I’m a rather ‘late blooming’ fan of the PBS show, Downton Abbey. I pretty much power watched all 6 seasons on my little iPad screen! Afterwards, I realized that Amazon Prime can be viewed on our TV!

I really thought I wanted to visit their exhibit but never really expressed that thought to Karen, as she’s never watched the show. (But that’s soon to change!) By the time I did mention it, it was too late for Palm Beach. And our fall cruise that stops in Boston is too late as the exhibition will be closed before that port of call. Oh well…or so I thought!

Karen texted me one day and said there was availability at the Four Seasons in Boston for our stay. Book it, Danno! So, another yet unplanned getaway for 2 nights. I’m really looking forward to seeing the exhibition the afternoon we arrive. Dinner from Maggiano’s is planned.

Every time I say, we can’t fit any more travel into the budget
or the schedule, we usually manage to do it anyway!

Our plan for Day 2 is a little cruise around the harbor area and lighthouse searching. And probably (haddock) fish & chips in an Irish pub (MJ O’Connor’s) for dinner. Since we were just in Boston last fall and did many of the touristy things, this will be a much more relaxed visit. Our fall cruise has a port stop in Boston, but we plan to pass and head to Salem instead for the day. Busy! Busy! And that’s the way we like it!

And, as usual Mother Nature had to visit us while we were away. Seems we can never take a vacation without her showing up! So, no cruise around the harbor. And no special lobster boat cruise to see the lighthouses up close. But thanks, Karen, for the almost special surprise! No boats were going out due to large swells, wind and overcast skies with threat of torrential rain. Instead, we rented a car and drove to very cute villages of Rockport and Gloucester. Enjoyed strolling harbor-side and checking out the shops and restaurants. We made it back to Boston in the rain late afternoon. At least we enjoyed the better part of the day with warm temps, sunshine and rain-free!

The sun was shining again on departure day…of course. But since we had a late check-out and flight, we took advantage of the weather and walked across the street to Boston Commons. The historical area was bustling with moms and strollers, walkers and joggers. And the famous swan boats were winding down their season. As we visited later in the season last year, we missed them. This is one of the best deals in Boston! Definitely handicap-friendly with hardly a step at all to enter and exit the pedal-powered boat. And it’s pedal-powered by someone else! A few rows of park-like benches and a pedaler between the iconic swans and we were off around the lagoon and under the beautiful bridge. Ducks, swans, turtles and sunshine! What a great way to end our short trip! All too soon, we were off to the airport.

Karen snapped over 400 photos while we were gone. Check out the gallery to the right of this post to enjoy the sights!

And as additional treat and continuing with the DA theme, we will be attending Downton Abbey Fan Night in Georgetown, viewing the new Downton Abbey movie a week before it officially premieres! All this should satisfy us for a while until the next DA movie comes out!

As I’ve said before, I need to see and do as much as I can, while I can.
Oh the trips we have planned!

No truer words can be spoken.

A year or so ago, I wrote a Facebook post about this very thing. Erasing our history, like it didn’t exist. Today, that phrase above was very evident as Karen and I toured Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.

As usual, or so it seems, when we plan to do anything touristy, the skies darken and the sun refuses to shine. And, it rains. We joke that it looks like we never change our clothes as all our pictures seem to show us wearing the same raincoats! Today, we decided to tour the Ford’s Theater. Yes, that Ford’s Theater. Where our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865. We all learned about this in grade school. Back then, I didn’t think I’d ever visit this historic location. Today, I’m glad I had the opportunity to see yet another historic site, here in our nation’s capital.

“Abraham Lincoln was an American statesman and lawyer who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy.”*

The timed-entry tour began at 11AM. We were a bit early, so we perused the gift shop. We headed down the stairs to the lower level where the museum is located. Here you can see the derringer, the bloody pillow and the suit, all involved in that fateful night. You can watch short movies about Lincoln and Douglas’s ongoing friendship. You can see tableaus and displays about Lincoln’s life. After viewing the museum, we located an elevator that took us to the balcony of the theater. Impressive! And no stairs to climb! After visiting the balcony, we headed down to orchestra level, where many gathered to hear a short live presentation on the events that led to the fateful night of Lincoln’s assassination. Next stop: Petersen House (included in tour ticket), where Lincoln was taken after the shooting and ultimately passed away the next morning. The line was long. The steps were many. And it was raining cats and dogs, so we declined to visit.

