Travel via Tory
I have so enjoyed Tory's adventures, please keep sending them! Love, Bopcha
News from Zoiboyz
I posted some of Tory's blog entries (her blog is http://singlewithbath.blogspot.com/) just for convenience. There are some really talented writers in this family. She's really crunching her way through the Iberian peninsula--next comes Scandinavia and the Baltics I think.
Some of the Zoiboyz chased three coyotes out of our pasture this AM. Got some pictures but it was so quick and so far away, they aren't very good.
Tornado is an aunt again--this time her sister Bodacious had the puppies: 3 boys and 5 girls. The daddy is a hound from the Czech Republic that Sherita traded for Tornado's sister Coffee Time. Coffee lives near Marianbad, Czech Republic and Afanazi (call name Fonzi) lives at Sherita's house. He's a conformation champion.
Tom's medicine is helping ease the terrible pain of the trigeminal neuralgia. The pain is still there and sometimes comes in full strength still, but not every few minutes like it was. He says he still feels the attacks but they don't bring him to his knees anymore. It's more like background pain instead of blazing in front of his eyes.
Some of the Zoiboyz chased three coyotes out of our pasture this AM. Got some pictures but it was so quick and so far away, they aren't very good.
Tornado is an aunt again--this time her sister Bodacious had the puppies: 3 boys and 5 girls. The daddy is a hound from the Czech Republic that Sherita traded for Tornado's sister Coffee Time. Coffee lives near Marianbad, Czech Republic and Afanazi (call name Fonzi) lives at Sherita's house. He's a conformation champion.
Tom's medicine is helping ease the terrible pain of the trigeminal neuralgia. The pain is still there and sometimes comes in full strength still, but not every few minutes like it was. He says he still feels the attacks but they don't bring him to his knees anymore. It's more like background pain instead of blazing in front of his eyes.
Notes from Tory: Henry the Navigator Sun, 31 Jan 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Henry the Navigator
Hey everyone!
My train to Lisbon went off without a hitch, though I was seduced yesterday afternoon by the comfy white couch in the tiny lobby of my hotel and never made it to the Prado. Criminal, I know, but I was getting a little worn out.
But something in the air of Lisbon has restored me. It´s hard to describe, but from the moment I got off the train I have felt like I belonged. The streets are cobblestoned in beautiful mosaics, the architecture a kaleidoscope of colors and styles. And within moments of dropping my pack off at my little blue hotel, I was on the doubledecker tourist bus headed straight for the Henry the Navigator monument.
It was one of the things I have been waiting to see... something about exploring the big wide unknown that thrills my toes. I got great pics. Nearby I wandered through the Belem Tower, sort of a stone fortress built half in the middle ages and half a century or so ago. Next, I went inside the cloisters of an old monestary, and caught the cathedral just as Sunday mass was ending. Vasco da Gama was buried there -- he's the explorer who blazed the trade route to India which put Portugal on the map!
Outside the Navigator was a huge compass mosaic built into the square, with a map of the globe. I stood over the spot where Seattle is, and waved hello to all of you, and missed you very much! But then I stood over the Portugal spot and thought of that yummy empanada I had for lunch....
Love T
Henry the Navigator
Hey everyone!
My train to Lisbon went off without a hitch, though I was seduced yesterday afternoon by the comfy white couch in the tiny lobby of my hotel and never made it to the Prado. Criminal, I know, but I was getting a little worn out.
But something in the air of Lisbon has restored me. It´s hard to describe, but from the moment I got off the train I have felt like I belonged. The streets are cobblestoned in beautiful mosaics, the architecture a kaleidoscope of colors and styles. And within moments of dropping my pack off at my little blue hotel, I was on the doubledecker tourist bus headed straight for the Henry the Navigator monument.
It was one of the things I have been waiting to see... something about exploring the big wide unknown that thrills my toes. I got great pics. Nearby I wandered through the Belem Tower, sort of a stone fortress built half in the middle ages and half a century or so ago. Next, I went inside the cloisters of an old monestary, and caught the cathedral just as Sunday mass was ending. Vasco da Gama was buried there -- he's the explorer who blazed the trade route to India which put Portugal on the map!
