Brilliant Lady. Virgin Voyages

Ship 

I'm sailing a 12 day itinerary aboard the Brilliant Lady.  This is Richard Branson latest iteration in his 4 vessel cruise ship venture.

The Vibe & Design

Unlike traditional cruises that feel like floating hotels, the Brilliant Lady (and her sisters) feels more like a boutique hotel in South Beach.

Adults Only: No kids, no mascots, no buffet lines.

The Design: Expect sleek, modern interiors by world-renowned designers, a lot of "Virgin Red," and those iconic hammock-clad balconies.

There are 20+ eateries all included in the price. Also included is wifi and gratuities.  A stark contrast to other entry level cruises.

I've been to Curacao and today Aruba.  On the way tonight to Cartagena Colombia.

Oh and I am enjoying that Scarlet hammock that all balcony rooms have.

I bet you didn't know there is a Ritz Carlton on Aruba's Beach front.  It was  quite nice by the pool.

Food on this ship is like nothing I have experienced on other cruise lines.  There is NO main dinning room.  Instead there are about a dozen actual restaurants requiring reservations.  Food is included in the cruise price, but you will wait if you show up without a reservation.  Fortunately for solo travelers, there is a service each evening that will override the res list and admit you to any restaurant at 6 PM. I have added some photos of last nights dinner at the Test Kitchen.  Here you sit with others and menu consisting of 5 courses changes during the cruise..  It is really unusual and quite tasty.  Shown is a serving of Smoked Salmon.

Arrived in Cartagena this am and jumped on a excursion to the old town and the fort .

Photos Here

Switzerland

Flying from Athens to Zurich, I was captivated by the stunning transition from the Adriatic Coast to the grand Swiss mountains below. We'd strategically picked a hotel near the airport, primarily for its proximity to the S-Bahn, which I knew would be our go-to for getting around. I'd been warned about Zurich's reputation as one of Europe's most expensive cities, and that $45 taxi ride for what felt like a stone's throw from one end of the airport to the other certainly confirmed it!

We spent a good amount of time navigating between the modern city center and the charming, historic Old Town. The food, honestly, was a bit of a letdown—nothing particularly exciting, but it did the job. It felt like every menu featured fondue (a dish I'd frankly outgrown back in medical school), alongside the usual pizza and spaghetti.

Lake Zurich 

defines one edge of the city, a beautiful expanse of water that stretches for more than twenty miles. The lakefront is incredibly inviting, perfect for walking, which is exactly what we did. We explored the area, even stopping into an Omega watch shop (window shopping only for me!), and then settled down for a fantastic lakeside lunch before returning to our hotel.

The real gem of our trip came on the second full day when we hopped on the S-Bahn to visit the incredible Rhine Falls.Photos This impressive natural wonder, located on the Rhine River near the German border, is said to have the highest water volume of any falls in Europe. Taking a small boat right up to the foot of those torrential falls was an unforgettable experience and definitely the highlight of my day.

A Swiss Summer Adventure: From Cities to Alpine Peaks

Our Swiss journey continues in Bern, a picturesque, hilly town with a population of about 100,000, serving as Switzerland's charming capital. It's striking to realize that the entire country's population of 7 million is roughly equivalent to Houston's! The Swiss struck us as remarkably unpretentious; we even saw their president casually conversing with shop owners on the street. Bern's "Old Town" is uniquely nestled within a horseshoe bend of a river, and we watched many locals cool off by floating down the strong current with their belongings secured in waterproof bags – much like tubing on the Guadalupe River in Texas! I was tempted to join, but my travel companions convinced me otherwise. While scenic, Bern didn't offer a vast array of activities, so after a meal or two and a single overnight stay, we drove on to to the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory the original home of milk chocolate and now owned by Nestle..After sampling a years worth of chocolate in an hour, we progressed to  Lausanne.

