The highlight of a visit to this National Park is the Benxi Water Cave system (located about 45 minutes from the major city of Shenyang). This 500 million year old cave is the world's longest underwater river cave accessible by boat. It is one of this region's most visited attractions - the temperature is 12C year round - so if you are visiting in the summer its a welcome relief from the heat and during the dead of winter - a huge temperature … [Read more...]
A Day in the heavenly city of Suzhou
Above there is heaven below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou goes the famous quote, I haven’t been above yet, but they did a great job below. Suzhou is a monument to China’s amazing growth and modernization, the new areas of the city display some of the best city engineering there is, with modern architecture, wide streets and beautiful gardens all around. While the old sections have been preserved and restored to serve as first class tourist & … [Read more...]
Exploring Vienna the Best Way, by Bicycle!
Arriving in Vienna was a shock after the calm and small town feel of Bratislava we have enjoyed the past few days. We were deposited right in the Museum District - which is a busy section of the city filled with massive and imposing historical buildings in all directions. Vienna has so much to see that we quickly decided trying to see some of its impressive architectural offerings on foot was not a good idea. We have been here several times on … [Read more...]
Mom’s Weekend in NYC: Press Reset
It’s become a cliche that moms don’t prioritize themselves enough, but that doesn’t make it any less true. It’s difficult to hear your own thoughts, needs and desires when someone else’s needs keep needling into your brain, demanding milk, socks and Zerby Derby. As with triage, the most urgent desires get attended to first and lesser urges, namely your own, get relegated and relegated until they begin to atrophy. A weekend away may seem a … [Read more...]
Kayaking the Los Angeles River in the Middle of an Urban Jungle!
The River When you stand solitary on North Main Street next to the railroad tracks above the Los Angeles River all you feel is a deep sadness as you look down on a river that has been dramatically altered in a relatively short amount of time. You look down on a river that has been soiled by trash and has become a concrete waterway juxtaposed with brightly colored graffiti where those entrapped by the city, drugs, gangs and poverty … [Read more...]
The Florida Keys: Funky, Fantastic, and Fun (as in, “Lots of”)
Remember when you were a kid and the carnival would come to town, and there would be one great ride after another, gooey kid foods, a happy crowd and a sense of being somewhere special? The Florida Keys are like that—but with better rides (things to see and do) and definitely better food. I recently spent five days in the Keys, and packed in a whirlwind of sightseeing goodness (and packed in sumptuous plates full of fabulous food). Top to … [Read more...]
‘Someday’ – When Europe called
It was sometime in early 2011. I was having a chat with a couple of friends centered on a quote from the Tom Cruise starrer ‘Knight and Day’. Not exactly the kind of movie to throw up quotes worthy of discussion or much thought. But surprisingly, it did have one particularly special quote– moving, thought-provoking, enigmatic and slightly frightening if I may say so. “Someday. That's a dangerous word. It's really just a code for 'never'. … [Read more...]
Experience Authentic Venice at the Enrica Rocca Cooking School
I've been in Venice for 10 days by the time I meet Enrica Rocca; long past the point where I can stomach another meal from a restaurant with unappetizing photos of pasta plastered in the window. I'm desperate for something authentic and, as I walk with her through the Rialto markets, I sense I've found it. A native Venetian, Enrica is on a first name basis with most (if not all) of the vendors and shopkeepers in the city. The fishmongers at … [Read more...]
Amsterdam -Top Hats, Absinth and Chocolate Sprinkles
“I want to live in ONLY places where I can wear a pink wig.” These were the heart felt, love stricken words of my friend in love with the way Amsterdam made her feel. So far I have been to two cities that made me feel magic in the air. One is San Francisco where I have lived since I left home at 18; and the other is Amsterdam. There is something about the air there that makes you want to stay and never go home. I remember as a kid whenever … [Read more...]
Learn the Ropes to Cruise the Waterways of France
When I first went to Paris, I was struck by the beauty of this city. I was also amazed at how many boats I saw. Before I went I read about its history and about the things to see, food to taste and museums to visit. But being one who has spent a lot of time on boats, I was really surprised that I had not seen anything written about, or photos of, all the boats. Walking along the Seine I saw numerous vessels and wondered where they all came from. … [Read more...]
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