Category Archives: Travel Journals

On the Road

Posted on September 14, 2016 by admin

Above – private castle overlooking the L’Ouissey river in Lot District of SW France. Below by a broken bridge is the very best inn with gourmet chef! Shhhh!

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on On the Road

St. Cirq LaPopie

Posted on September 14, 2016 by admin

On the road to Toulouse we stop for lunch in St Cirq LaPopie – in an emerald valley where chrysanthemums are grown. French people voted this one their favorite city.

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on St. Cirq LaPopie

Castlenaux

Posted on September 12, 2016 by admin

Castlenaux with Benoit as a guide – we climb through layered medieval fortifications built one century after another – stacked on top of each other. By the 15th century, they change their defensive position to be lower!

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Castlenaux

Cougnac Cave

Posted on September 12, 2016 by admin

Christine Desdemaines Hugon opens the door to the Cougnac cave for a private tour of this magical place discovered under a private home. We see crystals on stalagmites and stalactites in several rooms….and then the ibex, mammoths and abstract marks. … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Cougnac Cave

Sarlat

Posted on September 11, 2016 by admin
Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Sarlat

Ecuador! 3 City Tour – Always in season – timing is up to you!

Posted on September 11, 2016 by admin

Gardens & Trails – Ecuador 12 nights The adventure begins in Guayaquil at sea level. After a city tour, we make a gradual transition from the tropical Pacific Coast through the southern Loja region to the beautiful colonial city of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cuenca, Ecuador, Intag-El Refugio Cloud Forest, Quito | Comments Off on Ecuador! 3 City Tour – Always in season – timing is up to you!

Leaving Bordeaux

Posted on September 10, 2016 by admin

Leaving Bordeaux this morning – stunning clouds. We are in morning “traffic”. Not so bad thanks to Benoit, our driver and guide.

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Leaving Bordeaux

Saint Emilion

Posted on September 10, 2016 by admin

St Emilion was a monk here in this 12th century village with an under ground church dug from the earth. The small vineyards here still produce unique boutique wines every year. The monk healed folks, he baptized them in the … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Saint Emilion

First Post from France

Posted on September 9, 2016 by admin

A great day to the sand dunes of the Arcachon – the huge basin of tidal water between the rivers and the ocean here in the Bordeaux region of France. Then a driving tour of the 18th century city monuments … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on First Post from France

Bordeaux

Posted on September 1, 2016 by admin

The drive to the sand dunes on the coast of the Arcachon basin is about 45 minutes – be careful to avoid high traffic times. Our guide for a day, Mathieu picked out the wine at the oyster tasting in … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Bordeaux

2017 High Sierra Artist Tour – Ecuador

Posted on September 1, 2016 by admin

Let us arrange for your stay in comfort at the most beautiful Hacienda Cusin, SachaJi or Las Palmeras Inn located only 90 minutes north of the city.   Visit the “middle of the world” the Quitsato foundation rebuilt this monument … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecuador | Comments Off on 2017 High Sierra Artist Tour – Ecuador

Plans for 2016

Posted on April 29, 2016 by admin

Photo by Marie Teresa Ponce High Sierra Artist Tour – Ecuador October 2016; January 2017 Write, Sketch, Paint, Photograph, Yoga From Quito. The adventure begins in comfort at Las Palmeras Inn, Quichinche.– on to the remote, luscious Intag Cloud Forest … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecuador, France | Comments Off on Plans for 2016

Ecuador After the Earthquake

Posted on April 21, 2016 by admin

April 21, 2016 First Hand Account  – The First Day –  Canoa, Ecuador Good News & Bad News How You Can Help! Dear Friends and Travelers, Since the 7.8 earthquake in Ecuador last week, the mild after shocks continue in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecuador | Comments Off on Ecuador After the Earthquake

Correspondence from Ecuador Coastal Town of Canoa

Posted on April 21, 2016 by admin

by Court Rand, at Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental posted here with permission from his father Bob Rand, Northampton, New Hampshire A lot of people have asked how we are, what happened, etc.  – so I will try to recount what … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecuador | Comments Off on Correspondence from Ecuador Coastal Town of Canoa

Torres

Posted on March 11, 2016 by admin

The Torrres, the Towers trek is one of the most popular…always people passing both ways. Can you see why? Most of the trail is fine, but at the top, it is all loose skree (sic) and a huge challenge. Slow … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chile, Patagonia, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Torres

A Few More Patagonia Trekking Pix

Posted on March 10, 2016 by admin

This is all at sea level – so altitude not an issue. Locals were complaining that it was too warm since the wind was not blowing as it usually does. The sun is incredibly hot while we looked at glaciers!! … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chile, Patagonia, Travel Journals | Comments Off on A Few More Patagonia Trekking Pix

Dog adopts Tourists for a Day!

Posted on March 8, 2016 by admin

More Hiking in the Chacabuco Valley near Cochrane! This dog follows us from the trail head through the river plain, across the river and up the trail all day! This is one of two suspension bridges built by the Tompkins’ … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chile, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Dog adopts Tourists for a Day!

Hiking in the Chacabuco Valley, Aisen Province, near Cochrane, Chile

Posted on March 6, 2016 by admin

Above the Tomkins’ Lodge, behind the bluff is a series of lagoons….       Two condors fly in parallel formation above our heads when we get to their flat plateau – they have this breathtaking view of glacial mountains … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chile, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Hiking in the Chacabuco Valley, Aisen Province, near Cochrane, Chile

Hotel Antumalal, Villarrica, Chile

Posted on March 5, 2016 by admin

One high point of our travels was in the lake district of central Chile. We visit the stunning Hotel Antumalal, a Bauhaus hotel beautifully maintained over the last 75 years outside of Pucon, Chile. Propped on a hillside, the clean … Continue reading →

Posted in Chile, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Hotel Antumalal, Villarrica, Chile

Valle Chacabuco near Cochrane, Chile

Posted on March 4, 2016 by admin

This huge valley is in a national park because of the generosity and the commitment by Doug and Kris Tomkins. They bought the property – the entire valley – and eventually donated the land back to the country of Chile. … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chile, Travel Journals | Comments Off on Valle Chacabuco near Cochrane, Chile