---

Lakeside Charm and Mountain Majesty

Lausanne, situated on the northern shore of Lake Geneva in the southern part of the country, was our next stop. As home to the International Olympic Committee, it boasts an Olympic Museum, which, while not particularly memorable, felt like a must-see. We spent two nights here, using the metro to explore our hotel, the lake promenade, and the city center. Geneva, a major city at the western edge of Lake Geneva, was an easy 50-minute train ride away, making for a perfect day trip. We explored its old town and enjoyed lunch by the lakefront. As a watch enthusiast, I couldn't resist visiting Breitling and Omega shops, though I only admired their timepieces without purchasing.  PHOTOS

After enduring a week-long European heatwave, we eagerly left Lausanne for the refreshing cooler air of the mountains. Our drive eastward along Lake Geneva's northern shore took us through Montreux and into the majestic valleys of the Swiss Alps. After an hour or two, we turned north off the expressway towards Täsch, the end of the road for vehicles. Zermatt, our ultimate destination, is a car-free town accessible only by a 30-minute, 500 ft. climb aboard a  cogwheel train ride.

If you've visited Vail, Colorado, you'll find Zermatt strikingly familiar, as Vail was modeled after it. While both towns have a similar number of permanent residents, Zermatt offers considerably more ski terrain, housing, and retail. Unlike Vail, which I can traverse on foot in an hour or two, I walked for two hours in Zermatt and barely scratched the surface, as the town sprawls on both sides of a mountain stream. I did manage to get a magnificent view of the Matterhorn, arguably Switzerland's most famous mountain, though not its highest. We noticed an unusual amount of snow and ice melting due to the summer's heat, and the crowds, particularly Chinese tourists, were overwhelming throughout Greece and Switzerland this summer. After a fulfilling day, we left the mountains and spent the night in the small Swiss town of Visp.

---

Epic Mountain Passes and Lakeside Delights

From Visp, our journey continued down the valley as we prepared to cross the Alps via the infamous Furka Pass. The views, roads, and engineering were absolutely stunning. For James Bond fans, a famous scene from Goldfinger was filmed along a stretch of this road, featuring the Belvedere Hotel perched precariously on the mountainside. After clearing the 8,000-foot pass, we descended into Andermatt, a popular ski resort. The road then led us through the Susten Pass on our way to Interlaken. These two passes are among Switzerland's most renowned, showcasing the country's remarkably well-constructed mountain roads and tunnels, making driving an exciting and enjoyable experience.

PHOTOS

---

Despite covering only 100 miles, the drive took us all day, with plenty of stops for rest and photos. We couldn't secure a room in Interlaken that night, so we stopped short and made it there the following day.

Interlaken, as its name suggests, is an isthmus nestled between two beautiful lakes: Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. We began our day with a cruise on Lake Brienz, traveling from one end to the other before having lunch and securing a room for the night in Interlaken. This might just be my favorite stop in Switzerland! After lunch, we found a parkside bar, enjoyed a drink, and watched numerous paragliders gracefully descend into the park across the street. Paragliding is a top attraction here, as is a cruise on Lake Brienz, both of which we thoroughly enjoyed.

PHOTOS

---

Serene Retreats and a Homeward Journey

Our adventure continued towards Lucerne, following the foothills of the rivers and lakes that connect central Switzerland. We ventured into a scenic valley for a hike and crossed another impressive mountain pass, the Brünig Pass. The Swiss engineers have truly outdone themselves, creating a marvelous network of roads and structures that seamlessly guide you through the mountains. We paused at another lake for lunch before arriving in Lucerne, where the UEFA Women's Euro football teams were convening for a series of games. As expected, finding accommodation was impossible due to the event.

PHOTOS

Undeterred, we continued towards Zurich and stumbled upon a hidden gem of a hotel – a wellness spa overlooking a small lake. The rooms were simple, clean, and boasted terraces with lake views. It was so comforting that we extended our stay an extra night, savoring the tranquility.

Finally, we reached Zurich, where we returned our car and spent our last night at the original hotel from the start of our trip. From there, we embarked on a long, 15-hour connecting flight home. While I can effortlessly book cruises, I truly believe I would never have been able to navigate Switzerland's roads so successfully without my good friends and long-time travel companions, Sandra and John Lopez.

Greece and Turkey 2025

 

Overnight flight from Houston via Munich and you arrive in Athens late afternoon.  The airport is a long, expensive cab to town, or one can ride the Metro from 5 min. Walk from the baggage claim and you're on the way to the main public square in Athens; Sygmentra.  My hotel was theoretically a short walk away, but there was a large Pro-Palestinian and Gay Pride demonstration that I had to walk through. PHOTOS HERE

After check in and a quick shower, I walked the other direction and found some dinner in a casual Greek Restaurant where my waiter, as most middle aged men in Greece; had been to Galveston Houston via the Merchant Marines..  Not an uncommon occurrence in Greece.

