✈️ Phoenix AIrport, AZ (PHX) 📅 Dec. 2025 Fresh off my #Pixel9 during the layover stop at Phoenix (PHX) airport as my AA plane taxis for the runway on a beautiful evening on Saturday. The fiery #sunset glow behind the mountains in the distant horizon was quite an amazing sight to behold. 😊

🧳 Current Travels 🌍 Carcassonne, France 📅 Nov. 2025 It was a lovely and easy walk up to the medieval citadel of Cité de Carcassonne through Pont Vieux and around the lower, outer rampants to the south gate entrance by the Basilique Saint Nazaire Cathedral and outdoor Théâtre Jean-Deschamps.

🧳 Current Travels 🌍 Carcassonne, France I was probably a week too early arriving at Carcassonne in southern France just when they are putting up the finishing touches (and testing) of the Christmas decorations all over the town. At least I got a sense of how festive the Holidays will be there! 😊

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Lisbon, Portugal 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 23 Some of the wonderful sights at Belém in Lisbon: ↖️ The Monument to the Discoveries square ↗️ Jerónimos Monastery ↙️ Pastéis de Belém ↘️ National Coach Museum 3 years later, I'll be back in this area soon for a stay and a visit to MAAT and MAC.

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Lisbon, Portugal 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 22 Here's a real #foodie post of some excellent food I had in #Lisbon! ↖️↗️ Bairrices - all you can eat small Portuguese dishes ↙️ The food hall @ Time Out Market Lisboa ↘️ Pastéis de Nata - don't miss these BTW, I'll be back in Lisbon tomorrow. 😋

Did you know Gary Larson (yes, The Far Side guy) has done a few recent new cartoons? Like this one: You can check them out here: www.thefarside.com/new-stuff

🧳 Current Travels 🌍 Toulouse, France I may lose my #foodie card for sharing a post about #McDonalds, the US fast food chain, but I'm always curious what interesting menu items are in other countries. This #McRib was awful - the worst I've had. Astérix would hate the green drink - c'est terrible! 😒

🧳 Current Travels 🌍 Toulouse, France Flew into Toulouse for a short overnight stay before continuing on to Carcassonne to visit a dear friend. Stayed at the average ibis Toulouse Gare (↗️) hotel. Had a day tour to Albi and Cordes-sur-Ciel the next day but Viator cancelled it. So disappointed! 😒

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌎 San Juan, Puerto Rico 🗓️ 2018 Nov. 21 This is the Paseo del Morro - a scenic, waterfront promenade in Old San Juan that follows the historic city walls from the San Juan Gate to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Also famous for its friendly stray cats living along the walkway.

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Cádiz, Spain 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 20 For my sweet tooth, I signed up for an NCL shore excursion to visit the González Byass Tío Pepe winery. This historic site is situated in the Old Town and is a key landmark in the Sherry Triangle, a region known for its winemaking tradition. 🍷🍇😋

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Malaga, Spain 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 19 Time to play catch up again with my "Travel Back in Time" series. This is the beautiful port of Malaga - famous for its history and culture, being the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and having landmarks like the Moorish Alcazaba and Roman Theatre.

🛳️📰 CRUISE NEWS So... more of the same from #NCL? First, it was a Prince impersonator show on NCL Aqua. Now, it's an Elton John impersonator show. I guess that's cheaper than any actual creative and new musical production. Way to go cheap, #Norwegian! 🙄 cruisepassenger.com.au/news/norwegi...

💻📰 TECH NEWS For you techies out there, here's something light and funny! 🤣 www.pcgamer.com/software/pla...

🛳️📰 CRUISE REVIEW I haven't been on a HAL ship yet but 2026 sounds like the year to do it. And this "Great Bear Rainforest" itinerary sounds ideal since I've done quite a few Alaskan cruises already. Check out this review by Rachel of the @thepointsguy.com! thepointsguy.com/travel/holla...

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Gibraltar 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 18 The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar on Spain's south coast is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, a 426 M high limestone ridge. We took a cable car ride to the famous rock that is home to over 200 Barbary macaques and a British fortress! 😊

🛬 MUC Airport @ Munich, Germany 🇩🇪 As of 2025 Nov. 18, the new EU entry kiosks (see 📸) for travellers from non-EU countries were installed but not being used yet at the MUC airport. The EU Entry and Exit System (EES), which began gradually phasing in as of 2025 Oct. 12, will replace… More… ⤵️

🛬 MUC Airport @ Munich, Germany 🇩🇪 Hello Munich! On a long layover in MUC while on a trip from SFO to TLS. I'm in Terminal 2 where there are no Priority Pass lounges which are all in Terminal 1. Same situation in SFO at Terminal I gate G area. Priority Pass has been a dud so far; so disappointing.