Outside the Navigator was a huge compass mosaic built into the square, with a map of the globe. I stood over the spot where Seattle is, and waved hello to all of you, and missed you very much! But then I stood over the Portugal spot and thought of that yummy empanada I had for lunch....
Love T
Notes from Tory: Off to Lisbon! Ola Everyone! Sat, 30Jan10
8:42 AM Saturday, January 30, 2010
Off to Lisbon! Ola everyone!
Today is Saturday and instead of going to the Palace Residence or the Bull Fighting museum, I decided to do what all the rest of Madrid is doing -- walking the broad boulevards and enjoying the sunshine. Whenever I get sleepy (not infrequent in this brilliant sunshine), I head into Starbucks for an espresso to perk me up(there´s one on nearly every street, just like home).
I snapped some great photos of the statue of Cervantes and his famous Don Quixote. A friendly tourist and I swapped cameras so I could be in the shot and then I returned the favor. This is pretty common, but always I am careful to hand over my camera only to someone I think I can out-run
This evening I hope to go to the Prado Museum which has extensive Spanish artist collections (El Greco and Goya, among many) that should make for a nice end to my tour around Spain.
Tonight I bid Espania a fond adios-- my overnight train for Lisbon leaves at 10 and I´ve got a bunk all reserved. (I sure hope they have air circulation on this train). I´m really excited to see the other side of the coast!
I hope Aunt Judi is doing okay at my house, that my sweet boys are behaving themselves, and that everyone is doing great. I think of you all very often!
Off to Lisbon! Ola everyone!
Today is Saturday and instead of going to the Palace Residence or the Bull Fighting museum, I decided to do what all the rest of Madrid is doing -- walking the broad boulevards and enjoying the sunshine. Whenever I get sleepy (not infrequent in this brilliant sunshine), I head into Starbucks for an espresso to perk me up(there´s one on nearly every street, just like home).
I snapped some great photos of the statue of Cervantes and his famous Don Quixote. A friendly tourist and I swapped cameras so I could be in the shot and then I returned the favor. This is pretty common, but always I am careful to hand over my camera only to someone I think I can out-run
This evening I hope to go to the Prado Museum which has extensive Spanish artist collections (El Greco and Goya, among many) that should make for a nice end to my tour around Spain.
Tonight I bid Espania a fond adios-- my overnight train for Lisbon leaves at 10 and I´ve got a bunk all reserved. (I sure hope they have air circulation on this train). I´m really excited to see the other side of the coast!
I hope Aunt Judi is doing okay at my house, that my sweet boys are behaving themselves, and that everyone is doing great. I think of you all very often!
Notes from Tory: a little from column A, a little from column B
7:00 AM Friday, January 29, 2010
Events conspired to make today the best ever, the worst imaginable, and end on a pleasant note. Imagine if you will...
It was a one mile hike from my little Valencia apartment to the main train station. I arrived in just enough time to mail a few postcards before I boarded the train for Madrid. On a whim, I decided to pay the 3 Euro supplement required by my EurRail for a reservation in the first class car. And what I expected to be a dull 3.5 hour train ride became the queen´s treatment for the day. Before we had left the station, I was offered champagne (why say no?). Then, every 15 minutes or so, the staff came down the aisle with more gifts. A small packet of dates and peanuts? Sure! Coke with lemon? Why not? A hot towel to wash your hands? A full lunch menu with salad, cheese ravioli, fresh bread... more bread, then wine, espresso, it went on and on. Arriving in the station, I said yes for the final time: a small piece of Swiss chocolate-- one for the road. Exquisite.
In Madrid, I negotiated my way on the metro to the hotel I had booked for the night. Up till this point it existed to me only as a webpage, and it´s always such a shock to see it appear in real life before my eyes. My back was aching from lugging my pack so I made my way up the stairs to reception.