Off to lunch at Sfoglina’s for a taste of Italy. Yes, we do love our Italian food! We enjoyed a pasta sampling of Potato Gnocchi with Porcini Crema, Neapolitan Spaghetti “Aglio e Olio”, Mancini Paccheri Carbonara Style, Nonna Palmina’s Meatballs, Grilled Swordfish and Bomboloni’s with Chocolate Sauce for dessert. No calories counted here! More food than we needed but hey! We had a gift certificate to use! And, we brought some home so I don’t have to cook tomorrow!

So, at the end of the day, we got a little wet. Had a history lesson. And ate excellent Italian food. Not bad! Check out a few pictures in the gallery.

“We Cannot Escape History“

*Source: Wikipedia

…are those two ladies traveling to next?

Help us decide by leaving a comment below with your best guess. A lucky winner will be chosen, at random, from all the comments received by September 30, 2019. The lucky winner will receive a travel-inspired gift card. Winner will be notified by email.

Choose from one of these destinations:

• African Safari
• Antartica Cruise
• Holiday Pacific Coast Cruise
• Australia & New Zealand Cruise
• 10 Countries/1 Cruise
• 8 Countries/1 Cruise

To qualify for the drawing:

1. You must leave a comment on this post with your choice from above.
2. You must be a follower of this blog. Just click on the link to the right!

It’s easy!
It’s another way to see where we are going
and where we’ve been
and what we are doing!

When your windows are portholes, you know it’s an adventure.
— AARP

Gotta love when restaurants and cities celebrate together for Restaurant Week! What a great time to try out that special restaurant that you’ve been wanting to go to! Many restaurants teamed up to present Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week by offering a pre fixe menu, usually for lunch and dinner but every now and then for breakfast as well. And at a reduced price. Karen and I usually try to visit at least 2 restaurants every time, usually for lunch. Lunch is less expensive than dinner. This week, lunch is $22 and dinner is $35 for a 3-course meal usually including soup or salad, entree and dessert. We’ve chosen two of our favorites to try out of many, and added in a little extra excursion besides!

Farmers Fishers Bakers
“Farmers Fishers Bakers offers a full bar with 24 beer taps, delicious hand crafted tiki cocktails, and a refreshing coastal cuisine including sushi, pizza, fresh fish, tacos, and a sunny patio with water views. We’re proud to make food from scratch with ingredients you can trust.” Our lunch was disappointing actually. Most likely based on our choices, but disappointing nevertheless. The best part was the dessert – a baked carrot cake donut with cream cheese frosting and a scoop of ice cream! YUM!

RPM Italian DC
“Located in Washington, D.C.’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, RPM Italian is modern in approach and Italian in spirit and features a contemporary, chef­-driven menu with dishes meant to be shared. Menu highlights include more than a dozen fresh pastas made in house daily, slow­-roasted meats, wild fish and seafood, and celebrated Italian classics with an elevated twist.” One of our all-time favorites is Chicken Parmigiana which is usually our dinner option, but this time we get to enjoy it for lunch! As expected, the Chicken Parm was wonderful! Except there was no pasta served with it! And we were not informed by our server that it was extra. The meatball appetizer included 3 large beef meatballs that were delicious. And the dessert was good as well. But then, I can usually find a dessert that I like! Our server started out strong and then faded throughout service. No one asked us if we enjoyed our meal. Kind of a disappointing end to a great meal. So, no pasta served and no bread served with our meal at an Italian restaurant. We brought home one delicious meatball, cooked our own pasta, added the meatball to our sauce, made garlic toast and continued our Italian lunch for dinner! It was excellent!

Potomac RiverBoat Company – Wharf Water Taxi/Alexandria Water Taxi
“Offering direct routes between the Wharf, Georgetown, Alexandria and National Harbor. One-day, two-day and commuter passes are available. All Wharf Water Taxis, and the National Harbor Alexandria Water Taxi are ADA compliant. The Georgetown dock is not ADA accessible.” The step onto the vessel in Georgetown was pretty big, especially when you have short legs, a cane and a mobility issue. But there was assistance at the dock, so all was well. The commute from Georgetown to The Wharf took about 45 minutes and we enjoyed it sitting on the bow bench. The commute from The Wharf to Old Town Alexandria took about 20 minutes. Nice ramps and no big steps were a welcome site. It was nice being on the water. Rain clouds were overhead, so we opted to catch an Uber and head home.