The next morning after a classic Greek breakfast, I walked for 20 min. To my “Skip the Lines” waking tour of the Acropolis.  It however was not “skip the crowd”.  One walks up the hill for about 20 min to get to the top and actually see the ruins as well as the Parthenon.   It was so crowded on top, I couldn't hear my guide, so I waved goodbye and left.  As you know history, ancient Greece was the center of the universe many millennia ago and it frequently took place at the Acropolis.

My friends Brad and Tenia Elridge picked me up at the hotel for an afternoon drive and dinner along the southern coast. What a great way to spend my first day.

The next morning a cab ride to the port of Piraeus and I boarded the NCL Viva.

Our first stop was in a northern Greek community of Volos. PHOTOS HERE We couldn’t figure out why we were here except to kill time.  Sandra, John and I walked along the bay front and found a nice little restaurant and walked in to a coffee house where I rediscovered Freddo Cappuccino.  What a wonderful refreshing drink.

The next day, a hour bus ride from the port of Izmir to the Ruins of Ephesus. PHOTOS HERE This ancient archaeological site is thought to be inhabited from 600 BC.  There is still excavation.  The most recent section was “The Terraced Houses” which were only started 25 years ago.  Magnificent preserves of home and rooms all covered by a giant ventilated covering.  This tour was fantastic in spite of the 3 hours spent on the bus.

Then it was in Istanbul.  PHOTOS HEREThe Lopez’s and I were there 12 years ago.  Not much has changed.  Very vibrant city with 16 million people.  Majority Muslim and just as “in you face” as they were the last time we were there.  We were in a different area this trip. A walking tour of the Topkapi Palace and Grounds.  There are many worthy sites in Istanbul but this is my favorite.  I can see the famous diamond that was the theme of the 1962 movie “Topkapi”.That evening we took a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus.  This water way is the divide between Europe and Asia.  It is also the only sea route out of the Black Sea.  We walked a lot and I finished the stop with a Haman, which is a traditional Turkish Scrub and Bath.  Done in a central , heated, domed room with 10 of my new found friends.  It’s something one must experience….once.

Mykonos has been labeled the "Emerald of the Aegean Sea". PHOTOS HERE

You absolutely can't miss this place on a Greek Isles tour! Fortunately, my friends John and Sandra know the Greek Islands like the back of their hand, so I just tagged along. From the pier, we literally walked across the street, grabbed a little rental car, and zoomed across the island to Lia Beach. There are plenty of gorgeous beaches with their own club restaurants, but Lia is the furthest out and mercifully less packed. We basically had the place to ourselves when we rolled in at 10 AM, though it was buzzing by the time we reluctantly left at 3 PM.

You could snag beach lounges for €70-90 for the day, or just do what we did: pull up a table at the restaurant and graze and sip all day long. My day was a blissful cycle of drinking, smoking, eating, and swimming. Honestly, I spent half the time just dreaming about living out my summers there.

Santorini is the quintessential Greek island—what you imagine when you dream of Greece. Whitewashed buildings crowned with blue domes, narrow alleys lined with chic boutiques selling stylish women’s fashion and accessories—it’s as picturesque as it gets.  PHOTOS HERE

But here’s the twist: Santorini is actually the remnant of a massive volcanic eruption that occurred 3,600 years ago. The island is essentially the rim of a collapsed volcano, which means the towns are perched high on the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the bay below. Getting up there, however, takes a bit of effort. The climb is about 300 feet, and there are only two public options to reach the top:

1. A donkey ride—once you mount, the donkey sets off on autopilot, zigzagging its way up the steps for about 25 minutes, with zero steering from you.
2. A cable car—a smoother 10-minute ride, but expect to queue for 45 to 60 minutes in both directions, especially during high season when multiple cruise ships crowd the harbor.

There is a little-known option to go up by private vehicle, but it requires advance arrangements—a "double-secret" route, if you will.

Still, the views? Absolutely jaw-dropping. And yes, I’m truly glad I made the journey.

Next up were Rhodes and Crete, two islands distinct from our previous stops. These aren't just any islands; they're major hubs for the Greek people, with a history stretching back thousands of years as the home of the ancient Minoan Civilization—a civilization believed to have been wiped out by the devastating Santorini volcano. Today, both islands struck us as incredibly busy and developed.

