Tips For Women Travelers

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Tim and I attended a presentation put on by Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) last week at our local Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills. Registration was at 9:30, followed by breakfast and a travel presentation.

We have not booked any trips with them yet, but I was impressed by what other people attending the meeting had to say about them. There were quite a few in attendance who had traveled with them, not just once or twice, but as many as 30+ times!

Now that was quite an endorsement…  Continue reading →

Posted in Planning our escape, Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

The Broad Museum ~ The Veil and the Vault

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

February 12th ~ Los Angeles, California

DSC06081

Jeff Koons ~ Tulips

Los Angeles has a brand new museum – The Broad

Just opening in September 2015, it is the latest “Must See” attraction for both locals and visitors to the City of Angeles. Reservations can be done in advance through their website at http://www.thebroad.org and are highly recommended to avoid up to a several hour wait in line to get in. Last October I made reservations for us for the first opening, which was today, February 12th.

It is currently booked solid through May.

BUT…  Continue reading →

Posted in California, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ensenada, Mexico ~ La Bufadora

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Saturday, January 23rd ~ Ensenada, Mexico

DSC02858

Umbrellas lining the beach

Waking up just as the sun was emerging from behind the hills surrounding Ensenada Bay, we snapped a few sunrise photos and then waddled off to meal number 572 since we boarded.

Located just 70 miles south of the international border and only a 90-minute drive from San Diego, we were looking forward to getting back on land after five days at sea.  Continue reading →

Posted in Mexico | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Maui – The road to Hana

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Sunday, January 17th ~ Maui, Hawaii

DSC02722

Ruby Princess

Taking the road to Hana has been on my wish list since the 1970’s when I visited Maui for the first time. I was so excited when booking an all-day tour that would pick us up in Lahaina, drive across the island to Kahului, then make the big loop that would include the seven sacred pools at Hana, continue around the dry side of the island, eventually returning to our ship.  Continue reading →

Posted in Hawaii, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Kauai ~ Wiamea Canyon and beyond

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Saturday, January 16, 2016 ~ Kauai, Hawaii

DSC02686

Waimea Canyon

Known as the “Garden Isle”, Kauai is the oldest and fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

We were heading out on our own today. Once we disembarked in Nawiliwili (near Lihue), we spotted some rental car vans. The first one advised us they only had cars available that had been reserved. Moving on to Hertz, they had one van left for $65 for the day, so we took it. Just FYI, if you book ahead of time it is about half that, but since we were undecided on what we wanted to do, we just decided to “wing it”.  Continue reading →

Posted in Hawaii, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

How many letters in the Hawaiian alphabet?

Posted on January 16, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Having been to Honolulu on several occasions over the years, we were looking to see something other than Waikiki beach, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor or the Polynesian Cultural Center. Our choice – “Monarchs and Missionaries: Hawaii’s Royal History”.

Here is how Princess describes the tour:

Travel into the lush Nuuanu Valley, through a tropical rainforest en route to the world-famous Pali Lookout. The Nu’uanu Pali was the site of the Battle of Nu’uanu, one of the most important battles in Hawaiian history, in which Kamehameha I conquered the island of O’ahu, bringing it under his rule.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Continue reading →

Posted in Hawaii, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Can you help us identify this place?

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
DSC02537

Where is this?

Hello Friends – we need your help please!

This beautiful painting is hanging in our cabin on board the Ruby Princess. Each evening as we get ready to drift off to sleep I find myself staring at it. I want to go THERE – trouble is, I don’t know where “there” is.

If you know the location, or even want to make a guess, we would love for you to leave a comment for us. Help us figure it out and we will try to add it to our 2017 travel itinerary.

Thanks for your input…

Gratitude Moment: Today I am grateful that I can have a dream, perhaps on a whimsy and can try to make it come true.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Posted in Europe, Photography, Picture of the day, Planning our escape, Reflection, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

What do you do on “AT SEA” days?

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Ruby Princess Cruise to Hawaii

DSC02526

Our balcony cabin

We got a last minute surprise upgrade to a balcony cabin. I’m not sure the reason, but perhaps because we are at the Platinum level of their frequent cruisers program (Captain’s Circle). This is cruise number 14 for us with Princess. We need one more to reach the top level. At the Platinum level we get free internet, but at the Elite level we will also get FREE laundry. Tim is very excited about getting that perk 😀.

DSC02534

Departing from San Pedro harbor

Continue reading →

Posted in United States | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Our travel plans for 2016 (so far)

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

January ~ Canoga Park and Arrowbear Lakes, California

Why we travel...

Why we travel…

For 2016, we decided to travel on the odd months, and stay in So California on even months. We will see how that works out, but that was my starting point for mapping out plans for this year.  The first thing I did was review my wish list destinations, and jotted down the top two on each continent. Then I researched the best time of the year to travel there. With that information in hand, I started filling in my calendar for 2016 and 2017.  Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Canada, Central America, Europe, Planning our escape, South America | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 52 Comments

Wrapping up 2015 ~ Home is where the heart is

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

December 2015 ~ Canoga Park and Arrowbear Lake, California

Home is where the heart is...

Home is where the heart is…

We have been home bodies for the past couple of months – well kind of any way. That has become a very “relative” term. We have our tiny cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains where we can have some down time, relax, enjoy the crisp, clean mountain air, hug a tree or two, and witness brilliant red sunsets. Pretty nice actually.  Continue reading →

Posted in Planning our escape, Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments