Travel Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Seams Like a Story

October 7, 2024October 2, 2024

Three Reasons to Love Lisbon

A plaza in Lisbon with stunning black and white tile work

On my blog, Facebook, and Instagram profiles, I describe myself as a former educator, sewist, traveler, author, and blogger. In this post, I can check two of those boxes by filling the role of travel blogger. I recently had the opportunity to travel to three amazing cities in Portugal and Spain. My first stop: Lisbon.

Here are Three reasons to love Lisbon:

Beautiful Tilework

The first thing you will notice about Lisbon is the amazing tilework. Originally introduced by the Moors in the 13th century, they were used to decorate the sides of buildings and pathways. You have to admire a culture that took the time to decorated even the paths you walk along. There is a Tile Museum in the city that traces the history of these iconic designs in tile throughout Lisbon’s history.

Pasteis de Nata

Ok…this alone would warrant a trip to Lisbon. Pasteis de Nata ( Pastel de Nata is singular, but you will never use this term because you won’t want to buy just one, trust me), Portugal’s famous custard pastries can be found all over the city. We found these in the Time Out Market, but the most famous place to eat pasteis de nata is in the district of Santa Maria de Belem at the Fabrica de Pasteis. We had one (um, maybe two) each morning with tea or coffee for breakfast. Best served warm with a dusting of cinnamon.

Seafood and Beverages

If you are a seafood lover, Lisbon is the place! We also sampled local drinks including ginja ( Portuguese liquor made by infusing a cherry-like berry with alcohol and sugar. The edible berry is included, watch out for the pit), green (young) wine sangria, and port.

In conclusion I’m going to borrow something I wrote on a recent FB post:

Lisbon: an ancient city of astonishing tiles, blue sky, white-washed buildings with terra cotta roofs, grilled sardines, seafood stew, cod cakes, flakey, creamy Pasteis da Nata, many cultures blend with tourists, countless Ubers and tuk-tuks, green wine sangria, impossibly narrow roads wind up steep hills, bring sturdy walking shoes and watch your step, but the view from the top is worth it.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I take you to two of Spain’s beautiful cities!

Threads of Thought

Have you been to Lisbon? If so, add your experiences to the comments!

Book Cover for Until Italy: A Traveler's Memoir. A bright turquois cover with a wild yellow suitcase erupting with travel accessories

For more travel stories check out my book : Until Italy: A Traveler’s Memoir

Now available on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and Kindle Unlimited. Click here!

December 21, 2023December 21, 2023

Holiday Travel

A personal reflection.

The tip of an airplane wing flying over a city at night

“Strings of streetlights, even stoplights, blink a bright red and green, as the shoppers rush home with their treasures.” (Silver Bells, my mom’s favorite Christmas song)

I’m flying “home”, back to the Midwest for the Holidays. During the three hour flight, I try to occupy myself with a book, but my mind races to holiday plans– making my list, checking it twice, or truth be told, I’m anxious that I haven’t even started my list , or Christmas shopping, or…sigh…

I glance at my current read, which has many references to Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. In the play, Emily looks down on her former life and remarks:

“It goes so fast. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute.”

I pause, and look out the oval window at the city lights as the plane prepares to land. It’s late evening and traffic snakes along busy streets like glittering beads on a necklace. People are going home from work, or taking kids to practice, or shopping for the holidays, or picking up a takeout dinner. “Shoppers rush home with their treasures” moving in a blur from one distraction to another with the busyness we call our lives. It goes so fast and I wonder–am I noticing it, my life, or am I simply rushing through?

The plane bounces down with an abrupt deceleration that pushes me forward, then back against my seat. Lights flood the cabin and passengers hop up to collect their luggage (that may have shifted during flight). I join the throng and exit the plane, soon to reconnect with friends and family for holiday celebrations.

My luggage is fine, yet something has shifted, ever so slightly.

On the car ride from the airport to our final destination, I make a silent commitment to “realize life while I’m living it”. To try to be fully present this season, through shopping and gatherings and holiday movies and decorating. The busy days and the quiet times. To really see and love and appreciate my friends and family. Every, every minute.

It’s a precious gift I’m giving myself. A tall order. I’m going to need lots of reminders.

Threads of Thought

a note the says "every, every minute." on a Christmas tree

October 13, 2023October 13, 2023

Wine Snobs

“Embrace your inner wine snob…go ahead and say ‘this Tempranillo tastes faintly of leather saddle,’ but don’t expects anyone else to know what you’re talking about…after all, they didn’t go saddle licking with you last weekend.” -from the website of Wine Snob winery in Glen Ellen, California.

Who would go on a road trip to California without a stop in wine country? Not us! But would we fit in with the wine snobs? We worried about this because we are not wine snobs. (At least I’m pretty sure we are not based on the fact that, though we appreciate a good glass of wine, we buy most of our bottles at Trader Joe’s) We quickly learned we had nothing to fear!

Ed and I , along with good friends and travel buddies D & L booked a lovely Airbnb in Kenwood, right in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. The “Sonoma Valley Getaway” exceeded our expectations. The hosts left a bottle of wine and a personal note to welcome us. Not snobby at all! Best of all, the home was within walking distance of several wineries, so no need worry about who would be the designated driver. As long as we all remained in walkable condition, we were good!

Expect to pay between $25-40 a person for wine tastings in Sonoma Valley, but don’t despair! We found it perfectly acceptable to skip the tasting, buy a glass of wine, and go out to the patio under the trees and enjoy!

A glass of red win with a vineyard in the background — A lovely glass of zinfandel at St. Anne’s Crossing Winery (mostly gone before I remembered to take a picture)

We met several sommeliers ( a wine snob term for one who pours your wine-whoo hoo, listen to me now!) and found them to be knowledgeable and very friendly. One of our favorites poured herself a small sample of each wine we wanted to try before filling our glasses, then she announced “Oh, this one is good today!” Later she confessed “I’m a retired high school teacher. This is the best job I’ve ever had. “

It was 10:30 in the morning. I’m a former kindergarten teacher. I could relate.

The Wine Snob Winery (featured at the beginning of this post) advertises $15 tastings. Wine Snob is owned and operated by a fascinating young couple who are following their dream. They work with several vineyards to gather grapes, then make and bottle their own wine, design the labels, market their business, and run the showroom. Their motto is “you don’t have to be a wine snob to enjoy wine. You don’t need to use words like “velvety tannins” and “hint of lychee on the nose” to describe a wine. Your taste buds. Your rules. So don’t let the wine snobs get you down!”

My sentiments exactly! Cheers!

PS: If you happen to be a wine snob, no worries. You will be welcomed too.

A glass of white wine — A beautiful Chardonnay and a doggie friend at VJB Cellars

Threads of Thought

Have you been to California Wine country? What was your experience?

Do you have a favorite wine?

For the record: each wine we tasted in Sonoma Valley was excellent. Definitely a step above our Trader Joe bargains. This region of California is excellent for growing grapes and the winemakers here know what they are doing. Still not a snob, but I’ve been enlightened.

out of the crayon box book and wine glass

To find out how Debra (former teacher) became an author, blogger, traveler, and not a wine snob, get a copy of Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

(Pairs well with a bold red.)

September 27, 2023September 26, 2023

The Golden Gate Bridge. Who knew?

The author and her husband stand in front of the Golden Gate Bridge — We crossed that bridge (the Golden Gate) when we came to it.

The Golden Gate Bridge was one of my “must sees” for our California Road trip. I couldn’t wait to get there and was delighted when we went across three times before leaving San Francisco.

What makes this bridge so special? See how many of these facts you know!

Who knew the Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world and is featured in many motion pictures?

When your wife is a blogger, you get used to her directing photo shoots, often yelling at the last minute or making you stop so she can get out of the car for the perfect shot. The first time we crossed, I kept telling Ed to slow down so I could get a picture. Fortunately, we found parking at the Vista Point parking lot just as we crossed over and the morning fog had lifted. If you go to San Francisco you MUST get your picture taken here or at some of the other vantage points.

Did you know when the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937 it was the longest (1.7 miles) and tallest suspension bridge in the world?

So when I first saw the bridge I thought, “Oh, it’s smaller than I expected.” It looks so much larger in photos. But, there is only one Golden Gate Bridge and it is San Francisco, and once I learned a little more, I love it! There are bike and pedestrian paths along both sides and as you move along, you feel as if you are part of something significant. I got goose bumps.

