Flying From Snow

Here it is, folks. The wish of the day.

Costa Rica!

Cheap deals drive me to the beach. Or fly me, anyway. One of the first, real vacations I bought came from a radio announcement of a special package deal to the Bahamas. I thought about it for five minutes and then picked up the phone. It was a great vacation, once they got our hotel and room sorted out. Returning was not so cool. It was a charter cruise and they herded us like cattle.

Anyway, all those little details fade away when I remember all the fun I had on the Robinson Crusoe cruise, the markets, helpful natives, eating conch, and laying on the beach sucking back Bahama Mamas.

Here's another goodie! Costa Rica* at about the same price I paid for the Bahamas so many years ago. Of course, by the time you pay for everything (food, souvenirs, side trips, etc.) you've spent double the price. Who cares!

*You'll need to create a Travel Zoo account to see the full deal. Your mileage may vary as the price alters depending on your departure city.

It's Fasching!

Fasching in Mainz is the best. Wish I could be here Thursday. The day after my birthday. One of the biggest parties in the world. Must be in my honor.

Guardistin in the Parade in Mainz, DE.

You could take me. I don't drink, so I could make sure you get back to your hotel safely. If that's what you wanted ...

Equatorial Hot Spots

From the "Snowflake Creator" app.

As usual at this time of year – the winter fully gone, spring in full swing, intimations of summer reminding me of extreme humidity – my thoughts turn to cool summer spots. Most of them are off the list due to distance, i.e., Norway, Denmark, most of Canada, the Arctic, Antarctica, Alaska, Mongolia, etc.

Places that seem to be within reach actually aren't, i.e., Michigan, upstate New York, and Maine. This year there is a new contender, although sadly in the out of reach category: Ecuador. Actually, anywhere along the equator would be ideal. Not too hot, never very cold. Unfortunately there are other reasons why the equator is out of the question.

Have you ever followed the equator around the world? Thanks to Google Earth it's easily done from the convenience of your armchair (or whatever device you use to park yourself in front an internet connected device). Most of the countries on that latitude have issues. They are the Congo, Ecuador, Uganda, Brazil, Somalia, Sumatra.

There are a few that are nice, i.e., the Maldives, Easter Island, the Galapagos.

Which still leaves the problem of what to do when it gets super hot here in Richmond VA (RVA).

Utah and New Mexico are nice, simply because they have very low humidity. Colorado has those great mountains. However, these areas, although more easily reached, are also too far to go – for me.

Sadly, I am unable to live on the road, which would be ideal. I could follow the temperate temperatures wherever they go. I've heard Michigan in the summer and Austin TX in the winter is a nice combination. Bit of a journey, though.

What would be my ideal? I believe I may have mentioned that spring and fall in RVA are ideal. That leaves summer and winter.

The only places I've been in the winter are Miami and the Bahamas. Have to say, the Bahamas win flat out.

Maine is excellent in the summer – particularly northern Maine. Another excellent refuge from the humidity.

Realistically, what could I do? Camp. Am I interested in camping? No. I like to think I am. I have a very romantic notion about that; remnants of childhood memories. I am, in reality, more interested in five star accommodations with swimming pools and hot tubs.

Until I win the lottery, I'd best prepare for living indoors for the six weeks from the middle of July until the end of August. Maybe I could camp out in a mall with free wifi.

Indoor camping – NOT in a mall.

Where shall I go? Follow the river ...

Not sure where I would go if I were allowed a vacation right this minute to anyplace I wanted to go. Probably I would stay here. With someone I love. And we would laze about and pick at the things that need doing here. And we would do them with whimsy and lack-a-daisicalness. Splotching and poking and gathering and winnowing and toodling and doodling. Nothing would be serious except our love. And we would be happy making this our home for those springs and autumns that are heaven in Richmond VA.

If I have to choose, and I know I must or I wouldn't be writing this, I would choose Maine or Northern Idaho or possibly Seattle or maybe even Bandon by the sea in Oregon. All lovely cool places. No. Wait! I have it! Germany! Back to my home town of Höchst in Hessen. To visit relatives and relations. To relish the cool misty days and warm connections. Yes. That's it.

The house will have to wait.

A Vacation Out of This World!

What a great way to get away from it all! All I need is $200,000 and a way to get to all the VIP events. Let's both go. I'm sure we can come up with a mutually enriching barter.

Or you can work your way there by applying to be a space pilot.

Dancing in the Dark

Lots of dancing in the dark in lots of lovely romantic places. Maybe even some moonlit woodsy options and a few mountain tops. This is what I need right now. Perhaps a SL vacation is just the ticket. There are certainly tons of available and willing partners.

Song of the Moment: Dancing in the Dark - The Look of Love

Improving your photography while sight-seeing in the Nation's Capital

This is a sort of cross-over post. I could easily add it to "Just Another Artist" but I won't. Mostly it's a vacation to Washington DC. Yes! For a mere couple of thou and a laptop you too can sit at the feet of the National Geographic wizards and learn to create exciting photos of stuff we all look at every day. While I would love the luxury of joining this expeditionary workshop, I believe the money could be much better spent on a semester-long professional photography class. After all, this workshop teaches you how to put the NG spin on your work, not how to improve your personal vision.

