Trip to France
This year we flew to France where we stayed 3 weeks. We spent 8 days in Paris traveling on the Metro and seeing all the sites that one normally sees in Paris. (We had such a good time in Paris that we are returning there in October for a week.) After that, we rented a car and drove to the Loire Valley. This area is famous for it's many chateaux. We visited the Chateau at Blois, the one at Chambord and finally Chenonceau. A special treat for us was a visit to a little village called Suèvres, located between Blois and Beaugency. A very nice lady volunteered to show us around 'her town' where we saw a church that had been built in the 800s, a little hotel that had hosted 3 different kings, an old water mill which still worked and the wall that was built around the village complete with the village gate still intact.
Vacations in the Tropics
We've visited Bonaire twice, the last time in May 2006. We stayed at the Sand Dollar Resort which has very easy access to Bari Reef. This reef is listed as the top reef for diversity in the Caribbean. Another reef that's a favorite of mine is Tori Reef located across from the outflow from the salt works. There's an easy shore entry there through the channel. On the island, you'll occasionally see the wild donkeys that live there although most of them have now been rounded up for their protection. Bonaire is my favorite snorkeling place of all. I would return there every year if I could, but the old Maine adage "You can't get there from here" is close to the truth.We've also spent time in St John USVI and St Martin both in the Caribbean.
Until recently our winters were spent in Costa Rica. We built a small house in the Province of Guanacaste and have many wonderful friends there. We decided that we wanted to travel to more diverse places so we sold our house there about 3 years ago but we still recommend Costa Rica as a remarkable vacation destination.
The Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in the world, is the gateway to beautiful northern California. We were there in April 2004. We traveled up US 1 right along the coast and it was a beautiful drive, spending a day at Point Reyes National Seashore, a short drive from San Francisco.
The Grand Canyon is a place that is truly indescribable. We were there in September 2003 and hiked the Bright Angel Trail snaking down into the canyon. We also hiked the entire south rim, a very easy hike...it's even paved part of the way.
Our last trip to New Orleans was just before the devastation caused by Katrina. This year (2006) we decided to visit Lafayette during Mardi Gras. This celebration there is more rustic that the events in N.O. but we enjoyed the visit there very much. We ate some great creole food, danced to great music and saw several parades. We still plan to return to New Orleans sometime and go back to some of the places that we've heard the wonderful music of the area; Donna's, Tippitina's, the Rock and Bowl, Vaughn's, and the Maple Leaf. See 'yall' there!
Trips In Maine
We live in Maine and so a trip to Acadia can be made frequently. My favorite season is the early fall. The trails are dry, well-marked and the summer tourists have left. Even if you go to Acadia in the summer though, as soon as you get a short distance along the trail, you virtually have it to yourself. If you're a senior citizen be sure and buy a National Park pass if you don't already have one. The views from the top of any of the several mountains in the park are breathtaking. Be sure and carry enough water and some trail mix when you hike. You'll run into the friendliest people when you hike and all of them will tell you about their favorite trails.
Every summer we hike some of the Maine trails or kayak some to the Maine lakes, ponds and streams. Lots of fun!
Motorcycle Trips
We purchased a Honda 750 motorcycle in 2004. I am the passenger/navigator and my husband drives. That year was our first long motorcycle trip, we traveled with friends around the Gaspe Peninsula. Breathtaking views and hospitable B&Bs were everywhere. In 2005, we went to western Nova Scotia on our Honda motorcycle. We stayed at B&Bs there and visited some beautiful places. We crossed from Portland Maine on the Cat Ferry making it a relative short trip. In 2006 we visited the eastern coast of Nova Scotia. This time we drove from western Maine into New Brunswick Canada (go see the Hopewell Rocks) and then to Nova Scotia.. The tourist bureau is always very helpful in finding accommodations for you.