Who knew the Golden Gate Bridge’s signature color (International Orange) was made by Sherwin Williams?

The bridge is constantly being repainted to keep it glowing. The bright orange color is one of the things that makes the bridge iconic, and it helps the structure stand out on foggy days. I wonder how they get it painted? While we were crossing, we saw a worker walking on the catwalk way, way, up high. Whoa! By the way, you can get a can of International Orange at Sherwin Williams. Just for fun you should go to your local store, ask for a swatch of International Orange and tell them you are going to touch-up a bridge.

crossing the Golden Gate Bride — Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge

You have to pay to go across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Electronic tolls are collected in one direction only-in the southbound direction into San Francisco (you can check in anytime you like-but you can never leave?) At the time of this writing our car will cost $9.75 and an invoice will be sent based on our license plate. Well worth the money and not even the cost of a gallon of paint.

Do you know how the Golden Gate Bridge got its name?

Nope, not for the area’s association with the Gold Rush. The name actually comes from the water, The Golden Gate Strait, that runs beneath it.

So there you have it. I’ll leave you with this:

“The morning fog will chill the air, I don’t care. My love waits there in San Francisco. Above the blue and windy sea. When I come home to you, San Francisco. Your golden sun(bridge) will shine for me!” (Music by George Cory, lyrics by Douglass Cross, sung by Tony Bennett)

Threads of Thought

Have you been to San Francisco?

What are your memories or what would you like to see there?

Read more from Debra! Get your copy of Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

August 5, 2023August 5, 2023

Traveling and Home Again

Why I Love Both

a blue teapot and cup and an open journal at home

“Traveling, it leaves you breathless, then turns you into a storyteller.” -Ibn Battuta

This is the quote that launched my travel-themed month of July on my Facebook page. Now that the month is over, and I have traveled over 4,500 miles (according to Ed) from Arizona, to Indiana, to Atlanta, to Orange Beach AL, back to Altanta and back to Arizona, I would like to amend the above quote to read:

“Traveling, it leaves you tired, and sunburned, and sandy, and five pounds heavier..and then it turns you into a storyteller. -Debra VanDeventer

I’ll admit, it felt good to unpack my bags in my own cozy corner of the world, back into my own bed, my own shower, my familiar foods and routines. To plant my feet on ground that wasn’t moving at 75 mph down an endless highway, hoping a bathroom was coming along in the near future. Why did I ever leave home in the first place? Well, may it’s because….

Travel Makes Memories

When I’m back in Arizona on a blazing hot summer day, I recall the quiet, shade of my family’s lakeside condo in the midwest, or the taste of an Aperol Spritz in Taormina, Italy.

When my granddaughters call to tell me about the first day of middle school or high school and I know summer is over and I miss them terribly, I remember sunset walks along the beach and gathering with family for fireworks and fourth-of-July bratwursts in my daughter’s backyard.

Or maybe I travel because…

Traveling turns me into a storyteller after all.

Battuta was right. One can’t travel without collecting stories. And for those of us who are writers, it’s our job to go out and gather stories and bring them to life, to bring attention to things that others may pass by, to cause our readers to stop and think or smile or make a connection. This is my passion. So then…

Why do I come home?

Frances Mayes in her book A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Travelller calls it “The Riddle of Home.” She has made a life of travel, yet still desires home, the place where everything connects. I can relate. Home is where I ground myself, gather my thoughts, process my wanderings, snuggle in my favorite chair with a cup of tea and a good book, work on a sewing project, watch a perfect sunset over the mountains, rest, re-group. Write.

So for me right now, I need both and as long as I’m able I will travel and come back home and repeat the cycle often. (in fact, I’m heading out on a California road trip next month-stay tuned) Thanks for following along. You inspire me to do what I do. Happy Trails!

“Travel far enough and you meet yourself.” – David Mitchell

Threads of Thought

Why do you travel? Where have you been? What stories do you have?

Author’s note: As I was typing the title of the Francis Mayes book, I noticed she spelled Traveller with double (L) I have been spelling it with one. Who’s right? According to my research, both. Double L is the UK standard, one L is the US English standard. Interesting. Would any of my UK followers care to weigh in?

A teacher turned into a storyteller, writer, blogger, and traveler. The story begins here! http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer