Travel Diary

Bonn, Germany

I'm in Bonn, Germany. Bonn is notable for being the past capitol of West Germany, as well as the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven (for those who are fans of classical music). It is also a university town. I'll be here for two days, mostly visiting friends, before returning to Frankfurt for an early morning flight to Athens, and starting my tour of the Greek islands.

The journey here from Phoenix was uneventful and long, however, I was blessed to receive an upgrade on my trans-Atlantic flight to Business on Lufthansa (thanks!!). That made for a comfortable journey (and I admit to sleeping most of the flight, something I rarely am able to do). The food was superb, Seared Sea Bass with purple potatoes and vegetables, followed by a desert of cheese and fruit. I also had a wonderful Erdinger Weissbier (premium wheat beer with fine yeast is brewed according to a traditional recipe and in strict accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law).

The train journey was a bit cumbersome. I bought a ticket for a direct train to Bonn, so I wouldn't have to change along the way. 5 minutes before it was supposed to leave, the train was cancelled, so I took the train I was trying to avoid (as it required me to change stations and trains, catching a local light rail, with many stops). I wanted to get here before the old town markets closed for the day and get a few photos. Unfortunately, I didn't make it and almost everything was closed. So, a quick stop at the local Starbucks and back to the hotel for the night.

As I mentioned previously, Bonn is the birthplace of Beethoven. I went to see the house where he was born, but it was closed and covered with scaffolding. I guess that I won't get to visit the museum or take pictures of the house on this trip.

Cave Creek, Arizona

The desert is in full color this year. I've never seen such color in the years I have been here. This scene was taken just a short 5 minute walk from home. Amazing!! I just had to share.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

2019 is turning out to be a banner year for wildflowers. As I was driving to the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, just off I-10 on Cottonwoods Spring Road, I spotted an expansive display of wildflowers. The display was simply spectacular and after the previous spring, I found this to be a welcome respite from the past few dry years where there was little fall rain and as a consequence, little in the way of fields of wildflowers. I didn't see much in the higher elevations of the park (where there are large stands of Joshua Trees), instead finding a few snow flurries.

Cave Creek, Arizona

Time to start planning for another trip. In mid-October this year, I'll be travelling to Germany once again, with a side trip to Spain. I'm still researching locations to visit, but leaning towards either Valencia or Palma. Obviously, City of Arts and Sciences Museum in Valencia is a big draw, along with its white sandy beaches and Mediterranean climate.

Pima Air & Space Museum

Tucson, Arizona

It was a beautiful winter Saturday afternoon, when I began considering visiting the Pima Air & Space Museum, about a 90 minute drive from my home. I've never visited here before, in spite of my love for airplanes and history, so I decided that now was the time.

Leaving early the next morning, I made the 2 hour drive and arrived just as the museum was opening. For the next 4 hours I wandered around, poking my head into old bombers, admiring the metal working on the aircraft on display. Additionally, I had just recently purchased a Nikon Z 7 mirrorless camera and was keen to learn how to use it; it's going to be a great asset on my upcoming trip to Greece. More on this camera to come.