Here´s where column B comes in. Reception spoke no English, but I could tell there was a problem... the hotel was overbooked and I had been bumped into another hotel. But see, it is not a problem, because it is only 5 or 10 minutes walk. She wrote the address on a scrap of paper. Just exit the building and turn left...
Yeah right.
I walked left, I walked right, lugging my pack all the way. I followed the directions of friendly locals: turn left at the Arab restaurant (it was Greek); turn right off the circle (it was a square). On and on I went, over an hour, my back aching and sweaty, my spirits flagging. Eventually I triangulated from all the directions and found the place. She´d written the name of the street down wrong, so that´s why it wasn´t on any of the maps. Sigh. I checked into my room, slammed the door and burst into tears. Not my finest moment.
But after my tantrum was over (and the pack was off my back), I launched myself onto the streets of Madrid. Valencia was a sleepy provincial town, but Madrid is alive! There are people everywhere: the good, the bad, and the tourists. I snapped pics of street performers and went window shopping in a vast pedestrian district. Tonight I´ll consult my map and find out where I´ve been
Love T
Events conspired to make today the best ever, the worst imaginable, and end on a pleasant note. Imagine if you will...
It was a one mile hike from my little Valencia apartment to the main train station. I arrived in just enough time to mail a few postcards before I boarded the train for Madrid. On a whim, I decided to pay the 3 Euro supplement required by my EurRail for a reservation in the first class car. And what I expected to be a dull 3.5 hour train ride became the queen´s treatment for the day. Before we had left the station, I was offered champagne (why say no?). Then, every 15 minutes or so, the staff came down the aisle with more gifts. A small packet of dates and peanuts? Sure! Coke with lemon? Why not? A hot towel to wash your hands? A full lunch menu with salad, cheese ravioli, fresh bread... more bread, then wine, espresso, it went on and on. Arriving in the station, I said yes for the final time: a small piece of Swiss chocolate-- one for the road. Exquisite.
In Madrid, I negotiated my way on the metro to the hotel I had booked for the night. Up till this point it existed to me only as a webpage, and it´s always such a shock to see it appear in real life before my eyes. My back was aching from lugging my pack so I made my way up the stairs to reception.
Here´s where column B comes in. Reception spoke no English, but I could tell there was a problem... the hotel was overbooked and I had been bumped into another hotel. But see, it is not a problem, because it is only 5 or 10 minutes walk. She wrote the address on a scrap of paper. Just exit the building and turn left...
Yeah right.
I walked left, I walked right, lugging my pack all the way. I followed the directions of friendly locals: turn left at the Arab restaurant (it was Greek); turn right off the circle (it was a square). On and on I went, over an hour, my back aching and sweaty, my spirits flagging. Eventually I triangulated from all the directions and found the place. She´d written the name of the street down wrong, so that´s why it wasn´t on any of the maps. Sigh. I checked into my room, slammed the door and burst into tears. Not my finest moment.
But after my tantrum was over (and the pack was off my back), I launched myself onto the streets of Madrid. Valencia was a sleepy provincial town, but Madrid is alive! There are people everywhere: the good, the bad, and the tourists. I snapped pics of street performers and went window shopping in a vast pedestrian district. Tonight I´ll consult my map and find out where I´ve been
Love T
Notes from Tory--Valencia, Spain on Thursday
Posted by Tory at 9:52 AM Thursday, January 28, 2010
My vacation
Hey Friends and Family!
This morning I decided to take a mini-vacation from sightseeing, a total change of pace. I boarded a regional train headed straight south to a small town called Gandia (I´d never heard of it before). Upon arrival I headed straight for the Information Office. They had a stack of dusty brochures on the area monestaries of historical signifance.... and a map of the bus route to the beach. Guess where I went??
The heavy surf pounded on the sand, clean and white and sparkly. The beach was bordered by a long broad boardwalk, along which --judging from the number of cafes and bars-- must be some kind of tourist mecca in the summertime.... But today, I had the beach practically to myself. And that suited me just fine
After lunch at one of the few open establishments (popular for its location, since the food was clearly an afterthought), I strolled along the seashore until the bus arrived to bring me back to the train station, and back ´home´ to Valencia.