From the Middle of Richmond to the Middle of Nowhere

Out of here to another place entirely. While trying to see how long it would take me to drive to a buddhist sangha in Durham, NC, I  looked at the ocean and wondered just how far Google earth would take the whole drive yourself thing. I panned over the Atlantic, looking for Europe and got distracted by some tiny dots in the middle of the water. Turns out those dots are the Azores (named after a once plentiful bird).

On the island of Terceira (about the middle of the dots) is this lovely hotel, Hotel do Caracol. They have a New Year's Eve package going right now, which looks like fun. And they also offer "Wellness" options, such as a nice hot volcanic stone massage, "floating in emotion", and a special version of tai chi. I'm there. I'm totally there. Just send me your credit card.

Hiking in the Wild; Relaxing in Natural Luxury

What could be better than natural luxury? A lovely hot spring under the night sky is great and even better after a 17m "moderately challenging hike." Too bad it's in New Zealand. Take me there! I promise I'll be good for the rest of my life.

Run, Run, Run, Run ... run away

Time to run away to the Greek Isles. Yes. Oh yes. The best thing to do when one is unemployed is take a long vacation very far away. I'm accepting all donations.

Away to Ireland

Intrigued by the choice of Aer Lingus as an airline I checked out their offerings. Sleeping in castles doesn't appeal to me. They are so large and drafty and you can't really touch anything. It's all the wrong atmosphere for relaxing. Instead, I've chosen the do-it-yourself Northern Route Package. My relatives are from around that part of the country, so it would have some meaning for me. Plus I've heard the Emerald Isle is, in fact, really green and I'd like to see that. And the pubs. Good place to be in the rain.

I can't go now. The next eight weeks the only place to be is Richmond VA. If you are ever here in the fall you will never leave. It's absolutely lovely. So, in November or maybe next summer (during high season, of course! best time for an air vacation – maybe in August) I will be free to take up Aer Lingus on their offer.

A Vacation With a Lot of Space

If I won the lottery and had some cash I needed to unload, I would buy myself a seat on Virgin Atlantic's new space plane. Yeah, I could dig it. Up in space for a minute or two (longer would be better) without having to wear that dreadful suit.

Today's Vacation: Indiana Jones Adventure sites

The Nepal sector of Indiana Jones, where he finds Marion, a medallion and, of course, trouble. It's nothing for Indy! Well, maybe it was something, but he didn't let that stop him.

This Expedia trip is rated 4 dots on the trip style – it's Independent with a guide. That's me alright. I'm sure I'll have to do a little readjusting of the itinerary. An elephant ride, river rafting, a temple, all in 11 days. That's a bit much when what I really want to see is the scenery and the spirituality. So, the temple, the trekking and the Katmandu valley tour will be it for me.

I'm looking forward to the return of Indy. Even if he is an old geezer, he's way ahead of whatever young geezer is in second place.

C'Mon Cayman

Yes, it's time for another air vacation. Not, of course, one enabled by air travel, but more in the vein of air guitar. Air vacation. And today's choice is the Grand Cayman Islands. Go there now! Click above, then click on the video link.

This is always better than working. Although I'm not really digging the whole family scene thing. It's all about me, don't you know.

Air road-trip to Santa Monica State Beach

It's a wonderful day in Richmond VA. I feel absolutely fabulous. The sun is shining. It's about 74 degrees. It's Sunday!! Everyone feels great and looks great. If you ever feel like visiting Richmond, now through the end of October is the time to be here. Best time of the year all Richmonders agree. Except maybe for those who like paddling in the James. They might prefer August.

Anyway! I feel I could drive forever. So why not take a little drive to Santa Monica State Beach? It's a lovely place and the weather is supposed to be sunny all week. Woo hoo! (SM is "B" in the map. You can zoom all the way in on satellite view. It's almost like being there!)

View Larger Map

Rand McNally tells me the fastest driving route takes 39 hours and 40 minutes. I would drive through Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Stop right there. I would be really close to Wichita where my son lives with his family so I would have to stop off for a couple of days. That's okay. I have all week. Before that I may need to take a couple of hours in Mt. Rogers State Park (in Virginia) because the view is fabulous.

Back in the car until I come to Albuquerque where I would stop for one day to try to locate (again) the scrap of land I own somewhere near Belin. I tried to actually see it once but couldn't find it because I forgot to bring the plat. Oh well. One scrap of desert is much like another.

Then on again through Arizona. Wonder if this takes me anywhere close to Sedona? Seems to be all the rage this year. After which there would be a straight shot to the beach (more or less). I would stay at the Sofitel in Hollywood because it has a weird name even though it's not really near Santa Monica.

In Santa Monica it would be nice to check out the beach amenities, stroll along the sidewalk to the various picnic areas (no barbecuing!) and perhaps play on the gym at Muscle Beach.

Back in reality, there is a beach less than two hours from here. I'm not going today. There's also some lovely mountains not far but I'm not going there either. I'm going to walk the dog to the dog park and do some more home improvement. That is, if I don't pull out a reclining lawn chair and sit out back in the sun and read a book.