bennybear

Good morning and thanks all! 
We've had several visits to Provence, and spent several weeks there, but not Marseille.  Mostly pre digital, so I’m enjoying the wonderful photos!  We had the good fortune to stay right near Pont du Gard, and see the running of the bulls in Uzes.   We loved the tears on the gates of the cemetery in Loumarin and worried if we’d see our teens  again after they visited the market in Isle de Sorgue.  My prime memory of Les Baux was the squat toilets we talked about a week or so ago about,  as my then teen daughter could not face them.  We also ate a restaurant in St Remy  run by a former matador from Arles.  Our favourite used to be Aix en Provence.  Such beautiful fountains and shoppes. 

@ger_77 woo hoo!  Wonderful news! 

Rabbit x 3.   Good morning and thanks all! 
@smitty34877 glad you got checked out, and as hard as it is to do. Please take care of YOU.  There’s a reason on the airplane they say to put your oxygen mask on first.  Hugs! 
@kazu anniversaries are always hard, but sending you extra hugs today as your remember Jose! 
@ger_77 oh I am so relieved to hear your news.   Our friend had that surgery in November and was able to go to Hawaii in January, truly a wonderful outcome.  So hoping that will be the case for Maurice as well! 

Loving all the doodle photos.  

The Fault in the stars is such a great book.  I am reading another great one, the Covenant of Water,  over 700 pages and I will be truly sad when I finish. 
 

We've enjoyed Juneau a couple of times 

@RMLincoln  so sorry that you are having to deal with so much! Prayers things improve for your DH soon, hugs! 

Well it SNOWED again! Sigh!  I’m leaving it 🙃 

1 hour ago, atexsix said:

Good Morning,

 

Wow, it's been about 3 weeks since Dad died and it feels like 3 months, it's just been nonstop tasks.  The wake/funeral took a week to get setup and organized and that took place a week ago today, and then I had to get started on estate matters. The wake/funeral went well, it wasn't easy doing open casket everything, but Dad's church insisted on it as part of their orthodox tradition and there was no option to deviate.  Washington State doesn't really give you very long to start probate, so I had to find an attorney right on the heels of the funeral.  And this week I had to get started on banking matters now that I have the death certificates.  Dying is a giant pain in the butt if you ask me!  I've barely had time to mourn the actual loss.  

 

At first the idea of being on a cruise without Dad was unthinkable. But now, after the above stress, the idea of doing something is gaining in appeal, and it doesn't even need to be on a ship, even a week in Hawaii sounds delightful, anything to forget about the real world for awhile. Of course not everything has been a walk in the park, I'm still dealing with intense grief like I've never known it before, but counseling and a support group are assisting on that. 

 

So that's a very quick update I know, but I hope everybody are continuing to have fantastic vacations, and I hope to join you back in the daily on a more regular basis in the very near future.  

 

~Bruno

I’ve often wondered if the reason you’re so busy is to distract you.   Sending hugs,  it takes time,  and some r and r might be just what you need.  

@marshhawkpraying for some relief for you and Chuck!  

Good morning and thank all!  Sending good wishes for all those medical appointments today.  I’m heading off this morning as well.    
 

We thoroughly enjoyed Kochi,  beautiful vintage silk kimonos were also for sale! I may have purchased a few.   There is also a lovely castle to visit,  slippery ladders to climb and a beautiful bridge.  Don’t miss their hay smoked tuna. 
 

6 minutes ago, ottahand7 said:

@smitty34877 I am sad to read your shoulder is acting up but grateful you were able to get your aide in.   I hope it isn't an RA flare.   My sister has RA and always has breakthrough flares with her RA and they changed her Enbrel to Actemra and she got worse so she is back on Enbrel.   I have been on Enbrel since 1999 and really haven't had a flare unless I forgot a few weekly doses.  Praying for some relief for you.   

 

@bennybear thank you for the photos of Kobe.  When you mentioned their strange toilets I was thinking those squat type John told me they had there.  One time while tasting wine road trip in Alsace I had to go so we pulled off to a rest area.  I walked right back out as they have those things in France too.   

 

@aliaschief beautiful sunset dinner.

 

@JazzyV great to read you have gotten 8 hours of sleep!   Yay!   

 

All the wine is pulled and boxed for our May 19 trip to the cabin.  All we have to do is load it in the cart and bring it up the hill to the garage.   All my sale plants are fertilized and the weather was perfect to let the little vegetable plants stay outside with humidity and sunny haze.  They can stay out all the time in a day or two.   

yes we encountered them the first night jet lagged, but there were also very modern ones,   Here’s  one from France,  😱😉

For those that are interested, we stayed in a Machiya,  a former store in the historic centre of Kyoto. 
 

Kyoto deserves a separate post and stay, it was our favourite 

Good morning and thanks all! Happy fifth to the daily! Thanks @rafinmdfor your timeline, and to @ger_77 for the reminder about that zoom call! It was fun! 
 

I will gladly celebrate those dear Brave hearts and super heroes!  Everyday!
 

@smitty34877 yikes!  now you have to look after you or you’re no good to anyone!  I just hope it heals well and quickly and you get a little r and r! 
 

@Cruzin Terri sorry to hear of your loss,  sending prayers for support as you navigate these new waters. 
 

