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Neil's Trips

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  • Trips
    • 2024 Trip to Alabama
    • 2024 Trip to Costa Rica
    • 2024 Trip to Panama and Colombia
    • 2023 Martha?s Vineyard
    • 2023 Trip to Albania and Montenegro
    • 2023 Trip to Slovenia and Croatia
    • 2023 Trip to Paris
    • 2022 Trip to the American Midwest
    • 2022 Trip to New England USA
    • 2021 Trip to Iceland
    • 2021 Death Valley
    • 2019 Road Trip to Branson, MO and Oklahoma
    • 2019 St. Oswald?s Pilgrimage
    • 2019 Trip to Sicily
    • 2018 Trip to West Coast of Vancouver Island BC
    • 2017 Morocco
    • 2017 A Summer in the Desert
    • 2016 Trip to Italy
    • 2016 Trip to Cuba
    • 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
    • 2014 Baja California Trip
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Author: Neil Peterson

almond joy

September 11, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

when I was a kid, I used to love Almond Joy candy bars. coconut with an almond on top.  all covered…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

a day in the Tuscan sun

September 10, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

we have been in Tuscany for the last three days and we have another one and a half days to…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

the numbering system on Florence’s streets

September 8, 2016 Neil Peterson Leave a comment

here is one for you.  I love Florence, but… Florence, and two other cities in Italy, has an unusual system…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

PJ’s and Tom’s efforts to adopt to Italian culture, customs and mores

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PJ and Tom are real troopers.  yes, indeed. neither one has ever been to Italy before.  in fact, PJ has never been…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

anchovies

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I love anchovies. in the Cinque Terre region of Italy anchovies are on every menu.  Italy and anchovies go together.…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

if Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor the world has ever known, could do it, then…

September 7, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

today was an unbelievable new right brain experience for all three of us. PJ, Tom and yours truly took a class…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

the greatest sculpture in the history of the world

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

  Michelangelo’s David. what can you say about Michelangelo’s work that has not been said.  it is breathtaking. I have…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

the afternoon nap

September 6, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

who invented the afternoon nap?  how did it get started? how many people actually take an afternoon nap?  these are…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

today’s hike

September 4, 2016 Neil Peterson 2 Comments

today Tom and I took another challenging hike.  from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare, one of the five towns that make…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

an evening in the town square in Vernazza

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European ambiance there are several things that distinguish Europe from the United States.  one of the most striking to me …

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

Gelato

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

o my goodness.  i am in love with gelato.  and i am not alone.  so is PJ and Tom.  in…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

a new world record

September 3, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

i think we may have been witness to a new Guiness Book of World Records achievement today. PJ, one of…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

where have all the elevators gone…

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

the guesthouses and pensions where we have stayed in Venice and in Varnazza do not have elevators. for some reason…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

cruise ships

September 2, 2016 Neil Peterson 2 Comments

oh my goodness.  i could not believe my eyes as i disembarked from the train in Vernazza Italy. a little…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

the value of a walking tour and the value of a good guide

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

over the last few years i have really gotten into walking tours.  even in locations and communities that you think…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

venice — first impressions

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

we are now in Venice. we have only been here a short time.  just enough time to take the vaporetto…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

life just isn’t fair sometimes

September 1, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

life just isn’t fair sometimes yesterday was PJ’s 70th birthday!  a major milestone.  a major event. yet, listen to how he…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

Dr. Tom to the rescue

Neil Peterson 2 Comments

little did we know that Dr. Tom would be called upon so early in our adventure to Italy to render assistance.…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

in anticipation

August 27, 2016 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

hello everyone!!   welcome to the most recent installment of Neil’s Travel Blogs.  this one will be about Italy.  …

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Italy

How do you survive in Cuba on a paycheck of $20-30 per month?

January 16, 2016 Neil Peterson Leave a comment

How do you survive in Cuba on a paycheck of $20-30/month? For the enterprising soul, there are now options that…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

How do you survive when…?

Neil Peterson Leave a comment

When you have no rooms reserved, no car reserved, no cell phone, no internet and no itinerary for a two…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

Why is there no unrest among the people of Cuba for change?

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Why is there no unrest among the people of Cuba for change? Why, when the country and its people are…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

99 cent store

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

99 cent store. I have discovered something great. The 99 cent store. First time I entered such a store was…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

No cars

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What is so striking as you first visit and travel in Cuba is the lack of cars on the streets…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

What are some of the drawbacks of Cuba?

