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Currently in: Aboard the Queen Mary 2

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“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on the list.”

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About Me

After a career in television and a stint as the co-owner of a mail-order catalog business, I am pursuing my lifelong ambition to travel the world and write about it.
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Parting shots of London: views of the Shard and the Tower of London (flanked by its posse of humorously named skyscrapers), taken from Tower Bridge, which I crossed for the first time ever. It's been a nice treat to spend my last days in London at The Grand Hotel where my girls Cornelia and Emily stayed. And after the myriad hostels, now I have a lovely room to myself, complete with a window seat (photo). When I think of the girls being here almost a century ago, alive as I am now, seeing and doing many of the same things, it reminds me of how we are all just passing through history. So I decided I would spend my last few days with London itself, starting at the Museum of London. On my way there, I happened across the Lord Mayor's show, an 800-year-old parade put on in large part by the many ancient guilds of skilled craftsmen and professionals. My favorites were the Worshipful Companies of Framework Knitters and Feltmakers, but also represented were folks like the Actuaries and Hackney Carriage Drivers (photo, with the Fortnum and Mason tea bus). I also, in a fit of Jane Austen pique, went to opening day of the George IV exhibit in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, him being the Regency king and all (I'm never one to pass up the opportunity of being prissy). There was also an evening stop at St. Paul's on a chilly night, when I pretty much had the cathedral to myself. And then cocktails in the American Bar at the Savoy, just to round out my London experience. I'm so thankful to have had these few days with the city, because it's going to hurt to leave. See you soon, you blessed plot.

#london #england #theshard #englishhistory #shakespeare #savoylondon #toweroflondon #thegrandtrafalgarsquare #grandhoteltrafalgarsquare

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Remembrance Sunday in London. Arrived an hour before the service and still couldn't get anywhere close to the memorial -- what a wonderful tribute to those who fought. The most poignant moment for me was after the guns fired at 11 o'clock, the rich, somber, unmistakable Big Ben rang out, sounding eleven times. It was the first time I'd heard Big Ben ring since it was silenced two years ago while repairs are made to the tower (it is rung on only the most important of occasions). Remembrance continues today (Armistice Day here in the U.K., Veterans Day in the States), and I was able to snap a photo of the Cenotaph, the London memorial, before traffic began flowing once again down Whitehall. The crowds of yesterday are gone, along with those those laying wreaths of poppies -- Queen Elizabeth and the royal family, political leaders, and the thousands of soldiers and veterans from all branches of the armed forces. It is this last group, these heroes, that we thank and honor today for their service and sacrifice (with a special shout-out to a few of "the boys" of WWII I'm blessed to call my friends, who were at the American Cemetery in Cambridge today paying tribute to their fellow heroes). Unending thanks to you all.

#remembranceday #armisticeday #veteransday #remembrancesunday #bigben #wwi #wwii

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What a treat to be in London right now. The summer crowds are gone, and the city is just starting to decorate for the holidays. Nothing says Christmas, or at least Dickensian Christmas, like the Liberty flagship store. From there it was a lovely stroll through Soho, Chinatown, and the West End, where the London Underbelly is setting up a winter wonderland in Leicester Square. Can't wait to see what this quirky group has in store! Then it was over to the South Bank, where I realized for the first time that the carousel goes the opposite direction (clockwise). Must be related to the whole British "driving on the other side of the road" thing. Anyway, I've got two weeks here before I head back to the States, and I'm overjoyed and grateful to have them here. So go ahead, London -- bring out the Christmas lights, and feel free to pull out all the stops!

#christmasinlondon #iheartlondon #englishchristmas #nomadlife #dickenschristmas

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"Remember, remember the fifth of November..." In honor of Guy Fawkes Day, here is (supposedly) the lantern he was carrying when he was discovered trying to blow up Parliament. It now resides in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

#guyfawkes #fifthofnovember #bonfirenight #englishtradition

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The closest I got to Northern Lights has been in the gate area at Tromso airport (a little photoshop magic on a poster and you can hardly tell it's a fake 😆). Oh, well, it gives me an excuse to come back. Next time I will try in the Fjords.

#northernlights #tromso #nogo #betterlucknexttime

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Parting shots of Norway, starting with the train to Narvik and a bus ride through the woods to Tromso. This is a pretty little town, but it's been cold, windy and wet-snowy off and on since I got here -- it definitely takes those with Viking DNA to live here year-round. Like those folks enjoying the outdoor patio area at the bar (note the 7-11 next to it). I did pick up a nifty trick from the locals, who maneuver down icy steps by holding the railing and skiing down sideways. 😀 Also, the kids here make slides out of the big piles of snow. Why didn't we think to ever do that in the mall parking lot? (And that message painted on the building reads, "It's never too late to be a rock star." Sage advice for us all. 👍) All in all, a marvelous adventure, even with nary a Northern Light in sight.

#northernlights #tromso #winterwonderland #norsevikings

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Northern Lights report: The weather continues its taunting game of starting the day with mostly clear skies, but then by sunset (which is at 2:40 in the afternoon), the clouds have moved in, usually bringing snow -- sometimes lots! -- with them. Thank goodness this place is so lovely even without the Aurora Borealis. But I am starting to wonder if I might be here longer than I planned. 😬😳 (Note in the first photo, the handsome Arctic Cathedral in the lower right corner. These pics were taken from my hotel room window this morning and afternoon). #tromso #tromsønorway #winterwonderland #nonorthernlights #arcticcathedral

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A laughter-filled trek from town to the national park with my roommates from the hostel, with everything so crisp and bright and beautiful.

#abiskonationalpark #abiskosweden #winterwonderland #hostellife

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