kellicox

Hang on Will - Mom's on her way! Off to sunny Madrid for a much needed holiday with my son. Note - I often fly American - the flight from New York is nonstop and usually fairly comfortable. Not so much this time. I requested the bulkhead seat for the extra legroom and found myself on a plane that did not have individual screens. First world problem having to watch the same violent movie as everyone else. I couldn't swallow an ambien and don eye shades fast enough. To make my sleep a little more comfy - I "borrowed" a better pillow and blanket from business class. No one said a word. 10 hours later - I was in Spain! This will just be a LONG post - 18 months later, I"m publishing... We had originally ... read more

Hello San Diego! And hello Hyatt Grand in the Gaslamp District. That's downtown to those who don't know. A gorgeous view of the the Coronado Bridge to the south and SeaPort Village and the Midway to the north. Up high on the 25th floor - seagulls fly by (and even land on the ledge outside- totally unafraid) and the USS Roosevelt sailed into the harbor just in time for Thanksgiving. What do I spy first off in the airport? A large, very nicely decorated Christmas tree AND a giant menorah for Hanukkah. Thank, SD. Not much of the latter in Texas. Ocean Beach provided delicious breakfast, awesome people watching, and the sight of 2 little dogs perched on top of their owner's van. Back to dinner at Old Venice with friends, Debbie and Frank. 30 years ... read more

Fu King Smoke Shop. I can't make this stuff up - that was the name of the smoke/hookah shop on Route 66 next to the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, NM. Probably not as vintage route 66 as other establishments, but still - great photo op and jokes a plenty! (For my brother, Jef and my son, Will - in the same vein as the Damn Dam) First, our start of the day selfie. We want it with one of the many elk heads posted around the lobby of the El Rancho Hotel, but they all were too high and Kathi and I are notoriously horrible selfie takers. We tried the stairs but still couldn't fit in the elk. Kathi kept telling me to jump on 3 and we'll take the picture then. Or, I have ... read more

San Diego to LA to Amsterdam to Madrid to Vigo to the Hotel Mexico. 35 hours of nonstop travel. BUT, I am in a carry on suitcase, so my bag also arrived safely. A few glasses of vino tinto (red) and a ham and cheese tortilla (which is really an omelette) and I fell into bed for a good 7 hours of very necessary sleep. This morning, I woke up and took the very necessary shower and then went off to find coffee. I love how all coffee in Europe is really espresso served in real cup and a lovely little pastry or chocolate is served right along. So civilized. We wandered around Vigo for a few hours and then hopped the bus to A Guarda - about an hour or so away. We rode through ... read more

It's hard to believe we have been in Holland for nearly 2 weeks - with nearly 2 more to go! I'm starting to think it's just not enough time! Onward, we go... Den Hague is home to Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and we must visit her. She lives in the Mauritshuis Museum which is named after a man who had entirely too much money and loved to flaunt his conspicuous consumption. Included in the collection are works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Steen, Holbein and other Dutch Masters. This time, we opt to leave the car at home - bad parking memories sparked a spike in the learning curve and we will take the 20 minute train instead. We are in the suburbs, after all. As we walked toward the Mauritshuis through the House of Parliament ... read more