@Seasick Sailor that will be a fabulous cruise to celebrate on! 
 

Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto are often visited from the same place, usually Osaka. Highly recommend the Kobe beef and a visit to Kyoto, preferably for a few nights!  We stayed in the area where the cattle are raised, and although extremely expensive it’s worth a try.  
They have unusual but delicious breakfasts, salads often served then; as well as the most unusual toilets.

 

7 hours ago, grapau27 said:

All photos are lovely to see and some of yours have been spectacular.

Thank you!

57 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

🌺Outstanding! I  have been seeing your photos for a long time! I must say you could have your own National Geographic channel with your work!

Put a book together. 
🌺Mahalo

Denise🙂

Aw thanks!  And to @JazzyV  as well,  CC not cooperating again!
 

Most are by DH so credit to him.   I am planning to do a little photo book but he got a new better camera, lol! 

Aw thanks @DeeniEncinitas @Quartzsite Cruiser and @marshhawk  you made me giggle! 
 

Went to another spot and found this baby eaglet. So much fun, to see the babies! 
 

Good morning and thanks all!  Today CCs working and I use safari, go figure.
Hope everyone stays safe in these storms.  Our fire season has started very early, eek!  Summer used to be something to look forward to.  
We love Brunello,  apparently was the late Queens favourite.  We’ve stayed near Montalcino and enjoyed it immensely. 

Went back to visit the owls and saw mom, and perhaps a few feathers of baby’s?  

9 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs😉.   Ask on the ship.  I always ask questions of people while in conversation if I discover they are advanced travelers.  HINT - never have to be clever, I don’t mind exposing my ignorance and taking advice 

So true!  Love that saying.  

11 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

It’s not the full moon- Boston drivers are their own class.

Agreed!  When we visited years ago, we were sure they had special cars they didn’t care about! 
 

oh my, the great cracker shortage! 
 

Your dinner sounds amazing, lobster dumplings,  best left to the imagination! 
 

I bought my collapsible hiking poles from the big box store.  I have two sets and they’re great.   So wonderful how HAL has looked after you!
 

Thanks for taking us along! 

@Haljo1935 sorry about that,  the photo was too high of a resolution and I never know until I try but CC has not been kind to me so I couldn’t edit it as soon as usual.  
 

Here’s another one from a few weeks ago,   I rpresume this is the male, you can’t see the nest as it’s in a hollow of a tree. 

Good morning and thanks all.  With a special thanks to those who stepping up for those who are away.

@dfish a very happy birthday to you! 
@ottahand7 hugs on this day,  how supportive John is! 
@aliaschief thank you for sharing pictures of your beautiful ship. 
@Seasick Sailor we love the Merlin app as well.

It’s so nice to see all the birds coming back,  the Sandhills cranes, herons, tundra swans, finches….   And speaking of tundra,  it is actually incredibly beautiful,  small plants that grow close to the ground.  My favourite place to see it is up high on the Going to the Sun highway in Glacier national Park Montana.  

@kochleffel thanks for the different drink recipes and info on Audubon.  I wasn’t aware.  

@marshhawk extra hugs! 
 

Our local great horned owls are nesting in the same place.  
 

@rafinmd  woohoo!  So glad things are going in the right direction!  

Aw, practically blushing.  He is an amazing painter, and sculptor but has had recognition for installation type art, in the MOMA, the wit de Witt in Rotterdam, Berlin, San Francisco and a few other places.  As DH says the kind you can’t sell.  He’s gone a different direction now, but is also involved in theatre and film.  He even was accredited in Cannes.  Ok,  I’ll stop now!  LOL! 
 

The Biennale is amazing as is the glass in Murano.   Those ravens wings were also glass,  hard to reimagine it on that scale.   We had our chandelier made by one of the only female glass blowers in Murano.  DH thought we were just going to look.  🤷‍♀️ The one we had made and shipped.  All the fruit is hand blown with real gold or silver for colour in the glass.  At the time it was pricey but not insane.
 

ooh, do renew the Irish passport!  I

@RMLincoln my condolences on the loss of your DSIL.    So glad your DH is doing well! 

Good morning and thanks all! 
@ger_77 wishing Maurice a very happy birthday!  
 

@smitty34877 sorry to hear Tana is needing more help,  but glad your family was able to help provide some respite.

We’ve visited Santorini several times and have stayed there for a few days. Last time we were extremely fortunate to be the only ship that could visit because of the dynamic positioning on the Koningsdam.  
 

We find it much easier to take the small boat over to the small port of Ammoudi below Oia and the bus up.  They are usually waiting at the dock and it completely avoids the cable car up.  But unfortunately not down.   Like @RMLincoln we think Akrotiri is well worth a visit and perhaps the red sand or black sand beaches  we also love Oia and highly recommend the local walnut cake with Mastic Icecream!   Some cute posters in the local church.

@Host Bonjour thanks for kind words.  We've visited Venice a number of times,  separately and before, during and after cruises.  Last time was our second visit to the Biennale and we spent a week after our visit to Puglia.   Our son is an artist so he spends literally days there.  We were surprised by the depth and breadth of the art, in church’s,  villas, throughout Venice.   
 

The Villa D’oro was open with a special glass exhibition that was astounding.   We love the Murano glass,  had to even buy a chandelier one year! 
 

a few more photos