Our 2016 travel plans We have excitedly been pulling our 2016 travel plans together over the last couple months. Admittedly Blonde already went to Panama and Iceland this year but those were trips with friends not "official" blog business. When planning this year's travel we mainly selected places we have never been before. To the extent that we have any other common theme … [Read more...]
Planning travel to other hemispheres
Planning travel to other hemispheres When you're planning to travel to another hemisphere a good starting place is to answer the question: What other hemisphere are we talking about? The world has two circles around it (not literally). One divides it in half horizontally and uses the equator to separate the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The other one is vertical and … [Read more...]
Rick Steves is right (but not all the time, according to us)
Rick Steves' presentation for PBS in Naples, Florida According to his own website "guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel". It should come as a huge relief to Rick that we agree. When we learned he was coming to speak at a fundraiser for the local PBS station we got tickets for the event. We showed up early … [Read more...]
Capturing Amazing Photos of the Northern Lights
Prepare, before you leave home, to photograph the Northern Lights When Blonde received a call, in early July, to go see the Northern Lights in Iceland in February she immediately agreed and fantasized about how she would take amazing photos of the Northern Lights. She would become an admired and sought-after photographer, silencing any naysayers who may have criticized her … [Read more...]
Gateway to adventure in Patagonia: El Calafate, Argentina
Why visit El Calafate? El Calafate provided me with an epiphany; I'm a mountain person! After a lifetime of putting myself in the "water person" category I was stunned by the joy of experiencing Patagonia's mountains. Clear, bright skies, raptors swooping overhead, glaciers and clean air converted me. El Calafate provided several of the experiences which changed me in terms … [Read more...]
5 Things to do in Panama City, Panama
See the views of Panama City from Ancon Hill This could be a good thing to do on your first day in Panama City if you are tired and want to do something easy and scenic. Ancon Hill is the highest point in the city at 654 feet and is easily reached by taxi. You can also hike up from the base but that looked unnecessarily strenuous to Blonde and Ginger (stand-in for Brunette on … [Read more...]
How to maintain your fitness while on a European River Cruise
The popularity of European River Cruises European River Cruises have enjoyed a consistent upward demand curve for quite a few years now and many of the dominant players have high numbers of repeat travelers. Blonde and Brunette are enthusiastic river cruise advocates. We have done 4 in a little over a year and have already booked 2 for 2016. Why are European River Cruises … [Read more...]
How to keep travel memories alive
Why it can be hard to keep your travel memories alive We travel like fugitives on the run (think El Chapo but with much nicer accommodations and sans Sean Penn) which makes it challenging to keep our travel memories alive after the trips have ended. One time, years ago when Blonde was still employed in a grown-up's job, she returned late on a … [Read more...]
Hacienda San Angel – A romantic hideaway in Puerto Vallarta
History of Hacienda San Angel When Blonde and Brunette recently visited Puerto Vallarta we decided to take Richard Burton up on his Valentine's Day gift and stay at Hacienda San Angel. We are not romantic sisters (or romantic in general) but Richard Burton apparently was as he gave this lovely building to his wife Susan Somebody-or-Other in 1977. Legend has it that Burton … [Read more...]
5 Easy steps to take to avoid travel fees
Yes, travel does cost money but here are 5 easy steps - most of which we learned the hard way - that you can take to avoid unnecessary travel fees. (Please keep in mind that we're travel bloggers, not lawyers, CPAs or financial advisors. That should be a relief to everyone.) Don’t buy unnecessary travel insurance We have purchased travel insurance for every … [Read more...]