Tonight I will cook dinner for myself again in my little kitchen. Last night I made soft tacos, which turned out not half bad. Tonight I hope to improve on my receipe!
Love T
News from the Trailer Park
I am very proud of Theresa. Her address for the next 3 weeks is: ENS Theresa Todd
SWOSCOLCOM (N72)
446 Cushing Road
Newport, RI 02841-1209
I must tell you that living in a trailer park can be a kick if you thrive on gossip.
Story One: One of my neighbors recently passed away and he left his trailer to his friend Earl who lived next door to him. Now both Earl and Hank were widowers and one of them had a wife that had ALS and was in a wheelchair and on a ramp at the hospital (the relayer of the news thought was in Portland), the wheelchair went off the ramp and the wife fell out and died right in front of her husband.
Story Two: This afternoon I met John who also lives in the park and he was walking his Chihuahua. I went over to see the dog and found out that he and his wife found the dog in a shelter in Mexico. It had no hair, a broken leg, was underweight and had other problems. John and Janice adopted the dog. The leg has been fixed and hair grew back in such a way that he has short hair like my dogs but with a mane down his back. He is now up to a healthy 7 lbs. If John and Janice break up again (they did at one point and he went back to Mexico but since he missed her he came home), I'll marry John because he is an animal lover and our dogs would get along fine. Also, John doesn't like my neighbor Al's wife. Told him not to worry that Al's wife died 3 years ago.
The stories are short because there is only so much you can find out in 15-20 minutes. Give me an hour and I will have a complete book.
Bopcha and I are going to see Aunt Martha on Monday so I can attempt to fix her answering machine. Bop said it wasn't working and perhaps I could fix that and the microwave. I will give it a try but if we don't return from visiting Aunt Martha, I have nuked us all.
Tell Judi she still has 5 chickens but something keeps eating the eggs. The cat must be around because her food disappears.
SWOSCOLCOM (N72)
446 Cushing Road
Newport, RI 02841-1209
I must tell you that living in a trailer park can be a kick if you thrive on gossip.
Story One: One of my neighbors recently passed away and he left his trailer to his friend Earl who lived next door to him. Now both Earl and Hank were widowers and one of them had a wife that had ALS and was in a wheelchair and on a ramp at the hospital (the relayer of the news thought was in Portland), the wheelchair went off the ramp and the wife fell out and died right in front of her husband.
Story Two: This afternoon I met John who also lives in the park and he was walking his Chihuahua. I went over to see the dog and found out that he and his wife found the dog in a shelter in Mexico. It had no hair, a broken leg, was underweight and had other problems. John and Janice adopted the dog. The leg has been fixed and hair grew back in such a way that he has short hair like my dogs but with a mane down his back. He is now up to a healthy 7 lbs. If John and Janice break up again (they did at one point and he went back to Mexico but since he missed her he came home), I'll marry John because he is an animal lover and our dogs would get along fine. Also, John doesn't like my neighbor Al's wife. Told him not to worry that Al's wife died 3 years ago.
The stories are short because there is only so much you can find out in 15-20 minutes. Give me an hour and I will have a complete book.
Bopcha and I are going to see Aunt Martha on Monday so I can attempt to fix her answering machine. Bop said it wasn't working and perhaps I could fix that and the microwave. I will give it a try but if we don't return from visiting Aunt Martha, I have nuked us all.
Tell Judi she still has 5 chickens but something keeps eating the eggs. The cat must be around because her food disappears.
Technology Nightmares
Oh no!!! I just wrote a nice long message responding to everyone's wonderful stories. I went to send it and it did not go through. Technology issues have sort of taken over my life recently. The upside is that everytime something goes wrong at work, I have the perfect excuse - just kidding.
Anyway, Kay your news on Theresa is amazing and definitely warrants great pride and joy. I know you must feel that. I also wanted to mention Diana and Bopcha that your responses to Nina when she wrote into the blog were really sweet and welcoming. She is still a little shy about writing on the blog without "encouragement" but with your really nice comments she should want to write all the time.
