Just a Tourist, After All

I was watching a travel show the other day. It was Anthony Bourdain having an amazing adventure in the remote islands in French Polynesia. Bourdain, a cynical and seasoned traveler, swam with sharks, visited Gaugin's grave site and ate raw sea urchins and snails. He met fun and interesting people and stayed in beautifully rustic settings. Bourdain embraced the new and unexpected with wonder and appreciation.

As I was watching, I kept thinking about just how much I would love to do what he did. Travel the world, experience primitive cultures, eat exotic foods and never knowing what to expect. I envisioned myself packing a backpack with only my essentials, heading off into the great wilderness of some foreign land where I didn't know the language. I would make friends all over the world, be daring and bold and fill up the pages of my passport.

Then reality set in.

Who the heck did I think I was? As much as I love travelling to different places and learning about other cultures, I was no Anthony Bourdain.

Did I really think that I could get away with only a backpack and my bare essentials? When I go on vacation, I usually plan out what I will wear on each day. I do try to mix-and-match outfits but there are conservatively 10 separate outfits for a 7 night stay. I always take at least two bathing suits (one of them for "fat days"), one pair of sneakers, two pair of sandals and a pair of dress heals. Then there's make-up, sunblock, lotions, perfume and hair products. I need to take one daily medication but I also bring Tylenol, sleeping medication, Imodium and Pepto (for those over-indulgent dining experiences). I hate the thought of getting somewhere and not having what I need, so I pack as much as I can. I don't think these "essentials" will fit in a backpack, do you?

Then there's the matter of food. I am not a fussy eater. I have tried ostrich, buffalo, conch, poi, various raw seafood and haggis. Much of this I enjoyed but I do draw the line. On one episode, I watched as Bourdain partook a traditional meal with an Inuit family. They all sat on the floor, surrounding a dead seal. They ripped open the seal and ate the raw meat with their hands. Covered in blood and guts, Bourdain proclaimed the meal delicious. Yuck. No bugs, rats, or raw seal for me. I'll stick to eating establishments where there is some kind of health inspection.

In the past, I have slept in a tent, a camper and on the ground. The first year that I volunteered in Romania, the accommodations were an old school building with cockroaches, fleas and giant slugs. The toilets were "European" (i.e., holes in a cement floor that you did "your business" over hoping to hit the hole). The second time I volunteered in Romania, I slept on the floor of an abandoned building with an old hen house converted into an outhouse. Been there, done that. Prefer clean sheets, plumbing and room service.

For me, the most enjoyable part of travelling is the planning. I spend months online researching every resort, eating establishment, activity and attraction. By the time I arrive, I know more about my destination than many of the locals. I have made reservations and booked tours before leaving home. I plan out a detailed itinerary of every day. I love knowing exactly what to expect. Not exactly bold or adventurous.

Who needs food poisoning or bed bug bites for adventure? I will continue to live vicariously through Anthony Bourdain and others on the Travel Channel but with a new-found appreciation of my own limitations. I love being a tourist!

Vacation Days

It's always great to get away. We usually try to have one "fly-away" vacation and one "drive-away" vacation each year. We are very lucky.



After an emergency trip to the hospital with Don on the eve of our trip, our vacation needed to be delayed for two days. Fortunately, Don's illness, though scary and mysterious, did not linger and he was in great shape to head off on vacation. By this time, we really need to get away!


After about 4 hours on the road, our first stop was in Hyde Park, NY where we visited the campus of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). An unusual stop for a vacation, you might say. However, I had read that the restaurants were top notch and the lure of good food was just too much for us to resist. Unfortunately, because of our vacation schedule change, most of the restaurants were closed. However, we did manage to have an excellent lunch at the bakery/cafe where they serve soups, salads, sandwiches and the most decadent desserts on earth. I had a three salad assortment (chicken, garbanzo beans and Mediterranean pasta) and a cherry tart (there goes my Weight Watcher points for the day). After lunch we toured the school a bit, watching the students prepare food behind large glass viewing windows and strolled the beautiful grounds.


After lunch we drove up the road a bit to the Home of Franklin Roosevelt, a National Historic Site. I have always admired the work of this remarkable president. He was able to unite and organize the country during a time of great challenge. Someone we could use in power now. We toured the grounds and the home site, then went to the FDR library. It was amazing to think that this man who suffered so painfully with polio and was confined to a wheelchair was able to keep all his medical problems out of the media. That certainly would not happen today.


Next we drove to Moondance Ridge Bed and Breakfast, our "home" for the next two nights. We enjoy staying at B&Bs and have had some wonderful experiences. This place did not disappoint. We were met by Patti, the innkeeper and given a brief rundown of the house and our room. The room was very large, elegant and comfortable. After a sauna and bath in the huge whirlpool tub (insert relaxing sigh here), we set off for a wonderful supper at a place called Barnaby's.



In the morning, Patti prepared us a lovely breakfast of fresh berries, baked herb eggs and biscuits. Don and I were well-fueled for a day of winery tours and tastings. We drove to Brotherhood Winery, the oldest winery in America where we bought a few bottles of Charval, a blend of Chardonnay & Seyval Blanc. Next to Benmarl Winery where we had a very nice tasting experience with a fellow named Nick. After purchasing more wine, we drove to Rivendell Winery. One more tasting and several more purchases completed our Hudson Valley wine touring for the day. Supper at a place called The Gilded Otter in downtown New Paltz was a bit of a disappointment to an otherwise pleasant day.


The next morning, Patti out-did herself with making us a tasty breakfast of fresh strawberries, Challah bread french toast and bacon. A great way to begin our day and start our journey down to Reading, PA to see our son, Adam and his wife, Beth and the STAR of our lives, our new grandbaby, Leicha.



This was our first experience holding Leicha, who was born 6 weeks early on June 27. We spent most of our time mesmerized by this tiny (now a big ol' 7 pounds!), sweet angel. Adam and Beth were very excited to show off their baby and we had a memorable visit.



While in Reading, we made a visit to The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (my concession to Don's interests). As we were the only tourists, we got a very personalized tour by an elderly gentleman named, Joe, who really knew his stuff. Of interest at this museum is a P-61 nightfighter that was recovered from the jungles of the Philippines at considerable expense. I guess it's one of only four in the world and they will be restoring and flying it in the future. Don took many photos as I tagged along and tried to look interested for the sake of Joe, who focused all his attention on explaining every detail to me.


We also managed to visit the Reading Public Museum, a really nice collection of interesting and unusual "stuff" from all over the world. We strolled the beautifully landscaped grounds, enjoying the peace and quiet.


All-in-all, Don and I had a very nice time, the highlight being our time with our grandbaby. Back to reality.