Zion National Park: Lessons and Insights
Glorious Zion: Lesson #4 The Narrows The Narrows: It took a private shuttle, but we finally entered the glorious Zion National Park. Clearly soul searchingly magnificent, the shuttle wound its picturesque way to the final stop: The Temple of Sinawava, the departure...
Love in the Time of Corona on the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Penisula--Pre-Pandemic Timing is everything, especially with travel. Don't travel when it's too hot or too cold or too touristy. Our timing for our March trip to New Zealand was sublime. Pre-pandemic. We left Tuesday, March 3, 2020, just as international...
Hobbiton, Life on the Shire
Shire Living at Hobbiton If you are a fan of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, you know that the movies were filmed in New Zealand where director Peter Jackson is from. The shire is described as Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's iconic fantasies. “In a hole in the...
Rotorua, Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble: New Zealand
Rotorua The town of Rotorua at first glance is unimpressive giving off an industrial vibe. It didn't help that the lakeside view was obstructed by a major renovation. However, a dig below the surface is highly recommended. And literally below the surface are...
Lake Taupo, Extra Extra-Ordinary Nature
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better --Albert Einstein Beauty abounds in Lake Taupo, a lakeside hamlet two hours west of Napier. Huka Falls and the Waikato River Our goal for the day to soak in the beauty of Lake Taupo starting with...
Napier, Art Deco Time Warp
Napier, Art Deco Land From Rotorua, we passed Lake Taupo and continued on to the city of Napier on the glorious green Hawkes Bay. Napier, a small town on North Island's east coast, is famous for its excess of Art Deco architecture and decor. Fate played a role. An...
Winding Our Way to Waitomo
Magical Glow Worm Caves Completing our loop around the North Island in New Zealand, our last stop is Waitomo, famous for its glowworm caves. It's evident that New Zealand is touched by magic from the majestic Coromandel Penisula to the Hobbit Shires at Hobbiton. What...
Stupid Travel Mistakes
My guests share their travel mistakes and mishaps, so we can learn from them. Always Get the Address! by Penelope's Odysseys Seeing the sign “Penny” outside of baggage claim calmed my jittery nerves. It had been a rough flight from LAX to...
Tokyo: Zen on Steroids
A futuristic blast to the past, orderly hordes, the tame, tame East, lost in transportation and Zen on steroids New to Japan and as a stranger in a strange land, I came equipped with one Japanese phrase, domo arigato, which means "thank you" probably the most useful...
Buenos Aires
The first time I heard Buenos Aires described as the Paris of South America, a desire inflamed my brain to travel there. A cosmopolitan city of immigrants, home of the tango, and the land of the romantic Cowboy Guachos. what's not to like. Full disclosure: As much as...