Travel
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Medjugorje
The ten-day pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Herzegovina was an uplifting experience, a rewarding time for spiritual renewal and self discernment, while Croatia's beautiful and pristine Adriatic coastlines and interesting medieval towns beckoned. The trip was heavenly, in more sense than one. -
Romania
Romania is another well-kept secret in Eastern Europe. Bucharest, Sibiu, Biertan, Sighisoara, Brasov, Bran and more -- lots of UNESCO World Heritage monasteries, beautiful medieval towns through Wallachia, Transylvania, Bukovina and Moldavia. Exquisite cuisine. We had a very good time there in June, 2013. Click on thumbnails to enlarge photos. -
Ukraine
Our trip to Ukraine, September, 2012, was wonderful and memorable, especially Crimea, with its rich history, beautiful Black Sea coastline, churches, cuisine, a unique experience. -
Georgia
Not Georgia, the state in the USA, but the Republic of Georgia in the Caucasus, between the Black and Caspian Seas. It's one of the best kept secrets for the traveller, especially for one who prefers the less beaten tracks, away from the madding crowd. We were impressed by Georgia's scenery, the mountains, the rivers, its history, the warmth of the Georgian people, the Orthodox churches, Georgian cuisine and wines, and its law and order. And it's peaceful -- June, 2012 -
Poland
Poland, April, 2012 -- Warsaw, Krakow, Czestochowa, Wadozice, Auschwitz and Birkenau, Salt Mine of Wieliczka -- all a poignant and unforgettable experience, and an eye-opener. We were much impressed with the Polish people's devotion to their Catholic faith as observed during Holy Week leading up to Easter. -
China
In June, 2010, Michael and I paid return visits to some of the cities familiar from previous trips to China, but Huangshan, the old Hongcun Village, the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges, and Tai Lake in Wuxi were first-time adventures for us. A very gratifying and memorable seventeen days. -
Jordan
Our 5 days in Jordan, April 2010, were most memorable. We were very impressed with the country, the people, their attitude towards religion and the world community, and, of course, Petra, along with other archaeological treasures. -
Sarawak
In 2006, I returned to Sarawak, Borneo, where my father grew up, 44 years after my first visit there with my parents. I returned again in 2008, with Michael and my brother Tony who was there with me in 1962. We stopped in Buso, the bazaar where my grandfather kept a shop on the only street there. Buso is a place where time has stood still -- people came and went, but the place has remained the same. These pictures were taken during my visit in 2008. Sarawak, formerly a British colony, is now a province of Malaysia. -
Roadtrip
Sampling photos from the road trip, summer,2009, across North America, covering 17 states, 5 provinces, 4 national parks. We zigzagged between Canada and the United States on our outbound journey, and took another route back through the United States. We started out on July 28 and arrived home September 16. We were more or less tracing the footsteps of Lewis and Clark! -
Peru
We visited Peru in February, 2009 -- Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Balastas Islands, Ica. It was a memorable eight days. -
Egypt
Egypt was one grand experience over the past several years, 2005 - 2010. Cairo is a familiar city. Michael and I had combed its streets and neighborhoods, crossed its bridges back and forth, frequented its restaurants, churches. We cruised the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, walked through its ruins, experienced in part the Sahara including the White Desert, the Baharya Oasis, the Crystal Mountain. We spent weekends at Hurghada, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Sharm el Sheikh on the Red Sea, St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula. And we have formed lasting friendships there. For all this, we are very grateful. -
Uzbekistan
A guide in Bukhara told me on my second visit to Uzbekistan that going there three times would bring good luck. Sure enough, I was to go to Uzbekistan three times -- in 2004, 2006, 2007. Each visit was meaningful and memorable, although I was mostly seeing the same places every time. It was the company that mattered. -
Bulgaria
Bulgaria was most memorable. Michael and I loved Sofia, and the pretty towns, historic churches and monasteries, and ancient ruins we visited on weekends, during our few trips to Bulgaria, in 2006 and 2007, Boyana, Plovdiv, Rila, Bachkovo, Koprivshtitsa, Starosel, Kazanlak, and Varna on the Black Sea. -
Kazakhstan
Before Michael went to Kazakhstan the first time in 1999, we did not know where it was. Now, ten years later, we have gone to Almaty over twenty times. It is like a home to us. Not only have we made great friends, we also have family ties there now: one of our sons married a lovely girl from Kazakhstan. -
Tanzania
I love the safari -- Manyara, Ngorong Ngoro, Serengeti.The animals are so wonderful. We were in Tanzania, including Zanzibar, in April, 2007. I would go back again any time. -
Montenegro
We did weekend trips in 2006 and 2007 to Montenegro, Croatia, Herzegovina during our stay in Belgrade. The scenery and towns there were so beautiful, indeed some of the world's best-kept secrets for the traveler. -
Bosnia
I count myself very lucky to have had the chance to visit Bosnia in 2007, and to have read at a Sunday mass in St. Joseph's Church in the old city of Sarajevo. -
Serbia
I have a soft spot for Belgrade, the city of many monuments, of Kalemegdan Fortress, the Danube and the Sava, and the old town with cobbled streets and historic buildings. It is a pedestrian city, and I was able to get to many parts of the city on foot. Those places I could not walk to, I was able to take a bus. I am thankful for the opportunities to stay in Serbia quite a few times, 2005-2007, and meet interesting and friendly people. My article "Belgrade: city of monuments" was published in October, 2009 in IntheFray Magazine, at http://inthefray.org/content/view/3543/288/ -
Bhutan
I have loved Bhutan from the first moment I set eyes on the little Himalayan kingdom. What more can I say? We were there in 2000 and 2002. It is paradise on earth, truly the Last Shangri-la. Read my novel The Heart of the Buddha. You will understand better my feeling for the place.