Brenda and Tom’s Travel Odyssey

Dec 28

Dec 27 Yesterday was a beautiful sunny and hot day. We decided this was the day to go for a dip in the free community beach and pool located on

Dec 24 Today is Christmas Eve. We have found in Brisbane that everyone loves to party and so we have joined along. At City Hall they have a wonderful light

Dec 23 This will be the second time we went to the Queensland Performing Arts Center (QPAC) for their annual Spirit of Christmas concert. Two symphonies, several soloists, three choral

Dec 21 I was joined for a pub lunch with my friend JT. The last time I was in Brisbane he and I made a regular plan of meeting and

Dec 19 The city of Brisbane sponsors a lunch for seniors at city hall every Christmas. For $50 AUD or $32 USD we got a sumptious meal. First off was

Dec 17 There is a new hotel and casino complex built beside the river. It is rapidly becoming a center of entertainment during the holidays. Sono Lumo is a sound

Dec 16 On Sunday, Brisbane inaugurated a new walking bridge spanning the business district to Kangaroo Point. The goal is to bridge two communities separated by the mighty Brisbane River.

Dec 14 Brenda and I are acutely aware of what is happening back in the United States. It is frustrating that there is so much destruction being initiated by the

Dec 13 We had our personal items shipped for Brisbane picked up from our house in Santa Fe on August 28th. Due to several false starts and an unscrupulous shipping

Dec 12 A mere ten minute walk from our apartment is a Woolworths grocery store. They call it Woolies for short. It’s a smallish store but they have pretty much

Dec 11 Last night we went to a book reading at the Avid Reader bookstore. Our friends JT and Liz invited us to meet and listen to Tony Preece, their

Nov 10 On the weekend we invited our Aunty Fran over to our apartment for Sunday lunch. It had been a while since we saw her. After many cases of

Dec 9 The Brisbane City Hall has a wonderful rotunda that is also their meeting place and concert hall. Yesterday we went to listen to Handel’s Messiah. It was performed

Dec 4 I can use a break from the blog

Dec 2 There is a nice French community in town and quite a number of French bakeries easily accessible. Just 10 minutes from our apartment is Le Bon Choix (The

Drc 1 They don’t celebrate American Thanksgiving here in Australia. Our local American friends do. So yesterday we were invited to Lisa and Garry’s home in Maleny for the traditional

Nov 30 Just a few hundred yards from our apartment is the old Customs House. Built in 1889 it is an imposing building when you stand under the entrance. With

Nov 28 The Australians love fireworks and they shoot them off any chance they get. Tonight we saw outside our window a barge on the river shooting off a fireworks

Nov 27 Up at the planetarium on Mount Coot-Tha they had a special show celebrating the Pink Floyd 50th anniversary of their Dark Side of the Moon album. We saw

Nov 25 Between the Central Business District and the other side of the Brisbane River there are several bridges. There are three car bridges and four pedestrian only crossings. The

Nov 23 As we settle into life in Australia I am making new roots with new friends. Like the Banyan tree which has many roots hanging down from the branches,

Nov 23 Last night our apartment had their annual Christmas party. It was a wonderful gathering and we got to meet many wonderful neighbors. An apartment is just a structure,

Nov 22 When we visited the botanical gardens I was taken by all the plants growing so wildly in a natural environment. Then I saw the domed greenhouse with its

Nov 21 While Brisbane is at the start of the tropics and it is hot at Christmas, we still can get in the mood. For instance, the Poinciana tree is

Nov 20 Yes, they even know about and love tacos this far from Mexico. I was invited to the Penguin ship restoration volunteer lunch at the shipman’s hall. One of

Nov 19 Outside the window I love to watch the river flow by. It comes and goes each day and you can tell the direction when the ferries tie up

Nov 18 Yesterday we took a 30 minute free bus ride to the top of the highest peak near Brisbane. Mt. Coot-Tha is part of a complex network of city

Nov 17 The rains that fall here in Brisbane can be pretty impressive. The storms can arise from either inland or the sea. They come up quickly with the full

Nov 16 At the Queensland Maritime Museum they are restoring an old wooden ship built in 1907. She is called the Penguin and was a pearling vessel in the north

Nov 15 It usually begins to get light here sometime around 4am. Queensland does not have daylight savings time. Dawn is a time that I like as it feels to

Nov 14 With the uncertainty and fear being generated back in the US. I wanted to give my friends a bit of a spiritual lift. Please visit my website at:

Nov 13 Finding a new doctor here was pretty easy since doctors are plentiful. I found one whose experience and speciality I liked. Within a week I had an appointment

Nov 12 Every November Melbourne host a very famous horse race. It is the equivalent to the Kentucky Derby. People get dressed up in the fanciest clothes they can afford.

Nov 11 St. John Cathedral is the largest Anglican Church in Brisbane. While I am no longer a practicing Christian, I enjoy going to mass on occasion. With all the

Nov 10 Yesterday afternoon I was drawn to the window overlooking the river. There I heard and saw several boats parading along the river. It was the first annual gay

Nov 9 I have now gotten back to volunteering at the Maritime Museum. Last night the museum had one of their monthly free jazz concerts. While listening to Blood, Sweat

Nov 9 With the skyscraper buildings nearby I am recalling the story of the Tower of Babble. In brief, it is the story in the Old Testament that talks about

Nov 7 We all know what happened last night and the coming darkness that is about to envelope the world. A giant hurricane of hate and anger is about to

Nov 6 We are watching the election returns with friends and holding our breath!