For tourists, the main agenda is simple: find a beachside restaurant, enjoy a Freddo Cappuccino in the morning, savor a delicious Greek lunch, and then take a swim. And that's exactly what we did!

Photos Here

Lisbon and Marrakech

 

After my week on the Douro River Boat I jumped a high speed train to Lisbon where I explored some areas I had visited last year at the same time.  The weather was cold but sunny and it didn't stop me from taking a electric bike tour of the hills of lower Lisbon.  I was accompanied by a guide who was a university professor and learn an enormous amount about the history of Portugal and particularly how the country managed to create itself in the Iberian Peninsula.

I also flew from Lisbon to Marrakech for a short 2 day re visit.  This time I stayed in one of the nicest hotels in the city.  I had pre-arraigned  a guide from my previous visit and we spend about 4 1/2 hours walking and talking through the area and souks( market)

Cruising the Douro River

 

I flew from Houston to Porto Portugal on AirFrance to traverse the Duoro River on the AMA Vida.   This is a medium size river boat built especially for the Duoro.  It is shorter than many of the boats on the European Rivers in order to fit through the locks on the river. There were 5 locks that we engaged on our 7 day cruise.  The tallest being 130 feet.  It takes about 20 min to enter, adjust the water level and then depart the other side.  As we go inland toward the Spanish border we are climbing each level.  

Speaking of the 7 days, we sailed for 3 days usually in the morning as there is no cruising at night on the Douro.  So the mornings were relaxing with lots of food and coffee and using the free internet which was spotty at best.  When it worked I could upload photos. And logon to my trading platform

Meals were served in the dining room on the mid level with tables ranging from 2- 8.  The wait staff was quite good and the food quality was the best I have experienced on a cruise.  Now I'm not going to pretend that I enjoyed all the Portuguese cuisine but there were usually alternatives available.  Several dinners were part of the off ship excursions and they were private dinners at wineries or in the case of the day trip to Salmanac, at a 4 star hotel with Flamingo Dancers.

Speaking of wine,  there was plenty of white and red at each meal with a different Portuguese vintage at each meal.  Then there were the wineries, so I probably sampled a dozen different vintages on my trip.  Each evening for an hour before dinner, the cocktail hour was complimentary.

There was an upper deck with plenty of lounges and a decent size pool.  But we never used it because of the weather.  I would probably be really nice in the summer.  The capacity of this ship was right at 100 guests but we only had 80.   They were all english speaking as our Cruise Director was from the UK.  Slightly more than half were from the US traveling in pairs or foursomes.   I found two couples from Texas and we hung out the entire trip.  Many retirees and not that old.

Day 2 of the trip found us traveling to the Mateus Palace and grounds.  This is a 16th century structure that is half museum and half a private residence of the descendents of the family.  Also a working vineyard with production of the first wines I bought in college.  We had dinner at another winery on the way back to the ship.This was the region where Muscotel grapes are grown.  These grapes, if from a certain area, are used in the production of Port. 

Day 3 We drove about an hour and half up the top of the hills to a historic village of Castelo Rodrigo.  Famous but pretty deserted,  now just open for tourists.  Interesting structures.  This area is home to almonds and olive groves.  We had plenty of tasing in the village and then back to the ship.

So each day the same three buses were waiting for us at our port.  Having been divided on the first evening, we had the same bus and group each day.  They put all the Texans together with the New Yorkers.  That was like oil and water.  Anyway we had a lovely young Portuguese gall who our specific guide and we used theses radio boxes with different channels so we were kept separate from the other 2 groups  It was very organized and efficient

On the fourth day , we took a 2 hour each way bus ride across the Spanish border to the major city of Salamanca.  Claim to fame here is the historic university, one of the largest in Spain.

A one hour walking tour through the old city and fabulous lunch of Paella and Flamenco Dancers in a lovely hotel.

I returned the ship after that long and cold day, had a steak and went to bed

The next morning was the longest segment of cruising and fortunately the sun shone through for the first time and it was a pretty cruise.  That afternoon we bussed to the Pacheca estates where the owner who met us had just returned from receiving the Presidents award for the best Port for 2024.  We sampled it and it was fantastic.

The following morning it was off to the beautiful village of Lamego and the infamous 686 steps from the city center to the opening of the Cathedral.  I did the steps; of course in 17 minutes…,

Lamego is the mountain village that is the most popular for international retirees.

