Took the shin (bullet train) back to Yokohama. We booked seats on the correct side to see Mr. Fuji. There were clear blue skies before and after Fujiyama station, but the mountain was socked in.  I’m glad we had our glimpse on the first train. Back at the Grace Hotel we had an upgraded room…

The bullet train from Kyoto to Osaka took 14 minutes and cost around $55 for the two of us. That sounds expensive, but considering the distance covered, it was OK.  We checked into our tiny room at the SmileOsaka hotel. The afternoon was spent at a nearby mall where we had lunch in the seating/dining…

Check another one off the list. We choose our adventures primarily based on value, then location, so this time we were led to Japan for a cruise to five Japanese ports, six days at sea (including two May 2nd's as we crossed the dateline) then five ports in Alaska prior to arriving in our home…

Note: delays due to further issues with Typepad's ability to upload photos. I have a new goal: this summer when Mari is here to hold my hand I will migrate this blog to a platform I can manage myself.  Day 3: started with crab cakes eggs Benedict, of course, then headed to the downtown Estes…

And now we're in August 2024. As I've been able to post pictures, still with effort but not as much, I've decided to go back in time to post some missed experiences. In August I had the opportunity to meet up with long term (not old 😉) friend, Nancy, from my days living in Omaha…

We arrived early, back in Cairo for the what is considered the main event of the trip: the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum. Today however, it was a stop at the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, originally a historic caravanserai and centre of trade in mid 13th-16th centuries. Now it is the…

Another hot day with a tight schedule. We started at the enormous Edfu Temple of Horus, built between 237 and 57 BC. Another example of solid construction and intricate carvings withstanding the test of time despite being buried 12 meters deep under blowing desert sand and silt from the Nile. During our stay in the…

After yesterday's hours in the heat, C elected to skip the evening tour of Luxor Temple. I went as it was only a five minute ride away and temperatures would be dropping with the setting sun. Built starting in 1400BCE, the temple is located in the current city along the banks of the Nile. In…

We flew from Asia to Africa in an hour and a half.  It was a 40 minute coach ride from the airport to our hotel, by some very depressing areas of dilapidated apartment buildings that looked to be in ruins, but there was evidence of people living there.  We checked into the 900 room Ramses…

The week has flown by. Tomorrow we head to Cairo for the Egyptian portion of the trip. We had a 45 minute ride to Jerash, referred to as the "Pompeii of the east." Covering 200 acres, that translates to 8,712,000 square feet! Be prepared for hot weather and hilly uneven terrain while you trek through…