During our time in Rio de Janeiro, we had the chance to visit some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, often referred to as the “Pyramid Church,” left a lasting impression on me with its modernist design and towering stained-glass windows that bathe the interior in colorful light.
Seeing Christ the Redeemer was one of the top landmarks on my travel bucket list, and after visiting 57 countries, I finally made it to this iconic landmark. Standing at the foot of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain was breathtaking. The panoramic views of the city and coastline was truly unforgettable.
We also took a thrilling cable car ride up to Sugarloaf Mountain. The views of Guanabara Bay, the cityscape, and the Atlantic Ocean from the summit were absolutely stunning.
While I watched in amazement as an Azure Jay cheekily stole a woman’s sandwich and flew off, the very cute coatis roamed the grounds in packs, searching for food, and monkeys played overhead as beautiful butterflies, including one that perched delicately on Jay’s hats, created a mesmerizing scene.
Experiencing Iguazu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides is an awe-inspiring adventure, each offering its own unique perspective.
Brazilian Side: As you approach the falls, the first thing you’ll notice is the roar of the water, growing louder with each step. The Brazilian side offers a panoramic view, showcasing the grandeur and vastness of the falls in a single sweeping vista. You’ll feel the mist on your face as you walk along the trails and lookout points, marveling at the sheer power of nature. The landscape here feels more expansive, allowing you to see the falls in their entirety and appreciate their scale against the lush greenery surrounding them.
Argentinian Side: Crossing over to Argentina, the experience becomes more intimate. Here, the trails and walkways bring you closer to the individual cascades, immersing you in the heart of the falls. The thunderous sound of water crashing down becomes a symphony in your ears, and the sight of rainbows forming in the mist adds a touch of magic. The landscape on this side feels more immersive, with lush jungle paths leading you to various viewpoints, including the exhilarating Devil’s Throat, where you’ll stand right above the most powerful section of the falls.
Both sides offer unforgettable experiences, but the difference lies in perspective: the Brazilian side provides sweeping, majestic views, while the Argentinian side offers a closer, more personal connection to the falls’ raw power. Together, they create a complete picture of one of the world’s most magnificent natural wonders
Experiencing Iguazu Falls from both Brazil and Argentina was breathtaking, but the real thrill came from a speed boat ride under the falls—probably not the smartest thing to do, but we did it anyway. The cool water was a welcome relief on a scorching day, though the cascading falls drenched us as if buckets of water were being poured on our heads, leaving us looking like soaked rats by the time we disembarked.
We were fortunate to be staying at a beautiful hotel across the street and were able to enjoy a stunning sunset, which perfectly capped off our adventurous day.
I always set out with the best intentions of keeping the blog up-to-date, but once I dive into the incredible experiences of the places we visit, I get so caught up in the moment that I inevitably fall behind. The allure of new sights, sounds, and adventures tends to sweep me away, making it hard to stay glued to my iPad!
We arrived in Rio de Janeiro on January 13th at 930am after a 27-hour journey from San Francisco. We desperately hoped our room would be ready; however, that was not the case. I took out our bathing suits, handed over our luggage to the wonderful staff and we made my way the Copacabana Beach!
Rio was everything I imagined it to be. The city’s unique blend of natural beauty, samba rhythms, and friendly locals creates an unforgettable experience for anyone fortunate enough to explore its wonders. The air is filled with the tantalizing aroma of delicious food, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of this marvelous city; it’s truly a sensory delight.
Street vendors pushing carts or selling their goods at the beach often stop to join a foot volley game on the spot, adding to the lively atmosphere. People are seen sunbathing and enjoying the beach, building intricate sandcastles, and playing in the water while trying to dodge the large waves. Children play joyfully, their laughter ringing out all around, adding to the enchanting charm of Copacabana. In the evenings, fishermen line the beach, their lines often crossing as they cast into the waves, adding a serene yet dynamic energy to the scene.
It was, without a doubt, the worst hop on hop off bus I’d ever been on, yet it turned out to be the most unforgettable ride of all. To begin with, it hardly gave us any chance to hop off. Just as we passed the theater, a performer boarded the bus, did a brief dance, and then departed as quickly as she had arrived. The real adventure began when we approached a tunnel. The driver floored it, sending us hurtling through at breakneck speed while passengers were encouraged to sing a popular tune and the horn blared in unison. This chaotic symphony unfolded on a topless bus, without a single seatbelt in sight—an accident waiting to happen, to say the least. Yet, amidst the madness, it was an experience I’ll never forget.
