Month: January 2023

The Real On The Road Journey Continues

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I thought this girl must be the “Living Goddess” of Durbar Square in Kathmandu until I found out the real Living Goddess is given the prestigious title at about the same age as this youngster but then lives a secluded life in a house on the Square where she periodically appears in an upper-story window for a breathlessly waiting crowd below that oohs and ahhs and applauds. This young lady seemed to be enjoying herself on a walk through the square with her parents, who were surprised and amused when I asked them if she was the Living Goddess.

I have some business to attend to in Istanbul, and it is one of my favorite cities, but I’m most looking forward to getting down to the book proposal in Albania next week in what looks to be another comfortable accommodation. Hope so.

My place in Estonia was like no other I’ve been to, super well-maintained, clean, large, all the necessary amenities and more. But most important were the hosts, Jelena and her son Mark. Jelena and I both took a gamble agreeing to a long, nearly three-month stay, knowing very little about one another, but we became good friends.

They even entrusted me with the care of their beautiful home in Tallinn when they booked a Caribbean trip (who doesn’t want a break from the Estonian winter!) that started a few days before my departure date on Friday. I really miss them being around these final days of my stay here.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite unpublished photos (above, right) from my visit to Kathmandu in November.

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It’s All About The Book, Now

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My good friends in Tallinn, Estonia, from left, my Airbnb host Jelena and her son Mark; in front, young Lev and his mom, another Jelena; and me on the right, the traveler. I took the selfie on Christmas Eve at the Tallinn Christmas Market, one of the best annual events in Europe.

I’ve blogged about my travels for more than six years and, it’s about time I talked about why I’ve done nothing but travel all this time.

It’s a fair questions to ask: What prompted me to reject retirement in the paradise of Hawaii and become a nomadic, solo world traveler?

What has kept me on the road into my 70s, still traveling, now in my seventh year?

People ask, “When are you going home?” My usual response is that there’s no end in sight to my travels.

Yet I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately.

It’s because I’m now fully into the promise of writing a memoir about my life and travels.

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Ushering In the New Year In Estonia With Another Icy Winter Dip

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A bracing way to start the New Year Sunday in Tallinn, Estonia!

This time — Sunday, New Year’s day 2003 — it was in a beautiful, large outdoor public pool, ice chopped away from the sides (a few inches thick on the inner surface), allowing swimmers access to the water.

You may recall my first immersion in the frigid winter waters of northern Europe was in Finland, where I learned, after the initial plunge, how long-lasting the refreshing the effects of a plunge into near-freezing waters can be.

Note (I understand at least some viewers can’t load the video. I just posted it on Facebook. Here’s a link):

https://youtube.com/shorts/cuC7QfIvPcc?feature=share

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