Nov 5 It is one of my great pleasures to cook at home. Last night I cooked Salmon and some vegetables using my brand new pots and pans. Finally, our

Nov 3 In the middle of the QUT campus is the Old Government House. The Brisbane River curves around it on three sides. It is a grand old building rich

Nov 2 A good friend of mine back in America asked me what do I do in retirement? That got me thinking I ought to list in this blog some

Nov 1 With our large window overlooking the Brisbane River we get to see the full range of weather up close. We can see weather systems afar that slowly approach

Oct 31 The Queensland Performing Arts Center held a free concert of their Pierce Pipe Organ. Our friend JT organized a welcome back to Australia outing for us to hear

Oct 31 My friends in America are amazed there is no tipping required at most restaurants in Australia. This is because the restaurant owners pay a decent livable wage to

Oct 30 The English language has some odd ways of pronouncing words depending upon where you are from. Take for example our building where we are renting an apartment. It

Oct 29 In the afternoon the weather and temperature were very pleasant. Then almost out of nowhere a storm approached. The dark cloud in the distance looked menacingly powerful. Closer

Oct 28 I once met an American who was curious how Australians managed to walk upside down. I’ll let that sink in for a minute. The same could be said

Oct 27 Early this morning I woke up before sunrise to see the view from our balcony. Usually the mighty Brisbane River is swirling back and forth with the tides.

Oct 25 Australia is blessed to have the ability to grow their own produce. From the cold climate of Tasmania to the tropical north, they grow every imaginable fruit and

Oct 24 In Australia it is the law that every Australian adult must vote. The fine for not voting is around $100 US. This means I too am required to

Oct 23 Behind the scenes we have been scouting out a number of apartments to rent in the city. The closer we got to Brisbane the more pressure we felt

Oct 22 Driving from Sydney to Brisbane takes about 10 hours. While we pulled out of Sydney by 11am we couldn’t make the entire trip in one sitting. This is

Oct 21 Vegemite is a unique concoction by the Australians. It consists of a mixture of yeast, salt and loads of vitamins. It is an acquired taste and most people

Oct 20 Six years ago Brenda and I married in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was a most wonderful moment for the two of us that we found each other

Oct 19 We are staying at Karessa and Dale’s lovely home in Sydney for the weekend. We met them in Brisbane when they were our neighbors at the apartment we

Oct 17 This is our last day on the ship. For nearly a month we have lived on this lovely vessel, the Queen Elizabeth. Most of the journey we have

Oct 16 The sun rose over Melbourne and the golden light flooded our cabin #7078. It was a balmy morning and we anxiously awaited clearing customs. Brenda has a permanent

Oct 15 When leaving foggy San Francisco I noticed the ocean looked very grey. Gradually as we went south the ocean looked bluer and bluer. Now we’re off the coast

Oct 14 Exciting news: Early this morning, on a 2:00 am zoom call from our ship, Brenda received news that she is a Winner in the prestigious 2024 SouthWest Writers

As we were sitting in the concert hall for the evening entertainment, there was an announcement for the emergency crew to report to the port side on the eleventh deck.

Oct 12 I thought instead of my own musings I would leave you with this poem by Pamela Storch A Wave on the Deep Blue Sea In the ocean deep

Oct 11 Vanuatu used to be called New Hebrides and managed by the French and English. In 1980 they gained independence. Our tour to the museum and market this morning

Oct 10 Cruising has always been glamorous since the 1920’s. Ship traffic between New York and England was typically the way the Beautiful People and movie stars traveled. Aboard the

Oct 9 68 years ago I came to Fiji on a cruise ship bound for America. Today I am back as a 71 year old. I don’t remember that much

Oct 8 Today we are in Fiji docked close to Lautoka. We decide to book a tour to Tivua island for a fun day at the beach. A catamaran took

Oct 7 The Cunard cruise lines are well known among ball room dancers. The quality of the dance floor in the Queens Ballroom is amazing. And the live music is

Oct 7 Last night we celebrated Brenda’s birthday at the restaurant assigned to us called Queens Grill. I had arranged with the Maître d’ for a special series of Italian dishes

Oct 6 Last night as we pulled away from Samoa, the captain came onto the ship PA system. At 9pm he said they had received a Mayday distress call from

Oct 5 Samoa is a small speck of an island in the middle of the Pacific. It is a very Christian nation with many churches. They go all out building

Oct 4 In the middle of the Pacific it is astonishing to learn the ocean is 86 degrees (30c) and climbing. The air temperature is only 82 degrees What is

Oct 3 Crossing the line on a ship means crossing the equator. There is usually a ceremony which is traditional for all vessels. It refers to a belief in the

Oct 1 Last night we had a formal masked ball. Both of us got dressed up and wore our masks we bought at the San Francisco opera. It was fun

Sept 30 My Covid symptoms have been relatively short lived. Despite a day in isolation yesterday, this morning the nurse called me and asked how I was feeling. I told

Sept 29 Yesterday I started to feel under the weather. We walked to the Iolani Palace and I started feeling fatigued. Looking back on our trip to Kauai I started

Sept 28 King Kamehameha I unified all the Hawaiian Island in the early 1800’s. Subsequent rulers consolidated their rule and built a wonderful palace from material imported from the mainland.

Sept 27 As we approached Oahu Hawaii, outside our cabin was a magnificent welcoming rainbow. I have been to the Hawaiian islands many times in my life and I felt

Sept 26 We booked our voyage through a company called Vacations ToGo. They are a discount agent that has always given us great deals on cruises. This trip we struck

Sept 25 Our ship is tiny compared to the vast Pacific Ocean we are sailing through. As I look out at the vastness of water all around, I think of

Sept 24 One of the things that attracted us to sail on the QE2 is the fact they still have formal nights requiring men to wear tuxedos and women gowns.

Sept 23 In 1956 my family moved from Australia to the United States on the Orsova, a P&O ship. At the time I was 3 years old and only spoke

Sept 22 This sail away morning Brenda recalled a restaurant near Union Square called Sears. “The lines used to be out the door”, she said. Well sure enough the restaurant

Sept 21 This is our last full day in San Francisco and the United States. A must for us was to walk the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral on Nob hill.

Sept 20 Our trip from Santa Fe has literally come to the end of the road in San Francisco. We checked into the Cliffs hotel and returned our rental car.

Sept 19 When I lived in San Jose I owned a condo at the AXIS apartments. I was one of the first 10 residents and subsequently became the chairman of

Sept 18 The morning started out great with breakfast with my dear friend and colleague Thomas Layton. He and I go back about 14 years working on historical films together.

Sept 17 Not much to report today. We have been busy with our financial planner and making last minute arrangements. Tomorrow will be more interesting.

Sept 16 Paesano is one of my favorite Italian Restaurants in San Jose. I first went there in 2010 when I lived downtown in San Jose. It is gratifying to

Sept 15 We kicked off Sunday with a brunch at the Chaminade resort high above Santa Cruz. The fog was beginning to burn off and warm sunshine peeking through. Chaminade

Sept 14 At the Sardegna home, Jill is a master of creative tangible living. She has a bowl on the dining table full of plastic cherries reminding us that life

Sept 13 We are staying with our special friends, Jack and Jill Sardegna in Aptos, California. This day they decided to drive us down the coast past Monterey to Big

The fast food phenomenon is a unique American invention started back in the 60’s. Everyone is familiar with McDonald’s. In N Out is another such franchise unique to the Western

I was just remarking to Brenda the other day that it would be cool to experience an earthquake here in Southern California. Well it happened this morning just after 7am

When you look at a map of the Los Angeles area it is deceptive in terms of size. In fact it is one large megalopolis of many cities put together

Standing on the deck of this oceanfront home I observe the movements of the ocean water. It is relentless in it’s pushing forward. The waves start out at sea and

As we wind our way up the coast of California we are stopping to see our friend Mary Jones. She is the same friend who lives in Santa Fe where

In West Hill near Los Angeles we are staying with Bill and Molly Kunstler. Molly is my daughter and Bill my son in law. They have a lovely home in

It took us three hours to traverse the greater megalopolis of Los Angeles. On the way we stopped at this old Spanish Mission built in 1776. The Spanish built a

Oceanside is a beautiful beach community near where we are staying with Rich and Kim. We spent a glorious morning getting reacquainted with the ocean after not seeing it for

We are staying with my good friend Rich Marin and his wife Kim in Escondido near San Diego. Our friendship goes back to high school in 1968. Rich ended up

Sedona is at roughly 4,000 feet or 1,200 meters. As we drove down the mountain for Phoenix, the temperature was a pleasant 70 degrees (20c). Descending to Phoenix on the

After seeing the Navajos we decided to stopover in Sedona. Sedona is an Arizona desert town near Flagstaff that’s surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. Uptown

In the high country outside Flagstaff Arizona is a mammouth crater caused by a meteorite crashing to earth. This event occurred 50,000 years ago. The meteorite was traveling at 25,000

For centuries these two North American Indian tribes have lived side by side in harmony. The Hopis are farmers who farm in the lowlands and live on the top of

August 31, 2024 For more than 30 years Brenda has been intimately involved with the Navajo tribes and their sacred ceremonies. She is related by a former marriage to the

Our dear friends Phillip and Mary invited us to stay in their beautiful Santa Fe home as we commence our travels. Phillip is a famous architect who designed his house

August 29, 2024 Our seven year stay in lovely Santa Fe, New Mexico is drawing to a close. We sold our lovely home. Like the migrating birds, we too will

With the extra daylight during summer, Alaska offers a wide range of benefits. You get extra vacation time with sunshine. Plants have a longer daytime growing cycle. Plus, you get

In this part of the world you get a lot of sunlight in the summer. They often say it is the land of the midnight sun.What this does to the

On the way to Seward our final stop, we went to see the Hubbard Glacier. Hubbard is an enormous glacier with a face that is 7 miles wide and originates

