Christmas in Crete

Christmas in Crete

We drove into Heraklion, from our apartment in Ligaria, just about every day of our trip to Crete. On Christmas Eve we toured the outdoor markets in Heraklion.  The fish market was stocked with a variety of local catches.  A little further, there was a young lady making Turkish coffee and giving it away as a gift to passersby.  Crete was a treat. 

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Scuba Diving in Cairns, Australia

Scuba Diving in Cairns, Australia

Prior to leaving for our scuba diving trip near Cairns in Australia, we bought a living aboard package which allowed us to  explore more remote areas of the Great Barrier Reef.  We dove four to five times each day, saw and even fed sharks.  We highly recommend this trip.

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Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas Market) in Nürnberg, Germany

Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas Market) in Nürnberg, Germany

There is plenty to see at the Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas Markets) in Nuremberg, Germany.  Handmade ornaments, all sorts of gifts and treats.  Everything is intricately decorated.  There are carolers and musicians playing classic hymns.  It is a delight.  Though I had never experienced anything like the Christkindlesmarkt, a warm nostalgia swept over me. 

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Crystal Park in Montana, USA

Crystal Park in Montana, USA

Are you a rock hound?  Do you love digging in the dirt to find hidden treasure?  Are you fascinated by geological gems?  If so, you will enjoy an afternoon at Crystal Park in the Pioneer Mountains of Southwest Montana.  Crystal Park is off the beaten path at 7,800 feet above sea level.  On your honor, pay a small fee to dig to your hearts content. 

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Floating the Kampot River in Cambodia

Floating the Kampot River in Cambodia

For the ultimate in relaxation, visitors to southern Cambodia need look no further than the Kampot River. Running through the middle of charming French-colonial Kampot, the riverway is actually part of an estuary, mixing fresh and saltwater depending on the tide. It is easy to take in the ambiance from a comfy chair at any of the riverside guesthouses, but best experienced through a leisurely float.

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Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany is famous for its production of a Passion Play, which was first performed in 1634, and its woodcarvers.  The Oberammergau Passion Play is the result of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village when God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague. The village is also known as the home of a long tradition of woodcarving; the Bavarian State Woodcarving School is located there.  The streets of central Oberammergau are home to dozens of woodcarver shops, with pieces ranging from religious subjects, to toys, to humorous portraits.

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Sardegna (Sardinia), an Autonomous Region of Italia (Italy)

Sardegna (Sardinia), an Autonomous Region of Italia (Italy)

I drove zig zag across Sardinia, Italy to visit all the sites on my wish list.  There are 7,000 Nuraghi, or Nuraghic ruins throughout Sardinia.  The distinctive, cone-shaped stone towers dot the countryside.  Their history and purpose are impressive.  Near Alghero, is the Grotte Di Nettuno (Neptune’s Caves), which is well worth the drive.  The hike to the cave is a spectacular representation of Sardinia’s west coast.  A highlight of my trip.

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Savenac Historic Tree Nursery in Haugan, Montana

Savenac Historic Tree Nursery in Haugan, Montana

Few of you may be familiar with the 1900s style and smell associated with the forest service and national parks of North America.  When I saw a sign for “Historic Tree Nursery” along Interstate 90 between Missoula, Montana and the Idaho state line, my heart went a flutter.  I have toured countless nurseries and I most definitely wanted to visit the Savenac Historic Tree Nursery in Haugan, Montana.  

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Sandhill Cranes, a Gift to Savor

Sandhill Cranes, a Gift to Savor

Sandhill Cranes have become some what common place to me, as have Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles.  Once upon a time, not that long ago, it was a celebrated moment to witness one of these rare birds.  Be careful not to take for granted the gifts that we have.  It is important to relish the simple things that happen often.  Daily news reports remind us that life is fragile and precarious.  It is a blessing to be given beautiful gifts.  Even small ones.  Take great care to not squander any good thing.

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Gleneagles Golf Course in Scotland

Gleneagles Golf Course in Scotland

Gleneagles has remained famous for its world class golf courses: the King's Course, Queen's Course and PGA Centenary Course, previously known as the Monarch's Course.  It connects with Glen Devon to form a pass through the Ochil Hills of Perth and Kinross in Scotland. 

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Visit Unique Cliff-Side Monastery in Central Russia

Visit Unique Cliff-Side Monastery in Central Russia

ancient Russians found a few limestone cliffs on the banks of the Don and excavated rooms into them. One of the places is named Divnogorie or “the place with amazing mountains” in Russian. Another one is Belogorie or “the place with white mountains”. Both places are located in the Voronezh area on rural roads, away from the cities and crowds.

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Bannack State Park: a Ghost Town in Southwest Montana, USA

Bannack State Park:  a Ghost Town in Southwest Montana, USA

Most of the buildings remaining in Bannack State Park, a ghost town in southwest Montana, are still in decent shape and open for perusal.  Wallpaper and linoleum are pealing back to reveal years and transitions.  The mind wanders as you study what used to be.  There are a few really noteworthy specimens of old Bannack buildings that you will naturally be drawn to.  Such as the hotel, with its beautiful, sweeping staircase that takes you from the lobby to the second floor. The state park offers more than just walking through musty corridors and looking out rolled glass panes.  It has a variety of events and activities throughout the year.

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Lichtenstein Castle (Schloss Lichtenstein) in Germany

Lichtenstein Castle (Schloss Lichtenstein) in Germany

Lichtenstein Castle (Schloss Lichtenstein), built in Gothic Revival style, has been described as the "fairy tale castle of Württemberg." The ruins of a medieval castle, that inspired a novel, are a few hundred meters away. The name Lichtenstein translates as "shining stone."

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Iceland, Inside Volcano Thrihnukagigur

Iceland, Inside Volcano Thrihnukagigur

You can actually go inside volcano Thrihnukagigur in Iceland.  People are lowered into a volcano by a window washers’ scaffold and allowed to explore the colorful, tear-drop-shaped volcanic chamber.  A unique travel experience.

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Restaurace Skalka Vimperk in the Czech Republic

Restaurace Skalka Vimperk in the Czech Republic

If you ever find yourself traveling through southwest Czech near the German border, I would highly recommend a stop at probably the best place I have eaten, Restaurace Skalka Vimperk in the Czech Republic.

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Pitlochry in the county of Perthshire, Scotland

Pitlochry in the county of Perthshire, Scotland

Pitlochry is a burgh in the county of Perthshire in Scotland, lying on the River Tummel. It is largely a Victorian town, which developed into a tourist resort because of Queen Victoria visiting the area in 1842 and the arrival of the railway in 1863. It remains a popular tourist resort today and is particularly known as a centre for hillwalking, surrounded by mountains such as Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion.

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