To awaken in a tropical paradise is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. I am not the same having seen the sun rise and set on the lush green tropical landscape and restless ocean waters of Maui. Spoiled by its beauty, I left wanting more.
Spanish Style Gardens & Doors
Do you have a special local spot you go to when you need an escape from the bustle of daily life? For me, it’s the Spanish-influenced gardens and artisan shops at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. Every season brings different blooms and lush green vegetation thanks to our mild California climate. I last visited…
Bare Bones Landscaping Co.
I’m currently looking for a landscape company to design and install our patio garden. While I’d like a low-cost solution, this company looks a little too bare bones for my tastes. Heehee. On the serious side, the owners of the Pond House Cafe in West Hartford have a good sense of humor. This clever Halloween garden…
Behind the Green Door
The only visible signs of life inside this house in Nafplio, Greece are vines of greenery in search of sunlight through empty transom window panes and the green door left ajar. What else lies hidden behind the crumbling facade, weathered paint, and rusted windows of this once vibrant home? Happy memories of a good life…
Neapolis Bay
Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Axes & Red Doors
No matter how often I visit family and friends in Connecticut, I always find time to visit Collinsville for lunch at LaSalle’s Market & Deli and a stroll around the historic Collins Axe Company. The vibrant, barn red buildings of the former Axe Factory house an antique shop, a variety of artisans, and other small,…
Greek Fishing Boats
Wordless Wednesday
Cats & Doors
Ah, Monemvasia, one of my many favorite places in Peloponnese, Greece. This medieval fortress is cat-friendly and home to a small community of docile cats. As I strolled the narrow, cobblestoned lanes, I came across a variety of cats lounging near doors. What I found amazing was their indifference to my presence making it easy for…
By the Sea
Nothing lifts my spirits more than a lazy afternoon on a beach chair watching the sun’s reflection on a calm blue sea. If I could live anywhere, there is no other place I’d rather be than by the sea. To quote Jacques Yves Cousteau, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its…
In Motion – A Night Train in Athens
Wordless Wednesday
California Winter Wonderland
A series of rainstorms have rolled into the San Francisco Bay Area this week. After a fairly dry and sunny month of February and early March, we are cheering the rain on! The hills and fields are bursting with the growth of new grasses in glorious shades of green – our version of a winter…
Street Details: Los Gatos
Today, a selection of street details that caught my eye in Los Gatos, California. I was drawn to the patina of aged wood and painted corrugated metal siding on the backside of a shop called Natural Creations. Plants growing on the inside of the shop peeked through cracks in the structure. A toy dog was humorously…
Truck & Barn Doors
The owners of Flamig Farm in West Simsbury, Connecticut have a mighty good sense of humor. They’ve got a backward EGGS sign displayed on their roadside barn. To top it off, they’ve decorated the front lawn with a rusty blue truck and a trio of pumpkins artfully arranged near the truck’s front bumper. Ah, ya…
A Parade of Tourists at Mycenae
After an overnight stay in Nafplio, off we went to the archaeological site of Mycenae in the Argolis region of Peloponnese. It was early October, typically low season for tourists, our favorite time of year to vacation in Greece. We looked forward to a quiet stroll around the citadel. Our exploration of Mycenae started at the archaeological…
Horses & Doors
Some fresh air, a walk with the dog, and finding a few interesting doors to photograph was my motivation for a short excursion to a nearby horse stable yesterday. Buddy loves to be around the horses and they don’t seem to mind his calm presence. Check out the blue shoes on this white beauty. Hmm….
Unworldly Beauty at the Alviso Salt Ponds
One late summer day, I headed to Alviso Marina County Park for my usual walk on the trails around the tall grasses of the saltwater marshes. The day was sunny and breezy without a cloud in the sky. The onshore breeze kept me cool and put me in the mood to explore beyond my comfort…
Street Scenes in Nafplio
After falling in love with Nafplio, Peloponnese in the late summer of 2016, we knew we’d have to return to this charming seaside town next time we visited Greece, and got the chance to do so this past October. Our friends had suggested we stay at Hotel King Othon, a 100-year-old neoclassical property within walking distance…
Peeking through the Gate Door
When traveling the back-roads of Greece, it’s fairly easy to lose your way, especially when you find yourself at a poorly marked crossroad. Somehow we always seem to choose the wrong road. But, we don’t worry, we’re on vacation, and often the “wrong” road leads us to an unforgettable adventure. On our last excursion to…
Crusty Old Doors
No matter where you go in Greece, you will find crusty old doors. It’s just how it is these days. The older generation has passed on, and the younger generation has moved away and doesn’t have the time or money to upkeep the old family home. These crusty old doors belong to buildings and homes…
The Sweet Taste of Satisfaction
While I’m not Greek, I’m a lucky gal married to a Greek, and love all things Greek, especially Greek food. It’s an annual tradition for us to celebrate my birthday with a classic Greek meal of grilled lamb chops with baklava for dessert. Ah, the sweet taste of satisfaction when I bite into a juicy,…
