10 - 5 - 22 We travelled to Lisbon, Portugal and Seville, Spain from September 20 til October 4. While there we took a train from Lisbon to visit Sintra, an hour away, north of Lisbon. Beautiful place, lots of art works along walkways and into the historic center, where there are lots of shops and tourists, along with hills, villas and lush gardens. While in Lisbon, we stayed in the Belem area, the historic centre, close to trams, metro and buses, lots of restaurants and walking distances to sites. No liter anywhere, not on the sidewalks or streets, nor where any of the numerous outdoors cafes are. People are eating delicious pastries and coffee from morning til into the night. Rode the 15E around the area and along their museum row to see the district. On Friday, we took the train, which is a 3 hour ride into Faro, along The Algarve. Faro is much more low-key than Lisbon, less tourists around. Walked to the "Old Town", where the walls are built during the 16th and 17th century, all cobbled stone tiled streets and sidewalks. Visited the Chapel of Bones, where there are the remains of 1,245 monks. Next, train trip was to Tavira, one hour south of Faro. Convenient hotel to the ferry that takes you to Tavira Island, costing $2.20 round trip, is one of the best beaches along The Algarve. Tavira is a beautiful town with cobbled streets and sidewalks, lots of outdoor dining, cafes and gelato places. Everyday was mild, sunny with blue skies From Tavira, a bus takes 3 hrs to arrive in Sevilla, Spain. The hotel is a morner mansion, built in the 18th century, situated near the magnificent Cathedral The Cathedral of Sevilla is the oldest gothic Cathedral in the world. The Royal Alcázars of Seville historically known as al-Qasr al-Muriq and commonly known as the Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace in Seville, Spain, situated near the Cathedral The Spanish Royal family uses it as their offical Seville residence. Both places are UNESCO sites. The Museo Bellas Arts had a lot of religous paintings from the 1500's and was once a former convent. While in Seville, walked across the Rio Guadelquivir river to the Triana area, where there are beautiful home along the river. After four days in Seville, we returned to Lisbon. Taking a lift to half way up the highest hill to visit the Castle S. Jorge, built in the 11th Century by the Islamic. During our visit, we encountered lots of tourists everywhere and would have liked to have been immersed with the people of Portugal and Seville, but renting a car would have been required to drive outside of historic centre and area, into the countryside and elsewhere. Overall, it was great to visit this part of the world!

5 - 24 - 22 Went on a roadtrip from May 17 to May 24 to Maine. Stopped in Ogunquit, Me, is a quaint town on the coast, lovely, no fast food places and has one on the best sand beach on the coast of Maine. Day a day there and nite, walked the Marginal Way path, is 3 miles long on the ocean side and ends in Perkins Cove, where there are lots of restaurants, especially seafood. Next, head to BarHarbor and Acadia National Park, is a our 3rd vist to Acadia, always a treat and walked the 6 miles around Eagle Lake, took about 3 hrs. to do, very scenic. Did the stops on the Loop road to Sand Beach, Blow Hole, Jordon's Pond and Cadillac Mountain, 10,000 ft high, very windy. After 3 nites, went to Lubec, very low-key at this time of year. Only 2 restaurants were open, along with a few deli's. Is very close to Canadian Internationl Bridge and a State Park over to the Canadian side. Liked very much. Went to Cobscook State Park, which is 888 miles in area and Quaddy State Park, where the eastern most lighthouse is. Walked the coastal path, rocky and beautiful. Back to Ogunquit for a half-way point before back to Asbury Park. Went to the Ogunquit beach, lovely, lots of people sitting on the beach or walking oceanside. Enjoyed dinners at the Fisherman's Wharf in Lubec, mussels and haddock, Thai food in Bar Harbor, Pizza in Ogunquit. Enjoy the week's road trip and being in nature.

5 - 25 - 21 Went on a roadtrip from Monday, May 17 - Tuesday, May 25 to revisit Provincetown, MA, where I haven't been in decades and a revisit to Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park, last visit in 2006. Some new individual shops and markets in P-town, where Commerical St. was filled with people who were visiting, didn't expect to see so many. New shops and restaurants are now on side streets, too. Stayed at the Gifford House, where it was quiet and staff friendly. Did a nature walk, near Race Point Beach, before spending the afternoon, relaxing on the beach. It was sunny, with a slight breeze and saw a few brave people go into the ice-cold ocean. Surely, the summertime is packed with tourists, making it difficult to walk and drive thru the town. Plenty of diversity for all. Before heading to Bar Harbor, spent the nite in Freeport, visited the LL Bean, 24 hr. store and was surprised to see that the district had lots of empty storefronts and few people around. Took the scenic, coastal drive to Bar Harbor, ME, stopping at a State Park for lunch and to view the ocean. Lots of people in Bar Harbor and in Acadia N.P., more than I expected to see, since it was before Memorial Day weekend. Higher prices for lobster rolls, which were $37 each in town, less on the road, making up for the lost year of 2020. Some pay stations were open in Acadia N.P., including the Park Loop road around the park. Less on the trails off the beaten track, where many were hiking around Jordan's Pond, a beautiful location and takes about 3 hours to do the trail. Driving up Summit Road takes you to the top of Cadillac Mountain, 1,529 ft. always very windy and people are walking on top of the rocks, facing the ocean for the incredible view. Visited Sand Beach, where two women ran into the ocean and told me that they go there everyday, during their lunch break, brave gals in the freezing ocean. Next, was a visit to Thunder Hole to experience the sea's thunder against the rocks of Maine's shores. Let's of people at close range, got a soaking, when the wave, came crashing down. In the 1900's, Mr. George Dorr purchased land, where the Gardens of Acadia are today. This land area was donated to the park in 1961 and consists of more than 400 species of plants that exist in the park. Went to Echo Lake, Bass Harbor, where the head lighthouse is located and Ship Harbor. Did another visit to the top of Cadillac Mountain to see this stunning area and view, one more time. Did an overnite stop in Hampton Beach, NH, where there is a beautiful beach, before heading back home. It was great to be able to get back to nature, explore and the new normal.