Has it really been about five years since I trudged up to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley for a Cal football game? Have I given up the notion that my Golden Bears will play in the Rose Bowl on January 1st one of these years, while I am still alive? We have not been to the Rose Bowl since January 1, 1959. We played the heavily favored Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big 10 and lost 38 to 12. But we were the 16th ranked team in the country. Joe Kapp was the star QB for the Bears. He later became the Head Coach. Believe it or not, I was in Pasadena on that fateful day in 1959. Our family was visiting relatives who lived within earshot of the Rose Bowl. I could hear the PA announcer and ... read more

“Having hobbies in retirement is so important for keeping both your mind and body busy,” says Craig Kirsner, president of retirement planning services at Stuart Estate Planning Wealth Advisors in Coconut Creek, Florida. “You've probably worked for decades and now you have to keep busy in retirement as well.” These hobbies can keep you productive and fulfilled throughout your retirement years: Pickleball.Writing.Stock market trading.Gardening.... read more

From Visit Napa Valley website: Yes, Napa Valley is one of the most luxurious luxury destinations in the world. That doesn’t mean everything here costs a pretty penny. The truth is that Napa County boasts a host of destinations and activities that are totally free. Here are our top 10. Shop the market The url=https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.visitnapavalley.com%2Fblog%2Fpost%2Ftop-free-things-to-do-in-napa-valley%2F%3Futm_source%3DVisit%2BNapa%2BValley%2BNewsletter%26utm_campaign%3D9e63f9b3f3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_12c%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_term%3D0_46a2605913-9e63f9b3f3-158305553&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce614e58d4f984004aeaf08da984abce6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaa... read more

The real Oktoberfest in Munich starts Saturday (Sep. 17)!!! I really do not have the time to re-trace my travel steps, at this point in my life. But this is one event that would be fun. From 2010: I see there are some places in the United States that celebrate the Oktoberfest, much like they do in Munich each year. Of special note is the 200th anniversary of the Oktoberfest this year (2010). It began on October 12, 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig, who later became King Ludwig I of Bavaria, married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hidburghausen. The royal festivities that followed have become part of this big yearly tradition. It is now known over the world as Oktoberfest with over 7 million people, even though it begins in September (today), and ends this year on October ... read more

Over the years, combined with my love for trains, metros, and public transportation, I have been fortunate to find some of the most beautiful stations in the world. Here are a few of my favorites (with help from tripsavvy): Komsomolskaya Station, Moscow (above) With its crystal chandeliers, marble pillars, and golden mosaics, you’d almost expect Moscow’s commuters to waltz through Komsomolskaya Station on their way to the platform. Constructed in 1952, the space was inspired by a wartime speech of Stalin, and the creative duo behind its extravagance (Artist Pavel Korin and architect Alexey Schusev) even won the Stalin prize for their work. Beyond its beauty is a blatant political mission. The station was also designed to promote Soviet propaganda, so you’ll find sculptures of fallen leaders and scenes depicting moments of Russian history. I was ... read more