ROMANIA – Timisoara, Victory Square and Redbugs

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

After leaving a rainy Serbia, we were delighted to have the sun come out as we crossed the border into Romania.

Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, Timisoara, Romania

Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, Timisoara, Romania

Located in Western Romania, we arrive in Timisoara with a population of just over 300, 000 people around mid-morning.

Greeted by the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral which sits at one end of Victory Square, we were instantly taken in by the charm of the city. Although this is where the Romanian revolution started in 1989, there is no obvious signs of war. Continue reading →

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IN PICTURES: California coastline from San Luis Obispo to Carmel

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
California Ground Squirrel

California Ground Squirrel

Continue reading →

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SERBIA – A country in transition, warts and all

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Race car or horse cart - Many contrasts in Serbia

Race car or horse cart – Many contrasts in Serbia

In September 2011, we toured three countries in the Balkans.  Serbia was the second country we visited, following Bulgaria.  I wrote two separate blog entries about the first part of this trip, in Sophia and the Rila Monastery.

Serbia has a long and turbulent history toward becoming an independent country.  Here is a VERY simplified version of the past 100 years. Continue reading →

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BODIE – A classic ghost town

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Bodie, CA

Bodie, CA

Bodie was a thriving mining town in the late 1800’s.  Once home to 65 saloons and two churches, it was a bustling community of families, drunks, thieves, criminals, hard-working miners, gun slingers, prostitutes, and shop owners.

A home in Bodie, CA

A home in Bodie, CA

Mixed in with a one-armed Sheriff, a school teacher, two preachers, a blacksmith, a mining company, gold fever, cold winters and hot summers, and you have a partial picture of this one-time booming town. Continue reading →

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MAMMOTH LAKES – 10 things to do when there is no snow

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Mammoth

Mammoth

We just returned from a week in the Mammoth Lakes area.

Mammoth is located in the Sierra Mountains of Eastern California at an elevation just under 8,000 feet and a population just over 8,000 people.  I must admit that I am partial to the mountains, but being on the edge of the Ansel Adams Wilderness and the John Muir Wilderness,  the scenery was stunning.

Many people think of Mammoth as a winter wonderland and skiers paradise, which of course it is.  But what about the summer?  Our weather was in the 70’s, beautiful blue sky with puffy white clouds and absolutely no snow. Continue reading →

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Las Vegas – Trump International Hotel – All the glitz, none of the glamour

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas

Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas

We spent the night at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on our way home from Illinois.  It is rated a 5 star hotel, but I was sadly disappointed.  We booked through Priceline and were quoted $100 which was to include everything.  When we checked in, the hotel charged us an additional $25 “resort fee”.  When we asked about it, we were informed it was mandatory and was to cover the Internet and shuttle service to the strip.  I found this disappointing since they advertise free internet, and having a car, we did not need or want the shuttle service. Continue reading →

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Visits from around the world

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Taking the road less traveled

Taking the road less traveled

Writing a travel blog and sharing bits and pieces about our past, present and future travel plans has been a wonderful outlet. I am blown away by the amazing reach a simple travel blog can have. In just over 30 days, I have had visitors from 23 different countries! How cool is that??? Continue reading →

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JUST BOOKED – 15 day India and Nepal tour

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Taj Mahal (Wikepedia image)

Taj Mahal (Wikepedia image)

I am so excited!  India has been on my wish list for a long time.  I am hoping to get “THE shot” of the Taj Mahal.  You know, the one you see on all the travel brochures.

This particular tour includes an extension to Nepal for a few days. Continue reading →

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10 fun and unusual things to see, do, experience in rural Illinois

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
Illinois Farm

Illinois Farm

My first trip to central/eastern Illinois was about 20 years ago.  I grew up in Southern Oregon in a smaller city, but have lived in big cities (mainly San Francisco and Los Angeles area) since the early 1970’s.  I think of myself as more of a city girl after all this time, but with a small town soul.

What I am not, is a farm girl. Continue reading →

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From cornfields to festivals, Midwest small towns have something special

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
The corn is as high as an elephants eye

The corn is as high as an elephants eye

We just returned from a one week stay in Hume, a very small town in east/central Illinois, about a three-hour drive south of Chicago.  Tim grew up in this area and still has family living there.  Our journey was primarily to spend some time with his father who is fighting a difficult battle against both cancer and Parkinson’s Disease.  Our son, Dane was able to join us for part of this trip and I was grateful he had this time to spend with his Grandfather. Continue reading →

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