The year was 1938. The times in London were tense and uncertain as Adolph Hitler threatened mass war in Europe. As a safeguard against sudden and unexpected air attack, the British government decided to establish a central emergency working refugeRead more
Under the gleam of the full moon, Bill, Ann and I were locked inside the Tower of London. Literally. Locked up in the formidable stone-walled complex on the bank of the Thames River that has served as a fortress, palaceRead more
London and Paris are two of Bill’s and my favorite destinations. How could they not be? Both cities are uniquely beautiful and enchanting, and have much in common: they exude a vibrancy that belies their ages, revere their storied histories,Read more
Hank Birnbaum selected a sea otter pelt from a pile of skins displayed on a wooden table and let me caress the soft, luxurious fur. “Sea otters don’t have a layer of blubber to help them keep warm, unlike otherRead more
How wonderful to have friends who place top bids in online charity auctions and then ask you to share their winnings. Our friends, Carole and Keith, did just that when she was the recipient of a four-person food and artRead more
When Bill and I realized our nephew, Ben, a senior basketball player at The College of William and Mary, and his team (Go Tribe!) would play against College of Charleston, we put Charleston on our travel radar. Actually, we didn’tRead more
Chances are you rarely, if ever, think about Luther Burbank when you eat a baked potato. You’re too caught up in savoring the crisp golden skin on the outside, and the pure white, fluffy texture on the inside. If yourRead more
The name is attention-getting. Stardust Villa. That’s what Bill’s brother and his wife call their rental property on St. George Island, a 22-mile-long and one-mile-wide barrier island along the Florida Panhandle. Listed on the VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) website, Stardust Villa lookedRead more
We’d been to Kiawah, a barrier island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, dozens of times. With its 10 mile-long pristine, unspoiled beach, Kiawah is our favorite coastal destination in the South. On all our visits, however, we’d neverRead more
FLOSS No, it’s not a directive about proper dental care. Rather, FLOSS stands for Fresh Local Organic Seasonable Sustainable. That acronym is the sacred mantra of Portland’s vibrant cuisine scene, said Adam, our guide from Portland Walking Tours. Adam wasRead more