Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica

March 2024

 

           Our travels have not included Central America. Well, a brief dip into Nogales, Mexico, during a trip to Arizona in 1987, but not enough to check off the region. Costa Rica has much to recommend it. One of the most “biodiverse” countries in the world, with some 5% of the world’s species. Been called the birthplace of ecotourism; 12 different life zones, 20 national parks, 26 protected areas, 9 forest reserves, 8 biological reserves, & 7 wildlife sanctuaries. All this packed into an area about the size of West Virginia. Climate seems quite agreeable: average highs about 80 don’t vary much by month and March looks the best for rainfall. Costa Rica is also described as a “safe paradise” with a very stable political climate. Last but not least: rave reviews from a surprising number of friends who’ve been there; we seem to be latecomers, guess we didn’t get the memo.

Costa Rica was inhabited by indigenous peoples before coming under Spanish rule in the 16^th C following Columbus’ arrival on his final New World voyage in 1502. In 1821 Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. Following a brief  Civil War in 1948 its army was abolished, becoming one of only a few countries without a standing army, and there has been uninterrupted democratic rule since then. According to stats in Wikipedia, Costa Rica ranks well on various world indicators: higher “human development” than countries at the same income levels, 98% literacy, the 8^th freest press, 35^th most democratic, and 23^rd happiest country. We’ve done a number of trips with Gate1, which has several options for Costa Rica. The “10 Day Classic Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio” offers a quite comprehensive itinerary from mountains & volcanos to rain forests to coastal beaches.

Boston 2024

 

Boston

January 2024

 

We start our travels in the new year with several days in Boston, courtesy of the generosity of Marjorie’s sister Mary and hubbie Jeff. They treat us to a Marriott stay on their Vacation Club points. We’ve enjoyed similar outings with them here & Branson MO. A nice break. Been a pretty easy winter so far, not much snow. But Old Man Winter has been sending some reminders. Mary & Jeff are flying from KC where the NFL playoff game the previous night started at -4° with -27° windchill, the 3^rd coldest NFL game ever! [What's the coldest?: The "Ice Bowl" in Green Bay (vs. Dallas) 1967, -13 with -48 windchill!] Plus the game in Buffalo is postponed a day due to Winter Storm Heather bringing 2+ feet of snow. [And a shout-out to my brother Doug, whose Lions win their 1st playoff game in 32 years!] We have a brief but ferocious “squall” & whiteout conditions at home.

 

Monday, 1/15: “From Blood to Boston”

           A few things to take care of before driving to Boston. I'm off on what turns out to be an unusually long Red Cross delivery route, 7 hours, 270 miles: 4 hospitals from Kingston to Poughkeepsie to Putnam County, and then the small airfield at Walkill for "Air Methods" helicopter service. Some difficulty – the code I have doesn't open the door, no answers on phone #s I have -- but then a copter lands to "rescue" me. A pretty drive, sunny & brisk (teens to start), criss-crossing the Hudson, Catskill views, past imposing Fishkill prison and a favorite storefront outside Poughkeepsie that reads "ubreakifix." Marjorie finishes up some other things, we hit the road at 5pm. An easy drive until a GPS kerfuffle sends us headed back west! We correct things, get to the hotel about 9pm. 

On the Orient Express

 

On the Orient Express: A Belated Anniversary

Fall 2023

 

            Train-lover Marjorie has long expressed her desire for a trip on the Orient Express (there’s also Buddy Bombard’s Balloon Adventures, but that’s another story). She’s nonetheless surprised when I give her a “voucher” on her BD in 2021, aiming to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary (11/20/21) in Fall 2022 when (hopefully) COVID would be under control. The pandemic eases by March. On-line searching leads to multiple sources & routes, London, Paris, Venice, Vienna, Budapest, Istanbul, etc. I

decide to look into London to Verona (a city we’ve not visited) with Railbookers, which is cited very positively. A very pleasant discussion with Eileen to look for a Fall trip. After some searching, she indicates almost everything booked but found one: “Grand Suite” for $19,000 per person! Woof! I do love dear Marjorie, but that seems way over the top (it’s only one night on the train, after all!). So Eileen searches for Fall 2023 and finds a much more sensible booking. We just have to be patient, lots of anticipation time.

