8 02, 2019

Hogwarts at Night

By |February 8th, 2019|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I always seem to visit Hogwarts during a full moon! Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

14 12, 2017

Christmas at Hogwarts

By |December 14th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Christmas at Hogwarts. Words that send chills of excitement to any Harry Potter fan. And I was lucky enough to experience the Universal Studios Hollywood version a few weeks ago. This is the first year they've done it in the US. Last year Universal Japan pioneered the event. And Livingston Studios in the UK has always outdone the holidays. So it was great to visit something closer to home! Everywhere you look the town of Hogsmeade is decorated for the holidays! And you'll find Hot Butterbeer on tap! (It is a unique butterscotch flavor that isn't overwhelming.) And you can get a

10 06, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Sandy Lighthouse

By |June 10th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I have a little collection of Sand Castles, and this one is actually a lighthouse! I got it in Coronado right across from the Del hotel. I got it specifically because it wasn't a castle. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

17 02, 2016

30 at 30: Best Experiences So Far

By |February 17th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment

Today is my birthday, and I've hit the "Big 3-0". I wanted to look back at 30 of my favorite travel memories in my life, in no particular order: Fulfilling my dream of going to Egypt, seeing so many amazing tombs and temples Sitting alone in the temples of Abu Simbel and Karnak Climbing into and on top of a pyramid Wandering the Christmas Markets of Munich Seeing the castles of Germany Taking a haunted trolly/walking tour of Boston graveyards. Seeing as many museums as I could in Washington, DC Swimming with sharks in Belize Racing golf-carts on Caye Caulker Making

12 02, 2016

Takashima Castle

By |February 12th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Japanese castles are fascinating architecturally (although this one was empty on the inside). This one is in Suwa and overlooks the large lake. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

27 06, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Sand Castles in the Sky

By |June 27th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

My family use to live in San Diego when I was very little. Every trip that either they or I have gone, I have received a Sand Castle as a gift. Here is one of my favorites, and it is one of the larger castles. They are made from real sand! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

4 04, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Bagpipe Practice Chanter

By |April 4th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I grew up learning to play many instruments from piano, drums, guitar, and the clarinet.  Which is probably why this Practice Chanter to help learn how to play Bagpipes caught my eye in Scotland. Scottish Bagpipe Practice Chanter I bought it right after seeing Edinburgh Military Tattoo right outside Edinburgh Castle. It is a double reed instrument that feels like a cross between a clarinet and a recorder. But the sound is much closer to a Bagpipe/recorder hybrid. This particular Chanter...is very cheap. It is hard to play the notes, and the reed isn't the best quality. But

8 03, 2014

Souvenir Saturday: Its Smaller on the Outside

By |March 8th, 2014|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I was on my last afternoon in Ireland, and had a lot of euro coins left over. Knowing that my bank won't exchange coins, was buying random souvenirs as gifts. One of the last items I bought was a small county flag of Dublin, Ireland. I had seen them around while traveling and they reminded me of the flags of the different contrade of Siena. But when I returned home and open the package, I found that this 7 euro flag, was not a small flag.  But it was actually the size of a traditional flag (about the size of a