The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: travel

  • Transitional Periods

    The most dangerous times in life are the transitional periods. Like stepping from one slippery rock to another while crossing a rushing river, you have to be careful or you might slip and fall. These times include changing jobs, moving, going off to college, traveling, preparing to break up with someone, mourning, divorce and experiencing…

  • My Fridge Magnet Theory

    It has long been my belief that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their refrigerator magnets. Think about it. Your fridge magnets can reflect who or what is important to you, what you are interested in, what you find funny, and where you’ve been. Without a doubt they will indicate…

  • “You’re never too old to live your dreams.”

    Thank you, Diana Nyad, for reminding us all of this the other day, when you swam for about 53 hours from Cuba to Florida at the age of 64. This amazing feat reminded me of the many other people I have heard of who have done incredible things at an advanced age. At my last…

  • Packing for Your Trip

    I live to travel. Over the years, as most people have, I have suffered the consequences of forgetting some crucial item, or forgetting to do something critical. This can put a damper on any vacation, so after years of holidays, I have compiled a master packing list. Whenever I’m about to take a trip, I…

  • Travel Sounds

    Have you ever noticed that a sound or a smell can instantly transport you back to an experience in your past? A certain song always reminds you of your first kiss. The smell of baking bread takes you back to your mother’s kitchen when you were a child. I love it when this happens. Unfortunately,…

  • Way too Freakin’ Perfect

    I have a friend who seems flawless. First of all, she’s absolutely gorgeous, and it’s the kind of beauty that will still be stunning in old age. She’s extremely intelligent, has a job that she loves that allows her to travel all over the world, owns a cool house, has an amazing family and a…

  • Traditions

    Despite the overwhelming weight of traditions as described in Fiddler on the Roof, I’ve always admired people who have them. Whether they be national or religious or cultural or simply family traditions, these customs help to bind each of us to a greater whole. Coming from a fairly nomadic and rootless family, I don’t have…

  • Foreign Travel Advice for Americans

    Recently my amazing nephew contacted me for travel advice. I have been to 19 countries to date, so he figured I’d have some useful information. I’d forgotten what it was like, planning my first overseas trip. Those were the days. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years, but I’d…

  • Traveling in my Mind

    Since travel is my reason for being, and since I can no longer afford to do so, I’m forced to content myself by reliving trips I have taken in the past, and imagining where I would go if my fate were different and my choices hadn’t been so ill advised. So, without further ado, here’s…

  • My Jacksonville Indulgence

    I had the day off today and it occurred to me that people rarely take the time to be tourists in their own town. Since my travel budget is basically zero these days, I figured why not treat myself? So after a late breakfast, I hopped into my car and headed for Hemming Plaza, one…