..

And finally the last full day of our cruise was at our departure port of Gaia. This area is directly across the Douro River from Porto and its claim to fame is the storage and aging area for the port wines that are produced and shipped from the Douro Valley.  We were bused to the city center of Porto and a walking tour of the market and the train station. The train station is adorned with multiple ceramics which depict the ancient story of Porto.

After lunch on the ship, a few of us ventured across the street for another port wine tasting.  

I can honestly say that this AMA WATERWAYS CREW of  25 really took care of the 80 of us.  I have been on many cruises but the personal attention that we all received from this crew was really special.  This won’t be my last AMA river cruise.

.

 

The Boys of Summer__Thank you Don Henley

 As the summer comes to an end, I sit here on Labor Day reflecting on the last 3months.  I put my car on a truck in May, packed 1 suitcase and left home for 3-4 months...I've been in this Summit valley with its beautiful lake and mountains, all within reach of my summer apartment.

I've hiked, climbed, been on the water, driven to the casinos for poker tournaments. Been on electric bikes, sat out at the Dillon Amphitheater under the stars listening to fantastic and some not so good music.

I been entrained by friends, eg. Cindy and Brian Atlas, Sherri Atlas, Susan Meyer, Cathy and Will Wiener,

Alan Zieben, Stephen Friedman, Eddie Gertner and sons, Gina and Bruce Taffet, Sandra and John Lopez, Mike Stein.  Wow, I'm not this active in Houston!  But then that's why one comes to the mountains of Colorado in the summer.

I still have another 4 weeks to go.  Who knows what that will bring?

Click Here for Photos

Hiking Lower Cataract Lake

 

About 45 min. N of Silverthorne on the way to Kremmling and Steamboat are several mountain lakes and reservoirs.  One such lake is called Lower Cataract.  This is fed by the Upper Cataract Lake which is several thousand feet higher up Mt. Powel.  One can drive along a hard packed somewhat rocky road (shouldn't have taken the Tesla) to a trail head which is about 1/2 mile from the lake.  There is a beautiful trail around the circumference of the lake which is less than 4 miles and end up back at the trail head with picnic tables to enjoy a lunch.  That's exactly what I did yesterday with several of my friends here in Summit County.  Cindy and Brian Atlas, Susan Meyer,  Brent and Eileen Ladd , Susan's friend Laurie from Austin as well and the Atlas kids and grandkids....

TAKE A LOOK

4th of July in the mountains

 The favorite holiday wherever you may be in the US is the 4th of  July. Picnics, parades, concerts, bands, and fireworks...This is how they do it in 2 different Colorado mountain towns:  Vail/Avon gathered on their park and Melissa Etheridge entertained for and hour and a half.  The following night in the Dillon Amphitheatre we were treated to Air Force Band and a beautiful sunset over  Lake Dillon.

Hope you enjoyed your 4th.

Click for Photos

The Lake Dillon Bowl

 If you are not familiar with the area around Lake Dillon, this large reservoir was created by damning an area where 3 rivers joined in the 1950's and 1960's to create a water supply for the city of Denver.  The water is tunneled through the continental divide into a reservoir next t  o Denver. There are 4 residential areas clockwise around the lake;  Breckinridge, Frisco, Silverthorne and Dillon.

I'm in a condo about 100 yards from the Lake.  There are plenty of mixed use trails in the area.  I have walked in many directions.  I've walked across the damn and I can walk from my area to the Blue River area in Silverthorne.  There are several parks and restaurants along the river.  On Friday mornings there is a "market" about a 5 min walk from me where about 50 vendors were selling their products.  I bought a "half plank" of  smoked salmon which I ate for the weekend. Friday evening was jam of about 300 people drinking and listening to a local band.  This is the "Frist Friday" social which will be held monthly for the summer.  Saturday am I took a boat ride on the Lake with a member of the Historical Society who gave  me a 1 1/2 hour tour of the lake and the history of area around.  Our boat driver showed me several good fishing areas for my friends that will be visiting this summer.

I'm 30 minutes from Vail and an hour from the Blackhawk Reservation which is loaded with casinos.  I plan to visit them both.  When I start hiking the mountains, I'll have more reports.