Our next stop was Icy Straights. This is a very small port run by a private company. Here we booked a whale watch tour. Boarding an expedition boat we sailed

Juneau is the capitol of Alaska. It is another city that is landlocked with no road in or out of the city. That is just as well since the scenery

This is the oldest town in Alaska, founded by the Russians. They came to hunt and exploit the sea otter pelts. Eventually the United States bought Alaska from the Russians

As you wind your way up the Alaskan inland waterway you pass many forest encrusted islands. It’s surprising to see the fir trees cascade from the top of the mountain

To get to Alaska from Vancouver takes a day of sailing at sea. Our ship the Celebrity Summit is an older vessel refurbished in 2019. But still a day at

As we sailed away from Vancouver it was another glorious summer day. Our destination is Alaska for seven days. Coincidentally the mighty Cunard ship, Queen Elizabeth was in port too.

Vancouver has some pretty interesting looking buildings. Since the 1930’s they have had a reputation for innovation. We took a three hour walking tour which highlighted some of those buildings.

The city of Vancouver has a lot of things going for it. On the northern side are high snow capped mountain peaks. Surrounding the city on three sides is the

We left the 102 degree heat of Scottsdale for Vancouver. The city of Scottsdale is a study in environmental contrasts. Last year this area had 650 deaths due to exposure

On our last day I want to leave you with these stunning colors of so many rhododendrons we saw.

Tonight is the last evening in the Lake District. It has been an amazing journey filming and editing my documentary about Spirituality. The result has been the culmination of my

Along the shore of the biggest lake in the Lake District is this charming steam powered train. With only two stops the train takes 18 minutes from one end to

Many of the hills around the Lake District are called fells. These are fields that have sparse vegetation and populated by grazing sheep and little lambs. The people in the

Inevitably, when you stay in a foreign country for a while you end up finding a grocery story and purchasing your own food. In Penrith there are four major chain

In these parts of England the mountains and rains combine produce a prodigious amount of waterfalls. This is why there are so many lakes and streams and why they call

After nearly a month in the Lake District and working nearly every day we decided to pamper ourselves. Today we spent the morning luxuriating in the Falls Spa hot water

As we slowly change from variable springtime weather you can tell summer is just around the corner. It was a glorious sunshiny day when we headed off to Windermere. The

This is a small town on Windermere lake. We stopped here to amble about and see the church. Unfortunately the church was closed but we did have a look around

The Irish say there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This morning I was treated to an entire arc of a rainbow outside our window.

It is clearly springtime in the Lake District. Everywhere you go, amidst the green fields you see dots of color in the ground and trees. Here are some pictures from

On this past week the Old Crown pub had a night where the community musicians get together and play traditional and sometimes not so traditional songs. Anyone is welcome to

Close to the Scottish border is a great wall that was built by the Romans around 100AD. It stretches from the British East coast all the way to the West

The city of Carlisle is about 30 minutes north of us. It stands at the border between England and Scotland. We visited the Abbey or Cathedral which is hundreds of

All over the hills are scattered hordes of sheep. Since this is the lambing season you see all kinds of cute baby lambs. They are so sweet as they prance

One of the first things you notice in the Lake District is the amount of stone walls everywhere. You see them as the boundaries between various properties and keeping the

Hidden away, down the valley is a small river that cuts through the landscape. In order to reach it you have to cross a farmer’s field and navigate through the

Just up the road from where we are staying is this lovely country pub in the next town over. It is your typical English country pub that you see in

In the UK they drive on the left side of the road and the driver sits on the right side of the car. It takes some getting used to if

Never had I seen such green colors this spring here in the Lake District. Yesterday, the sun came out and illuminated the fields with the most brilliantly vibrant green color.

In the UK you will find all sorts of places with very unusual names. Tarn Hows is one of those places. It refers to a National Trust park high up

In Penrith, there is the Alhambra movie theatre where we decided to see a movie. Not your big cinema complex this theater looks like it is part of the many

The Lake District boundary ends at the Irish Sea. When we went to have Fish n Chips we stopped at a beach called Bees beach. As you approach the ocean

We took a drive to the coast with our friends Jeannie and Stephen. Of course a stop for fish n chips was on the agenda for lunch. In England, the

We have been cooped up in our apartment for a few days. While we have all the provisions for food, sometimes you just want to get out. I found a

A Henge is an enclosure. The Mayburgh Henge was built approximately 3,000 to 2,000 BC in the Neolithic era. Built as a likely gathering place it is one of many

Nearby is a dairy farm which sells fresh milk. In the United States it is pretty much illegal to buy raw milk, but here in the UK it is easily

At Near Howe which is the name of the cottages where we are staying, we are situated on a high hill. Looking out over the valley gives you a wonderful

The town of Penrith lies at the entrance of the Lake District. It was always a prosperous city with it’s own castle where King Edward I of England once lived.

Rain greeted our arrival this morning in Manchester. Upon exiting customs it took three hours to get our bags and pickup our rental car. Desperately tired and bleary eyed, we

Atlanta airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. Here we sit with a five hour layover between Albuquerque and Manchester, UK. To kill time I

I am about to leave for the Lake District in the UK to work with Stephen Wright, founder of the Sacred Space Foundation. Our goal is to produce a film

Up in Santa Fe we are at 7,500 feet or about 2,200 meters. The lovely effect of being at this high altitude is the skies are incredibly blue. The thin

Today I was captivated by the colors and droplets on this surface. If I told you what it was you would smile and the captivating colors would be less enjoyable.

