I was up in Canada and a friend said, “LOOK, there are the Northern Lights.”
Funny, I could not see them, but I indulged my friend and took a picture. GUESS WHAT – in the picture, I could see the Northern Lights. The stars were amazing, they felt so close as if you could touch them.
One night I saw the Big Dipper, it was so clear, but I did not have my cell phone with me to take a picture.
I loved how the sky would be mirrored in the lake. So many great nature photos.
Also, a Canadian magnet puzzle – that was funny!
Canada is beautiful, I look forward to going back. I’d like to visit Quebec.
I was on Meetup.com looking at different events and found a speed puzzling one. I signed up. It was fun.
You could sign up Solo or in Teams of 2-4.
When I got there, there were two puzzles on the table. The 100 piece was for practice while we waited for other participants to arrive.
The 500 was for the competition. This was my FIRST time doing this. There was a time limit on completing the puzzle, I forgot what that was. As I was Solo, I wasn’t going to win.
I focused on 1) Making sure pieces didn’t fly all over and 2) I completed part of the puzzle.
Somehow, when I opened my bag, ONE piece flew into the open box. Of course, I didn’t see that until the end. The host laughed when he told me HE had seen it, but rules are rules, he could not alert me to this.
That was definitely a “newbie / rookie” puzzling mistake.
I believe the first and second teams won two Ravensburger puzzles each. Then those teams would have to flip a coin on WHO brings a puzzle home.
So, if you are getting bored at home, sign into Meetup.com or EventBrite, lots of activities out there.
Fun events at museums too. I haven’t been to a museum in ages, that will be NEXT.
I just read a great article on a vacation with no phones. Well, that’s the idea. Finland has declared that this summer they want tourists to enjoy the island of Ulko-Tammio, a national park, know as the “happiest country in the world” without using their phones. YES, without using their phones.
This was music to my ears. I’m tired of phones and constant picture taking. I just want to RELAX. The idea of going to a National Park and enjoying nature as we did “before” cell phones sounds marvelous. I talked with other friends, they feel the same. The constant pictures/selfies takes away from enjoying “the moment.”
I went to Google to see “where” Ulko-Tammio is as I have not traveled to this area. As you see, it’s very far North. My daughter was in Norway last December. She said it took a couple of flights to get there. Not always easy to make the connections, less flights, etc. However, once in Norway, so beautiful.
So, let’s see what happens. I do feel that the right people who want to enjoy nature will gladly put their phones aside. Laughing, wouldn’t this be funny. You are walking in the forest, you decide you just “have to have” the photo of a bird and you hear on a microphone, “Miss, this is a phone-free zone, please put cell phone away. PLEASE put cell phone away! Have a great day!”
Ah, but without my cell phone, how would I take a photo to PROVE I was there?? Wait, I could photoshop the perfect photo, you’d NEVER know! Then I could use AI to write my post. You see where I’m going here?
Finally, a happy and interesting story in the news!
Are you looking for ideas on places to explore? I received this MT. SOBEK adventure magazine in the mail. It’s really wonderful. They have trips all over the world. They’ve been in business since 1969. If you’re interested, I’ve put a link to their website. They also have a travel Blog.
Here’s what you would see in the magazine. Trips are in this format. I’m not sure what’s included in the price. I read online they take small groups for each trip, approximately 10 people.
On the website the About section explains how the company got started and who the founders are. This was interesting, the name SOBEK is the Egyptian God of crocodiles. They didn’t say why they chose this name, they just explained where the name came from.
This was an enjoyable catalog/magazine to go through. So many exciting trips.
There is a trip called, “Mongolia Horse Trek.” OK, I don’t ride horses daily, but this trip piqued my interest. I’ve always wanted to go to Mongolia. LOL – Don’t shake your head yet.
I’M OFF TO RESEARCH, LEARN MORE…. WHO KNOWS!
Aren’t we supposed to go out of our comfort zone?!
That reminds me, the Lottery is SKY HIGH again, I better get ONE ticket – that’s all it takes, right!
Anyone thinking of Rudyard Kipling’s, “Jungle Book” right now?
Kudos for creativity and humor.
We have ALL accumulated “things” that need to be given away, thrown away or repurposed.
I admit… sometimes I enjoy walking, but there are days when “trying” to get 10K steps in is a “real chore.”
Imagine seeing this TIGER on my walk.
Suddenly, I perked up!
I had decided to walk in a different neighborhood. So glad I did.
That tiger gave me the extra energy I needed to get my steps in. I just couldn’t stop smiling, such a clever idea.
I also thought of a child coming home from College and seeing their favorite stuffed animal in a tree, not sure how well that would go over. Of course, maybe it was a child who put the tiger in the tree. So many scenarios.
When was the last time you sent a postcard? For me, it’s been years. It’s so easy to snap a photo and send it via text or email. DONE! Taking time to write a postcard, buy the stamp and mail it seems “archaic.” Real EFFORT would have to be put into that process, right!
At my hotel, they had a small entry way. There were people ahead of me to check in. I was standing next to — drum roll — a bunch of postcards. To pass the time…
I started looking them over, remembering how my daughters send me postcards when they are on a trip. I always enjoy the surprise card in the mail. EFFORT = LOVE
So, I decided, I should surprise them in return. I bought two Trevi Fountain postcards.
I wrote:
Just threw THREE COINS in Trevi Fountain. ONE was mine. ONE was your Sister’s. ONE is YOURS! MAKE YOUR WISH! Love, Mama XOXO
Hopefully, they receive the card, so they can make their wish.
When I asked where to buy a stamp, I was told to go to the newsstand. At the newsstand, the fellow gave me my stamps and when I asked WHERE to mail the cards, he pointed to this little yellow mailbox below the postcards.
I had a BIG smile, going back in time.
I admit, I wondered if it was legitimate. It looked cute, but it was in such an odd place.
I asked for confirmation.
The fellow nodded his head — YES!
So, in the box, my postcards went.
Now, to see if they will be delivered!
I made MY WISH! They need to make THEIRS!
I enjoyed THINKING of something clever to write.
Oh, I learned that the Vatican area has it’s own stamps. So, if you mail something through a Vatican mailbox, it must have a Vatican postage stamp on it.
GPS mail — I think on the receipt there was a bar code to scan. If I can find that, I might be able to track my postcards. That would be interesting… right!
When I tell someone I stayed at a monastery, they give me a strange look. Am I overly religious OR becoming a Nun. It does make me smile. I know they are missing out by being narrow minded.
A few years ago, I was in Florence for an extended period. Given that, I searched hotels, hostels, etc. for a more economical way to stay there. Up popped this website — www.MonasteryStays.com. You can see from the Home page, it looked interesting. I was intrigued.
To date, I have stayed at three monasteries in Florence, one in Assisi, one in Cortona and one in Rome.
The monastery in Cortona felt like a boutique hotel. You would not know it was a monastery. FABULOUS!! In fact, I did not see any Nuns around. Don’t quote me, but I think they had TVs in the room.
Here’s what you should know. While each monastery is different, they do have similarities:
Breakfast served at a certain time. Sit where your name is placed on the table.
Breakfast – bread, butter/jam, yogurt, lunch meat, cereal, fruit, coffee/tea. Unique to each stay.
When you leave monastery, leave your key at reception.
Curfew, need to be in by 11 or 12 pm, depends on the monastery.
TVs, some monasteries have them, some don’t.
Wifi — yes, most of them.
Summer – check if they have air conditioning.
Note: Sometimes the Nuns only speak Italian or at reception they have an English speaking person.
WHO CAN STAY? Anyone – single, married, parents with kids, workers who are on assignment stay there. Now, honeymooners??? LOL – if you are loud at sex/love making, you certainly would have ALL of us entertained and in shock. In fact, I imagine the cross hanging in my room would start shaking. The monasteries do tend to be quiet.
HOW ARE THE ROOMS? I must say, quite spacious and nice. Great bathrooms.
