No spring visit to Japan is complete without the wonder of sakura or cherry blossoms. At the end of each winter forecasts are published about peak blooms throughout Japan for the upcoming sakura season. The forecast for 2017 is here. The blossoms mark the beginning of spring and also symbolize renewal. The blooms are short… Continue reading Sakura! Experience Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season

On a visit to Lisbon, Portugal several years ago I was blown away by the buildings covered in tiles. I even bought a few antique tiles at Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s large flea market. During our recent trip to Faro on Portugal’s southern coast we again saw beautiful tile work on the buildings which I… Continue reading Portugal’s Amazing Tile Work

We spent Christmas in Malta. Undoubtedly one of the must sees on a trip to Malta is the Azure Window. It’s no wonder that it was was selected as one of the 50 most beautiful places in Europe! It is located on Gozo, the 2nd largest of Malta’s islands. The arch or window was formed […]

In case you haven’t heard, Portugal is the new Iceland. I read that pronouncement in a recent article. Every year there is an “it” destination, last year it was Iceland. Portugal has taken Iceland’s spot for 2017. We had been to Lisbon several years ago when we lived in Europe and really liked it, great… Continue reading 3 Days on Portugal’s Algarve Coast

I love doors and often take photos of them when I travel. I have photos of arched doors in Morocco and intricately carved doors in India. The significance of doors is that they make the first impression to people about you, your culture and your home. On our Christmas trip to Malta I photographed a… Continue reading Malta’s Doors

A few months ago I wrote about my favorite hobby, shopping at charity shops (thrift stores for those in the US). I put the spotlight on the charity shops in the Edinburgh neighborhood of Stockbridge. Another great neighborhood for charity shopping in Edinburgh is Morningside. Morningside is an affluent neighborhood that lies to the south… Continue reading Edinburgh Charity Shops by Neighborhood: MORNINGSIDE

Located just 50 miles from Tokyo, Japan, Hakone is an area of great natural beauty. One of the most interesting things to do in Hakone is to visit Owakudani, or the “Great Boiling Valley”, a hot spring with vents that release sulfur dioxide fumes. The area is famous for their black eggs, regular chicken eggs… Continue reading The Black Eggs of Hakone, Japan

Winter in Malta is a perfect time to take advantage of the great hiking opportunities the island offers. Our first full day in Malta also happened to be Christmas Day and we knew that not much was going to open so we decided to enjoy the great weather and take a hike. The visitmalta.com web… Continue reading Hiking in Malta

I don’t know about you, but I like getting off the beaten path when I travel. If you are in Edinburgh and want to explore some hidden gems outside of the Royal Mile (for the most part), here are some of my favorites: Afternoon tea on the Royal Yacht Brittania Dog cemetery at Edinburgh Castle… Continue reading Edinburgh, Off the Beaten Path #1

I have lots of catch up to do. Since the end if December we have been to Malta and to York, England, with New Year’s in Edinburgh in between those two trips. This was our first New Years or hogmanay in Scotland. Hogmanay is the Scots word for December 31st. Traditions during the multi-day celebration… Continue reading River of Fire at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay