Travel
Now I’m just having fun . . .
Posted on: February 3, 2026
Courtesy of ChatGPT, Images tab, and the prompt: “Create a caricature of me based on everything you know about me.” P.S.: I tried – I really, really tried – to get “BASSPORT” to be “PASSPORT” and the 2nd “Compliance” gremlin’s hat to read COMPliance no …
Read MoreI asked ChatGPT to choose my nail polish. H had other plans.
Posted on: February 2, 2026
I’m about to leave for Africa, which means my life has entered its sacred pre-trip phase:lists, sub-lists, nested lists under other lists, and a level of logistical intensity that suggests I’m either going on safari with a weight limit . . . or launchi …
Read MoreMy New Travel Assistant is an Algorithm (& it’s Judgier than my Husband ever was)
Posted on: February 1, 2026
Back in the day—when my husband and I were traveling regularly, usually once a year to Austria to visit his parents (and later, just his dad), plus assorted shorter and longer jaunts—I had a system. Actually, correction: H had a system. I had . . . vib …
Read MoreNext Trip: Africa! (Then Vancouver…then Japan…)
Posted on: February 1, 2026
Coming up in February/March, I’m off with Overseas Adventure Travel again, this time to Africa. The overview is HERE, the day-to-day itinerary is HERE. I am doing the pre- and post-trips as well, then staying an extra couple of days in Namibia, at a Ch …
Read MorePosted in: Travel
Tagged: OAT africa cheetah cheetah conservation japan mjer namibia overseas adventure travel skeleton coast south africa vancouver
Puerto Rico Postscript
Posted on: December 21, 2025
Last coffee on the balcony Very patient dog Cheers to H, Miami Amex lounge DELISH pomegranate chicken, salad, etc! (Amex lounge) And, of course, fresh crunchy chocolate chip cookies! Okay, these biscuits were delish (sort of coconut/cinnamon); however, …
Read MorePuerto Rico: Day Seven (Last Day)
Posted on: December 19, 2025
When the Ocean Says “Not Today” As I type this, we’ve just received notification that our snorkeling tour has been canceled — again — due to high waves. We’ll get our money back (thank you, Get Your Guide, for at least being efficient about that), but …
Read MorePosted in: Travel
Tagged: Hyatt vacation club Pina colada Puerto rico San Juan San Juan food tour San Juan old town alcapurrias arabica cafe cuatro sombras cafe el punto chocobar chocobar cortes chocolate grilled cheese cortadito hacienda del mar hyatt la mallorquina mofongo mofongo making old San Juan old San Juan food tour rum senor paleta
Puerto Rico: Day Six
Posted on: December 18, 2025
Rain Decisions, Rum Barrels, and Strategic Napping Yesterday’s plan (manatees!) quietly surrendered to what turned into a serious, unapologetic loll. Sharon found us a place on the beach while I was putting the final touches on the blog; when I got dow …
Read MorePosted in: Travel
Tagged: Bacardi Encanto Pina colada Puerto rico Ron del barrilito Rum old fashioned Rum tour rum
Puerto Rico: Day Five
Posted on: December 17, 2025
Plans, Punctuality, and a Cancelled Snorkel Well… this one was a little sad. Due to the weather, our snorkeling trip was cancelled. Of course, being us, we were there a full hour early and didn’t think to check our phones until the “mandatory 10 minute …
Read MorePuerto Rico: Day Four
Posted on: December 16, 2025
Rainstorms, Rum, and When an “Avocado Salad” Is… Interpreted Very Literally A Strategic Retreat (a/k/a No More Wet Rocks) We officially decided not to do the tide pools. As mentioned at the end of Day 3, we had simply reached our lifetime quota fo …
Read MorePuerto Rico: Day Three
Posted on: December 16, 2025
Cliffs, Coquí, and the Courage to Paddle in Pitch Black (Then Collapse in Bed) (or: We Came, We Jumped, We Kayaked in the Dark, We Didn’t Die) Early Start (and Thank Goodness for It) We got going just after 8:00 a.m. (for a 40 minute drive to a 10:30 a …
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