This snorkel trip was lovely seeing turtles gliding in the water and surfacing for air. The really interesting part for me was seeing the coral farm. Under the waves they

Our cruise on Emerald Cruises was a lovely and unique experience. One of the original enticements to go on the cruise was that we would be cruising with Chef Ben

In addition to the bright colors you see on buildings, cars and clothing in the Caribbean, local music has just as much brightness and color. Below is a serenade we

One of the things you notice about the Caribbean is the colorful houses and buildings. It seems the sunshine and bright light encourages the culture to shout out loud with

When we stayed in San Juan, our friend Olga introduced us to a fabulous restaurant called La Carreta (The Cart) in old town. It is a delightful restaurant atop a

We had three flights to get home by flying to Miami, Dallas and Albuquerque. The middle segment Miami to Dallas was the toughest part. When we arrived in Miami there

Where I last left this blog was we were scrambling to find a hotel during high season in Antiqua. Our driver was dropping others off at the Pineapple Beach Resort.

Back in the 1960’s air travel was coming of age. It was an exciting time to fly in the air to exotic destinations. Today the story is quite a bit

These are two islands that are in very close proximity. Each is a different nation. In the morning we took a tour of St.Kitts. Fortunately for us the ship anchored

Our next island is owned by France. When you step off the boat you feel as if you have entered a lovely seaport in the Mediterranean. But it is a

Jost Van Eyke is another island in the Bristish Virgin Islands chain. We anchored at White Beach for a full day beach party courtesy of the ship. Anchored offshore, our

St John Island is still in the United States right next to the famous St. Thomas Island where all the big cruise ships go. Our ship, the Sakara was able

March 5, 2024 The island of Vieques used to be a US Military base where they practiced bombing, beach invasions, and other secret military operations. The inhabitants were restricted from

March 4, 2024 Surrounding Puerto Rico are several small tropical islands. Once under Spanish rule these islands are also known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Isla de Culebra is one

March 3, 2024 Yesterday we boarded the Emerald Cruise ship Sakara. It is a sleek 100 passenger luxury ship build just last year. Our destinations are several islands in the

March 2, 2024 Old San Juan is a city that is over 500 years old. The Puerto Ricans have spend a lot of resources cleaning up and painting the lovely

March 1, 2024 Today we booked a walking food tour around old San Juan. For three hours we walked the city and dropped in on various restaurants and bars to

February 29 is the extra day you get in a leap year. Here in San Juan, Puerto Rico was an extra lovely day. Olga Poole and her daughter Marina, dear

Here we are at the Albuquerque airport on the first leg of our journey. The next stop is Houston and then onto San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flights were pleasant

Winter in Santa Fe can be cold and gloomy. Starting in late October the nights dip below freezing until mid May. It takes at least six months before you can

After the Thanksgiving holiday we typically put up the Christmas tree. Brenda did her magic dressing the tree to perfection with all our special ornaments. It’s a wonderful time of

Last night we had a pretty substantial snow storm that dropped about three or more inches of snow. It was a welcome introduction to the Christmas Season, especially after a

Bandelier Nation Park is located about an hour outside Santa Fe. Today we took our friend Claire Christiansen from Maleny, Australia for a visit. It was a glorious crisp day

It is finally feeling like winter. Tonight the temperature will plung to -6 degrees celcius. All our subtropical plants will likely freeze and be all gone by morning. Time to

Red chile ristras are the strung pods of dried red chiles that you see displayed near arches, doors and windows all over New Mexico. Serving as a symbol of welcome, ristras

This fall we have had an unusually warm and dry season. As a consequence, there is an abundance of spectacular fall colors as the leaves turn color. Without a lot

Ojo Caliente is a mineral hot pool and spa resort in northern New Mexico. We decided for our anniversary to spend two days soaking and one overnight. The facility has

Today we went to see the New York Metropolitan Opera perform « Dead Man Walking » live in our local Lensic theatre. The Met puts on live broadcasts from New York to

Five years ago Brenda and I were married in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Surrounded by our two daughters Kimberly and Molly and 40 loving friends, we tied the knot in

Every October there is a hot air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. This year there was a double treat. On the 14th there would be an eclipse of the sun at

Today is Brenda’s birthday and we spent the morning going to Spaceport America to see the launch of Virgin Galactic launch number 4. We were lucky enough to get on

White Sands is one of the most notable National park in America. Located in Southern New Mexico it has 250 square miles of white sand dunes. The dunes are composed

In southern New Mexico is the quirky named town of Truth or Consequences. Originally named Indian Wells it changed its name when the radio show by the same name said

Up behind our house is a 12,000 foot mountain ski resort known as Ski Santa Fe. It is a mere 30 minute drive up the road. Today we went to

In the high desert of New Mexico grows the Prickly Pear Cactus. At this time of year after the summer bloom, pods develop that contain a very sweet nectar. The

