Tag: travel

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Destination: Tel-Aviv

We just arrived in Tel Aviv and my mind is racing as to what to accomplish first. After a 10 hour flight it is very important to walk. It’s the perfect way to get out and about while experiencing the cultures and history.. We cleared customs by 5:00 pm and still had to get to the hotel. The sun sets here at 7:30 pm so, had to step it up a bit in order to take in a few sites. 

Jaffa Port located on the eastern Mediterranean is an ancient port, and a short walk from our hotel. Old Jaffa is mentioned in various ancient works and has been in active use for centuries, since the Canaanite period. It functions today as a small fishing village and is still being excavated revealing a lengthy history. A lighthouse is above the port and can be seen from our hotel. 

After a long day of traveling and sightseeing it’s time for dinner. Each of us read great reviews on the Old Man and the Sea in Jaffa and decided on a seafood meal. The spacious restaurant overlooks the Mediterranean and as you begin to relax the waiter brought a pitcher of tangy lemonade that was so refreshing. Next he set down about 20 small bowls of varying salads, such as; tomato salsa, corn relish, falafel and cauliflower, and hummus. There was a carrot and cranberry slaw that I can’t wait to make, along with two types of beets. One pickled and the other roasted to release it’s sweet flavor. 

The seafood platter was fresh and delicious. Old Man an the Sea is the perfect place to enjoy an appetizing meal while watching the sunset. 

Travel safely,
Kathleen

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Enjoying Summer

July is my birthday month and has always been the official start of summer. It’s now time to take a vacation or take a few days off just to relax. I’ve taken to redesigning my walking/hiking playlist because I’m listening to smooth and classical jazz in the evenings. It’s my ritual for unwinding after an extremely busy day.

Picking flowers will always be a favorite pastime. Placing blooms in vases is the best way to add a touch of beauty to our homes, and taking time to sit with an iced tea while listening to the rain is always a seasonal favorite.

It’s that time of year to pick flowers from the garden. Blossoms have the incredible power of improving aspects of daily living, such as having a positive effect on our mood, increasing creativity (my favorite), or giving us a sense of comfort. I love viewing these heightened colors spread across the yard up to the deck, because in a few short months they disappear.

Friends are down in Rio living on the beach of Copacabana. They’re relaxing while listening to bossa nova, sipping Caipirinha’s and enjoying the colorful cityscape of green mountains overlooking blue seas. Summer doesn’t get any better……!!!

My brother took this photo from his apartment in DC after a severe thunderstorm on Friday. What is more phenomenal than a double rainbow? I get the science of sunlight hitting a rain droplet, and light being reflected thru the electromagnetic spectrum of wavelengths, plus angles. But I prefer to seeing a rainbow as a magical dynamic of summer.

The sound of a summer rain is always very soothing. It can block extraneous sounds and ease stress. Studies have shown that the sound creates a relaxing environment and can lull you into a deep sleep.

Enjoy the season,
Kathleen