CLICK FOR PHOTOS

Summer 2024 or Out of the Houston Heat

 
So this summer I'm going to avoid the airports and crowds and cool off in the mountains of Colorado(Texas-North).  I decided on the Dillon / Silverthorne area from my previous visits to the area. I started looking for suitable rental early in the year and with the help of Zillow I found this 2 1/2 Br condo overlooking Lake Dillon. Having  done the 16 hour drive before, I'm a big fan of putting the car on the truck and meeting it in Denver on the plane.  After several days of of no response from the truckers, I got a call on  Memorial Day from a heavy accented driver who said he would pick up my car in 2 hours.   Lucky for me, I had been briefed that this interaction was not only possible but probable.  The car was packed and off the Tesla went late Monday afternoon.  I spent Tuesday closing my Condo and early Wednesday caught a flight to Denver where I was met my cousin Bruce and his significant other Gina.   We spent 3 days around Parker, Co including a drive to the the Castle Pines golf course where the BMW invitational will be held in August. This is also the course that for years was a televised gold tournament called the International which had a unusual scoring mechanism but was a very popular spectator tournament.

After drooping Bruce and Gina at the airport for their trip back East, it was an easy 90 min. drive.  Essentially no traffic, but I'm sure as the summer progresses this will change.

The first morning I took a small walk in the neighborhood to check out the Dillon Amphitheater home of many summer concerts and the Lake.  My complex is directly across the street from the amphitheater 

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Finale

The final morning 

We loaded the bus on our last 4 hr ride to Casablanca.  To everyone’s surprise it was covered with a marine fog.  A full tour of the  Hassan II mosque which I picture on my first afternoon when it was sunny.  This time we toured the interior with our our personal guide and learned a lot about the Islam religion and their relationship with mosque.  This is the 2nd or 3 rd largest mosque in the Muslim world and will hold 25,000 people on the inside and another 40,000 outside in the courtyard.

That evening I had a beautiful suite on the top floor of a Spa hotel and took it easy.

So Morroco as a new experience for me and I must admit, even the experienced traveler that I am, I could have never made it without a group and guide.

I think 8 full days were  a little too much for me, but the highlights of the country are spread out and it takes a while to drive the country.  One could fly in and out of Marrakech, and just skip Casablanca and commute by local air to Fez and or Tangier and see most of the country. But the only way to get to the Desert and dunes is by driving and I would not have given that up.  Watching the sunset and rise over the desert sand will stick with me for a long time.

Our tour director Bren and her company Cherg Expeditions of Marrakech was wonderful handling every little detail. 

Photos Here

The Desert to Marrakesh

We left the desert camp driving south to Marrakesh.  We were between the two ranges of the Atlas Mountains which contains an elongated oasis.  Oasis are areas of vegetation in the middle of the desert where there is a water table running bellow the surface that the vegetation has found.  These appear near mountains as they contain the runoff from the snowpack.

The largest film studio in Africa is along the way and we stoped for a quick photo op. You can see the list of films and tv shows that were produced here.  Then onward to the Kasbah where the film people stay.  This is a very historic Kasbah as it is the oldest documented one in the desert of Morocco.  There is a small structure built at the top of a 300 ft hill which we climbed.  This had been constructed as a money exchange when built thousand years ago.  Recently it suffered damage due to the earthquake.  You can see the damage and we saw more damage along the roadway as we crossed out of the Atlas range into Marrakesh.  There we checked in to a wonderful riad for a 2 night stay.  We had a big group dinner of Tangine and Couscous which is the native dish.

The following morning we were the first to visit a Berber pharmacy.  This would be what we call naturopathic and they put on quite a sales demo.  It reminded me of the “sham-wow” commercial.  The guy must have sold us 2-5,000$ worth of product in 45 minutes.  The Jardin Majorelle which is a beautiful man made garden which reportedly was a favorite spot of Yves St Laurent.  Another historic riad and then lunch near the town square.

 Click Here for Photos

A Camel Ride

 Possibly the highlight of the trip    

Was a camel ride through the dessert to a camp in an oasis. First we drove south and crossed  a branch of the Atlas  mountains.  This mountain chain cross  Morocco from NE to SW and was the source of the infamous earthquakes last month.  We didn’t witness any damage as that was all in the far southern region of the country 

We stopped in a small roadside village for a presentation of Berber music and couscous followed by a large lunch.