This day we decided to make the one hour drive to Albuquerque to visit the Pueblo Cultural Center. We learned there are 19 communities of tribes that live in Pueblos

There is a lot of bad news in American politics today. The divisiveness between liberals and conservatives is appalling. And then there is Trump. Democracy is being shaken to the

Every foreigner is surprised when visiting American restaurants that tipping is the custom. Currently the tipping has gotten out of hand. It used to be 10% and then 15%. Now

Santa Fe is roughly at 7,500 feet or 2,100 meters in elevation. This means that the seasons can change rather quickly. No sooner has the equinox passed, the leaves start

So I went to my local hardware store to buy some laundry detergent. Much to my surprise I saw several brands locked up behind bars or glass cases. In order

Yesterday was the equinox and I managed to capture a time lapse video of the sun setting due west. Hope you enjoy it! Now each day will get shorter until

New Mexico is a very gun friendly state. You are allowed to wear your gun on a holster or concealed in public. Or you can even brandish your favorite AR15

As many of you know while back in Santa Fe we have experienced some serious health issues. Brenda’s bout with diverticulitis took a turn for the worse and required surgery

Every year Santa Fe hosts an enormous Indian Market. Native American artists and performers come from all over the Southwest to sell their art. On Friday night we attended a

Some of you may know that I am still doing volunteer work for the Queensland Maritime Museum and their Penguin restoration project. My volunteer work consists of making videos the

Yesterday we celebrated my nephew, Kevin’s birthday. He is 57 years old. It is hard to believe but when he was born I was only 13 years old. Joining us

Jackson Clark, a dear friend of ours owns Toh-Atin Gallery, recognized nationwide for quality works of Native American art. Jackson is a world recognized expert on Navajo weavings and his gallery

For the past two days we have been in Tuba City, Arizona, a small town on the western side of the Navajo Indian Reservation not far from the Grand Canyon.

Brenda and I are on the way to Tuba City, Arizona to attend a funeral of a Navajo relative by a prior marriage. We are overnighting in Gallup, New Mexico.

We were invited to dinner at our friends Phillip Coombs and Mary Jones’ home in Santa Fe. Their lovely home in Las Campanas overlooks the desert and nearby Jemez Mountains.

Despite being miles away from Brisbane, I am still conducting volunteer work for the Queensland Maritime Museum. The Penguin restoration project is my current project and I have lots of

Our daughter Kate has moved to Albuquerque with her fiance. She now lives about an hour south of our home in Santa Fe. This 4th of July holiday we visited

After attending two opening night opera performances, Santa Fe Opera donors are treated to a lovely outdoor Sunday Brunch. The event is hosted at the Nedra Matteucci Galleries, one of

The second evening of Santa Fe Opera’s Opening Weekend took us to the lovely home of A. Charles Forte. Charles is on the Board of Santa Fe Opera. He opened

Santa Fe Opera’s 2023 Opening Weekend festivities kicked off on this Friday evening with a black tie Gala dinner and the opening performance of Tosca. Brenda and I are big

The trip back to Santa Fe involved flying from Brisbane to San Francisco to Albuquerque. The first leg took only twelve and a half hours. Not too bad in covering

I love Brisbane . . .  . . . for all the wonderful friends and deep relationships we have made here. . . The Brisbane River. . .Free ferry and

John Taylor (JT) and his wife Liz Vella hosted us for our final night in Brisbane at their lovely home. They prepared a beautiful dinner featuring an Australian favorite –

During our stay in Brisbane, my friend JT and I filmed the blokes who are restoring the Penguin Lugger. A Lugger is a sailing vessel that used to ply the

Last night we had the premiere showing of my latest documentary entitled “From Holocaust to Jonestown, the Layton Family Story”. I had six of our friends help critique the film.

The sun is setting over Brisbane and our 6 month stay. Soon we will head backto Santa Fe to resume our American lives and see our daughters. This sunset picture

Recently our adopted Aunty invited us to her house for lunch. She wanted to provide a formal farewell before we leave for the States. She treated us to a lovely

In the US, June 18 is Father’s Day. So this morning I received a beautiful card from Brenda and well-wishes from other dear ones. Then Brenda took me out to

This Saturday on the spur of the moment we decided to go listen to some music. There is a plethora of places to choose from. Brenda found a basement bar/music

There is a wonderful exhibition of the works of the French Impressionist painters here in Brisbane. As opposed to showing the actual paintings, their famous works have been created in

For us in Australia, we are now in the winter months. While the winter equinox is technically June 21, the Australians usually consider June 1 as the start of the

During our time here in Brisbane we have made a great many friends. In some ways it feels like we are living the US television series called “Friends”. We have

Last night was Girls’ Night at 9 Christie Street in Brisbane. Our dear next-door neighbor, Karessa and I hosted a movie screening of Magic Mike’s Last Dance in our building’s

In 1988 Brisbane hosted a global World Expo. It was situated on the south bank of the Brisbane River overlooking the CBD (Central Business District). After the Expo, Brisbane created

One of the most iconic structures in Brisbane is the Story Bridge. With all the walking we have been doing it occurred to us we hadn’t yet walked across the

This past weekend, myself, Brenda, and John Taylor (JT) filmed a promotional video for the Queensland Maritime Museum. Several weeks ago I approached Mike Sobyra, the head of the Museum

Carole and Lance Lewis are two special friends who live in Maleny. They came down to Brisbane to visit and take us to their favorite lunch spot. It’s called The

In the spirit of helping wherever we can, Brenda had an opportunity to use her skills last week to help Somerville House earn an extra $50,000.00 at their annual fundraiser.

