From NPR: During the Depression, the federal government began a reserve program meant to stabilize raisin prices. Each year, a board of raisin producers would meet and decide how much of the overall crop should be set aside for a reserve, with the raisins used for charity, government programs, or export. The program worked for decades, until in 2003, a pair of raisin growers charged that it amoun Read on...
Well, as we stated in the interim blog for today, we arrived at a plan B, and hoped it would work out in our favor. We left Sisters at 8:10 am. The smoke seemed a little less than the night before and we wondered how far East we would have to go to lose it entirely. We spoke with others that had altered their plans, and many of the RV parks were getting cancellations. As bad as we felt about not s Read on...
The plan was to leave Sunday the 18th for Judith Point, to catch the 4 pm Ferry to Block Island. We had booked a nice Bed & Breakfast on the island, Ferry reservations paid for, plans made, then work happened. Due various mishaps, not the least of which was FedEx was not exactly express, the trip had to be cancelled at the last minute. We did manage to be very lucky up with a quick backup, a trip Read on...
First we stopped at Lindas Pancakes to give the Grace & Mercy coins to our two new friends, then off to Mangel Halto for an excellent drift snorkel. It was choppy but not a bad current. Could have been sunnier for the photos but we saw lots of good stuff, as you will see. Once again thwarted at Zee Rovers – they sold us grouper but no cooking going on there until tomorrow thru Sunday. We had als Read on...
The crossing back into Bulgaria is our longest drive for a while and whilst we are not visiting Sofia its capital we will be staying there tonight. But Serbia has one more surprise, some more atrocious roads, seemingly better than some two weeks go when they removed but even after an early start it takes us some time to get to the border. There has been some anxiety from Graeme in returning back i Read on...
We started our virtual tour today in a place I recognised from all those years ago when I used to visit Florence on business.
Although I remember the statue I remember just as much the market where I would often purchase a nice leather handbag or some beautiful gloves which I still gave today.
Il Porcellino, as the Italians call him, means the little pig. However the bronze statue sitting at the Read on...
Well, I hope it is the last train I took on this journey. Currently I am in hotel at the airport and I just got email that my flight is canceled tomorrow morning. Cross your fingers for me that I get a later flight. The rail strike is tomorrow so I cannot leave.
I came to the hotel early and dropped my luggage off, then took the train to Brighten for the afternoon. I used to live there starting w Read on...
The drive from Glen Erin (Bowen) to Sarina was a tad over 200km and a good bit of it was through sections of roadwork – up and down the coast there is a lot of work being done to duplicate the Bruce Highway, which is well needed as it carries a lot of heavy traffic including some rather large trucks. Despite sections of stop/start traffic it was a pretty drive; lots of mountains, lots of sugar c Read on...
The name Kremlin means fortress inside a city and that is where our tour started today in cathedral square.
Anna explained the traditions of the New Year Tree. From the forest to the heart of Moscow: Kremlins New Year tree is about 28 metres tall and the span of its lower branches around ten metres
As tradition has it, the selection for a tree starts back in April and this year 37 fir trees were Read on...
So today is our final day in the north of Thailand. This evening we take the night bus to Bangkok for the next part of our trip. But more on that in the next blogs.
What to do on our last day here? We rented a car and went to market. Warorot Market (also known as Kad Luang) to be precise. This is a huge local indoor market covering three floors, and all the streets around it are lined with stalls Read on...