D.C. Wharf Area – Lots of restaurants, shops and a fish market, an area including a fire pit with Adirondack chairs. Definitely not needed on this particularly humid day! And an Airstream trailer with a sign advertising S’mores. We enjoyed a brief air-conditioned drink at Mi Vida’s. There’s plenty of benches to sit on to catch your breath and watch the water and sidewalk traffic shows.

Smithsonian Castle (Visitor’s Center) – Grander outside than in with the exception of the exhibition hall with it’s circular rose window and beautiful ceiling. The general area is very spartan, with a visitor’s desk and plenty of places to rest in air-conditioned comfort. There is a nice gift shop as well as Castle Cafe for a quick bite or refreshing drink. The gardens are just outside and are quite beautiful. There were butterflies and bees everywhere! Take a look at the detail in the many park benches. Not sure if they are old or new but they are beautiful! Adequate handicap ramps, lifts and restroom facilities inside.

Check the gallery to the right for a peek at some of this things we saw!

Check out your local city for Restaurant Week.
Next week – Alexandria’s Restaurant Week. What’s for lunch?!

July 12, 2019 – This day changed everything!

Ever since losing sight in my right eye in 2016, I’ve had headaches. Some worse than others, but nothing that overly worried me or my eye doctor. But on Friday, July 12, things changed…for the worse. As I was putting a mug of soup in the microwave, I noticed some weakness in my right arm. Shortly afterwards, I couldn’t make my arm move. But it passed, and I retrieved my soup and sat down to enjoy it. About 1/2 hour later, as I was returning my mug to the sink, I suddenly didn’t feel good. When trying to get to a chair, my entire right side went numb and down I went, to the floor…hard. I ended up with a bruised tailbone and a goose-egg on my head.

Karen was at work and would be home in about 2 hours, so I sent her a text to call me. I really wasn’t sure if I should call 911 or not. I was able to regain my limbs and sat in the chair, waiting for her to call. Unfortunately, she did not see my text until she was ready to leave work. After discussing it when she got home, we felt I needed to be seen by medical personnel. So, off we went, First to one Urgent Care with a 2-hour wait, to one just down the road, that ended up not having a doctor but wanted to call an ambulance immediately for me, to the emergency room. I was asked what took me so long to get there! Lesson learned: next time dial 911 and let those really good looking paramedics and firemen take care of me in my time of need!

I had another ‘episode’ (that’s what I’m calling it) while in ER. Off for a CT-scan and MRI. Inconclusive. Another CT-scan and MRI, with contrast this time. No, I didn’t have a stroke or so I was told at the time. But that only answered that one question. What did I have? Yet another episode occurred during my 5-day hospital stay resulting in more scans and tests. Discharged with a diagnosis of “Mystery Woman”. The only thing found was a narrowing of an artery to the brain (stenosis). Not bad enough for surgery. Guess you have to be on death’s door for that to happen. I should be thankful, right? And a new medicine to keep my blood pressure what would normally be considered dangerously high. Oh yeah, and the no travel/no fly order. Which is a hard pill to swallow since we have 3 upcoming trips between now and September.

When I got discharged, I was told to follow-up with my primary doctor and the neurologist, within 1 week of discharge. Easier said than done. I do not actively have a PCP. I have enough specialists that I don’t feel that I need one. I go to Urgent Care or Minute Clinic for minor things or the pharmacy for my flu shot. The soonest I could get in to see the hospital neurologist was 2-1/2 weeks and they were a very difficult office to contact and speak to. Another recommended neurologist gave me a date of October! Karen is great with research and was bound and determined to get me into a neurologist sooner rather than later. She made it happen in 2 days! The 3-hour office visit also stumped this neurologist, who reviewed all the hospital tests. More tests were scheduled and completed.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I can be an impatient waiter. Especially when it’s something important such as test results. I’m anxious. I’m nervous. I’m dreading what’s to come, while wanting answers to the why of it all. And if I can travel/fly as our first trip is in 5 days.

