Travel
Getting in the Christmas spirit … in Gdansk, Poland
Last week, I wrote about my Christmas inspiration from (for me, at least) an unlikely source – Vigo, Spain. Immediately after my trip to Vigo, I departed with my family for a long weekend visit to Gdansk, Poland. For years, I have wanted to visit Gdansk. While I always pictured visiting during the summer season…
Read MoreGetting in the Christmas spirit … in Vigo, Spain
The last week of November found me at work in Galicia’s largest city – Vigo. I’ve been several times in this Atlantic coastal city, although always in late summer/early fall, so it was interesting to see it in the colder months. And it was a surprise to see that Vigo now touts itself as the…
Read MoreNew York’s City Island and Orchard Beach
After writing about various islands you can visit when you’re passing through New York – Governor’s Island , Randall’s Island and Roosevelt Island – I’m following it up with another (new for us) island we visited during our last visit – City Island in the Bronx. City Island is easily reached by NY public transport.…
Read MoreEscaping one island to visit another: Manhattan’s Roosevelt Island
There’s so much to do when visiting the island of Manhattan, that visitors don’t often venture to “neighboring” islands. Who knew that New York was such an “island paradise”? I’ve already written about why you should go explore nearby Governor’s Island and peaceful, sports-packed Randall’s Island. I, myself, was guilty of never having been to…
Read MoreEnjoying the winter sun in Madrid’s Parco del retiro
Last December I was with my family in Madrid. We spent lots of time walking around and exploring, and hours in museums enjoying the collections. But the blue skies beckoned and the warm December sun led us to the Parco del retiro, a place I had been for summer visits to Spain’s capital. It was…
Read MoreThe Met’s rooftop art – New York
I’ve been a member of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art for years, and it’s a place I visit often when I’m back in New York. Between the permanent collection, exhibitions and guided talks, there’s always plenty to see. But since my visits generally happen in the summer, I always make a point to…
Read MoreVisiting the birthplace of the nativity scene – in Greccio, Italy
For years I have “meant to” visit Greccio. My luck changed when my youngest son joined the track team in nearby Rieti, about 16 kilometers from this tiny town. Since we are often in Rieti for races, and since this last visit coincided with sunny skies, I finally got my wish post-race. Greccio is a…
Read MoreEnjoying a new angle – from NY’s The Vessel
When I was back in New York with my family this summer, we were curious to see a new monument that sprung up during our absence. In the building frenzy that is the Hudson Yards neighborhood of downtown Manhattan, a new landmark has taken shape – just beside the Hudson Yards subway stop. The Vessel.…
Read MoreHanging out in Washington Harbor
Over the past weeks of travel blogs, I’ve written about a visit to Old Town Alexandria and returning to Washington via water taxi along the Potomac. It seems fitting to include information of where I disembarked – the newly developed Washington Harbor. I first visited Washington Harbor last year, when it was just opening. A…
Read MoreTraveling the Potomac – via water taxi
Last week I wrote about a visit we took this past summer to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, just a short trip away from Washington, DC. I’ve always been reached Alexandria either by car or the metro. On this visit, we took public transport, arriving by metro. But after a nice wander around the town and…
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