It’s a bone-chilling Irish morning and I awake to the dim energy of the sun trying to rise — injecting a pinkish hue into the end of my slumber. My 19th century bedroom chamber is dark and cold, but it’s time to get ready for my date with the Queen of Aran. I layer up for the journey ahead of me — two sets of long underwear, sweaters, hat, gloves, wool socks, puffy … [Read more...] about Wild Tory Island — the magic of remote Ireland
Europe
Winter’s light at Solstice
Light. This time of year the natural darkness seems to bring about inspiration guided by light. Cross cultural references are made about stars, lamp oil, and yule logs. Even the pre-Celtic people living ages ago in Ireland looked toward one intense ray of golden winter glow, entering a passage tomb deep within a neolithic cave -- so well engineered the stones … [Read more...] about Winter’s light at Solstice
Photos that make me yearn for the old sod — County Donegal, Ireland
Welcome to County Donegal, located in the wild Northwestern section of the Republic of Ireland. Half of my heritage hails from this part of the world, and I feel a strong sense of connection to this especially mystic region of the Emerald Isle. From North Atlantic surf crashing onto broad sandy beaches to the dramatic contrasts between tranquil lakes and lofty mountains, the … [Read more...] about Photos that make me yearn for the old sod — County Donegal, Ireland
Grindelwald, Switzerland: That time I tried to outsmart the Swiss
To view the photo essay associated with this winter getaway, check out Winter hiking in Grindelwald, Switzerland: a photo gallery. Spending the month of January in Seattle is good medicine for me to restart some routines that got lost along the way in 2019. I had a club membership but traveled so often I forgot the combination to my gym lock. Food and … [Read more...] about Grindelwald, Switzerland: That time I tried to outsmart the Swiss
Winter hiking in Grindelwald, Switzerland: a photo gallery
To read a fun story about my ambition to reach the Top of Europe attraction while snow hiking around Grindelwald, go HERE. I was in Switzerland about 20 years ago and our aging relatives Rosie and Renee toured us all around the country. We stopped through Grindelwald briefly and I vowed I'd always return to the Alps when I could spend more time wandering in the … [Read more...] about Winter hiking in Grindelwald, Switzerland: a photo gallery