Our dear friends Clive and Elizabeth came to spend the weekend with us after their vacation to New Zealand. It was a wonderful visit and will be the last time

The Queensland Performing Arts Center (CPAC) is featuring the wonderful Musical “Moulin Rouge”. After we saw the French film by Jean Renoir about the Moulin Rouge we were inspired to

A block away from our apartment and overlooking the Brisbane River is Somerville House. Established in 1899 as the Brisbane High School for Girls, the school was eventually named after the

As I was getting off the ferry this wonderful black musician approached me and we started talking. It was evident pretty quickly that Harold Garvey was a spiritual man. Interestingly,

It seems Australians are crazy for Legos. They even have a tv show that has competitions for big cash on who makes the best Lego sculptures. Yesterday at the Truck

Our lovely friends Dale and Karessa invited us to a rock concert last night taking place in the Brisbane’s South Bank Park. Interestingly this was part of a truck festival

Fall mornings in Brisbane can be cooler around 59 degrees. I like to walk the South Bank Park then because the sun shines on most of the path. The round

The Brisbane Botanical Park has a special night light showcase of artists every year. This year we walked over the bridge and saw the displays for ourselves. They were delightful

Nestled within the South Bank area is the State Library. This afternoon I decided to drop by to work on continuing writing a book I have been mulling for a

This Mother’s Day we woke to cooler weather and a spot of rain. As I mentioned before, we just have to walk out the door and you find something going

Last night we attended a program sponsored by the Alliance Française of Brisbane and the Griffith Film School. The private screening featured Jean Renoir’s film about the Moulin Rouge and

Nearby our apartment is the South Bank Park. Most Sundays they offer free concerts on a big lawn area next to the river. This particular Sunday afternoon saw picnickers and

On morning walks you sometimes encounter really interesting things happening in the city. This morning there was a 10k, 5k and 1k run for the benefit of the Queensland University

The Governor of Queensland lives in a beautiful mansion in Brisbane. This Coronation Day for King Charles III was celebrated by holding an open event at the Government House. We

In Brisbane for the next few months is a Banksy exhibit of his creative works. We took advantage of seeing his artwork recently and when you see the breadth of

I have taken a few days off due to a recent skin doctor diagnosis of Basil Cell Carcinoma on the skin near my clavicle. In some ways it is fortunate

After ANZAC day we were treated to a lovely breakfast with Karessa’s Mother and Step-Dad. Their property has gorgeous views and in summer there is plenty of outdoor space to

At the conclusion of the memorial services, it was hard to keep the Australians sad for too long. After a pleasurable lunch at Banjo-Patterson’s, everyone ran up to the local

ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corp. ANZAC Day refers to the annual commemoration of those soldiers who died in foreign wars. Every year on April 25th, Australians

Kellie and Mike wanted to spend their last day visiting us in Brisbane by going to one of the many special Sunday Brunch restaurants in the city. Kellie and Brenda

Last night, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra performed a magnificent program of the music score to the Star Wars movie: The Force Awakens. In conjunction with watching the movie we were

These are the famous words of General Douglas MacArthur when he left the Philippines after the Japanese invaded Asia in World War II. He barely escaped with his life to

I have recently volunteered my media expertise in helping the Maritime Museum of Queensland. One of the big projects at hand is to try and save a nearly 100 year

Over the weekend I took a trip to see this area and famous botanical park. To get there you have various transportation options. I tried all three, the bus, a

Recently I went to the Queensland Museum with my friend Mike from the States. We went to go see a rare WWI German tank called Mephisto. It is the last

Ok, I know what you may be thinking but it’s not. My friend JT and his brother Ken, and I went last week for another tour of a brewery. As

Just 40 minutes north of Brisbane is the birthplace of the famous group called the Bee Gees. They lived in the town of Redcliffe. You’ll probably remember them from the

Our friends Mike and Kellie are visiting from the US, and this day we took them to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. This is one of our favorite places in Brisbane

One of the things you notice with the people here is that there is a general feeling of happiness. When buying things at the market or restaurants, the servers love

This Easter we started the day by going to a sweet little church on Kargaroo Point. The church is called St. Mary’s and this year is celebrating its 150 year

Rabbits have not been readily adopted as a cute Easter mammal like in Europe and America. Rabbits were imported from Europe in 1859. About 20 were released to enable the

Today is Good Friday, a very somber day in Christendom. Here in Brisbane most of the retail shops are closed in observance of the occasion. You can’t buy groceries even

The Brisbane City Park in the Central Business District (CBD) is a beautiful place to meander along many nature paths. This morning we stopped along the way to look more

While we were in Byron Bay we decided to tour the back country and discovered lovely small towns and a wonderful attraction called the Crystal Castle. The Castle is a

This weekend we’ve driven down to Brunswick Head and Byron Bay. These small beach towns are just south of Brisbane across the state border into New South Wales. Our friends

From the photo you get the idea that the Penguin is the name of a vessel. A Lugger on the other hand refers to an oyster catcher vessel used by

Maleny has become a second home to us in Australia. It is where a great majority of our close friends reside. They are so hospitable and have invited us to

Noosa Heads is our favorite local beach hangout. Five years ago when Brenda and I were dating we spent five glorious days here. It is in effect the place where

We are away for a few days at our favorite beach resort called a Noosa Heads. I will catch up on posts when we get back to Brisbane.

