how bad is the heat in the Coachella Valley? the Coachella Valley is nestled within and virtually surrounded by four mountain ranges. it lies just northwest of the Salton Sea, the largest lake in California and a whole very interesting story unto itself.
well, it turns out that yours truly, Mr. Neil, is spending some time this summer in the California desert, specifically…
we are all back in the United States of America. a little tired from our vacation. going through re-entry. for…
Roman gladiators were special in their day — that being between 100 BC and 200 AD. to some, gladiators were…
our three week odyssey to Italy is about over. today is our last day in Rome, and then we catch airplanes to return…
for those of you who have read the previous blog entitled “first dibs” I have some additional information. I neglected to…
some of you may not be aware that I have had a travel and tour company for many years. Peterson…
Positano Italy is built on very steep terrain that sharply drops into the Mediterranean Sea. the pictures below give you…
the three of us are not into shopping. i mean, we are really not into shopping. it offers no appeal …
in every Roman Catholic cathedral and church that we have visited in our stay in Italy, there are wooden structures…
remember when we were kids and we were so intent on calling out for first dibs on whatever. “i get…
in Latin the literal translation is “it does not follow”. way back, many years ago, when I was in secondary school,…
when I was a kid, I used to love Almond Joy candy bars. coconut with an almond on top. all covered…
we have been in Tuscany for the last three days and we have another one and a half days to…
here is one for you. I love Florence, but… Florence, and two other cities in Italy, has an unusual system…
PJ and Tom are real troopers. yes, indeed. neither one has ever been to Italy before. in fact, PJ has never been…
I love anchovies. in the Cinque Terre region of Italy anchovies are on every menu. Italy and anchovies go together.…
today was an unbelievable new right brain experience for all three of us. PJ, Tom and yours truly took a class…
Michelangelo’s David. what can you say about Michelangelo’s work that has not been said. it is breathtaking. I have…
who invented the afternoon nap? how did it get started? how many people actually take an afternoon nap? these are…
today Tom and I took another challenging hike. from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare, one of the five towns that make…
European ambiance there are several things that distinguish Europe from the United States. one of the most striking to me …
o my goodness. i am in love with gelato. and i am not alone. so is PJ and Tom. in…
i think we may have been witness to a new Guiness Book of World Records achievement today. PJ, one of…
the guesthouses and pensions where we have stayed in Venice and in Varnazza do not have elevators. for some reason…
oh my goodness. i could not believe my eyes as i disembarked from the train in Vernazza Italy. a little…
over the last few years i have really gotten into walking tours. even in locations and communities that you think…
we are now in Venice. we have only been here a short time. just enough time to take the vaporetto…
life just isn’t fair sometimes yesterday was PJ’s 70th birthday! a major milestone. a major event. yet, listen to how he…
little did we know that Dr. Tom would be called upon so early in our adventure to Italy to render assistance.…
hello everyone!! welcome to the most recent installment of Neil’s Travel Blogs. this one will be about Italy. …
How do you survive in Cuba on a paycheck of $20-30/month? For the enterprising soul, there are now options that…
When you have no rooms reserved, no car reserved, no cell phone, no internet and no itinerary for a two…
Why is there no unrest among the people of Cuba for change? Why, when the country and its people are…
99 cent store. I have discovered something great. The 99 cent store. First time I entered such a store was…
What is so striking as you first visit and travel in Cuba is the lack of cars on the streets…
What are some of the drawbacks of Cuba? The answer to this question depends upon your perspective. About what is…
What is wonderful about Cuba? First and foremost, it is the people. The first and by far most important plus…
Imagine living in a time where there is no internet. Unthinkable nowadays. But, 57 years ago it was common. Even…
Then, I have found it on my last day in Europe. In France, right across the border from Spain. Still…
A few stand out. Fifth… Finally, I became convinced that… Luck doesn’t just happen. Your enthusiasm…
A few stand out. Fourth… And I figured out that… Enthusiasm is a critical component…
A few stand out. Third… In the process I learned… You are most happy when you are…
A few stand out. Second… In addition I found that my constant continuous feeling every day was one of thinking…
In two days I will be heading back to the States. The El Camino and days following have had quite…
A few stand out. First… Doing the El Camino de Santiago forces you to have a very simple daily life.…
I promised to get back to you with more information about my night with the Nuns. Given that El Camino…
I am now in San Sebastián, one of the famous playgrounds of Europe. In my spare time I checked out…
In a word, gorgeous! Just enjoy these pictures.
Today I spent time in Guernica. Everyone should. It is one of those moments in history that we have to…