The Orient-Express was created in 1883, 1^st trip left Paris for Constantinople with 40 passengers for 13 days roundtrip, unveiling midnight blue metallic cars with golden trim that led to its “Train Bleu” nickname. Trains became known for luxurious decorations & services: wood marquetry, glass panels, fabrics, refined leather, plus an “incredible gastronomic experience.” 

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie was published in 1934; various movie & TV adaptations followed. The original route ran from Paris across Europe thru Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, & Bucharest before arriving in Istanbul. Other routes headed south thru Lausanne, Simplon, Milan, Venice, Belgrade, & Sofia before Istanbul, or as far as Athens. The last direct trip between Paris & Istanbul was 1977.

            A mission to bring the train back began with 2 original carriages bought at auction, others tracked down for skilled craftsmen to restore; all classified as Historical Monuments. Relaunched 1982, increasing destinations & routes since then. The current Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is part of Belmond, which operates other “luxury trains,” including British Pullman, Royal Scotsman, & Andean Explorer. One account says: “Of all the luxury journeys in all the world, none evokes a picture of pure elegance, timeless sophistication and unparalleled romance quite like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Truly harking back to the 'Golden Age of Rail Travel', everything from the vintage cabins, exquisite gastronomy and convivial entertainment to the deluxe sleeping cars and inimitable service ensure that you are in for the journey of a lifetime. This is one train ride that is truly unforgettable.” But will there be a murder on board?

Michigan & Interlochen

 

Miles Takes Interlochen

 

 

           We’ve enjoyed watching grandson Miles dancin’ & singin’ since he started tap dancing at, what, 5 years old? That has broadened into a variety of musicals (e.g., Annie, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man) at the 92^nd Street Y in NYC, a major cultural center where his mother Anthea was on staff for a while. He had some summer fun for a few years near us at Siena College Dance Camp (while brother William was at their Soccer Camp), as I was recently reminded by a Facebook “memory” video of him tap dancing 7 years ago. Miles’ path to Broadway has continued at Talent Unlimited, a high school in Manhattan specializing in the performing arts, where he’s headed into his junior year. Now another rung on the ladder this summer: Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.

Since 1928 Interlochen has “offered an immersive arts experience . . . nestled between two pristine lakes and surrounded by quiet pines.” 3000+ students grades 3-12 participate in summer camp programming and education in 7 disciplines: creative writing, dance, film & new media, interdisciplinary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. [Parenthetically, there’s also Interlochen Arts Academy, where “young artists find the high school they may only have imagined possible.” After Miles was accepted for the summer we reminded him that Anthea had gone there for the summer following her junior year in high school and wound up staying to finish high school. Miles response: “Yeah, but do you know how much it costs!” They have been trying to recruit him – tenors are in high demand. Should we start a GoFundMe for Miles?]

Bonnie Scotland

 

Bonnie Scotland

June 2023

 

            Scotland has been mostly missing in our European travels. I had some stops in Scotland at the beginning of a Viking Ocean Cruise with brother Doug, wife Ann, & daughter Katie before continuing to Norway & the Arctic Circle. But Marjorie is eager to go there, and I’d like to see more. Interest prodded by recent TV highlighting Scotland: Outlander, a time-travel romantic adventure I got hooked on during the COVID pandemic; The Crown, which includes views of Balmoral Castle, Scottish home of the Royal Family; a “Wildheart” episode of Nature focusing on 500-year-old pines in the Highlands; The Traitors, a reality show promising “backstabbing and treachery” hosted by Alan Cumming in a Scottish castle; we stream the 3 seasons of very enjoyable Ted Lasso. So it seems the planets are aligned for a trip to Scotland.

Gate1, with whom we’ve had a number of happy trips, has a few options. Though it

does not include the Orkney Islands I enjoyed, Marjorie opts for the somewhat shorter “10 Day Classic Scotland,” which looks quite comprehensive enough. This continues a very busy travel year: Cruisin’ down the Mississippi in January, Florida in March,  Orient Express London to Verona coming in September.

