I hadn’t yet tucked into my first bite, the Malbec poured just a moment ago, the tables all around me full of happy diners chattering away over bites of steaming meat, when the son of the owners swung by my table. After a minute or two of chit-chat, he made me an offer I couldn’t…
Mainly Mozart Keeps Classical Music Alive in San Diego
For more than three decades, Mainly Mozart and its annual festivals of all-star musicians and soloists remained San Diego’s best-kept secret. It took a disaster to change that. Throughout the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic, while other performing arts organizations were in duck-and-cover mode, Mainly Mozart made the heroic commitment to keeping live classical…
Ronda: Spain’s Little Gem
Sometimes, you know in an instant that you are going to really like a place. That’s how my wife and I feel as we gaze over the Andalusian plains up toward a towering plateau and, for the first time, feast our eyes upon the small Spanish town of Ronda. We don’t remember ever hearing of…
Trails Across the Country Lead to Places You Might Like
Some people traipse through lovely landscapes as others explore history from the days of Native Americans to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water. At the end of the day, many of these visitors to Panama City, Florida, belly up…
Returning to My Roots for Restoration
About to land at the Portland International Airport, I could see the top of Mt. Hood peeking out from a pillow of billowy fog. My sister is a big fan of Mt. Hood and her annual birthday ritual is to travel there to celebrate her special day. I traveled to Oregon recently to celebrate my…
When in Barbados: Bajan Dishes and Drinks to Try
Bajan fare gleans inspiration from various parts of the world—including Africa, Portugal, India, Ireland, and Great Britain—representing a potpourri of cultures. Unsurprisingly, fresh seafood from the surrounding waters often dominates dinner tables, but locals also cook with meat and poultry. Starches, vegetables, fresh fruit such as mango, coconut, cherries, and apples, as well as various…
Scenic Sights Assault the Senses at Yosemite National Park
When I encountered my first giant sequoia in the Mariposa Grove, my head did not tilt back far enough to see the top and walking around the trunk practically required a GPS. Leaving noise and civilization behind to walk among these ancient trees brought us to the famous Grizzly Giant, the grove’s elder statesman, which…
Find Hidden Gems on the Way to Yosemite National Park
As you follow the hilly, curvy road that snakes through Yosemite National Park in California, every turn elicits another “wow” moment. It’s not easy to decide which view best demonstrates the appeal of the setting: dramatic overlooks, soaring mountains, rushing waterfalls, or other breathtaking examples of Mother Nature’s magnificent handiwork. Equally challenging is choosing among…
Montpelier: Founding Father James Madison’s Virginia Home
Montpelier, the lifelong plantation-style home of James Madison, founding father, diplomat, and fourth president of the United States, has as rich and varied a history as the man who made it famous. The property of the National Historic Landmark, which covers over 2,600 acres, belonged to the Madison family as early as the 1720s. When…
Making an Accordion, the Swiss Way
There is a sound in Switzerland unlike any other, and one that rarely crosses the country’s borders. No, I’m not talking about the ticking of millions of timepieces or the jingle of cowbells, but the musical tones created by the Örgeli. The Schwyzerörgeli, as it is properly called, is a type of diatonic button accordion…
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