Then it was onward to meet Clyde the camel for an hour ride across the desert.

We watched the sunset from a sand dune and then into our camp.  This is a luxury camp with full toilet, large shower and large comfortable bedding.  Dinner was served in a wonderful dining room.  We closed the evening at the campfire listening to some Berber music under the night sky.

Click Here for the Camel

Morroco

 Followings my Lisbon visit,

I boarded a most comfortable commuter jet to Casablanca

Morocco,  a drive to a magnificent hotel; Le Casablanca and a walking tour of Casablanca. The boardwalk at the beach reveals the  massive  waves of the Atlantic ocean.  Then a visit to large mosque.  Casablanca is the largest and commercial center of Morocco with a port that can handle 350 ships simultaneously, but its not the capital. That would be Rabat. The hotel was very luxurious and and opulent.

The following morning we met our guide for the trip; Abdul. In case your are wondering how a bus tour works; one loads up on the bus every day and the guide narrates the entire day.  Multiple stops during the day for attractions, refreshments and WC breaks.  The bus has good wifi and charging ports.  

The terrain inland from Rabat to Fes  is arid and hilly.  Remined me of the Texas hill country.  One main difference; olive groves as far as the eye can see.

When we arrived in Fes, the real adventure began.  We spent 2 nights in a Riad which is deep in the medina.  The baggage  was handled by local porters who met us at the Riad.  We had to walk ~20 minutes through very narrow streets in a line as to not get separated and finally arrived  at our lodging which was through a small door behind the non descriptive walls.  Once inside it was apparent that this had been a family home in the past with multiple bedrooms and open air sitting rooms.  Today riads are used as hotels while in the past they represented homes for the privileged.  The kasbah refers to a walled city typical of ancient civilizations while the term medina is often interchangeable with kasbah..  So, we walked  through the kasbah past several  open markets and merchant stalls to our riad.

How bought that for some arabic.  By the way, the majority of inhabitants are not arabs but berbers. The berbers are the one of the original populations of what is now Morocco.  Followed by the Jews and most recently(hundreds) of years the arabs.

There are only ~4000 jews remaining in Morocco  due to the many that fled during the Vichy occupation of Morocco during WWII.  Most berbers today have acclimated to modern society and are indigenous in the middle class.

I must emphasize before we leave this topic of kasbahs that there is absolutely no way I  could walk through the kasbah independently.  The width of the walkway was about 8 feet and there was 2 way trafic of people, carts and motorcycles.

We left Fes the second morning for visit to the the romain ruin Voulibilis which was a film site for”The Last Temptation of Christ” and a then a visit to a private cave where Mohamed prepared and served us berber tea.

Photos

Lisbon

 Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and is situated at the mouth of the Rio Tagus  which actually originates in Spain.  The river empties into Atlantic ocean and thus is the home of a large marine industry which happens to be the 2nd largest industry in Portugal.   What is the largest, well that would be tourism.  

Since tourism is my new profession and since I have never visited, this felt like the time to book a premium seat and make my way.  It also happens to be on the way to Morocco which actually is the main destination of my journey.  More on Morocco in my next note.

I arrived after an overnight flight on Air France with a 55 minute connection @ CDG.  I cant really recommend that itinerary . It would have been 90 min if the flight had left IAH on-time.

To the hotel and I picked up a SIM card for my phone so I would have all the portable data I require for my Google Maps. First evening was spent in a British Gin restaurant where I dined on beer and Octopus.  I don’t like Gin. I do really like fresh octopus marinated in EVOO.

Tues, I felt fresh and spent the entire  day on 2 different Hop On/Off bus routes.  If you follow my travels you will recall that I am a big fan of these for the fist day In a new town. I don’t get off, I use them for the narrated tour of the city. I didn’t realize how spread out and diverse Lisbon is.  Modern building at the site of the World Expo of 1998, to the cruise terminal on the bay front of old Portugal where the cathedral and Royal Palace overlook the ocean.

Wednesday I was picked up at my hotel and joined 6 other Americans for a day trip to Sintra and Cascais. Sintra is the home of one of the oldest fortresses that the Moors established when conquering the Iberian peninsula.  From there we drove along the coast to the Cabo da Roca which is the most western point in Europe. Then on to Cascais for lunch on fresh Cod and a relaxing afternoon stroll along the waterfront.