A couple weeks before departure there’s an “Uh-Oh” moment threatening the trip: Marjorie tweaks her knee during early garden work. Ortho doc confirms a torn meniscus, but should heal in 6-8 weeks. A brace stabilizes the knee and things improve. Also helped by a cane that belonged to late friend Jerry, a reminder of enjoyable travels with Jerry & Diane. 

Marjorie asserts the garden is in good shape, planting complete. A stretch of summer weather, up to the 90s. We’ll plan for more spring-like weather in Scotland. Thankfully, packing this time doesn’t entail jumping thru COVID hoops. But one complication: a CBD tincture helpful for Marjorie’s joint pain and my restless leg (she says I “sleep like a baby,” not kicking her) has THC, not legal in the UK. We’ll take a similar product without THCWed., June 7: “Canadian Smoke”

Florida 2023

 

Florida

March 2023

       Never thought of us as “snowbirds.” No interest in living in Florida, seasonally or otherwise. But we seem to be developing something of a regular winter visit. It began with a drive down to join friend Kay in Sarasota in January 2014. We took the Queens family to Disney World for Thanksgiving that same year. A break in the action until last winter: a 2-part stay, 1^st with friends Deb & Chris in Sarasota and then joining with Mary & Jeff to stay with Susan & Jim in Naples. Very enjoyable, why not do a repeat? We do like the Sarasota area, plenty to see & do without being too hectic. And the Naples condo is nicely situated on a big pond, easy access to local sights & activities. This time we’ll head down in March when travel should be less affected by weather and more may be blooming in Florida.

      After a pretty quiet winter here we’ve had some recent snowfalls, still a couple of inches on the ground. Nothing like California: 10’ of snow, some people trapped at home for 2 weeks. Weather forecasts look good for Florida. Last September Hurricane Ian, the 3^rd-costliest weather disaster on record and deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935, caused damage around Naples & especially nearby Fort Myers, even washing away a bridge to Sanibel Island, but Jim & Susan’s condo wasn’t damaged.

      In the midst of prepping for the trip a UPS package arrives from Mary & Jeff. Something new in giftgiving, many merged into one: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Valentine's Day, Happy St. Patrick's Day, Happy Spring! For me an adorable mini–Red Cross van that reflects my blood delivery driving.

Catskills Valentine

 

Catskills Valentine

 February 2023

 

          What to do for Valentine’s Day? A perennial quandary. One unusual option: India's Hindu nationalist government has proclaimed February 14 "Cow Hug Day," countering a holiday they say “encourages female promiscuity and vulgar behavior." I prefer the tried-and-true option of a romantic getaway. But where? My Red Cross blood delivery driving offers an answer. The “Southwest” route takes me to Cobleskill, where I recently came across a group of locals (deer, that is) strolling thru a neighborhood below the hospital, then to Catskill villages Walton & Margaretville. Very scenic: farms, lakes & streams, covered bridges, mountain vistas, villages with pretty houses, churches, & shops. Going thru Downsville I spot the Old Schoolhouse Inn. Looks promising, but an internet check back home finds some negative reviews. Further on, Margaretville Mountain Inn seems a better choice, plus more eateries & interesting shops in the village. First efforts find only 3-night stays but changing dates and help from booking.com scores an overnight into Valentine’s Day itself. What could be better?

         I keep details a secret, only telling Marjorie to keep the 2 days clear and pack for overnight. Well, mostly a secret. We have lunch several days before with Becky, Exec Director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra (where young Matt began performing), at Jade Bistro in Scotia. 

Afterward, Becky gives me a tour of the new space for ESYO – a former school being remodeled & expanded to house the various ESYO ensembles with rehearsal & office space. Quite a project, aiming for Fall ’24 completion. I share my Valentine plans with Becky; she approves.

 

First let’s look at the lead-up to what Marjorie might call our “Valentine Festival” (like her “Birthday Festivals”). Tho I’m on the Board & Past President of Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc., Marjorie seems more connected to CSSC. She joins neighbors Mary Ann & Paul to see PBS documentary “Searching for Timbuctoo” about a pre-Civil War Black settlement organized by abolitionists in the Adirondacks, hosted at CSSC by the filmmaker; ironically, a CSSC Board meeting prevents my joining them.