Page 2 of JaneSmith Travel Blog Posts


North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta January 6th 2017

Geo: 20.6509, -105.215Our alarm goes off and we get right up. I phone Mary and Trish, waking Mary up. Trish has already left for Zumba class! I call Leroy and Eve and wake them up as well. Oh dear. Told them to go back to sleep. So much for that plan!Jeff and I know that today the Wheelhouse Bar will be serving a traditional British pub lunch, so we put sticky notes on everyone's cabin doors inviting them to join us at 11:30 and we head off for breakfast. Oatmeal and fruit for both of us.After breakfast we go to the Princess Theater for the 'Enrichment Lecture' by Dr. Samuel Glassner. His lecture was on "The First European Doctors" and it was fascinating!! The impact of 'healing' and illnesses on politics, agriculture and especially religion was ... read more

North America » Mexico » Jalisco » Puerto Vallarta January 5th 2017

Geo: 20.6509, -105.215Ahhhh...our first full day on the cruise and it is a sea day - wonderful! We wake up late and go to the Horizon Court buffet for breakfast. Jeff had what he calls a 'normal person's breakfast' which was eggs, bacon and toast, coffee and cranberry juice. I have oatmeal, fresh fruit, coffee and cranberry juice.After breakfast we start our usual " OMG, we're on a cruise ship and need to pay attention to our caloric intake and expenditure" and we walk around the Promenade deck for about 4 to 5 miles. We're bummed out that both the very front and the very back of the ship have been cordoned off so instead of walking the entire circumference of the ship where 3.2 laps equals a mile, we have to cut across the boat ... read more

North America » United States » California January 4th 2017

Geo: 33.7379, -118.285Okay, I am married to a crazy person and said crazy person has just roused me from a deep sleep, "Jane, I think our boat is here..." It is DARK outside! The sun isn't even up yet, but, for the past 45 minutes, my dear crazy person has been watching the 'Bridge Cam' of our cruise ship on the Internet as it makes its way to San Pedro, and apparently it is arriving.Okay, I'm up, looking out into the dark, marvelling at how someone so crazy can seem SO normal! Of course, I got out of bed at dark:thirty to watch the ship come in, so I guess its good that we found each other.We watch as the ship goes past the channel entrance....must be turning around. Hmmm...ten minutes later, no cruise ship. Jeff ... read more
Sirens coffee and tea
Our suite
Waiting for the sail away

North America » United States » California » Los Angeles January 3rd 2017

Geo: 34.0533, -118.245Tuesday, January 3rd 2017Holy crow! We slept until 10:30. I think not only were we very tired when we went to bed, but we are starting to relax. First things first, coffee. Unlike many of my friends, I don't mind hotel room coffee...caffeine is caffeine.Once we're a bit more awake and ready to go, Jeff and I head out to find food. With no destination in mind we walk several blocks up the hill from our hotel, then over a block and down the next street. We find the "San Pedro Cafe." which turns out to be a gem! We can tell it is a local place because people greet the waitress by name and it has a neighborhood feel about it.Jeff ordered the vegie scramble with sliced tomatoes and I had the same ... read more

North America » United States » Colorado » Denver January 2nd 2017

Geo: 39.74, -104.992A Man, a Plan, a Canal...PANAMAIt is 20 some degrees in Denver and snow is on its way. It's time to get out of Dodge! Though, truth be told, we've had this trip planned for over a year and the time has finally arrived. Jeff and I, and our wonderful friends, Eve and Leroy Measner, Mary Linscome and Trish Nelson (who is Eve's sister) are all taking a 15-day cruise from Los Angeles, CA through the Panama Canal and ending in Fort Lauderdale, FL. What a great way to start the new year!As an example of our semi-lack of coordination, the six of us are on four different flights, but five of us (Mary, Eve and Leroy and Jeff and I) arrive at LAX about 30 minutes apart - that's the plan anyway. Trish ... read more