I really should get back to work, but I am so sorry that my long message and update did not transmit.
Love,
Sandra
Anyway, Kay your news on Theresa is amazing and definitely warrants great pride and joy. I know you must feel that. I also wanted to mention Diana and Bopcha that your responses to Nina when she wrote into the blog were really sweet and welcoming. She is still a little shy about writing on the blog without "encouragement" but with your really nice comments she should want to write all the time.
I really should get back to work, but I am so sorry that my long message and update did not transmit.
Love,
Sandra
Home Again
I am home and very tired. The flights coming and going went smoothly. Had never been to Rhode Island and Massachusetts and enjoyed seeing new country.
As you can imagine, Theresa's graduation was very emotional for all of us and she looked cute as anything in her uniform. Ensign Todd has 3 week schooling in Rhode Island (Surface Warfare Officer training) and then has been assigned to the USS Gonzales (a destroyer).
My crew did the U.S.S. Constellation tour and found it very informative and interesting. We ate our share of crab. The people from my family in attendance were: Me, Randy, Stephanie, Tina, Allen, Tiffany, Maxx and Theresa's boyfriend from Ridgecrest, Will. Theresa's father was not able to get time off from work to attend. Randy slipped on an icey patch one day and went down hard. We were afraid he might have broken something but he escaped with a cut hand and frayed nerves. Steph rented a large van the size of an airport shuttle and Randy did all the driving and did quite well except when he tried to find a parking spot for the van our first night in Boston. We were all in the lobby of the hotel waiting to check in and Steph got a call on her cell that he was wondering around Boston lost. The doorman was able to give him good directions and he found us again. On that note, might I add that I would NEVER drive in Boston. I have never seen streets as narrow as those or drivers as crazy as the Bostonians. God made buses, subways and cabs for people like me. We walked everywhere but when we had to drive (like from Boston to Rhode Island and back), I made sure I sat in the very last row so I couldn't see the traffic and die of a heart attack.
The first night Maxx (our sleepwalker) managed to walk out of the room in the wee hours and ended up on a different floor with no shoes and his shirt unbuttoned and thankfully pants or sweats on. He went to the floor he thought we were on and knocked on a couple of doors and couldn't figure out why no one opened the door. He finally went down to the front desk and asked if someone would let him back into the room and also asked what room he was in. They told him the room and gave him a new key. After that Tina and Tiffany put a chair in front of the door so he couldn't escape.
Judi knitted neck scarves for everyone and let me tell you EVERYONE grabbed one and wore it every single day. They were winners.
As you can imagine, Theresa's graduation was very emotional for all of us and she looked cute as anything in her uniform. Ensign Todd has 3 week schooling in Rhode Island (Surface Warfare Officer training) and then has been assigned to the USS Gonzales (a destroyer).
My crew did the U.S.S. Constellation tour and found it very informative and interesting. We ate our share of crab. The people from my family in attendance were: Me, Randy, Stephanie, Tina, Allen, Tiffany, Maxx and Theresa's boyfriend from Ridgecrest, Will. Theresa's father was not able to get time off from work to attend. Randy slipped on an icey patch one day and went down hard. We were afraid he might have broken something but he escaped with a cut hand and frayed nerves. Steph rented a large van the size of an airport shuttle and Randy did all the driving and did quite well except when he tried to find a parking spot for the van our first night in Boston. We were all in the lobby of the hotel waiting to check in and Steph got a call on her cell that he was wondering around Boston lost. The doorman was able to give him good directions and he found us again. On that note, might I add that I would NEVER drive in Boston. I have never seen streets as narrow as those or drivers as crazy as the Bostonians. God made buses, subways and cabs for people like me. We walked everywhere but when we had to drive (like from Boston to Rhode Island and back), I made sure I sat in the very last row so I couldn't see the traffic and die of a heart attack.