After years of looking forward to this trip, our adventure finally begins in South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. We start with 4 days exploring Rio de Janeiro on our own before joining the group for a more in-depth exploration of Rio de Janeiro.
From Rio de Janeiro, we will fly to Iguazu Falls to take in breathtaking views from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides over 5 days. At the conclusion of our land tour, our small group will board the Sapphire Princess, and continue on for a 17-day cruise from Buenos Aires to Punta Arenas in Chile, Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
We’ll enjoy 4 days of scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula before crossing Drake Passage again and stopping in the Falkland Islands and Montevideo, Uruguay. The adventure concludes with a return to Buenos Aires for a flight back home.
I cannot believe how fortunate we are to be able to take this trip!
Following a fantastic three weeks in Canada, we flew to Ohio where we would start our road trip to Maryland to catch up with Jay’s brother and sister-in-law, Bart and Lolly. While we were in Ohio, we visited Portsmouth where Jay grew up. We drove around town, visited Jay’s old high school while he shared stories with me about living in a small town.
On our road trips, I love planning stops in off-the-beaten-path places we wouldn’t normally see. This time, we kicked off our adventure at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia.
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, constructed between 1858 and 1881, is the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America and reportedly the second largest globally after the Kremlin. Originally designed to house 250 patients, by the 1950s it became severely overcrowded with over 2,000 patients. This overcrowding led to deteriorating conditions and an increase in incidents among patients, including fires, a murder, and a nurse’s death.
Patients were admitted for various reasons, many unrelated to mental health, such as asthma, tuberculosis, and even women not listening to their husbands. Men could admit their wives for nearly any reason. The asylum closed in 1994 due to its appalling conditions. Treatments used included shock therapy, solitary confinement, and lobotomies.
I can’t help but wonder why it took so long for the public to become aware of these horrific conditions. There were some historical records on display, and reading about them filled me with sadness.
Luray Caverns resemble the masterpiece of Mother Nature. This maze-like underground wonder, which is tucked away in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, is home to elaborate chambers that are brimming with exquisite stalactites and stalagmites that have formed fascinating patterns over millions of years. Dream Lake’s ethereal beauty creates the impression of floating formations through its reflections that resemble mirrors. The Great Stalacpipe Organ, a rare instrument that uses the natural structures of the cavern to produce songs harmoniously, is arguably the most enchanting. It really is a symphony of melodic beauty and geological artistry.
Driving through the Shenandoah National Park was like taking a trip into a breathtaking natural world. You find yourself driving through thick forests, by gushing waterfalls, and up to spectacular viewpoints via winding roads. The primary route through the park provides expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The beauty of nature is revealed at every angle. Every overlook offers a different perspective of the untamed nature of the park, enticing you to stop and take just one more photo of the beautiful surroundings.
As we made our way to Maryland, we thought we were following WAZE’s directions precisely, but somehow ended up in the heart of Washington DC. Despite having been to DC three times before, this was the first time I’d ever seen it from the inside of a car
After an adventurous road trip and a wonderful visit with friends and family, we headed back to the airport, dropped off our rental car, and hopped on the train to our favorite restaurant in Baltimore for the BEST CRAB CAKES ever!
It’s so wonderful to be back home with our beautiful cats, Chai and Quattro, waiting to welcome us back!
Apologies but I needed to resend this post with the updated photos. Enjoy the updated version!
As 2024 comes to an end, I am grateful for the opportunity we had to travel and stay connected with many of our friends and family. We started the year with a train journey in Switzerland, then traveled by train to Italy to reunite with friends from previous Trafalgar trips. Our journey continued to beautiful Poland, where we were captivated by its rich history, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality. A highlight was our summer trip to Canada, meeting up with Brad and Lynn, whom we met during our Switzerland trip, and spending 15 days with Elizabeth and Hughie, whom we met in Egypt in 2023. They took us on the most amazing tour of Newfoundland. We also took a little road trip from Ohio to Maryland to visit Bart and Lolly, Jay’s brother and sister-in-law. This year truly gifted us with unforgettable experiences.