Europe » Iceland November 24th 2016

Geo: 64.1353, -21.8952Our last full day in Iceland - wow, the time has gone quickly! We get up and head for Rekjavik Roasters one last time. On the way there we drive along the harbor road and suddenly spot the sculpture that we wanted to be sure to see! We're lucky to have come this way. The "Viking" style stainless steel sculpture looks really nice against the gray background.Our breakfast was quick. I had a delicious chocolate croissant, Tom, a croissant with cheese and jam (sounds odd, I know, but apparently it was very tasty.), Jeff settled for just coffee. Now we are going to return to some of the places we visited briefly during the trip. First stop, Hallgrimskirkja (Church of Hallgrimur). This church sits on the highest point in Rekjavik and its tower reaches ... read more
From the church tower
Up, up, up the church tower
Jeff and Tom in the tower

Europe » Iceland November 23rd 2016

Geo: 63.4275, -19.001Today is going to be great! We have a plan, and a car, and a thermos of coffee.Jeff and I didn't know much of anything about Iceland; we came for the Northern Lights. Tom, however, is quite knowledgeable about the country, the language and the people and today is his plan. We are going to drive down to the Southern coast, near the town of Vik. Because there is only one major road, the Ring Road, which encircles the island, we're pretty sure we won't get lost. We start out with Tom at the wheel and Jeff navigating...and within 10 minutes realize we're going the wrong way. hahaha! Okay, U-turn and here we go.I find myself wondering... Iceland is 39,768 square miles, about the size of Kentucky, and the main road is a circular ... read more
Huge falls
Slip slidey steps
Mini-henge

Europe » Iceland November 22nd 2016

Geo: 64.1353, -21.8952This morning we are up early, daypacks filled with sandwiches, cameras, and, of course, lots of extra warm clothing. Today we are going on a bus tour of Iceland's Golden Circle. The Golden Circle is comprised of three of the country's most famous natural wonders and you can see them all in a daylong circular (duh!) route. We board our bus, which is NOT a bus with ginormous tires (those are used for glacier tours), but a comfy tour bus and head out.Our tour guide is a woman in probably her late 50's; she is tiny and I suspect that she is actually an elf. An elf in a huge sweater and ski bib. She is prepared for the weather.Let's talk a minute about elves, trolls and the "hidden people." These are very important ... read more
Thingvellir
Goat at Thingvellir
Unstable landscape

Europe » Iceland November 21st 2016

Geo: 64.1353, -21.8952We have all day free until 6pm when we have scheduled a tour for ourselves.We start our day, after a good night's sleep, by driving back to old Reykjavic and having breakfast at Reykjavic Roasters. This is the only coffee roasting place in the city and we must give it a try! The cafe is very small and we stand around awkwardly until a table for 2 leaves. We drag over a chair and are good. Jeff and I have coffee americano and porridge (steel cut oatmeal into which we stir homemade raspberry jam) and Tom has the same coffee, but with a croissant with cheese and jam. Ahhh...a nice local place, and coffee is delicious!Fortified, we retrace part of yesterday's walking tour. First, the knitting shop, where Jeff and Tom wait very patiently ... read more
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis (and street sign)

Europe » Iceland November 20th 2016

Geo: 64.1353, -21.8952Disembarking the plane we cruise through immigration, and, since there isn't even a Custom's area, walk through to the airport proper. Easy peasy.It is 6:30 a.m. here in Kevlavik and dark, dark, dark. We retrieve our luggage; much more luggage than we normally travel with because of our bulky winter clothes. This trip is definitely not a winner in the "light packer" award category!We have reserved a car from "Nu", an Iceland car rental place and we figure out where the shuttle guy will pick us up. When he arrives, he tells us that we're early for our 8am rental. If he takes us to pick up our car now, it will cost us more money! Seriously? We make arrangements for him to come back for us and another couple before 8; Jeff, Tom ... read more
Free fizz
Church
Kaptein Ulvøy




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