Shopping

Butte, Montana

August 20, 2011

In its heyday, from the late 19th century to about 1920, Butte was one of the largest and most notorious copper boomtowns in the West, with a maze of over 10,000 miles of mines beneath it’s surface. As was common in the early wild west, Butte was home to hundreds of saloons and a famous [...]

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Dinner in Spokane, WA

August 15, 2011

Quite an impressive site from the lookout – the Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. Constructed between 1933 and 1942, it is the largest electric power-producing facility in the United States, and one of the largest concrete structures in the world. Spokane [...]

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MacBook Air: The Best Travel Computer Just Got Better

July 20, 2011

Apple just updated their MacBook Air. It’s the best travel computer you can find. Walt Mossberg reviewed it at the Wall Street Journal, and I include highlights of that review below. Of the new MacBook Air, Walt says ”these are gorgeous, very thin and light, but very sturdy aluminum computers.” The MacBook Air is our favorite [...]

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New York City

July 20, 2011

Ice pops made from anything brewed: tea, root beer, espresso; markets galore – artisan, farmers, flea, antique; and exploring Brooklyn… here are some fun tips on the big Apple. New York’s New Frozen Treats “I HAD never been so grateful to see a banana. Peeled and skewered, just plucked from the freezer, it was nearly smoking [...]

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Singapore for business and pleasure

May 3, 2011

Singapore is one of my favorite cities to visit. Though I generally visit on business, there is always time for pleasure… and Singapore is a fine place to enjoy dining, night life, lush tropical parks, beaches, and shopping. Singapore’s legendary efficiency is obvious from the first moments after arrival. You will breeze through customs in [...]

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Portland, Oregon for Thanksgiving

December 8, 2010

Thanksgiving in Portland – what a great idea. Jay, his mom and I drive down while Jay’s brother and his family fly up. Time to relax, visit, and play for a few days in a friendly, welcoming city. We all stay at the Hotel Vintage Plaza and take advantage of one of their AAA packages [...]

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Book gifts for travelers & food lovers

December 6, 2010

Today I read about two interesting books – one for the travel lover and the other for the food lover on your gift list (or to add to your own wish list, as I have). Seattle folks know Nancy Pearl as their librarian until 2004… now many of us know her as a book reviewer [...]

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Springtime in Kyoto, Japan

November 17, 2010

April 2007 found us in Tokyo and Kyoto for 10 days… I tagged along on a business trip of Jay’s. Here are some notes and impressions I jotted down at the time… this blog covers Kyoto. Springtime in Kyoto… showers of cherry blossoms. There is a happiness, a festive feeling associated with the blossoms as [...]

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MacBook Air: Why It’s The Best Travel Computer

October 30, 2010

Today I am updating this post on our new MacBook Air. It’s the best travel computer you can find – we won’t be going anywhere without it. Walt Mossberg reviewed it at the Wall Street Journal, and I include highlights of that review below. Of the new MacBook Air, Walt says ”these are gorgeous, very thin [...]

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Notes from our travels to Tokyo

June 23, 2010

April 2007 found us in Tokyo and Kyoto for 10 days… I tagged along on a business trip of Jay’s. Here are some notes and impressions I jotted down at the time… this blog covers Tokyo… Kyoto will follow. Arriving in a foreign land is surreal. We board a plane that climbs to 35,000 feet, [...]

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Yokohama, Japan, with kids

June 19, 2010

Last night an email came in from our sister-in-law, Janet. She and the kids (our nieces – ages 13 & 11) are traveling in Asia with Andy on a business trip. Happy Father’s Day Andy! Hello Jay and Sue, We are having a great time in Yokohama. We were fortunate enough to get upgraded from [...]

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Artsy, groovy downtown Twisp, WA

May 13, 2010

Driving into town of Twisp, I immediately see the bold blue, green and black sign for the Twist River Pub on the right. This seems to be the local favorite – all suggestions for a place to eat lead here. Located on the Twisp River, the Pub’s patio is the perfect spot on this warm [...]

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Akaroa, NZ

March 21, 2010

A scenic one hour drive from Christchurch, Akaroa is a quaint little fishing village located on the southern side of Bank Peninsula. Akaroa sits at the edge of a beautiful harbor inside the eroded crater of a huge extinct volcano. Originally a French settlement, the streets have French names and local restaurants focus on French cuisine. [...]

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Christchurch, NZ

March 9, 2010

Revived after our 5 nights in Nelson we are ready to head to Christchurch. Jay was there in November/December of 1975 after a summer gig in Antarctica installing some electronics he had designed for a University of MD atmospheric project. We have been thinking about visiting since then, so I am excited to finally see [...]

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Hawke’s Bay, NZ

February 22, 2010

The drive from Napier to the wine country is a scenic and easy drive, just 11 miles south. While in Auckland, a local wine merchant in the Stables suggested half a dozen wineries that were his favorites. Among them, were Clearview, Craggy Range, Black Barn, and Te Mata Estate.  He recommended Black Barn for lunch. [...]

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