The first night Maxx (our sleepwalker) managed to walk out of the room in the wee hours and ended up on a different floor with no shoes and his shirt unbuttoned and thankfully pants or sweats on. He went to the floor he thought we were on and knocked on a couple of doors and couldn't figure out why no one opened the door. He finally went down to the front desk and asked if someone would let him back into the room and also asked what room he was in. They told him the room and gave him a new key. After that Tina and Tiffany put a chair in front of the door so he couldn't escape.
Judi knitted neck scarves for everyone and let me tell you EVERYONE grabbed one and wore it every single day. They were winners.
Bill at Hyak Park
Should I swim or just look?
Diana is sad because she has to eat Kay's birthday cake by herself
Oh that frosted angel food cake was good!
Bopcha at Hyack park, wishing Kay a Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Kay!
More from Tory in Paris
Hey friends and family!
I love your notes, almost as good as email. To clarify, I wimped out and took the elevator in the UP direction. The top deck was closed (socked in by clouds) so we only made it to the 2nd level. It was totally familiar from our trip -- was it really 25 years ago!
And today, another bright day in Paris! The theme ingredient of the day was the metro, which I navigated with ease to find the matchless Sacre Coeur cathedral. Clear skies, I climbed the stairs (lots and lots of stairs) onto the dome itself, and snapped crazy pics of gargoyles and the skyline of the city.
I have moved from my tiny pension in the 15th district to a lovely spot right in the heart of the city. It's positively posh compared to my last place and I am feeling I was born to live in Paris. My room is on the 5th floor and overlooks the action below. I was really self conscious wearing my big mountain pack onto the Metro but I needent have bothered... at Opera station, a lady boarded my car and started singing. Loudly. Nobody gave me even a passing glance
Well, I am off to explore my new neighborhood, so I bid you adieu! Nikole and Noah, give kisses to my precious Chat Noirs. I miss them so much -- you humans too
Love you all!
Tory
I love your notes, almost as good as email. To clarify, I wimped out and took the elevator in the UP direction. The top deck was closed (socked in by clouds) so we only made it to the 2nd level. It was totally familiar from our trip -- was it really 25 years ago!
And today, another bright day in Paris! The theme ingredient of the day was the metro, which I navigated with ease to find the matchless Sacre Coeur cathedral. Clear skies, I climbed the stairs (lots and lots of stairs) onto the dome itself, and snapped crazy pics of gargoyles and the skyline of the city.
I have moved from my tiny pension in the 15th district to a lovely spot right in the heart of the city. It's positively posh compared to my last place and I am feeling I was born to live in Paris. My room is on the 5th floor and overlooks the action below. I was really self conscious wearing my big mountain pack onto the Metro but I needent have bothered... at Opera station, a lady boarded my car and started singing. Loudly. Nobody gave me even a passing glance
Well, I am off to explore my new neighborhood, so I bid you adieu! Nikole and Noah, give kisses to my precious Chat Noirs. I miss them so much -- you humans too
Love you all!
Tory
New Navy Officer
Tom and I are simply glowing inside when we think about Theresa getting her commission. We are so proud of her.
Thanks so much Dee for posting Tory's notes.
Thanks so much Dee for posting Tory's notes.
Kay Called
Kay called from Rhode Island and Theresa's graduation get together..
It is the day before graduation and Theresa's entry into the Naval world as an Ensign (I think that is right!). Kay said everybody was crying with happiness, Theresa looks fabulous in her uniform, and the family was just getting ready to enter the officer's club. Theresa apparently has already been assigned a ship, but has a few more weeks of training to complete before she ships out.
Kay sounded so happy!
Bill and I are headed to Corvallis at about 3 pm tomorrow.
Love,
Dee
It is the day before graduation and Theresa's entry into the Naval world as an Ensign (I think that is right!). Kay said everybody was crying with happiness, Theresa looks fabulous in her uniform, and the family was just getting ready to enter the officer's club. Theresa apparently has already been assigned a ship, but has a few more weeks of training to complete before she ships out.
Kay sounded so happy!
Bill and I are headed to Corvallis at about 3 pm tomorrow.
Love,
Dee