Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Summer's Comin'



Getting prepared to hit the road, or should I say rails, again this summer.  (Can you spot me?)  My favorite way to travel, bar none!  Well, for short distances...my bike takes first place!

Hmmmm. Passenger or Freight?



There are two kinds of trains.  One carries freight like cars, coal, cows, and cabbage. This car is a box car on a freight train.  The other kind of train is a passenger train which, of course, carries people.  There are tourist trains (which carry passangers and little dogs) like the Canadian train, the Rocky Mountaineer.  Check it out at www.rockymountaineer.com and book your seat!

My Favorite Mainland City



Riding the rails into and out of Washington, D.C., is exciting! Take the Amtrak to the Nation's Capital and you'll love the experience.  You can hop right off the train at Union Station and onto the Metro, the city's subway.  It takes you almost anywhere...the Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery (my favorite,) Air and Space Museum, Eastern Market, etc. And many museums are free!

Oh, the Peaches and the Flowers!




As I said, there is lots to do in Washington, D.C.  I am making my plans to be at the Eastern Market behind the Capitol this summer.  I'll visit the peach man and the flower lady for sure.  Then I'll have Sunday breakfast at an outdoor cafe and people watch!  Knowing me, I'll probably chat with a few people, too.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Whew, Back in London Town



It was a long ride from Paris on the Eurostar to London, but here I am.  Be advised...sometimes crossing borders can take awhile.  Just chat up the fellow in line behind you and time will pass more quickly.

Ahhh....the Farmers' Market at the Ally Pally



The bread, oh, the bread.  One of the most wonderful delights of traveling in Europe, especially in London, is the "Staff of Life."  I love the dark bread the best!

More Bread, Please



Yes, just pass me some Irish butter and I'll be in heaven!  This Farmers' Market in north London is near the Alexandra Palace. Built in 1873 and called the People's Palace, it's purpose was to serve the citizens as a public center of recreation, education, entertainment.

Everyone's Always so Friendly



Visiting farmers' markets is one of my favorite pastimes when I travel.  I make new friends and learn about the neighborhoods.  I love talking and listening to the growers, bakers, herbalists, artists, chefs, and locals.  The interactions make my brain grow and I become more open-minded.

And I Bid you Farewell



Saying goodbye to the Ally Pally Farmers' Market.  When you are visiting London, there are so many absolutely wonderful places to visit and this market is just one of them!

Thursday, June 7, 2018

I Love the Train! Heading South to Paris



Taking the train is my favorite way to travel.  It's like checking into a spa.  Meals are served in a dining car with waiters and fancy, white cloth napkins!  The rocking of the wheels on the track puts me happily to sleep.  No waiting in security lines or agricultural inspection.  Heaven!

Nosey, Just like Me!


I meet and make friends with a lot of dogs as I journey around the world.  This little pooch is in Paris, The City of Light.  

Sweet Max




My friend, Maximilien, is showing me around his Dad's very cool and trendy men's clothing shop, Sausalito, in Montmartre, Paris.  The family put me up in their bright and beautiful apartment while I was visiting them in the 18th Arrondissement.  Their neighborhood is the art center of the city.

Street Music



Traveling opens your eyes...This piano just sets on a Paris street and is available for anyone to sit down and play.  I love that!  Traveling opens your heart, too!

The River Seine



Boats have long traveled on this very important river which cuts through the heart of Paris dividing it into the Left Bank and the Right Bank.  Lots of tours boats, like the red-bottomed one above, show visitors the sights, now.  If you want to read a great chapter book about the River Seine and a homeless family, check out...
FAMILY UNDER THE BRIDGE by Natalie Savage Carlson.  It will warm your heart and make you laugh, promise.

Our Own Thomas Jefferson




Right above the bridge in the above photo, stands this statue of our 3rd US President and Founding Father, and principal author of the Declaration of Independence.  Thomas Jefferson was our Minister to France and the French people love him! 

The Art Center of the City



Montmartre is always high on my list of places to see when I visit Paris.  I love talking to the artists and sharing stories.  I get inspired there, also, when I see work that I know I could do, too.  To be an artist, you must be brave because you are truly "putting yourself out there."  Be Brave.  Do Art!!

Spectacular Architecture




The very old buildings in Paris take my breath away.  I love looking at the fancy handiwork of a bygone era.  The builders loved their jobs and it shows.  The attention to detail is what impresses me most.  Did you know the basic plan for Washington, D.C., was designed by the French-born American architect, Pierre L'Enfant.  That's why the District of Columbia is full of traffic circles or roundabouts as they are sometimes called. They have lots of those in French cities.  L'Enfant was also a volunteer in the American Continental Army.

And Another View of Paris



I just wanted to stare out this window for hours...it was so beautiful.  Beauty lifts your spirits and produces endorphins which make you feel happy.  I call it "happy juice."  Keep a garden and your heart will be full.  You could also have a window box and/or big pot on the balcony or porch.  Just grow something and you will grow, too, mostly contentment and deep smiles.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Midsummer, on the Baltic Sea...Brrrr



Rotraud, my dear friend, was so kind to take me to northeast Germany and show me the coastline of her country.  It was beautiful and cool, but a little nippy for this Hawaiian pooch!