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌎 Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands 🗓️ 2018 Nov. 17 The Baths is a popular national park located on the island of Virgin Gorda. It's famous for massive granite boulders that form a maze of caves, tunnels, and tidal pools. It's easily 1 of my favorite Caribbean islands. 🥰

🧳📰 TRAVEL NEWS Timely article for me but for a different mode of transportation. I'll be flying to Lisbon after a week in France for my return trip via a Transatlantic cruise. Let's hope Lisbon stays tourism friendly and not blame all their problems on foreigners. simpleflying.com/libson-major...

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Rome, Italy 🗓️ 2021 Nov. 16 This may be my 5th time back in Rome and I'm still finding new sights to check out. I'm there, of course, to catch another Transatlantic cruise back to the US. Here are a few sights I checked out during my 1st evening there. Always a treat! 😊

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Tenerife of the Canary Islands 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 15 This is the incredible Teide National Park which is located on Tenerife island, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. It's centered on Mount Teide, the highest mountain and volcano of Spain (3,718 M high).

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 14 Here are a few sights around the capital of the island of La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands. Known for its centuries-old architecture and cobbled streets, it was 1 of the 1st cities in the world with electric lighting.

I've only been to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on a cruise port stop. I still have a road-trip through the entire eastern Canadian provinces on my bucket list. Hopefully make it a #foodie centric one to find the best lobster roll. Any suggestions on when and where I can find the best lobster roll? 😋

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌎 Apollo Beach, FL, USA 🗓️ 2014 Nov. 13 Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center is a great (and free) spot for viewing manatees, the gentle endangered species of marine mammals. As warm-blooded animals, they love warm waters and the nearby Big Bend Power Station supplies it.

Visit the heart of Dublin, Ireland! Perched on top of the Temple Bar Pharmacy, experience the energy and excitement of this popular city. · #Earthcam #Travel #World #Discover #Webcam

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌏 Papeete, Tahiti island, French Polynesia 🗓️ 2019 Nov. 12 The South Pacific islands have been high on my bucket list of places to see. What better way to visit a lot of them than a cruise ship. But first, I had to fly into Papeete for a short stay to check out the sights. 😁

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌍 Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 11 This is the Miradouro Serra do Cume viewpoint offering stunning panoramas of the island's lush patchwork of green pastures divided by lava rock walls. Almost surrounded by volcanic mountain ranges, it's a sight to behold! 🥰

😮 Interesting Sights 🌍 Rome, Italy 🗓️ 2021 Nov. 16 I have to say this is the cutest police car I've ever seen. Very practical for parking but not great for chasing down the bad guys. Maybe it's the parking police and they just need a small car to get around. Although small is an understatement. 🤣

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌏 Wadi Rum, Jordan 🗓️ 2016 Nov. 10 This is the beautiful red sand desert valley of Wadi Rum - the filming site of many movies such as Star Wars, The Martian, Dune, etc. Also known as Valley of the Moon, this UNESCO site is truly stunning and should be on your bucket list. 🥰

😮 Interesting Sights 🌍 Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy 🗓️ 2017 Sept. 27 This is the beautiful and fragile hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio in central Italy which can only be accessed via a long footbridge. Famously known as "the dying city" due to its precarious location that is prone… More… ⤵️

I'll share some of my photos from my day trip to this amazing Civita di Bagnoregio shortly. It's an unusual and breathtaking hidden treasure that may not last forever. Go while you can to experience this stunning hilltop town. It's a long but scenic walk up the pedestrian bridge to the town. 😮

@peteoharaphoto captures winter magic: a frozen ice mushroom in the Canadian Rockies near Kananaskis. Save this for your next dream trip. #Travel

😮 Interesting Sights 🌏 Naha, Okinawa, Japan 🗓️ 2023 Oct. 30 In a tradition dating back to the 15th century, 1000s of people are involved in an epic tug-of-war contest with this giant 200M rope with 280 smaller ropes attached. It's listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's largest rope.