During one of our many walks we strolled along the river and came upon the West End Market. It has dozens and dozens of stalls of every shape and color

Just down river from us is a place they call the Powerhouse. By ferry it takes about 30 minutes to get there. As the name suggests this used to be

On this day 80 years ago, the United States and Australia were on the front lines of World War II with Japan. The Americans were pushed out of Manila, the

It does rain in this city and a few days ago we had a torrential downpour. Being close to the tropics creates massive storms and lightning strikes. According to news

During our morning walks we often cross the pedestrian bridge over to City Park. This park was once known as the Botanical Gardens. The old growth rain forest trees are

Maleny, Queensland is a upcountry town of around 4,000 inhabitants. And yet it seems to attract very prestigious world famous authors and thinkers to come and speak. This weekend we

My friend Clive invited me to his Whisky tasting group up in Maleny. I had a fantastic evening tasting three lovely Malt Whiskies. Led by Ken Smith a fabulous Master

You wouldn’t think it was possible to get thirsty in Brisbane, but my friend JT and I managed to be parched when we went to a brewery named Parched. As

Each morning we try to walk a few miles before breakfast. The sun is low and the mornings are cooler. One walk we enjoy is along the Kangaroo Point besides

All girls want to feel like a princess on their birthday. Fortunately Brenda knows that and hosted a lovely High Tea for Elizabeth at the Matriarch Tea Room. Donning a

Our dear friends Clive and Elizabeth came to celebrate Elizabeth’s birthday in Brisbane this weekend. She is a youngster by comparison to us all. She has the wonderful natural ability

When walking the trail along the river at Kangaroo Point you come across a section of steep rocky cliffs. Many years ago this area was excavated for the stone edifices

The Story Bridge – built as part of the State Government’s response to the Great Depression – remains one of Queensland’s most iconic landmarks. Ground was broken for the project

In Australia it is common to sell or buy a home by auction. Brenda and I decided to spend an hour attending one in the West End. They were auctioning

Brisbane is a beer drinker’s heaven. There are dozens and dozens of breweries to sample with many hundreds of different lagers, pilsners, and unique brews on tap. Here’s a link

Yesterday our friends Rowena and Graham came for a visit for lunch and a swim in our pool. In passing, I asked about the game of Cricket being played at

When you come to Australia you will fast discover they have a certain way of saying things that sound English but are really a unique home grown version of the

For my 70th birthday party, Brenda had arranged a special Italian sit down dinner with our Australian friends. We ate al fresco in the lovely warm night air at Popolo

Our dear friends Clive and Elizabeth came to spend my birthday weekend at our apartment in Brisbane. We joke that they are the country mice living in Maleny and we

On the surface, Brisbane looks like any other metropolis. If you scratch the surface you find some wonderful gifts the city has left its citizens. There are a bunch of

Although we may be far away from some of you, we still are thinking of you all and wishing all the best for today.

In Brisbane, Super Bowl Sunday actually falls on Monday morning. So this Monday morning we went to a huge Super Bowl party at Felons Brewery. Our American friends Gary and

About a 45 minute ferry ride from our apartment is a place called Eat Street. We found out about it from a cab driver who told us it was a

Waking up before sunrise I threw on my shorts and headed for the beach. As I came upon the sand, a warm tropical breeze washed over me. The sea air

About 30 minutes by public transportation south from Surfers Paradise is a small cove beach and rock outcropping called Burleigh Head. It is at the start of a 30 kilometer

It’s another beautiful day on the Gold Coast, Australia. This morning we decided to stroll along the boardwalk that runs parallel to the beach. We pass endless high rise apartment

Q1 does not stand for first quarter. Rather it is the name of a lovely hotel on the Gold Coast. In fact it is the tallest building along a coastline

Today we are leaving for a brief vacation to the famous Gold Coast just outside Brisbane. We will take the train and trolley to get to our hotel the Q1.

When you look at beautiful Brisbane its easy to get mesmerized by the tall buildings. But if you take a moment to look at the reflections in the Brisbane River

…kick back and relax. And that’s just what we did this Saturday. First we lounged by the pool. Then saw the movie Tar with Cate Blanchet. After that we walked

Australia Day this year was on January 26th. It is most like our July 4th except that it falls at the end of their summer like Labor Day in the US. Most

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the

When we travel to a new part of the world, Tom and I often compare a city and its neighborhoods to places we know back home, trying to wrap our

Located in the Lamington National Park, this recreational area in nestled in a beautiful mountain range about 2 hours outside Brisbane. My friend JT, his friend Selwyn and I enjoyed