Waiting for Lunch to Arrive



I'm in a little fishing village near the city of Lubeck.  The boat carrying a big load of fish is about to pull up to the dock.  I'm staring very hard, being patient, yet I am starting to drool.  Hope nobody notices!

Hooray!




The boat finally arrived.  I am so excited to see today's catch.  I am right on the dock and the restaurant is just behind me.  The fish will be offloaded and fried right here.  Yum!

Fishing is Serious Business!



This sober-looking fisherman was making a lot of waiting diners happy, me included!

Around the Dock



This is what was next door to the restaurant where I ate my fresh-caught fish.  Lots of ropes and floats!  Hmm, did you notice the roof of the building in the background.  We are not in America, Dorothy!

And Now for Dessert!



Come on into this sweet little beach cafe and help me pick out something sweet.  German pastries are the most delectable.  I promise!

A Difficult Decision




Oh my, oh my, oh my, which one shall I choose?  I am shaking my head, all these desserts are so tempting.  Which one would you choose?

Visit Here Sometime






My day in this little fishing village on the northeast coast of Germany has been full of wonder and delight.  I advise a visit...during the summer. 

Sunday, February 26, 2017

No one on the Beach...in July?



I am in northern Germany, near the town of Lubeck, and it is freezing cold.  Can you imagine how frigid it is in the winter?  Look at those dark clouds...is snow coming?

Join Me? We're Protected from the Weather



It's just about noon; the wind and low temperatures are keeping beachgoers away.  On bright, sunny days the roofs of these wicker beach chairs recline to let in the warming rays.  It's a lot different in northern Germany compared to my home on the North Shore of Oahu!

On Guard and On Alert



At beaches around the world, young men and women risk their lives to save others.  Same is true on the Baltic Sea.  These lifeguards were looking after me, but I was just too cold.  I didn't dare put my paw in the water!  Even my fur coat didn't keep me warm!

Ready to Go!!



For Lukas, holding me, lifeguarding on the Baltic Sea is seasonal work.  Off season he's training to be an electrician.  Fellow guard, Olaf, is in electronics when he's not stationed at the beach.  I asked them what was the hardest part of their job.  They both replied, "Bad weather, but when the sun shines, das ist gut!" 

A Beach Just for Me!




Yes, a dog beach just for me, but it's not free. 
Life is different in Germany!
 Better get out my Euros!  

Saturday, September 3, 2016

It's All Greek to Me


 Actually, it's German and I'm in Hamburg at a very fancy restaurant in a very fancy department store called Alsterhaus. 
The gourmet lunch buffet was fabulous and very reasonable!

My Taste Buds are Watering


Yes, make sure, if you are ever in Hamburg, you have lunch at Alsterhaus.  It's fancier than any department store in New York City!

Hamburg...Meaning Castle or Fort


Originally built at the command of the Emperor Charlemagne in 950, this historic town in northern Germany near the North Sea, is now the second largest city in the country.  Whew...this architecture took my breath away and did you notice the angel way up on top?

Quack, Quack at the Gateway to the World




This is the Elbe River which flows into the North Sea.  I loved seeing the old folks, all bundled up against the summer cold, feeding the ducks and watching the sailboats fly by.

Watching the World Go By




Hamburg was a fun town to visit...lots of bikes, young people, and
beautiful waterways to pedal around.

Bargains Ahead?


And now I am ready to go shopping in Hamburg!  Not exactly sure what that sale sign means.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Friends in the Netherlands



Simon and Marieke were so good to me on my visit to their home in The Hague.  They took me to many interesting places.  This canal is in the city of Leiden.  Come on along and I'll show you some more of the sights...

A Robot?



Nope, this is a parking meter in Leiden...sure looks like a robot to me.

A Two-story Home?




Take a better look and you'll see that this photograph shows a reflection of the brick house on one of the many canals in Leiden.  Did you notice the bird's nest?

Hundreds of Years Old





Leiden was established in the early 1300's, many years before Columbus landed in America.  The architecture is breathtaking and has so much character....details, details, details.  This town is home to  the oldest university in the Netherlands, also.







Coats of Arms




These shields, filled with symbols and figures, represent a family, a person, an organization, and sometimes, city or a country.  Medieval knights wore the coats over their armor.

A Secret Passage?



Hmmmm.  This little door on the canal gave me pause.  Never did find out if it opened or where it went!  A mystery.

My Favorite Mode of Transportation



Yes, this bicycle is not just a way to go from here to there on two wheels....which is my key to freedom.  I love the wind blowing in my fur and stopping anytime I want to sightsee or chat with friends.  This bike is more than that, it's advertising a restaurant.

A Souvenir, Perhaps?



There was such a fabulous selection of pottery in Leiden at little tourist shops.  See anything that would suit you?  I recommend this town!