Travel
Europe Day Two: Ireland. A Delay, A Missed Flight And I Got To A Stay In Dublin For A Night
Ireland and Dublin were on my bucket list but I wasn’t planning on visiting on this trip. I was on my way to Budapest, Hungry or so I thought when I boarded my United flight in Newark, New Jersey. It was at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday evening. After a 4 1/2 hour delay, in the…
Read MoreEurope Day Three: Finally A Walk On The Streets Of Budapest, Hungary
It was another long day of travel on my journey to Budapest, Hungary. There were long delays at security and I was advised to be at the Dublin airport 4 hours before my 8 a.m. flight. I did avoid the long security lines but it still made for a long day. I flew into Zurich…
Read MoreEurope Day Four: Budapest Hungary. Exploring Margaret Island And Shoes On The Danube.
I slept eleven hours my first night in Budapest. I was refreshed when I awoke at 7 a.m. and decided to walk to Margaret Island located on the Danube River. I only decided to make this trip ten days in advance of my flight so I did not have time to research the history of…
Read MoreEurope Day Four: Hungary: A Beautiful June Evening In The Castle District In Budapest
As I noted in my previous blogs, the Castle District in Budapest, Hungary is situated on a hill above the Danube River, overlooking the town of Pest to the east, and the Buda hills to the west. In addition to the beautiful views there is so much history associated with this once enclosed fortress. I…
Read MoreEurope Days Five And Six: Hungary . My Last Evening And Morning Hikes Through The Streets Of The Castle District in Budapest.
After my long hike on Saturday morning , exploring the streets of Budapest, I returned to the Budapest Hilton Hotel atop the Castle District overlooking the city . I spent the afternoon editing the many photos I took and reading a little about the history of the city. By late afternoon I was hungry, in…
Read MoreEurope Day Seven: Slovakia. A Morning Walk In Old Town Kosice And Beautiful Mestsky Park
The weather was perfect when I awoke early my first morning in Kosice, Slovakia. It was my first full day in the native country of some of my ancestors. The skies were clear, calm, deep blue, with a pleasant temperature in the low 60’s. Perfect walking weather. So, after a cup of coffee I was…
Read MoreEurope Day Seven. Slovakia: An Afternoon Walk In Kosice.
After my morning walk in Kosice, Slovakia, I had a late and hearty breakfast at the hotel and rested a bit while I caught up with editing the many photographs I was taking. Around 2 p.m. I decided to venture out again. I had hoped to walk to the Hornad River which flows through the…
Read MoreMy Last Spring Hike , And A Couple Of Summer Hikes, In Community Park In Hazle Township
I continued my daily routine of taking an afternoon walk in the Community Park near my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County this past week. Last Friday was my last Spring walk in the park. It was hard to believe the Summer Solstice arrived on Tuesday. Winters here in Northeastern Pennsylvania seem to last forever,…
Read MoreEurope Day Nine: Slovakia Another Walk Through Old Town Kosice.
It was my third day in Slovakia when I awoke on Wednesday morning. I was excited . I was looking forward to my drive to Smolnik , the village I believed my maternal grandfather’s father was born. I arranged for a driver to take me there and tour the surrounding countryside. I hoped to find…
Read MoreEurope Day Nine: Slovakia : No Relatives In Smolnik But A Wonderful Drive Through The Mountains And Countryside
After my early morning walk through the streets of Kosice , I was looking forward to my drive to the village of Smolnik. I learned Smolnik was a small village situated in the mountains of eastern Slovakia about 35 miles west of Kosice. It has a population of a little under a 1000 residents. I…
Read MoreEurope Day Nine: Slovakia: In Evening In Kosice: The Singing Fountain Is Enchanting.
I have posted a few photos of the famous Singing Fountain in Kosice, Slovakia in my earlier blog posts. I loved the fountain from the first time I saw it’s dancing waters and heard classical music my first day in Kosice.. It is one of the most popular attractions in Old Town Kosice. It certainly…
Read MoreEurope Day Ten: Slovakia: A Long Walk And A Visit To The Botanical Gardens In Kosice Before The Storms.
I awoke early again on Thursday morning. It was my last full day in Kosice, Slovakia. I wanted to visit the botanical gardens in the city before I left. . The botanical gardens in Kosice were located about 2 1/2 mile from the Hilton Hotel where I was staying. It rained during the night. Rain…
Read MoreEurope Day Eleven: Slovakia: One Last Walk Through The Streets Of Kosice.
