Tag: travel
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Snow Bird Interlude, Part 3
Stef and Stan in Sarasota, continued… Friday, February 13, 2026 On Monday (February 9), Stef and I visited Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. “Mote” isn’t an acronym; it commemorates its major benefactor, William R. Mote and his family. (Stef approves of this fundraising reference.) Mote was established in Sarasota in 1955. On a previous stay…
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Snow Bird Interlude
Stef and Stan in Sarasota. February 3, 2026 Stef’s late mom (Ruth) lived in Sarasota for many years, and Stef was a frequent visitor. Ruth died in 2020 at the age of 106!! For the past several years, the two of us have been snow-birding here for two-week winter stays. The usual experience has been…
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IfAnyoneCan, Yukon (Part 4)
Better luck next time! December 30, 2025 Now I know how Franklin felt in 1848. Perhaps you have heard about Franklin’s Lost Expedition (1845-1848)? No? Sir John Franklin and 129 crewmen set sail on the H.M.S. Erebus and H.M.S. Terror. He had the idea of seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific. It didn’t go…
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IfAnyoneCan, Yukon (Part 3)
From Vancouver to Whitehorse. Hey, look at the Lights! (Not!) December 28, 2025 Yesterday, Matt and I checked out of the Fairmont Airport Hotel in Vancouver and made our way to our Air North flight to Whitehorse. On the plane, the guy in the window seat (who lives in Whitehorse) informed us that Air North…
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IfAnyoneCan, Yukon
Yet Another Try For The Lights December 12, 2025 First, attribution (and apologies) to Jay Ward (producer) and Alex Anderson (director) of the1950s animated series, “Crusader Rabbit,” which I watched as a little kid. It was sort of like the Rocky and Bullwinkle of its day. In one episode (I remember clearly), the protagonist had…
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If it’s October, this must be Belgium (#12, Final Post)
Last Day in Brussels: The Fine Arts and Magritte Museums October 29, 2025 We fly back to New York tomorrow, October 30. For our last day in Brussels, we wanted to check out the museum dedicated to Belgium’s own René Magritte. We were surprised that the Musée Magritte is actually a part of the complex…
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If it’s October, this must be Belgium (#10)
Maison Hannon, Design Museum, and the Atomium October 26-27, 2025 On Sunday, we made an attempt to see the Horta Museum. You’ll recall that Victor Horta (1861-1947) was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. His home is a museum, and a resplendent example of his art.…
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If it’s October, this must be Belgium (#9)
Antwerp October 24, 2025 Antwerp (or Anvers, in French) is to Brussels sort of like Chicago is to New York, the “Second City.” Culturally different, since Antwerp is the de facto capital of the Flemish (Flanders) part of Belgium, and you hear no French spoken. It was home to the artist Peter Paul Rubens, who…
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If it’s October, this must be Belgium (#6)
Bruges (or Brugge, as the case may be) Monday, October 20, 2025 Day trip to Bruges? There was a good chance of rain, but we decided to go for it. Up and out, to the Gare du Midi, to catch the train (an easy one-hour ride) to Bruges, a world-class trading center and economic powerhouse…
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If it’s October, this must be Belgium (#5)
Ixelles and Art Nouveau Sunday, October 19, 2025 Our Lonely Planet travel book (sorry, Rick Steves, you are not the only act in town) mapped out an Art Nouveau walking tour. Belgium claims to be the birthplace of this style of art and architecture popular during the Belle Epoque period (between 1890 and 1910). It…
Something to Declare 