Ready to Go

Almost time to go. All my stuff is out ready to pack. (I don’t like to pack too early since everything gets wrinkled in the bag. As it is, it’ll be 48 hours before getting to the ship.) My biggest problem always seems to be what to do with my camera gear and computer plus my reading material, etc. that I need on the plane. I end up with 2 carry-ons (I put the camera/computer back on top and my incidentals below my feet). Then I have my checked luggage too which makes for problems with getting all of it through the airport. If anyone has suggestions before my final packing tonight, would be glad for advice!

Charlie and I went to Italy about 15 years ago and spent 6 days in Rome where we did a LOT of sightseeing. I know things have changed in that time, but since we only have one day in Rome, we are going to try to put our Type A personalities aside and try to just enjoy the ambiance of the piazzas. We hope to sit at cafes and watch the Roman setting and stroll by beautiful places and sights. I’m going to try to get a couple of photos that I didn’t get last time, but it won’t be catastrophic if I don’t–really! LOL

I know that I will be dead tired by 5:00 p.m. Roman time if all is the same as my usual European trips. I don’t sleep well, if at all, on these flights to Europe–all cramped up with my legs under my chin, so I usually don’t make it much past 5:00. We usually eat around 5:00 the first day, and I try to stay up for a little longer so that I don’t wake up at 2:00 a.m. I’m hoping to add to this blog on Day 1 though because I’ll have Wi-Fi in the hotel and with any luck a few pictures.

Getting really excited.

BTW, the photo above is of a Point Reyes morning where is almost always foggy. New photos should be of new sights (for me) in Europe.

Grand Tetons Morning

Two more weeks until we leave for Europe. I think I’m about ready to go except for the actual packing. It’s been fun getting ready for this trip. I’ve spent hours booking tours (with local companies) to see as much as we can at each port. Charlie and I have always been very compatible as traveling partners. We both like to see all that we have time for. And that’s basically what we are going to do. We booked a room with a balcony so that we can sit outside to read or just watch the sights when we don’t want to go on deck. I think it will be nice since we will be mostly going from island to island on this trip.

I generally had everything I needed for the trip as far as clothing goes, but I ran across a dress at the Florida Mall that I fell in love with. Since I’m now 72, I try to dress appropriately for my age–not necessarily matronly but not outlandish either. This particular dress is one of those skin-tight ones that all the younger people are wearing (but not too short), and I decided I really like it. I’m not sure if I’ll ever find a place to wear it again–no one dresses up in Florida–but I talked myself into it, so it’s hanging in my closet. I’ll get a picture on the ship and if I don’t look too outlandish, I will post it here.

This is a trial page to see if I can post more than one photo at a in my blog.

My bucket list of places to go so far after this trip: Yosemite and Big Sur, Galapagos, Mounument Valley

Delicate Arch with San Juan Mountains in Background

In my last post, I mentioned that I would keep going on these workshops as long as I could. The reason I put it that way is that I have noticed on a couple of my last outings that it is getting harder to take certain trips. I seem to be having problems doing much physical activity at higher altitudes and my camera bag seems to be getting heavier. It makes me understand that I should start making lists of places to go and things to do and try them sooner rather than later.

With that in mind, Charlie and I are going on a cruise to the Eastern Mediterrean. Charlie is having trouble walking more than 1/4-1/2 mile any longer so we decided to do it the easy way and take private tours off the ship. That way if he wants to stay in the car he can. I hope to get many photos and will share some of those with you at my smugmug site. I will be using this new blog to keep you up to date on our Mediterrean adventure. We will be flying to Rome, then going to Sicily, Athens, Ephesus (Turkey), Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Naples and back to Rome. Probably our last trip to Europe, but there are a lot of other places to go too, so I will keep updating my “bucket list.”

For instance: Yosemite next, Galapagos after that. I’ll add on to this list as they come up.

Garrapata Beach at Sunset

In May, I went to a photo workshop at Big Sur. Several days of getting up before sunrise and being on location at sunset. I love all this. Going from place to place–all beautiful images.

I’ve been doing these workshops since I retired, one or two a year, and hope to continue on for a while. I’m going to use this blog to share some of my photos and post my thoughts on many things that come to mind as I travel. Those trips may be scenes close by or further afield. I’ll just see where my wandering feet take me.