I awoke early again on my last day in Kosice. I had come to love this interesting city I have never heard of it or this area of our planet a few weeks before my visit. I wanted to walk through it’s charming streets one last time before I had to leave. After a cup…
Read MoreEurope Day Eleven: Hungary. My Last Hike In Hungary In The Quaint And Green Town Of Vecses
It didn’t take me long after checking into the Airport Hotel near the Budapest Airport to head out and explore the nearby neighborhood. I was considering resting in my room , editing some photos and packing for my return flight early the next morning. But I was in Hungary and decided to take one last hike…
Read MoreCucumber Falls And A Hike On The Great Gorge Trail In Ohiopyle State Park
The skies were clear on Summit Mountain when I awoke early Saturday morning on my recent visit to the Laurel Highlands in Southwestern Pennsylvania. However, there was a thick fog in the valley below the Summit Inn were I was staying. I drove into the thick fog on my way to the Ohiopyle State Park …
Read MoreA Hike On The Jonathan Run And Allegheny Passage Trails In Ohiopyle State Park
The skies were mostly clear and it was a cool 57 degrees when I awoke at the Historic Summit Inn in the Laurel Highlands on Sunday. I had a great day at Fallingwater and the Ohiopyle State Park with my niece Cassidy on Saturday. I wanted to get one more hike in the park before…
Read MoreHazy, Hot And Humid, A Mid-Summer Hike At The Susquehanna Wetlands
It’s hard to believe it is mid-Summer already. July passed like the wink of an eye, for me anyway. It is August, and although the Summer is half over , we had an old fashioned heat wave this past week, with temperatures soaring into the 90’s here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I decided to hike in…
Read MoreA Visit To The Hopewell Big Woods And The Quaint And Historic St. Peters Village
Last Thursday afternoon I had a doctors visit scheduled at the Rothman Clinic in Limerick, Montgomery County for some shoulder issues I am having. While showering in the morning, I decided to cancel my Friday appointments at my office and stay in southeastern Pennsylvania after my doctor’s visit. I am glad I did. So, after…
Read MoreA Morning Hike At Hopewell Lake In French Creek State Park
I awoke early on Friday during my stay at the historic Inn at St. Peters Village in Chester County. And, after a cup of coffee, I decided to hike around Hopewell Lake in nearby French Creek State Park. After a 10 minute drive through beautiful farm country I arrived at the lake shortly after sunrise. …
Read MoreA Visit To The Daniel Boone Homestead And A Walk Along French Creek.
After my late breakfast at the Sunset Diner in Birdsboro, Berks County, I continued my exploration of the historic area by visiting the nearby Daniel Boone Homestead. As I child I watched the popular television show about Daniel Boone. I remember reading an article about his homestead in the Reading Eagle when I was in…
Read MoreExploring Early American Industrial History At The Hopewell Furnace In Berks County
I was hiking on the Lake Loop Trail around Hopewell Lake in the French Creek State Park last Friday morning when I left the trail and ventured into the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. It is only a short distance from the lake. I had been here once before. I loved hiking through this scenic…
Read MoreAnother Hike Around Scenic Hopewell Lake In French Creek State Park
I returned to Hopewell Lake in French Creek State park early Saturday morning on my recent visit to Southeastern Pennsylvania. It was a lot cooler then the previous day when I arrived shortly after sunrise, temperatures were in the mid 50’s. A mist had formed on the lake. making for some beautiful scenery. The almost…
Read MoreMy First Hike In Tobyhanna State Park In Monroe County And No Bears Here Either
Well I didn’t hike in the Susquehanna Wetlands this past Saturday. I changed my usual routine. Instead, I hiked in Tobyhanna State Park. Located in Monroe County it is about 55 miles from my home in Luzerne County. It was my first hike in this park. My pursuit of the elusive black bears brought me there. …
Read MoreLondon Day One. A Long Day And Long Lines At Westminster Abbey To Pay Respects To The Queen.
Being one who enjoys history, and, having been fortunate to have attended Pope John Paul II ‘s funeral, the election of Pope Francis, and three Presidential inaugurations, it didn’t take me long to decide to travel to London to pay my respects to Queen Elizabeth II after learning of her passing. I am usually not …
Read MoreLondon Day Two: A Walk Past Buckingham Palace , And Floral Tribute To The Queen Elizabeth II At Green Park
Although I didn’t sleep much or well , I was still up early Friday, my first full day in London, hoping to return to Westminster Abbey to pay my respects to Queen Elizabeth II where she was Lying-In-State. It was a cool, mostly sunny morning with temperatures in the low 50′ s when I left…
Read MoreLondon Day Two: The “queue” Extends For Miles, As A Nation Shows It’s Love For Queen Elizabeth II
It was still early Friday morning, my second day in London on my trip to pay my respects to Queen Elizabeth II. After leaving Green Park and Buckingham Palace I continued my morning walk and headed toward Westminster Abbey where Queen Elizabeth II was Lying-In State. I crossed the Mall which was closed to traffic…
Read MoreLondon Day Three. A Morning Walk Exploring Historic Oxford
I first learned of Oxford University from reading the biography of J. R.R. Tolkien. I read it on the back cover of the Hobbit, my first introduction to Middle Earth, when I was , I believe, in the 11th grade in high school. (I love, and I am still inspired by his writings including the…
Read MoreLondon Day Two: A Quick Visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral And The “queue” At Millennium Bridge
I was still tired from lack of sleep and my six mile walk to Westminster Abbey. But on Friday afternoon, during my recent visit to London, after a short rest in my room at the Standard Hotel near Kings Cross I was looking for something to do. I decided to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and …
Read MoreLondon Day Three: Oxford And A Reflective Visit To J.R.R. Tolkien ‘s Grave
Well, it’s been a while since I did a blog on my trip to London. It’s been busy since my return but I finished this one, so back to my recent London adventure. My last post was my Saturday morning in Oxford. I left off at lunch. After my lunch at the Bear Tavern in…
Read MoreLondon Day Four: A Morning Walk From Westminster To The Victoria Coach Station
Although I didn’t sleep well, again, I was still excited when I awoke early Sunday morning in London. I had booked a visit to Stonehenge. A visit to the ancient site has been on my “bucket list’ for most of my life. There were not many times available. There were a lot of tourist in…
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