Along with our travels this year, we had a wonderful time reconnecting with both old and new friends. We kicked off the year with a fantastic visit from Janice, Arlene, and Mervin, a family from Saskatchewan, Canada. Following that, Ellen and Tim from Boise, Idaho, came to see us. We spent a long, leisurely day with Andy and her brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Elaine. As funny as it sounds, I even spent an afternoon catching up in the hospital lobby with my friend Kathy, who was my mentor when I was a brand new Intensive Care nurse many moons ago! To top it off, our friends Mary Beth and Bob visited us from St. Charles, Missouri. We also had a chance to catch up with Sharon, my beautiful friend who took a chance on hiring me for an IT job when I had no idea what I was doing! Though I did not see her in person, a dear work friend, Elizabeth, and I reconnected through the wonders of LinkedIn. Joe, who became a friend through the committees we both participate in as Patient Family Advocates (PFAs), and Leonardo joined us for brunch. We also had delightful visits with our friends Mary and Steven. We also met the best innkeepers in Easton, MD, Tammy and Ken, and we are so looking forward to staying with them again this year. These moments with friends truly added to the richness of our year.
We had several gatherings with family as well in between our trips. We also attended several of our grandson Samuel’s performances; he has become quite the self-taught guitar player. Our grandson Quinten announced his engagement to his fiancée Maddie—wedding bells are in our future this year, on September 6th to be exact. Our granddaughter Keira is working as a Special Education TA and completing her studies as a Special Education Teacher. She is looking forward to graduating this year. We enjoyed several plays in San Francisco with our daughter Rica.
We did have an incredible surprise this year from the trip to Croatia I won in 2023; we found ourselves on the cover page of the Trafalgar mailer! It was such a thrill to see ourselves as the Front Page Duo!
Thank you for being a part of our journey and for enriching our lives with your friendship and love. Here’s to a new year filled with exciting adventures, cherished memories, and wonderful connections. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store and look forward to spending more time with all of you. We hope to see more of you this year as well. Wishing you all good health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year.
As we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025 with open arms, we extend our heartfelt wishes to everyone for a Happy New Year! May the coming year bring you good health, happiness, and countless moments of joy. Here’s to new adventures, cherished memories, and a year filled with love and prosperity. We hope to see as many of you as possible this year.
This summer, we were captivated by the breathtaking beauty of Canada. Reconnecting with friends from past travels, we enjoyed fantastic moments together and created cherished, unforgettable memories.
Niagara Falls from the Canadian side…finally!
We had a great visit with Lynn and Brad and a wonderful time exploring Toronto.
And we had the good fortune to see an outstanding performance of Tina Turner the Musical
There are no words to describe the amazing experiences we had over our 15 days in Newfoundland. Our journey began in Pasadena and ended in St. Johns, with numerous stops along the way, including a ferry ride and an overnight stay in Saint Pierre, an archipelago of France. Every day was flawlessly planned and just perfect.
During our provincial exploration, we spent a night at Betty and Gid’s place. Jay and I stayed in their charmingly converted old post office, now a beautiful cottage. We had fresh crab and scallops for starters and Fisherman’s Brewis (a local specialty) for the main dish and baked apple tarts for dessert. Elizabeth brought a curry chicken salad, and carrot cake. It was truly an honor to meet Betty and Gid
Before heading to St. Pierre, we spent the night at Spanish Room Manor B&B in Marystown, where our host Claudine serenaded me with a special Newfoundland version of Simani’s “Anniversary Song” to the tune of happy birthday. In St. John’s, we enjoyed a delightful birthday dinner with Meryl and Marilyn. Hughie prepared an excellent salmon dish and Elizabeth’s dessert was amazing. The next morning, we crossed to Bell Island via ferry for a tour of the Island led by Myrle, we started out at the mines. While in the mine, Geraldine, our guide surprised me with a birthday song at the shaft where the flooded area met the mine which was arranged by Myrle. At the café, Teresita and Bonnie sang another birthday tune. We had an amazing meal at Dick’s Fish and Chips. After an exciting and adventurous day we headed back to the condo at St. Johns. Hughie mentioned the day before that we would spend the evening in town at an Irish Pub for our last night in town; little did I know, that was not the real plan!Back in St. John’s, the Mummers showed up at the door then we spent the evening enjoying music and food at Marilyn and Myrle’s place. Jay and I were officially “screeched in” by Meryl, and the night ended with a birthday toast and gifts. It was a truly wonderful way to celebrate my birthday and our last evening in Newfoundland.
What are mummers? Mummers are people who dress in disguises and visit homes in Newfoundland and Labrador during Christmastime to perform and socialize. The tradition is also known as mumming or janneying. Jay was so fascinated by this tradition, he kept saying he will be back for Christmas. Little did we know, this was part of the surprise Elizabeth and Hughie had planned for our last day in town. I was so surprised by the whole event I never took a photo of the group!
