Enjoying Lisbon in the rain
3 days exploring Lisbon: the food, the history, the people
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March 16, 2025
A lunch in Porto to remember
It is mid October and the last day of our trip to Northern Portugal. We spent a few wonderful days in Porto followed by a another few in the Duoro wine region, where we had lot of great food and wine. This morning we drive from our fantastic house in Santa Marinho do Zezere back to Porto. For the final day, I have booked a special restaurant: Casa De Cha Da Boa Nova. A famous 2 Michelin star restaurant: we are in for a lunch in Porto to remember.
December 1, 2024
3 days in Magical Olympic
I have been going to Seattle regularly for work for over seven years, however I had still not taken the chance to combine a work trip with a trip to Olympic National Park. Until now….I have to be in Seattle in the middle of July, the perfect time to extend my stay and make it out to the Olympic Peninsula for 3 days in magical Olympic. Olympic National Park has it all: a glacier, a rain forest, waterfalls, mountains, lakes and a beautiful rocky coastline.
July 30, 2024
Bruges where Beer and Chocolate awaits
Bruges is one of Europe’s historical gems and only a 2 ½ hours drive from where I grew up and yet I had never been. I read a lot about it; I watched several movies that were filmed there, but somehow, I never made it there. But finally, this year, the stars align when my friend Michelle has to go to Europe for work around the same time I am visiting mom in the Netherlands for her birthday. The perfect occasion to plan a weekend to explore this city together. So, on Friday at the end of May, Michelle is taking the train from Luxembourg, and I am driving to Bruges, where beer and chocolate awaits.
June 7, 2024
Chasing Waterfalls in Yosemite
Mandi got us a permit for Yosemite this year. I have been coming to Yosemite for many, many years and in every season. It is mid-May, and they had the biggest snowstorm of the year only two weekends ago. I have never seen the waterfalls this big. We have two and half days, from Friday through Sunday and we want to maximize our time and do as much as we can. So, on Friday, we drive straight into the park via HWY 120, destination Hetch Hetchy. We do a 7-mile hike to the Wapama falls. After, we drive to the Valley and have dinner at the historic Ahwanee hotel. On Saturday, first thing is driving up to Glacier Point and from there, down to the Valley floor, where we park at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. From here, we spend the day exploring the Valley. On Sunday, we drive from our hotel in Yosemite West, to Wawona followed by a hike to the Mariposa Grove to see the big Redwood trees, before returning home. A perfect weekend trip chasing waterfalls in Yosemite.
May 30, 2024
Hiking for Wine: Mendocino
Seema and I decided at the spur of the moment to go on a little road trip. We wanted to hike, go winetasting and have good food. After some research, we picked Mendocino as our destination. Only a couple of hours up the coast from the Bay area, we had both not been there. It was also an opportunity to visit the wineries of the Anderson Valley. So, on a sunny Monday morning in February, we were on our way for a hiking for wine Mendocino Road Trip.
February 16, 2024
2023: accept what is, let go what was, believe in what will be
2023 brought so many good things. It felt that life was finally back to normal with covid…
December 26, 2023
Hiking TMB: Flegere to Chamonix
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. August 5 was our seventh day of hiking TMB: Flegere to Chamonix. 11 miles, 2,362 feet elevation.
November 1, 2023
Hiking TMB: Trient to Argentiere
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alpes. After research and discussions with Alpine Exploratory, our travel agent, we decided to only hike the northern section. Seven days, around seventy miles, from Courmayeur in Italy to Chamonix in France. August 3 was our fifth day of hiking TMB: Trient to Argentiere. 9.9 miles, 3,740 feet elevation.
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October 21, 2023
Hiking TMB: La Fouly to Champex
In January, six of us decided to hike the famous Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the…
October 9, 2023