The travels have been busy, and I've been with my two sisters and niece, as well as many relatives in Finland. So no essay this week, but here are some of my favourite pictures from St. Petersburg, Russia. Where else could this be but Russia? As in many other places, I was stunned by the … Continue reading St. Petersburg, Russia, in Pictures
I've hear it several times, from different people as I talk about travelling. "I'd love to go," they say wistfully. "But I don't have anyone to go with." After years of travelling with my partner, my family, or friends, this year I have discovered travelling solo. Much of it is not by choice, as it … Continue reading Traveling Solo or with Somebody?
"It's OK, I think I'll walk back," I said, as we stood outside the restaurant, in that warm glow of not wanting the evening of good food and good company to end. "I need the steps." And almost as soon as I turned away, the tears started to slowly roll down my face. I thought … Continue reading Yes, But how ARE you?
I lost track of how many times the trip counter has turned over- I thought it was three, but I checked and it is 5. Calculating, it is 5,300 km (3,300 miles) so far, and the road trip is only about a third done. Before the last two weeks, all my brave travels have been … Continue reading Road Trip!
I had plans for Glendive, Montana. It was half way between Billings and Bismarck, North Dakota, and the perfect place to break the drive. I was looking forward to a short hike in the badlands geology of the area, and to seeing how the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum was able to explain its exhibits … Continue reading You Can’t See It All
"Is that all you've got?" they ask incredulously, as they pick me up at the airport or ferry, or as we load luggage onto the bus. I was actually thinking I had packed too much, as I had both a carry-on sized suitcase and a small backpack. I travel light. Both metaphorically (see my previous … Continue reading Traveling Light (Literally)
Approaching each other, we do the sidewalk dance: I go left but the other person goes right, then I go right as they recalculate and go left. And I-- with luck we-- laugh as we work it out and pass by. It's not as clear cut as an escalator (stand this side, walk the other) … Continue reading Home Again with Different Eyes
"But I guess it's easy for you," he said. "You're so outgoing." The table talk at the cafe was about the Karaoke the night before, how I'd led the dancing to the songs I'd chosen: The Time Warp, Tic Tok, Macarena. And how afterwards some of us had gone out to a club and danced … Continue reading It’s not brave if you’re not scared, Part 2
It hits me suddenly. I start to gasp. I am trying to breath, but I can't stop gasping, and I'm getting dizzy. I sit down on a bench and the tears start to roll. I make myself breathe-- in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four, out, two, three... It takes a few minutes of … Continue reading Never again
As we pull into the parking garage, I see a line of women in matching dresses, one by each lane. As the vehicles pull up, they each push the button, take the ticket, and hand it to the driver, who could have easily reached the button himself. By our downtown Tokyo hotel at 9pm on … Continue reading Living to Work in Japan
Brave Travels 