Adventures abroad

Sedona in the movies: Broken Arrow

I finally watched the 1950 Jimmy Stewart movie, Broken Arrow. I say “finally”, because I’ve been meaning to for years. Sedona, Arizona was a big place for making movies, especially back in the days of the westerns. The thing is, for decades they were making movies here, but never calling it Sedona! … Read article…

British Virgin Islands – How to get to the BVI

The British Virgin Islands are a paradise for sailing, snorkeling, diving, swimming, sunning, beachcombing, relaxing, and tropical drinks. Getting to the BVI isn’t too hard, but there are options to consider. Here are some tips on how to get to the BVI…
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Orcas on the beach, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

About a third of the way down the coast of Argentina, there’s a large peninsula that juts out into the South Atlantic Ocean. From an aerial view, it looks like it should have been an island. The thin strip of land that connects it to the mainland is so narrow, when you drive it, you can see the sea on both sides. The desert here runs right up to the sea, giving brilliant contrasts of brown and blue. This is Peninsula Valdes, and it’s a major wildlife preserve in Argentina — home to a number of unusual and endangered species, both land-based and sea-based.

Taos, New Mexico – Rio Pueblo Gorge (video)

This video is from the Rio Pueblo Gorge, near Taos, New Mexico. This river comes from Taos Pueblo land and runs into the Rio Grande River. This is a deep gorge, but not as deep as the Rio Grande Gorge, which is a spectacular gash across the high desert — almost shocking when you first see it.

On our Santa Fe trip, we go rafting on the Rio Grande. Even though this is a tributary canyon, the video is nice in that it gives you the feeling of the land there. The warm, languid, relaxing feeling you’d get sitting on the side of the river, just enjoying a sunny fall day. It’s the same feeling you get floating downstream — in the calm spots, when you’re not paddling the whitewater, that is! …

San Juan Islands – scuba diving

OK, I’ll say it right up front. We do NOT go scuba diving on our San Juan Islands trips! I’m a wimpy warm water diver, who only likes the tropics (think British Virgin Islands!)

However, even though that water looks pretty chilly to me, it’s fascinating to know what lives down there! The undisputed rulers of the local seas are the orca whales, but there are a ton of other lesser-known, and much less-seen species that live on rocks, walls, and tidal areas around the islands…

Bevagna, Italy – Medieval feast at Le Gaite

Bevagna is a small town in Umbria. It’s a charming and picturesque walled town, that was an important place in ancient Roman days, situated along the Via Flaminia. It’s also home to a festival called Mercato Delle Gaite. For a few days each spring, the town is time-warped back to the middle ages.

If you visit during this time, you’ll find quite a different place than normal! The townspeople are all dressed in medieval garb, and the locals are very much into the spirit of the event. As you wander through the streets, you’ll find all sorts of unusual activities underway…

Travel insurance and swine flu

If your travels are affected by a disease outbreak like swine flu, what does your travel insurance cover? We don’t have any trips to Mexico now (thank goodness). However, this recent information release from Travelex (our partner for travel insurance) is great information on what would happen if YOUR trip were to be affected by something like this!

Here’s a rundown on possible situations and coverage options from Travelex.

Awesome Argentine Armadillo

Peninsula Valdez in Argentina is a sweeping, open space, where the dusty brown desert stretches right to the sparkling sea. Where else do you see armadillos and elephant seals all on the same walk? Not to mention guanacos and sea lions, killer whales and rheas!

I’d always heard that armadillos were shy, and that we were unlikely to see one. However, this little guy (or girl, for all I can tell!) was so intent on lapping up the drops of water that had spilled on the ground here, that his thirst overcame any fear of people, and we were able to get an excellent close-up view…

Napa Valley – Rock spiral on the trail

I was out hiking by myself on a trail up in the hills above Calistoga (north end of Napa Valley), when the trail took an unexpected detour. One minute I was striding down a fairly typical trail, the next, I was going around and around and around in circles! … Read article…

Sedona – Hedgehogs in bloom

One nice thing about visiting the desert in spring, is the flowers that add splashes of color. It’s amazing how even the forbidding cacti, covered in treacherous thorns, have these beautiful blooms. These little hedgehogs are just a few inches tall, and the blossoms are nearly as big as the plants themselves… Read article…