Howie
Howard Rachelson Joined: October 7th 2005
Logged in: June 24th 2011
Logged in: June 24th 2011
Travel Blog Posts
Sloping Homes of Amsterdam
So I traveled over to Amsterdam to help Melanie retrieve her possessions, now that she's evolved to Switzerland. Amsterdam is always beautiful, but I especially enjoyed being there outside the tourist season - the streets were not overwhelmed by walkers... but watch out for the bicycles. One false step and ... ouch. Anyway here are some photos from Amsterdam and Philadelphia (the 'weird' ones are HDR style). ... read more
Streets of Sibiu
So Evi and I flew from Vienna to Bucharest, spent only one night in Bucharest, then took the 2 hour train (which took 3 hours) to the beautiful city of Brasov, spent 2 lovely days there walking through the old and interesting streets. We climbed the hill above the city to see the sights, and watched the World Cup final game being televised in numerous outdoor cafes. Then we took the 2 hour train (which took 3 hours) up to the mysterious medieval walled town (Unesco World Heritage Sight) of Sighisoara (home of Vlad the Impaler) for 3 nights, where we felt like we had gone back in time about 500 years. From there we took a side trip to Sibiu, which had been designated a European Capital of Culture for the year 2007 because of ... read more
Gardens of Mirabell Palace, Salzburg
"On the road again, part 1000, and I hope it never ends" (HR 2010) OK, so this summer our goal is to hit the eastern regions of Europe, looking for old, unspoiled towns with beautiful architecture, narrow streets, old fashioned cultures and 75 cent beers. It was a family reunion of sorts. Brother Carl and Anouchka would be coming from Berlin, brother Joel from Phillie town, Evi and I from Fran Fran Frisco. Must find a central meeting point, as we are headed afterwards to Romania. (future travel blog - stay tuned) So we met in Salzburg for 2 nights; took buses and trains southeastward about 100 km through the green mountains, rivers, and and lakes of central Austria, eventually by boat from the train station across the Hallstattersee, to the exquisitely beautiful village of Hallstatt. ... read more
Plaza de Bolívar
OK So Evi and I have two weeks spring vacation and we wanted to go somewhere warm and historically interesting. Well, why not Colombia and Panama? So we flew to Cartagena for 5 days, then we'll spend 2 in Bogota, then 5 more in Panama. I would say Cartagena is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities I've ever seen - in fact, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Streets are full of strolling people, vendors selling everything, and the buildings are extremely colorful. The temperature is warm every day but pleasantly cool and breezy every night. The 500 year old city is enclosed in walls (built in the 17th century), and it's completely safe to wander here, day and night. Highly recommended!... read more
Manuel Antonio Sunset
So Evi and I went to Costa Rica, only 8 days... it's not enough... but we got a taste of the country. Stayed in the central valley area (outside of San Jose) for 4 days... took tours to coffee plantations, Poas Volcano, waterfalls... saw natural beauty, flora, fauna... Then we went to the Pacific Coast, Quepos and Manuel Antonio Park for 3 days ... it's a rain forest, and sooo beautiful. Here are some photos.... read more
Grafton Street in Dublin
So in mid-July (2009) we spent one week in Ireland - (enough to just scratch the surface) but what a wonderful country! Evi and Howie, Melanie, Gadi, and my brother Joel and his daughter Stephanie were packed somewhat comfortably in a small minivan, traveling along the narrow country roads of Ireland for a week. We formed a triangle connecting Dublin, Cork and Galway, and got a very good feel for the country. Yes, I'd love to go back. * People: Warm, friendly, helpful, willing to go out of their way to show the way or explain some history. * Weather: We traveled in mid July but the average temps hit only rarely 20 C max (68F), and it seemed to rain a bit of every day. Some countries lie smack dab in the midst of a ... read more
Denali, The Great One
Hello friends, Evi and I just returned home from a 10 day excursion in America's largest state, Alaska. Starting from Fairbanks we worked our way south for 3 days through Denali, the nation's largest national park, towards Anchorage and eventually our ship in Whittier. Alaska is truly the land of wide open spaces. Few paved roads, automobiles, noise, urban stress. Beaucoup bears, moose, eagles, mountain sheep, and tourists (thank goodness - keeps the economy going). Miles of human-free landscape; if you drive the main highway from Fairbanks to Anchorage, about 350 miles, you'll pass rivers, lakes, mountain vistas, few cars, fewer traffic lights, and millions of spruce and hemlock trees. One town has population two, both living in the same house; husband mayor, wife chairman of city council. Talkeetna was the cutest hippie town I've ever ... read more
RECOVERED
Sierra Beauty (California) North America » United States » California » Yosemite By Howie July 11th 2007 Howard RachelsonHello again, it's been a while. So my friend Joel and I took a road trip from Marin county eastward to Yosemite, then across the Tioga Pass to the eastern side of the Sierra mountains. There we saw the mysterious beauty of Mono Lake and the Alp-like beauty and empty roadways of the eastern Sierras. We also visited the ghost town, former mining town of Bodie, to visit a city formally thriving, today devoid of humanity but left in most... read more
Marriot Hotel Lobby
So I flew from Miami up to New York City, especially for a reunion of my college fraternity brothers, (Penn State, Phi Sigma Delta). It was unbelievable to be in the presence of some guys I haven't seen for years and years. I also took lots of photos, of course, so I hope you enjoy them.... read more
South Beach Colors
Well, it's been eight months since we returned from our big trip, so I keenly anticipated a two week jaunt to the east coast; one week in Florida, home of my brother Carl and his family and friends, then another week in New York city for a reunion of my college fraternity (Penn State, Phi Sigma Delta). Miami is sooo beautiful, tropical, colorful, exotic and sensual. The temperature, in early January, has been in the low 80's (about 28 C). It looks and feels like summer here - outdoor restaurants, beaches full of people, joggers, bike riders, dog walkers... Tourists from all over the world - many Europeans, Brits, Germans, escaping their cold winters. Languages I've never heard before. Of course, the primary language of south Florida seems to be Spanish. There are more Spanish radio ... read more