The food in Portugal is seafood based with an abundance of Atlantic Cod and Octopus and more pastry shops than banks.

The next day I relaxed, did laundry and got ready for the next leg.

Click here for Photos

Boulder Colorado July 2023

 

If you live in Houston Texas and you can afford to take 4-6 wks off, you leave town in the summer for a cooler climate.  For the past several years, Covid excluded, I have gone to Spain and Italy for the Mediterranean climate.  Crisp and cool early in the morning, dry and warm as the day heats up and a very pleasant evening. Last summer was a bit of a disaster.  Oh the weather was fine, it's just that every American who was pent up during Covid decided to visit Southern Europe.  Many of my favorite spots in Barcelona were not even reopened probably due to lack of help.  The airports, all of them, Heathrow, Barcelona, Paris, Frankfurt were all a mess.  Not enough ground crew or security personnel to move the unexpected surge of tourists.

So this summer I decided to stay home; US that is, and rented an apartment in Boulder, CO. I visited my cousin Bruce in the Denver area, who spent his profession life with Regal/UA theaters. He managed to install a home theater and this is the old 35mm Reel type projector.

Now Boulder is an interesting city of 110,000 people, 31,000 of which are Colorado U students who aren’t around in the summer as there is no on campus summer session.  The town is full of nature freaks who love to walk, hike, cycle and just gather outdoors.  The town is nestled right up against the Rockies and there are numerous hikes and paths that I could reach by walking 5min from my summer rental.  I spent every morning on a 3-6 mile walk or hike.  Lots of healthy food but historically warm temps.  I really didn't get to cool down as I had planned. It was cooler than Houston, but I didn’t put on a long sleeve shirt or slack the entire month.

Here are some pics of the scenery in the neighboring area.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Buenos Aires

 Buenos Aires has been given the reputation of the Paris of S.America.  It has enormous areas devoted to green-space.  Beautiful buildings.  A vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene.  We did not go tango as we had two different shows on the boat. We took the hop on hop off bus on a tour of the city which occupied several hours and ends up in LaBoca which is home to a street fair known as Caminito. We did however eat the specialty of Argentina, steak.  I mean it's really something different.  First of all, the meat is raised differently.  All natural feed on the range.  No antibiotics, cereal or other additives that you can’t get away from in the US.  Then its cooked over a wood embers flame and severed without salt or seasoning.  Just  chimichurri sauce on the side.  “Filete  de Lomo”; what a fantastic piece of meat.  

Buenos  Aires has the look and feel of Madrid.  More parks and monuments.  Too much to see in 2 1/2 days.  This calls for a return trip in their winter.  Just a nice hotel and tour service next trip.

So I board my overnight flight back to Houston somewhat disappointed at the cruise line for many reasons.  I possibly had too high of expectations of this cruise and it basically was a typical cruise with lots of noise.  Heavy on the cruise and short on the history ,terrain and culture of the area. A real disappointment, but definitely a new continent partially explored.

Click here for Photos

MONTEVIDEO

is the capital of Uruguay.It sits on the northern bank of the channel from the Atlantic to Buenos Aires and beyond.  The history seems to be that it was settled by the Spanish from Buenos Aires in a blocking effort to keep the Portuguese from traveling from Brazil down the river.  There is a rather large Jewish community there as it was one of the earliest settlements of the Jews leaving the middle east and Europe.  I took a tour with a lady who is of the local Jewish community and learned some interesting facts.  We visited a Holocaust memorial that the city erected on the beach and two different synagogues.

Click here for Photos

S.ATLANTIC and PUERTO MADRYN

We sailed northward from the Cape of Good Hope for the next 48 hours.  The seas were not bad.  I 've experience worse on a southern atlantic crossing but I guess the weather is really the determining factor and we had good weather.  We pulled into Puerto Madryn which is a small fishing port halfway up the Argentinian Coast. Not much going on here. I am now realizing that S. America is really the third world.  It just hasn't made it to the rest of European and N American standards. We walked around and found a local restaurant where we order Steak!

Boy do they butcher meat differently down here.  We each were served what looked like 3-4 pound slab of cooked meat.  There was no bone, just a huge chunk of fat.  After slicing off the meat.  It was really delicious and fresh tasting. There was really nothing else to see, so it was back to the ship after lunch.  This time we took a leisure walk down the pier.   No Tenders. 

Click here for Photos