First off, credit where credit is due—this whole trip happened because my amazing wife Gina won the TDIC raffle. While most folks win golf bags or a new office chair, Gina managed to hit the jackpot: a full week, all-inclusive stay at Portofino Beach Resort in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. That’s right—white sand, palm trees,…
Attending Fleet Week in San Francisco this year with Gina was a powerful experience, one that reminded us of the immense pride and respect we feel for the young men and women who have chosen to serve in our nation’s military. As we stood there, watching the magnificent ships glide across the bay, feeling the…
To celebrate 40 years of marital bliss and the final years leading to our semi retirement, Gina and I decided to enjoy life a bit and check out some of the Iconic Fairmont Hotels in Alberta-The Banff Springs Hotel and the Chateau Lake Louise both built in the 1800s by wealthy Railroad Tycoons. Our trip…
Lisbon Portugal. May 8 – May10. 2023 Lisbon is Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city and is known for its unique historical center, stunning architecture, colorful azulejos (ceramic tiles), and fantastic food. It also has a fascinating history, filled with rulers, invasions, destructions, and re-constructions. The cities iconic bridge – The Ponte 25 de Abril suspension…
Cassablanca, Morocco. May 6, 2023 Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, evokes images of romance, reunions, the hardships of war, and vibrant jazz cafes, The famous Rick’s Café. The timeless movie “Casablanca” has solidified its status as one of the most beloved films of all time. The iconic line, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” has…
Malaga, Spain May 4, 2023 Malaga is a municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Málaga is a port city on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, known for its high-rise hotels and resorts jutting up from yellow-sand beaches. Looming over that modern skyline are the city’s 2 massive hilltop citadels, the Alcazaba and ruined…
May 3, 2023. Alicante and Guadlest Spain Alicante, our second port of the trip is an historic Mediterranean port n the Valencian Community, Spain. The area around Alicante has been inhabited for over 7000 years. The first tribes of hunter gatherers moved down gradually from Central Europe between 5000 and 3000 BC. Some of the earliest settlements…
May 2, 2023. Ibiza Spain Ibiza is known worldwide for its club scene, people travel from all across the world to spend nights dancing in the super clubs to the best DJs on the planet. “Ecstasy Island,” as it was dubbed by British hippies in the ’60s is where the young go for Olympic level…
In our later years, one of our cherished traditions is embarking on the Dave Koz Jazz Cruise, which we eagerly anticipate every year. Over the past few years, we have had the pleasure of going on four of these cruises. Both Gina and I have been lifelong jazz enthusiasts, and this cruise offers an extraordinary…
Gina scored a Sunday Night at Half Moon Bay State Park Campground and we headed over for a quick get together with Mark and Phoebe. I brought my golf clubs again but we got a late start to the campground and ended up in traffic on Highway 92 again. When the beach gets warm, the…
September 27, 2020 – After nearly a year of owning the Lance Trailer, I’m feeling more comfortable taking it locally for a single night of camping. Its been a fun few week adding some improvements to the trailer. Gina loves camping at Half Moon bay even if its only for a night in a non…
In this year of unprecedented events, it doesn’t seem that surprising anymore that new catastrophes keep coming. Fire season in California seems worse every year. with hotter temperatures and bigger more destructive wildfires. Air quality is epically bad and the worse it has ever been. In recent weeks, dozens of wildfires have ignited across the state,…
April 27 – March 10 In geography, the antipode of any spot on Earth is the point on Earth’s surface diametrically opposite to it. Australia is nearly the antipode of the United States and is the furthest Gina and I have ever traveled. Three years ago, we discovered the Dave Koz Jazz…
February 22 – March 10 2019 The Panama Canal is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic. The canal is 51 miles wide and consists of 3 locks up and 3 locks down from Gatun Lake. The building of the…
May 9th – 23, 2018 -I wish this was a fishing report from Denmark, Finland and Russia, but its a travel diary of the annual Smooth Jazz Dave Koz cruise that Gina and I take every year. This years cruise ended up in a spectacular tour of St Petersburg that Gina put together with a…
Over the last 35 years, Gina and I have taken many cruises but last weeks ten day cruise to Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Santorini, Greece; San Marino, Italy, was the best ever. Neither Gina or I had been to these ports on Mediterranean Cruises in the past with the exception of Santorini. And,…
Last week Gina and I took Mark and his Girlfriend Phoebe to the Caribbean on the biggest ship in the world. Its been years since our last cruise which was on the Disney Magic with the kids and we had high expectations for this cruise which marks our 15th cruise over the years. I give…
Its been over three years since we camped on the valley floor of Yosemite. Gina and I lucked out and got a campsite three months ago. The trusty old Motorhome made it up the grade without vapor locking this year. Getting a campsite in Yosemite is challenging with over 2 million summer visitors, the limited…
Gina and I met our good friends Bob and Marianne for a one day camping trip with the RVs at Half Moon Bay State Park. We booked a Sunday night and found the campsite actually not full. What a great campsite it was with electrical hookups in 40 of the 50 sites, free fast internet,…
One of my favorite people to fish with, Waynes father in law, John Leonard, is one of the most accomplished and experienced fly fishermen I know. Using the Phantom 3 in 4k mode with a polorizing filter, I was able to catch a glimpse of what makes us return to this unique river year after…