A short distance from San Antonio are two lovely little German settlements – Gruene (evidently pronounced Green – the translation of gruene) and New Braunfels. We spent the morning browsing around an arts market in Gruene and strolling around town and then a walk around the center New Braunfels.
Category Archives: USA
San Antonio, TX
A three-day interlude visiting friends on our drive from Maine to Arizona. The lovely warm weather, being able to sit outside, and their tremendous hospitality has made this a welcome break.
We took in some of the sights of San Antonio – the Alamo, Riverwalk, and two of the four missions on the Mission Trail.
Firstly the Alamo and Riverwalk.
And then to lunch at The Green restaurant at the Pearl Brewery complex and near the Culinary Institute of Arts.
I loved the pipe warmers!!!
Then on to the Mission Trail for Missions Concepcion and San Jose.
From Florence to Astoria, OR on Rte 101
We were lucky to have a spectacular day on November 30 to drive the coastal route to Cannon Beach. We spent so much time stopping and enjoying the scenery, having lunch, visiting cheese factories, tasting wine, etc. that we arrived in Cannon Beach too late to see Haystack Rock. Our hotel, The Wayside Inn, was very nice and we especially enjoyed the upgrade to a two bedroom suite with gas fire.
Unfortunately we awoke to drizzly, misty weather that turned to rain. The beach with crashing white surf and the rocks shrouded in mist was still worthwhile.
Day one – Arequipa
Exhausting trip with long layovers, red-eye flights, etc. but we are here and ready to start our Peru adventure.
Arequipa at 7600 ft should acclimatize us for Colca Valley and Puno at >12,000!
Great guide – Rene, and nice group of fellow travelers.
Episode 2: The Dutch visiting Maine
Enjoying Belfast and Midcoast Maine, but also a short camping trip to Moosehead Lake with moose safari …
Summer fun with the Dutch
We’ve been kumi himo-ing, having fun with Lucy, and making pizza …. That’s so far! With doubtless more to come.
Andrea Bocelli concert
When I booked the tickets – months ago – it didn’t seem quite real, but entering the Times Union Center in Albany, NY and taking our seats, which were excellent, the excitement started building.
Bocelli, seemed so diminutive standing there in front of the microphone, but my goodness, there is nothing diminutive about his voice! I could feel it down to my bone marrow. The guest soprano, Maria Aleida, can only be called an instrument! She controlled her voice to such an extent that it could have been one of the orchestra instruments! it was amazing. I was wondering how Fantasia would hold up against Andrea Bocelli and Maria Aleida, but she certainly held her own and her rendition of Summertime was beautiful, and her duet with Andrea equally beautiful. The most amazing part of the entire concert was that he came back for FIVE encores!!! The crowd of 10,000+ were going wild! The performance started on the dot of 7.30 and we left just shy of 10 p.m. (with a 20-minute intermission). It was such a gratifying feeling that he hadn’t come, sung his songs, done the obligatory encore and left. Kudos to Andrea Bocelli!
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM
WITH – NEW YORK CITY OPERA ORCHESTRA
GUEST VOCALIST – 2004 AMERICAN IDOL WINNER FANTASIA BARRINO
CONDUCTOR – EUGENE KOHN
SOPRANO – MARIA ALEIDA
Bocelli is currently finishing up his Fall US tour in which his performances has received continuous “rousing ovations,” making the June tour the perfect welcome to the summer season.
The June 2013 Tour will come in support of Andrea Bocelli’s upcoming release Passione which will be released on January 29, 2013. Passione is a lush collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with global pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and the late Edith Piaf.
With one of the most recognizable voices in music, Andrea Bocelli is a global icon who continues to defy categorization bringing his music to millions world-wide.
A day at the races – Keeneland
A fun afternoon at the beautiful Keeneland racetrack…
Lovely Lexington
I love this part of the country with its tidy fields and pastures surrounded by fences or stacked stone walls; tree lined “pikes”; friendly people, and did I mention the incredible Kentucky Ale aged in fresh bourbon casks to give the ale a delicious flavour.
Saturday at the downtown farmers’ market where fresh herbs and more were in supply.
Kentucky countryside and visit to Jim Beam distillery
Dennis is hired! Flushing out a bottle, with JB of course, before being filled with Knob Creek single barrel (aged 9 years) whisky.
Birmingham, AL
We made a stop here especially so we could visit the Civil Rights Institute which we found to be fascinating, and an extremely well laid out and powerful display of the events during the civil rights movement.
Everyone was so friendly and helpful and eager to answer any questions. Coincidentally, it was the 50th anniversary today of the date MLK wrote “the letter from Birmingham jail” where he was being held in solitary confinement.
We strolled around the historic 4th Ave district.
Dennis was dying for some good southern ribs
Aaah! Dogwoods
At Oak Mountain state park, just outside Birmingham, AL and so happy to see my favourite Dogwoods.
Friday, April 12
A drive from Perdido Key to Gulf Shores, AL – Naval Aviation Museum, and at the camp site..
Beach houses
Pecan grove in Alabama
That is literally how close they fly!!!