Through this whole mess, Karen has been my rock. My advocate. My cheerleader. My nurse. My chef. My chauffer. My everything! What would I ever do without her? I hope to never have to find that out. Words cannot express my love for this child of mine.

Friday, August 2:
Today’s the day for the results. Didn’t sleep well. Gonna be a long day! And…the results are in: More tests are scheduled for next week. More doctors next week. More uncertainty. Nothing conclusive…yet. Maybe I did have a stroke, a long time ago. Maybe I had TIA’s more recently. Maybe I had a seizure. Probably what’s going on with my right side has nothing to do with the left side of my brain. Probably. Maybe this. Maybe that. Just frustrating!

Trip #1 – Las Vegas
Hotel: cancelled.
Rental car: cancelled.
Flights: cancelled.
Suitcase: Back in the closet.
Disappointment: High.

Trip #2 – Boston
Scheduled in about 3 weeks.
Flights: booked.
Hotel: booked.
Exhibition tickets: to be booked. Looking forward to seeing Downton Abbey Exhibition. Hopefully the no travel/no fly restriction will be lifted by then!

Trip #3 – 7-day Fall Cruise out of NYC
Less than 2 months away. Fingers crossed!

Update: August 7
Well, the neurologist has finally determined that I had a stroke on July 12, with a ‘stutter effect stroke’ the next two times while in the hospital and a previous stroke sometime in my past that I have no recall of having. No more testing from his area at this time. What a relief! I’m about tested out! No guarantees, of course, that I won’t have another stroke, but so far I am doing much better. Return appointment made for October. On Friday, I go to a new (and much younger than 80!) cardiologist that has excellent HealthGrade scores. I’m imagining he will put me on new heart medicine, as the hospital played with my meds while there and attempted to keep my BP out-of-this-world high. I don’t really think there is much else to be expected from that visit.

Right now, I am planning on my Boston trip and Fall cruise. Still waiting for American Airlines to confirm my refund from the canceled Vegas trip (will initially respond within 7-10 business days, which will end up being about 3 weeks after my scheduled flight!). Always amazes me that it can take so long for a company to refund money that they took without delay at the onset! If I don’t get any satisfaction from American Airlines, I will be contacting my travel credit card and let them deal with it.

Update: August 9:
Visited a new (and much younger) cardiologist. No more tests. No new meds. YAY! And he removed the No Travel/No Fly ban! Even though it was cautious to cancel Vegas, I’m guessing we could have gone. Now will have to figure out another date to plan that trip. He’s my new favorite doctor! We are monitoring my blood pressure and will go back in 3 months. Hopefully, this takes care of that!

Question: What are the odds of finding 3 specialists that you actually like?
Answer: In my case, very good!

So, for those of you following my life and my blog, that’s a wrap! At least for this chapter!

Your health is everything! Be good to yourself!

1000 Islands – A place that holds a special spot in my heart! Married in 1972, and on a budget, Ed and I borrowed the family camper and headed to 1000 Islands. My first time there and a love affair of man and islands was born! Over the years, many trips were made to enjoy this magical place. First as newlyweds, then as a family.

Our first week in 1000 Islands was at Wellesley Island State Park. I remember the little convenience store on the corner on the way into the park where we tasted our first sourdough bread. Then proceeded to order many loaves to pick up and take back home on subsequent trips. We ventured into Alexandria (Alex) Bay to shop and enjoy the area. We boarded a tour boat and visited a much different Boldt Castle than is presented today. We marveled at the vision that was on Heart Island. A bowling alley! In a ‘house’! Sadly, when we first visited Boldt Castle, there was much decay and neglect. It was years before we returned to see the many positive changes. Another hi-light from our honeymoon was staying at a well-known local resort for one night – The Edgewood Resort.

A favorite spot that was visited many times over the years by both water and land, was Foxy’s Restaurant. A favorite to order was Mud Pie, served with a red bobber on top! That bobber indicated many a fish on the line, which meant a fish fry at camp later. Mmmm! We coated the fish with crushed corn flakes or dried potato flakes before frying.

