Madeira, Portugal

The islands of Madeira, Portugal, also known as the Pearl of the Atlantic, are located 280 miles off the African coast, but more than 600 miles from Portugal. This cluster of four lush, green, tropical islands, two inhabited and two uninhabited, may remind you of Hawaii. Madeira and Porto Santo are the two inhabited islands... Continue Reading →

Sintra, Portugal

Sintra, Portugal is a magically beautiful place nestled in the mountains not far from Lisbon. The forests, groves, grottos, astronomical observation towers, and much more, will make you feel like you have somehow found your way into a magical forest or fairytale. Home to at least five palaces tucked in the hillsides, and on the... Continue Reading →

Laval, Normandie, France

Earlier this week, theTravelsketcher and I had to take a trip to Laval to get our COVID boosters, so we decided to make a day of it and see some of the sites in this historic city. Laval, about one hour from our home, is the capitol the Department of Mayenne, and is located about... Continue Reading →

Les Jardin des Plantes, Paris

At this time last week, we had just arrived in Paris and were looking forward to spending a few days exploring this iconic city. Our first stop was Les Jardin des Plantes, and due to a heatwave, we got an early start. This 68 acre park reminds me of one of my favorite places, Balboa... Continue Reading →

Balboa Park, San Diego

It’s hard to beat sunny San Diego as a vacation destination with its brilliant blue shores, inviting, sandy beaches, lively neighborhoods, and temperate weather, but in my humble opinion, Balboa Park is the city’s crowning jewel. Originally known as “City Park” this gem has an interesting history dating back to the mid 1800s and offers... Continue Reading →

Bath Spa, UK

The picturesque and charming town of Bath Spa, just a 90 minute train ride from London, is filled with a rich and interesting history dating back to 60 AD when the Romans built the famous baths here. Situated on the River Avon, you will find other fascinating points of interest here including Bath Abbey, the... Continue Reading →

Leach Botanical Gardens, Portland, OR

Portland has some beautiful botanical gardens including Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens and Elk Rock Gardens, but my favorite is Leach Botanical Gardens. This beautiful, sixteen acre property was originally the home of John and Lilla Leach, who purchased a portion of the plot in the early 1930s. Their original home, a charming stone cottage, still... Continue Reading →

The Colors of Autumn

Autumn is a glorious time of year with the vast array of colors found in nature. With brilliant shades of red, yellow, gold and orange, an artist has an endless supply of scenes to paint. I love traveling in October when the colors are at their finest, and I have many photos from my autumn... Continue Reading →

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