What is getting “Screeched In” ? It is a ceremony in which the initiate recites a verse, eats a piece of bologna takes a shot of screech, and kisses a cod. The participant then gets a certificate declaring their honorary Newfoundlander status. The Screech-In ceremony was devised by a man named Myrle Vokey. Myrle was a Canadian teacher who came up with the idea in 1974 as part of a Canadian Teachers’ Federation Conference.
On August 17th, we received heartbreaking news from Hughie, Myrle had passed away. His heart was too weak for any intervention. This marked the loss of a dear friend and the end of an era for many. We are deeply grateful to have known such a wonderful human being. According to Hughie, so much was made of the thousands who he made honorary Newfoundlanders, and interestingly Jay and I have the distinction of being the last two Myrle screeched in, an honor we would trade in a heartbeat to have him back. His passing was widely covered, reaching local, provincial, and even national Canadian news.
It is with much sadness, love and gratitude for a life well lived that the family of Myrle Ivan Vokey shares the news of his passing on August 17, 2024. Myrle’s life overflowed with love, adventures, service, and songs. His devotion to immediate and extended family, friends near and far, enriched the lives of all who knew and loved him.
All good things must come to an end, as they saying goes. We started as a group of four on April 4th in Switzerland to a group of twelve when we all got together in Italy on April 19th. There was just the two of us traveling on May 8th, as we set out for Poland. The entire trip was memorable and unique at each and every stop.
There were many firsts for us during our trip; for example, we had never missed the meeting time given by the Tour Director before. It still baffles us as to how twelve people could possibly hear the wrong time. Did we all truly hear the wrong time or did we simply decided to agree with each other?
We have never lost our luggage INSIDE the hotel nor has our room been occupied by a person not in our group when we arrived! We were so lucky to have such diligent TD’s
Switzerland
This was our first ever train tour and it was really great fun. It was nice to be able to wander around the train and visit with our group as we traveled compared to the coach where we must remain seated at all times. . I am still amazed how our TD Ellen got all of us on every single train without missing a beat. She was truly amazing.
Switzerland is a country with an abundance of natural beauty. The pristine lakes, towering mountains, and lush green valleys make it a haven for nature lovers. Whether you’re an avid hiker or simply someone who appreciates the serenity of the outdoors, Switzerland has something to offer everyone.
Italy
As we started our world travels, we decided that we would not repeat a visit to any country as there are so many places to see in the world. Well, we failed that goal as this was our 5th visit to Italy. How can you not return to this beautiful country especially when it involves meeting up with wonderful friends?
From all the great meals we shared
To all the new memories made
Christopher was our first American TD but his soul was Italian through and through . Our driver Mauricio was excellent and he got us to where we needed to be safely even if it included driving in reverse for an entire block due to unexpected road construction.
Poland
When someone asked me why Poland before our trip, I always responded by saying “why not?” Now that I have traveled to Poland, I have a much different perspective.
Poland is a country rich in history with hundreds of medieval castles, excellent museums which are definitely worth visiting such as the Warsaw Rising Museum and POLIN Museum. You will be charmed by Kraków and surprised by Warsaw. Poland has 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and breathtaking mountain ranges. The the food is incredible which makes it a paradise for foodies. The Salt Mines were unbelievable. But one of the best things I was lucky enough to experience in Poland was the kindness of the people and the country’s hospitality! Every single person we encountered especially the staff at the Hilton Hotel before the tour started were all just amazing.
And we must never forget the infamous Auschwitz Birkenau camp.
To old and friends and new friends, we hope to see you again one day
We visited the historic Auschwitz concentration camp on our way back to Warsaw this morning, which served as a sobering reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.
We also made a stop at the Monastery of Jasna Góra. For hundreds of years, the monastery has drawn pilgrims, and inside is a significant icon of the Virgin Mary. The icon known as the Black Madonna of Częstochowa, or Our Lady of Częstochowa, is a popularly revered figure who is credited with performing numerous miracles. It shows the Mother of God holding the Christ Child.
And just when we were getting to know everyone, it’s time to head home
We hope to meet up with Helen, Mary and Mike again one day!
Simply Thank You
Every travel day, Jacek was always there to make sure our luggage was on the coach and he always got us to our destination on time and safely.
Mietek was Simply Amazing!
It’s been a while since I’ve been this melancholy about leaving a place we’ve recently visited. Is it Poland or our wonderful tour director, Mietek, who has consistently expressed his love and admiration for his gorgeous country? Perhaps a little bit of both. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mietek; you truly gave such a joyful and passionate representation of your country.
World Blog 