One of my all time favorites, even to this day, is a campfire. I just love the smell of it! But not the smoke, which always seems to find me no matter where I sit! S’Mores were always a must. Campfire pies, made with buttered bread and fillings of choice, placed inside a hand-held campfire pie maker, were also a favorite. Bananas stuffed with caramels, marshmallows, chocolate and other fillings, wrapped in foil were placed on hot coals, for an ooey-gooey treat. Mmmm! Makes me hungry just thinking about these campfire treats! We also ventured forth into cooking meals over the open fire. Everything from fish, to corn bread, to hot dogs and hamburgers, chicken and sausage and even breakfast! We definitely did not go hungry when camping!

From our borrowed camper, we graduated to a pop-up trailer, and eventually to a 27′ Class A motorhome. We started out renting boats and canoes, to buying a 12′ aluminum Mirro-Craft fishing boat to a 17′ Steury I/O open bow boat. Oh the times we had! Learning to waterski, jumping the waves in tubes, fishing, sightseeing and just loving the islands. We also rented cabins at DeWolf Point State Park from NY State. It was a lottery system, so it was never for certain that we would get in or get the cabin that we wanted. But it was great when we did!

Many vacations were enjoyed in the 1000 Islands with other family members as well. We all had our favorite campsites but we also all managed to enjoy the water and gather for campfires and meals. Karen and I have talked about going back ‘upstate’ for a visit. Just another reason to travel locally. No need to fly. Even though it may be a long drive. We’ve talked about a family reunion at the islands, but trying to get everyone together as adults, some with young children, is like herding cats! Almost impossible!

Throw back Thursday…a great trip down memory lane. You don’t have to fly. You don’t have to cross the ‘big pond’. Adventure and memories are just outside your window!

Sometimes you won’t know the value of a moment
until it becomes a memory.
–Dr. Seuss 

I absolutely love Old Town Alexandria! From the row houses to the historic restaurants and buildings to the waterfront to King Street! There’s always something new that catches my eye when we are in town.

Old Town Alexandria, Virginia is a magical place for me. It brings me back to what I can only imagine life was like ‘back in the day’. We’ve enjoyed lunch at Gadsby’s Tavern where George Washington would meet his friends for a meal and drink. We toured the Gadsby’s Museum where a president held his inaugural ball. And checked out the rooms where overnight travelers rested. We’ve visited the apothecary that Martha Washington used. A long-standing tradition is the Farmer’s Market in Market Square, where George Washington brought his produce from Mount Vernon to sell. Another lunch was enjoyed in a Potomac River waterfront feed and grain warehouse. And yet another lunch enjoyed on King Street where they give you a complimentary flight of their different chili’s and have great burgers. Great shops abound on and off King Street. A lighting store that specializes in period-appropriate fixtures. A wonderful gift shop that’s everything Old Town, Virginia and more. A barber shop that has the look of ‘the good old days. Stores to satisfy every shopper from local boutiques to name brands. And yes, there is a Christmas store! An American Flag bedecked gas-lit cobblestone street with beautiful Captain’s Row houses is one of my favorites. Spend an afternoon strolling historic streets with styles from Federal to Victorian. Find the narrowest house in town. There’s just so much to do in Old Town!

With various convenient stops up and down historic King Street, getting around Old Town is relatively easy with the continuously running complimentary King Street Trolley. The King Street Trolley is equipped with wheelchair ramps and bike racks as well as automated stop announcements. Special summer hours have the trolley running extended hours. Stop by the Visitor’s Center on King Street for more information and maps about the area. Sidewalks are wide and generally in good repair for easy walking or scooter use. There’s plenty of bars and restaurants, not to mention ice cream parlors to whet your whistle. A water taxi along the Potomac River from the D.C. harbor waterfront to Old Town’s waterfront is a nice way to transport you from one area to another.

Old Town has many events throughout the year. Everything from parades to house and garden visits and more are offered. During the holidays, Old Town comes alive with lighted trees, wreaths on doors and in windows, candles in the windows and a huge lighted, decorated tree in Market Square. But probably one of my favorite decorations is the numerous houses that display the American Flag or Red, White and Blue year ’round. Old Town is definitely a must see if you are in the Washington, D.C. area. Plan a visit and see why I love this town!

To help you plan your visit to Old Town Alexandria, visit this link: visitalexandriava.com

Travel for the fun and excitement of visiting new places.
This world is but a canvas to our imagination.
— Henry David Thoreau