Sex and Catholic Guilt in a Tide Pool

A half hour ride away from our ship, our skiff beached itself on the coastline of a tiny island. Today we were going tide pooling, and one by one, we abandoned our vessel to begin our hunt for coastal aquatic life. The tide was out, and usually hidden treasures glistened under the early morning sun.Continue reading “Sex and Catholic Guilt in a Tide Pool”

Rick Steves Learns To Be Prepared…The Hard Way

If you know anything about my partner Rick, you know that he works tirelessly and passionately to teach people about traveling in Europe.  He is one of the few people I know who, after working a 16-hour day (as he is prone to do when researching and updating his guidebooks or filming his TV showContinue reading “Rick Steves Learns To Be Prepared…The Hard Way”

Does A Bear $#&% in the Woods?

Does A Bear $#&% in the Woods? I can’t tell you that answer for sure, but I do know they catch salmon in a river. We had been kayaking for about ten minutes when our expedition leader, Laurie, got word on her walkie-talkie that a brown bear had been spotted at the mouth of aContinue reading “Does A Bear $#&% in the Woods?”

Ditch Your Fear and Seize the Day

I couldn’t even begin to look at the scenery around me: the glassy water, the powder blue sky, the regal mountains, and the lush vegetation along the banks of the bay.  All my energies and all my attention were focused on not falling into the frigid Alaskan waters.  I had no idea what I wasContinue reading “Ditch Your Fear and Seize the Day”

There’s More to Nature Than Meets the Eye

Alaska is big.   I mean it’s huge.   It’s twice the size of Texas.  On this seven-day cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage, we would explore a mere fraction of this massive state, but what we would see was enough to fill my camera with almost 1400 photos and my mind with countless unforgettable memories. While IContinue reading “There’s More to Nature Than Meets the Eye”

A Place That’s All Your Own

One of the most annoying things about travel/tourism is that if you’re going to someplace that’s popular, everyone else is too.  That means crowds, lines that seem to have no end, pushing and shoving, and odors that you didn’t think were humanly possible.  With all of that mass of humanity, patience and a good senseContinue reading “A Place That’s All Your Own”

Natural Beauty: Worth the Bite

I detest insects.  I can’t help it.  I like spiders, snakes, dogs, cats, cows, chickens, monkeys, and sheep, but not insects.  They tend to bite me…a lot.  So, I generally do my best to avoid them.  My windows are kept closed if there’s no screen, and I wear Off! or a citronella wristband (so fashionable)Continue reading “Natural Beauty: Worth the Bite”

Making the Best out of Being Where You Are (part 2 The How-To)

In my previous blog post, I wrote: Whether you’re away on vacation or just living like a local on “staycation”, whether it’s your virgin visit or you know the place like a pro, find alternate ways to enjoy the place you’re visiting.  You have the opportunity and the choice to do something beyond the ordinary,Continue reading “Making the Best out of Being Where You Are (part 2 The How-To)”