Read more about the article Lost Mine Trail – Big Bend National Park
Mailboxes for all the residents on Terlingua Ranch Road

Lost Mine Trail – Big Bend National Park

We started our morning waking up before the sunrise and grabbing a quick bite of breakfast at the Bad Rabbit Cafe located at the Terlingua Ranch where we stayed. Walking back to our cabin, dawn lit up the area around us and we were amazed at the beauty of our surroundings.

As we drove on the 17-mile road back to Hwy 118, we noticed a row of mailboxes lined up for all the residents on the street. It’s actually a pretty efficient way to deliver mail and newspapers. Since we had arrived after dark the previous evening, we couldn’t see many of our surroundings. (more…)

Read more about the article Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas

Our ship was Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas. Although older than most ships in the fleet, it offered everything we wanted.

First of all, I liked that there were only about 2,000 passengers on board. Every once in a while we started recognizing people just walking around. In addition to the gym with treadmills, machines and weights, an outdoor track wrapped around the upper deck above the pool area.

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Read more about the article One Day in Lake Como, Italy
Varenna

One Day in Lake Como, Italy

Staying with our theme of one-day trips, we visited Lake Como on the way from Genoa to Venice. I’m so glad we did! With the Alps as a backdrop, the villages along the lake offered relaxing views of Italy’s third largest lake.

We started our exploration of the area at the town of Varenna since we watched a Rick Steves show touting the small town. The 800-resident village (or commune) sits on the eastern side of the lake about mid-section from the uppermost ends. (more…)

Read more about the article One Day in Monaco and the French Riviera
Monaco from the Grande Corniche

One Day in Monaco and the French Riviera

Seeing the French Riviera in one day is impossible. However, we had one full day so we decided to see as much as possible. The day trip was really just a scratching of the surface – if even that – but it was worth it.

After walking around Genoa in the early morning, we set out for our day trip to Monaco and the French Riviera. The 2-hour drive was fairly easy until we got to the hubbub of traffic in Monte Carlo. We drove to the casino but searching for non-existent parking frazzled us too much.

 

Casino de Monte Carlo was originally built in 1854

Car horns beeped, motorcycles sped by us – everyone seemed to be in a hurry. I was surprised by how many skyscrapers loomed. Even though the population is only 48,000 (smaller than several US universities), it is crammed into a tiny space less than 1 square mile. We decided to leave without stopping – a decision I don’t regret. (more…)