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What are some of the drawbacks of Cuba? The answer to this question depends upon your perspective. About what is…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

What is wonderful about Cuba

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What is wonderful about Cuba? First and foremost, it is the people. The first and by far most important plus…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

The internet in Cuba

January 8, 2016 Neil Peterson Leave a comment

Imagine living in a time where there is no internet. Unthinkable nowadays. But, 57 years ago it was common. Even…

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Posted in: 2016 Trip to Cuba

If you are looking for a place to getaway and relax…

August 25, 2015 Neil Peterson 3 Comments

Then, I have found it on my last day in Europe.  In France, right across the border from Spain. Still…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Major takeaways (6)

August 24, 2015 Neil Peterson 3 Comments

A few stand out.  Fifth… Finally, I became convinced that…         Luck doesn’t just happen. Your enthusiasm…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Major takeaways (5)

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A few stand out.  Fourth…    And I figured out that…         Enthusiasm is a critical component…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Major takeaways (4)

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

A few stand out.  Third… In the process I learned…        You are most happy when you are…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Major takeaways (3)

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A few stand out.  Second… In addition I found that my constant continuous feeling every day was one of thinking…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

What are some of the major takeaways for me (1)

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In two days I will be heading back to the States.  The El Camino and days following have had quite…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

What are some of the major takeaways for me (2)

Neil Peterson 2 Comments

A few stand out.  First… Doing the El Camino de Santiago forces you to have a very simple daily life.…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

The Nuns and Neil

Neil Peterson 2 Comments

I promised to get back to you with more information about my night with the Nuns. Given that El Camino…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

San Sebastián

August 23, 2015 Neil Peterson 4 Comments

I am now in San Sebastián, one of the famous playgrounds of Europe. In my spare time I checked out…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

The Spanish Basque coastline

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

In a word, gorgeous! Just enjoy these pictures.

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Guernica

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Today I spent time in Guernica.  Everyone should. It is one of those moments in history that we have to…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

And party they did

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The party that I blogged about last night never stopped. It went on ALL night. The first picture below was…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

The Spaniards know how to party

August 22, 2015 Neil Peterson 2 Comments

I’ve already told you about how ALIVE Santiago is. Tonight I am in Bilbao, and, for some reason, there is…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

More pictures of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

     

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Bilbao

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

The Guggenheim museum here is another of Frank Gehry’s architectural attention grabbers. It clearly is the single architectural statement for…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Karen and Simon

August 21, 2015 Neil Peterson 1 Comment

Met a wonderful couple from Vancouver Canada yesterday standing in line to get our “credential” documenting our pilgrimage.  Karen and…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

The plan for the next few days

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

As you may be able to tell, I am struggling a little with “coming down” from the last 12 day…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

The noon mass for the pilgrims

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

Pretty impressive. The cathedral is huge but there was not a spot that was not taken. There were as many…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

The first day after…

Neil Peterson 1 Comment

What has it been like? A lot of different feelings… For starters, I slept in.  All the way to 8am.…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Fisterra

Neil Peterson 3 Comments

The end of the earth.  Or so people thought for hundreds of years. This far most westerly point of land…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

Santiago is alive!!

August 20, 2015 Neil Peterson 6 Comments

This city is jumping!! In addition to August being the European vacation time, the number of pilgrims is enormous. They…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

It is getting very busy here in Spain

August 19, 2015 Neil Peterson 3 Comments

All of a sudden it is getting very busy.  With masses of people. Peregrinos, tourists, and Europeans closing up and…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

A long day

Neil Peterson 3 Comments

The good news is that I made the mountain. Not having my gear on the back of the bike helped.…

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Posted in: 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

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Neil’s Trips

  • 2025 Trip to the Netherlands and Denmark
  • 2024 Trip to Alabama
  • 2024 Trip to Costa Rica
  • 2024 Trip to Panama and Colombia
  • Meandering Musings
  • 2023 Martha's Vineyard
  • 2023 Trip to Albania and Montenegro
  • 2023 Trip to Slovenia and Croatia
  • 2023 Trip to Paris
  • 2022 Trip to the American Midwest
  • 2022 Trip to New England USA
  • 2021 Trip to Iceland
  • 2021 Death Valley
  • 2019 Road Trip to Branson, MO and Oklahoma
  • 2019 St. Oswald's Pilgrimage
  • 2019 Trip to Sicily
  • 2018 Trip to West Coast of Vancouver Island BC
  • 2017 Morocco
  • 2017 A Summer in the Desert
  • 2016 Trip to Cuba
  • 2016 Trip to Italy
  • 2015 El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
  • 2014 Baja California Trip
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