’s true. Travel makes us appreciate what we have. It allows us to learn about traditions and lifestyles different from our own. We get to see spectacular landscapes, historical landmarks, and inspiring architectures that we’ve only read about. But, as soon as you get off […]
The Corrales NM Backyard
Corrales, NM, is located on the north central edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Corrales is home to my daughter, son-in-law and two kids who reside on a hillside in the middle of a critter collection with spacious views. If you look to the north and east you have an unimpeded view of the Sandia Mountains […]
Fireworks in Albuquerque 2015
I thought it would be nice to post a short slideshow of the fireworks show in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 4, 2015. These shots were captured from the backyard of my Son-in-law and daughters house in Corrales, NM. They sit up on a hill side overlooking the Fiesta Balloon Park where the annual Albuquerque […]
Getting “High” in Switzerland: Traveling the Alps
Everyone should have the opportunity to visit Switzerland at least once while traveling the Alps! It’s sure to be one of the best experiences of a lifetime! My family and I had our first opportunity to hike, climb, explore, and take in the spectacular beauty of the Swiss Alps. This was one of the places I’ve […]
Majestic Red Rocks of Sedona Arizona
The Majestic red rocks of Sedona Arizona were on graphic display this past Saturday as Shelli and I traveled north. Sedona with all of its grandeur is located 1.5 hours north of Phoenix along I-17. However, Shelli and I were able to make the trip in about 3.5 hours by choosing to detour through Wickenburg, […]
Hoop Dancing Championship at The Heard Museum
Many of the blog articles for this website are about places to see and things to do in Arizona and New Mexico. So why, I have to ask myself, have I never written an article on the Heard Museum let alone the Hoop Dancing Championship at The Heard Museum? Because, until recently, I had never […]
Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix
Let’s face it. Phoenix has great climate, expertly groomed golf courses, world-famous spas and resorts, trendy shopping, and chef-inspired dining. Any one of these attributes explains why it’s one of America’s favorite cities. But in just a few weeks, we will once again host the Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix ! The city has been busy making sure […]
Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas in Manhattan Video Light Show
This year’s Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas in Manhattan light show was a serendipity experience for Shelli and me. The day’s walk had began at the Hudson Hotel located at the southwest corner of Central Park. We meandered through the theater district to the Empire State Building and Macy’s, then back to Time Square. As we walked through Rockefeller […]
Manhattan Sightseeing
Manhattan is one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world. Manhattan sightseeing can be a mind blowing experience with variety seen in no other place on earth. This slide show will features a few of the sights we were privileged to take in on a recent trip to this world class city.” More […]
Our Magical Rhine River Cruise
Recently, I had the privilege of guest posting on one of my favorite travel websites, Explore River Cruises. In my article, titled, “Places to See on a Rhine River Cruise,” I described our experience of cruising down the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For us, it was the most interesting, scenic, […]
Authentic New Mexican cuisine: the Farm to Table Restaurant
Every year, we spend at least two months with family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The photographic architecture, crisp clean air, strikingly bright blue skies, earthy smells of lavender and sage, and, of course, the Balloon Fiesta make this one of our favorite destination spots in the Great Southwest. But let’s not forget that one of […]
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
As the summer season winds down, most people are taking last minute family excursions. And many of them are planning a trip to the 43rd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. The dates for the event this year are Saturday, October 4th, through Sunday, October 12th. This hot air ballooning event is one of the […]
A Visit to the St. James Tearoom in Albuquerque
Heavenly smells of fresh-baked pastries wafting from the kitchen . . . the soft sounds of wind chimes in the garden . . . Victorian inspired cabinetry stocked with flowery dishes and graceful teapots. Guests lingering over morsels of goodness served on tiered china trays, each bite prepared according to preferences. The St. James Tearoom […]
Albuquerque and Corrales: A Profile in Nature
New Mexico’s abundant wildlife is a huge part of the state’s attraction. Just to show some of the critters in our daughter’s backyard, Ron has posted a few photos of the quail families, the occasional roadrunner, soaring hawks, and various flowers. Many of these photos can be found […]