Geo: 45.9432, 24.9668 Sailing all day on the placid, quiet, not blue Danube River is a mixed blessing. Sailing is truly lovely on this now gentle stretch of water, but we will not dock anywhere until early tomorrow morning, so there is no escape from the boat; we cannot run off to walk around a town or city, to stretch our legs and minds seeing new sights and meeting new people. But it is hot, close to 100F most days, so perhaps I would not have walked very far anyway. Since my earliest memories from childhood I've always enjoyed a break from routines; unique impressions from the previously unknown are stimulating and exciting. A year ago on our sail down the great Yangtze River in China, I felt even more constrained when we were not allowed ... read more

Geo: 44.4479, 26.0979 One week after finishing up this year's frequently hectic teaching schedule, I left Boston on Friday evening, June 17, losing seven hours in flights, through DeGaulle to Bucharest, Romania, my first stop in Eastern Europe. We arrived around 2PM Bucharest time, and I quickly removed layers of clothing and socks -- necessary for the freezing airplanes -- to greet the 93F temps outside the chilly airport. Gorgeous weather, beautiful city! As soon as I could drop my luggage off and change into cooler clothing I went out exploring the area, even though we were staying in a hotel several miles outside the city center, braving the heat and walking down to one of the largest parks in Europe, Herastrau Park. Lovely Herastrau Lake was busy with pleasure boats; I saw many people enjoying ... read more

Geo: 49.3382, -0.622396 What all we do quickly changes into memories. The trick, for me, is to occasionally enjoy reliving things I have done, but remembering to focus on today, what is happening right now. These minutes will all too quickly also be gone; when I woke up this morning is already my past. Today we are in Honfleur, a port town originating in the 11th century. Tomorrow we'll have our last day in Paris, and then Sunday will be spent mostly in little cramped containers flying west through the air. That will be a good day to spend time in the past. Yesterday, a bright, beautiful --but cold-- gem of a day, we had the honor of visiting Normandy beaches and the American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. Beginning at the cemetery, we had a little ... read more

Geo: 49.0905, 1.4843 We slept last night docked at Vernon, part of the Normandy region of France. Yesterday we spent the morning at Conflans, where the Seine, the Epte, and the Oise rivers all meet. I loved our short stay in Paris, and really did not want to leave, but this area is so very beautiful! Swans and Mallard duck families swim outside my window. The sun is shining, the grass is green, flowers are blooming. Such is the beauty of this part of the River Seine. We drove a bit to reach Auvers-sur-Oise, one of the loveliest towns I've ever seen. The golden early spring weather enhanced my impressions, and that is an apt word, as this is where the Impressionists came to create their works of art. This is where Van Gogh lived his ... read more

Geo: 48.8567, 2.35099 Paris! After years of waiting to visit France because I wanted to be able to speak fluent French, I finally decided to change my thinking and just come, since my French wasn't improving in any case. At the last minute I signed up for Grand Circle Cruise Line's "The Seine: Paris to Normandy," leaving in only twelve days. Because of the time of year, plus people's fears of being in Europe, the trip was offered at a huge discount, including free round trip airfare, so I told work I'd miss a few days in March, and packed. Last night my flight left Boston just before 5PM, and after less than six hours (of little sleep, a couple fine movies, plus a few glasses of red wine), our 757 arrived in Paris. It was ... read more