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🛳️ NCL Sun 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 09 An NCL Latitudes loyalty benefit for Diamond and Ambassador tier members - its top 2 tiers - is the exclusive Sail & Sustain Mixology Experience. As a Diamond member, I've been to many of them where we get to sample 8 recycled ingredient cocktails. 🥴

In Canada, today we honour the strength & bravery of our soldiers and salute our fallen heroes 🪖🇨🇦 In the U.S. today we thank our soldiers for their service & honour them for their bravery 🪖🇺🇸 Veterans are the reason we have rights! Thank you for your service! Lest We Forget #DefendersOfDemocracy

“Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr. We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today. The profound, immediate & unprecedented threat Kennedy’s policies & positions pose to the nation’s health cannot be ignored.”

From all of us here, thank you to every veteran who has served our country. Because of your sacrifices, we’re free to enjoy peaceful trails, open spaces, and the beauty of the places we love most. 🇺🇸💙

Remembrance Day Lest We Forget

🛳️📰 CRUISE NEWS This opinion article lays out some of the new entertainment on board the new Star Princess. Sounds amazing and more importantly, something new. NCL could learn from this! I'll have to add the Star Princess to my list of cruise ships to try. 😊 www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispat...

🎬📰 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The rotten apple (CEO David) didn't fall far from dad's tree of right wing playbook. "Reports indicate that women in senior roles were disproportionately affected. Some 14 television executives were dismissed, and 11 of them were women." www.hrgrapevine.com/us/content/a...

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌏 Penang, Malaysia 🗓️ 2015 Nov. 08 This is the Kek Lok Si Temple, located on the island of Penang. This must-visit site is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and its sprawling complex was started in the late 1800s. Best time to visit is Chinese New Year for the lights.

🛳️📰 CRUISE NEWS I like that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are constantly innovating. Going into river cruises, Celebrity brings a familiar brand and hopefully experience to that more intimate form of cruising. And RC is always coming up with more WOW features! www.travelweekly.com/CruiseWorld-...

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌏 Koto-Tokyo, Japan 🗓️ 2023 Nov. 07 Love immersive experiences? teamlab is probably 1 of the best digital art museums with 20 locations around the world. I manage to get tickets to the teamLab Planets exhibit in Toyosu, Koto-ku in Tokyo. What an awesome experience it was! 🥰

🍨 #Food 4 Thought 🛳️ Virgin Voyages ships 📅 2022 Oct. 16 Virgin didn't forget your #foodie sweet tooth on board their ships. You can find fruity and unique popsicles, and a large variety of amazing desserts and pastries in the Food Galley, their version of a food court instead of a buffet. All 🆓!

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🛳️ St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 🗓️ 2014 Nov. 06 This was a port stop on 1 of the many Transatlantic cruises I've taken from Europe back to the US. So much better than flying and usually good value too. And I'll be back at this lovely port in just a few weeks on another cruise!

😮 Interesting Sights 🌏 Yokohama, Japan 🗓️ 2023 Nov. 05 For car lovers - especially Japanese cars such as the Nissan brand - a must-visit in Yokohama is the Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery. It's a wonderful spot to check out all the old Nissan cars plus futuristic concepts. 😊

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🌏 Yokohama, Japan 🗓️ 2023 Nov. 05 Back in Yokohama after we disembarked off the Celebrity Millennium. What a great cruise and itinerary! Night view of Yokohama skyline from the cruise terminal. Waving goodbye to Millennium as she sails off on another cruise. Our sushi lunch!😋

⌛ Travel Back in Time 🛳️ Newport, RI, USA 🗓️ 2022 Nov. 04 An interesting port stop on my #transatlantic cruise from Miami to Lisbon was Newport in the state of Rhode Island. It's a lovely coastal town with a nice oceanfront. Bowen's Wharf is a cool spot to check out. But IMHO, not very exciting.

🧳 New Travel Plans 🗓️ 2025 November I just checked-in online for my upcoming NCL Viva #transatlantic cruise from Lisbon to Galveston. When I reviewed the finalized NCL boarding document (eDocs), I was surprised to see a few new amenities added. I assume I have #Costco Travels to thank for them. 😀

🛳️📰 CRUISE NEWS Why does this news not surprise me? I'm not happy about it as I do most of my solo cruises on #NCL but I've been diversifying to other cruise lines lately. This just hastens the pace. cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/...