Sea of Destiny 2015

April 27 - May 11, 2015

I was home just long enough to run a load of laundry and hug my new grandson, Jack before I flew to Athens, Greece. Traveling this time with The American Institute of Archaeology, Yale, Cornell, Harvard and Princeton alumni travel groups.

Here are just a few memories - of the historical sights, cities and countryside we visited on this tour.

First up - a map of our journey

 Hard at work with co-TM, Dana Conley

  Acropolis, Athens

  Acropolis, Athens

 Aboard the Island Sky as we neared Troy

 Prof. Barry Strauss narrated our approach to Troy

 One of many spectacular sunsets

 There really is a Trojan Horse!

 Layer upon layer of excavation reveals 9 cities of Troy

 Corinth Canal

Valletta, Malta

Megalithic Temple complex, Tarxien, Malta

Megalithic Temple complex, Tarxien, Malta 

 Valley of the Temples,  Agrigento

 Icarus, as he landed, Valley of the Temples,  Agrigento

  Exquisite Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Licata, Italy 

  Exquisite Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Licata, Italy

  Exquisite Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Licata, Italy

  Exquisite Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Licata, Italy

 ...the only time I've ever seen mosaics of women exercising!

  Exquisite Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, Licata, Italy

 View of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Sicily

 Punic Ship Museum, Marsala

 Punic Ship Museum, Marsala

See you again soon!.....The Island Sky

Japan By Sea 2015

April 7 - 23, 2015

I was thrilled to return to Japan to TM another Japan By Sea adventure with alumni groups from Harvard/National Trust/Princeton/Smithsonian/Yale

The itinerary for the tour began in Tokyo this time. Last year we embarked in Osaka. The pre-tour extension would take us once again to the delightful and indulgent resort Hotel Hatsuhana in Hakone, about a two hour drive west of Tokyo. 

After a glorious three days of exciting food and peaceful walks through sculpture gardens and misty forests we returned to Tokyo to join the main group and departed for Niigata where we boarded the Caledonian Sky cruise ship.

Below are some shots of our food, experiences and people we encountered on this wonderful trip. 

 Breakfast at our hotel in Tokyo, The Imperial Hotel

 Very large Buddha in Kamakura. We were happy to see the cherry blossoms!

 Shopping in Tokyo in a second hand store

 Sado Island Taiko Center

 Sado Island cemetery

 Enjoying entertainment entering port

 Peaceful garden, Adachi Museum of Art

Bulguksa Temple,  South Korea

 Bulguksa Temple,  South Korea

 Hiroshima, Japan

 Ground Zero

 Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Japan

 Zodiac ride to Miyajima

 Home away from home...

Can't wait until we do it again!!!

Rail Journey Through India

Lucky me! I was very fortunate to be asked to lead the National Geographic Expedition, "Rail Journey Through India," this past February 8-20 and the optional extension, February 20-24.

I arrived a day early to catch my breath and to meet with our local tour operator, Exotic Journeys, to review the tour and meet the guide, Mr. Rao, who would be accompanying our group on the main tour.

Our group gathered at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi on the next morning for a full day of touring followed by our welcome dinner. Our National Geographic Expert, Robin Conningham, of Durham University, UK, would provide our travelers with insights into the cities, temples and forts we would be touring in the coming two weeks. Here are just a few shots of people and places we visited.

If you are interested in booking a National Geographic Expedition like this one go to:
http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/india-train-tour/detail

Humayuns Tomb - Delhi

Gandhi Smriti - Delhi

India Gate - Dehli

Musician at Jai Mahal Hotel - Jaipur

Sewing machine repair shop - Jaipur

Breakfast on the Palace on Wheels just for our 4 cabins in the Bundi train car

Lake Palace Hotel - Udaipur

Jaisalmer

Shivaratri celebration at Hindu Temple - Bharatpur

Bar car on POW during lecture/slideshow 

At the end of the main tour I traveled with a group of 9 people to the cities of  Khajuraho and Varanasi. We toured the Unesco World Heritage sites of the temples in Khajuraho, visited Saranath and took row boat tours on the Ganges river to see the cremation ceremonies, ritual bathing and an evening Arti, a traditional Hindu ritual.

 Temple from the 10th century - Khajuraho

Famous for carvings depicting people in ecstasy! 

The flags let you know that this temple is used for services by locals - Khajuraho

Crowds of tourists and pilgrims on the river Ganges 

Cremations go on day and night - Varanasi

A Saddhu, one who has given up all his worldly possessions to lead an ascetic, spiritual life

Sunrise over the Ganges

India can be a remarkable place to visit if you have patience and stamina! I am looking forward to my return to India next October aboard the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels!