http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/jrfromafar/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from jrfromafar en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:36:02 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:36:02 +0000 video of Palazzo Adriano http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/blog-337223.html Headed to the airport in Trapani I spend a day and a night here http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Trapani/blog-331776.html 2 days in Erice...yup this is a plug for the Hotel Eidlewise I stayed there nice and clean and they gave me a break because I am a member of World Ventures http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Erice/blog-331774.html After leaving Palazzo Adriano I drove to Segesta whew what a workout that drive was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Segesta/blog-331772.html I don't get it PA used to be in the database but I can't find it now. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/blog-331769.html Drive from Ragusa to Palazzo Adriano http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/blog-331766.html After leaving Noto in the morning I drove to Ragusa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Ragusa/blog-331763.html Noto was my second destination http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Noto/blog-331760.html Siracusa was my first stop http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Siracusa/blog-331757.html And so the creative juices couldn't produce anything better than a return for the 3rd time to Sicily. I remember getting upset at my grandson for not being able to make up his mind what flavor ice cream he wanted so he decided not to have any ice cream. And then I took a good look at myself and my in ability to choose a destination and hammer out an itinerary. So I have stayed close to home fo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/Catania/blog-306226.html Lyell AScent to Donahue Pass One of this man's greatest memories.... there are things in life that seem unimportant at the time which have the possibility of being the highlight of a lifetime. Such was the hike that I took with my two boys Joe and Gabe... I love you guys so muchdadJoe don't ever forget who beat you to Agnew Meadows....BWaaaaaaaaaaaaa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Yosemite-National-Park/blog-109493.html Yeahh somewhere around 1990. Got a call from my travel buddy Steve. Low fares to NYNY from LAX. Let's go for a week fly into Newark spend a few days in the City then rent a car and drive to DC then up to Boston and who knows what else.So I takes the Greyhound down to LA. Mistake. Greyhound is slower than frozen molassas. And hate to say it but if you want to feel like a LOSER with a capito http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-100431.html Here it is after midnight while the rest of the world slumbers at least around me I sit up busy parking memories. Circa mid fifties. The Buick was the classic black and white. We'd load it to the hilt and off we'd go for our annual camping trip. Trust me. I knew where the middle of the seat was. Because if my sister's elbow or knee or God forbid her foot crossed that line there's be a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Yosemite-National-Park/Tuolumne-Meadows/blog-98000.html It was my last night in Central France. The next day I was heading to Paris and then flying home. It was time to SPLURGEI size up a nice restaurant. Probably in a building over 1000 years old. Really picturesque. I read the menu outside. Hmmm... Cunard. It's time for DUCK. Yes I envision a nice roast duck potatos garnishes the works. In the heartland of France none the less This will be http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/blog-97058.html It was hot as blue blazes and standing room only throughout Rome. Wouldn't you know it I arrived right on a holiday. I needed a break from the maddening crowd. I approached an old cathedral and saw hoards of people pouring out of a doorway giving it little or no thought that it was the entrance as well as the exit. Without exception all the people leaving the cathedral were elderly people mostly http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-97048.html If you need confirmation as to what train will get you where you want to go don't have any illusion that you are safe asking a conductor. After asking one I confidently settled down for the journey. I was on my way to Toulouse at least that is what I thought. No doubt I made good joke fodder that night for the conductor and his drinking buds. He gave me the nod in the opposite direction somewh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Limousin/Brive-la-Gaillarde/blog-97041.html ... and there's no one around to read itdoes the writer of the blog give a rip http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Sequoia-National-Park/blog-96796.html Was a 'day tripper' to Montpellier from Sete. I recall that I bought some grub at a deli in Sete and headed to the train station. There sat 'Bongo can't remember what else I called him' from the youth hostel sitting there with his bongo drum. He was not fullblooded anything... although he said he was born in France. Spoke decent English actually. I shared my lunch with him he was very gratefu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Languedoc-Roussillon/Montpellier/blog-96747.html My Irish claim to fame my great grandfather was Michael Augustus Ward Mac an Bhaird from Donegal. My grandmother Ellen Ward full blooded Irish.Michael Ward Bhaird or 'bard' married Mary Moran daughter of Martin Moran married Ellen Rogers immigrant to Genesee Pa Potter County in 1840 before the potato famine. Genesee ended up an Irish haven. Martin was one of the leading citizens. He http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Donegal/Donegal/blog-96631.html Whaddya know a site about barefoot travel. Don't know how I found this site but I did... and it brought back memories. Here's what happened1967. I had just hitchhiked up to San Francisco from the Central San Joaquin valley town of Fresno. I was wearin' a brand new pair of work boots. I was walkin' down Haight Street. A guy passed me wearin' an old pair of groooovy cowboy boots with pointed toes http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-96612.html