This was my place in Rome. Nice, very clean and a balcony. LOVE the white pressed sheets! Resembled some normal hotels I stayed in Munich.
Trying to think if I missed anything. If you browse the Monastery Stays website, you’ll see ALL the rooms, read through what they offer. Good rates too.
Any questions… leave a comment, happy to answer.
REALLY love the monastery stays. Wish they had this type of website for Germany.
I haven’t been to the Library in a long time. Before COVID to be exact. It’s so easy now to get books online, that going to the library isn’t necessary. Yet, there’s something about a nice hardcover book in my hands that makes reading that much more enjoyable. Sit by the window, no straining with the eyes.
The other day I walked passed a library. I decided to go in. I forgot how nice it is to look at the section for NEW books that “just arrived.” I was so happy! All sorts of unknown book titles. Before I knew it, I had been in the library almost 2 hours. Amazing, I was a little kid, opening one book after another.
It’s also interesting to see what books people return. Look at this, I found a Jeffrey Archer book. I used to read him all the time. Then moved on, but I really enjoy his writing style.
I can’t give a review of the book yet. I’ll admit that the story line does not seem NEW so far. Seems like a plot that’s been out there already. I’m hoping for some MAJOR twists and turns, so I am not left yawning and skimming versus reading to get to the end.
I was recently in Memphis for a wedding and we stopped off at The Peabody Memphis hotel to see the DUCK MARCH. I found this YouTube video, so you can see what it looks like. The ducks have a special home on the rooftop / penthouse. They come down the center elevator and march down the red carpet to the lobby fountain every day at 11:00 AM. People come from all over the world to see the ducks. THEN at 5:00 pm, the Duckmaster escorts the ducks back to their rooftop penthouse for the evening.
In 1940, Mr Pembroke became the first Duckmaster and taught the ducks the famous Duck March. He served in this position for 50 years. He was a former circus animal trainer. I loved this photo of him.
Of course, while we waited, we had to have the signature Peabody Duck Drink, little floating duck on top.
It’s amazing that something so simple as marching ducks to a hotel fountain can be so entertaining. We enjoyed seeing them. The weekend was especially busy with families coming to watch with their children.
It’s a beautiful historic hotel. I tried to visit St Jude Hospital to see the Danny Thomas Memorial Garden, but the hospital was closed to visitors. Music on Beale street was fun!
Glad we had a wedding to go to in Memphis, fun visiting.
On the way to Providence, our flight was in line to take off. I looked out the window and took this photo. So many planes in line and pretty close together. Looked beautiful. Upon landing, I saw this map that shows how close other well known cities are. So, depending on how much time you spend in Rhode Island, you can travel quickly to Boston, New York, etc.
As Rhode Island is on the water, I saw this gold ship on the top of one of the buildings.
We walked over to Brown University and saw their Mascot, the brown bear.
Along the way, saw this house. You can see the style is so different, so took a photo. Not sure of the significance…
Another interesting house. I liked the BLUE doors, but they don’t seem to fit with the style of the house.
I was reading in the Brown University newspaper that these scooters have become a big deal for Athletes. Since they have so many practices and would be walking 1-2 miles between class and practice, they were getting worn out. So, some of them started using these scooters. Then more started using them, while they can be dangerous in traffic, the athletes said it was worth the risk.
Here is an old bank, now that looked like a fortress.
Here you can see the river…
The Rhode Island trip comes to an end. Providence is small. We did walk the street where they have the Italian section. Being Italian, I would like to jump up for joy, but I was not impressed. It felt like a run down area, so that was sad. They did have my favorite cookies from Italy, but expiration date was June 2021. How fresh do cookies stay after expiration date? I passed.
I did meet a woman who had moved with her family from Southern California to Rhode Island. She said she LOVES Rhode Island. Simpler way of life, not so materialistic and she liked the change of seasons.
So, if COVID is holding you back from International travel. Take some small trips close to you, it’s worth it! We had fun!
Brilliant Viewpoint 