The Great Smoky Mountains and the Three Amigo's

Mark, Gillian, and Larry - Newfoundland Gap Overlook - Great Smoky Mountains

Families of choice and extended families are wonderful.  Our friend Gillian calls Mark and I her Bmore Bros.   We think of her as part of our family also.  We first met in person while on our honeymoon in Greece 11 years ago.   Since that time we have had many adventures together.  She visits us in Baltimore frequently.  We have shared family events together.  And we travel together frequently.  She has met many of our local friends.  My daughter in Atlanta calls Gillian her Manchester cousin.  This past April Gillian flew across the pond from England to Baltimore once more and we took a road trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. 

I love the Great Smoky Mountains.  I have traveled there many times.  My family spent several vacations in the Great Smoky's when I was growing up.  I took my children there when they were young.   Mark also loves the Great Smoky Mountains, particularly the Gatlinburg area.  So we were very excited when Gillian told us she would like to do a southern road trip through the Smoky Mountains.   Although we are very good friends and have spent a lot of time traveling together we had never really done a road trip together.   And I was a bit concerned how we all would survive ten days in a car together without driving each other crazy.  On an extended  road trip there is always one person who tends to drive the others a little crazy before the trip is over.  I just never realized that person would be me. 

I drove the first day.  Everything went well.  Mark sat next to me in the front of the car.  Gillian sat behind us in the back seat.  I was focused on the road so my attention was occupied with road signs and highways.  Mark and Gillian chatted and looked at landscapes.  The day was pleasant.  The second day Mark drove the car.  I sat in the front seat and once again Gillian rode in the back behind us.  The dynamics were a little different.  I was not as occupied with the road and ended up playing with the radio and changing channels and music frequently.  I think I even sang along a good bit with the music.   Mark and Gillian for the most part overlooked all of this.  We stopped at an Arby's for a quick  lunch and I bought the greasiest sandwich on the menu.   Gillian questioned my choice.  And Mark said I would probably not travel well after eating it.  Of course I paid no attention and then complained the rest of the day about an upset stomach and indigestion while still playing with radio most of the rest of the day.

Day three was a big game changer.  Mark drove once more.  But today Gillian and I switched seats so she could ride in the front and see more of the scenery.   For sixty five years it never dawned on me that I might have a touch of A.D.D.   I was never restless in school.  My teachers never complained about me being hyper or anything.  I sat in the back seat of the car and grew more fidgety by the hour.  I laughed too much.  I told too many jokes.  I complained too much.  And then I realized that I was the pain in the ass of the trip.  The bad part is that after realizing this the more I tried to control it the worse it.  When we finally arrived in Gatlinburg Mark and Gillian could not wait to escape the car.  I won't go into details about the evening activities in Gatlinburg.  I will say I tried to make amends for being so antsy in the car during the day.  I was well aware that I had been a little bit hyper and tried my best to behave better that evening in Gatlinburg. Returning to our hotel after our first evening meal in Gatlinburg we passed several moonshine tasting establishments.   I pointed out the first one but Mark and Gillian did not think it was the best idea.  We were all a little tired and it had been a long day so they were ready to head back to the room for the evening.  When we passed the third moonshine tasting location I decided to go inside with or without them.  They patiently waited for me to complete the tasting.  The samples were only in small thimble like cups.   But after fifteen samples even cups that small tended to take an effect.   Let's just say my hyperactivity in the car was nothing compared to my actions on the walk back to the hotel after the tasting.

The observation tower on the peak of Clingman's Dome

The next day all was forgiven.  We had a fresh start.  We did a wonderful drive and hike through a an area with restored mountain cabins.  Then we decided to go to Clingman's Dome.  Mark and I had both been to Clingman's Dome in the past and both really enjoyed it very much. At 6,643 feet, Clingman's Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi.  The trail is only half a mile.  But there are warning signs that the trail is very steep.  I first climbed the trail at Clingman's Dome fifty years ago when I was fifteen.  Of course there is a big difference between being fifteen and being sixty five.  And I felt everyone of the fifty years difference climbing the trail.   Mark trudged onward up the steep trail while Gillian and I took a moment to rest and catch our breath.  We were sitting on a bench in  a rest area talking.  A man walked over to us and said "Do you mind if I ask a question."  We both said of course not.  So he said to us "Can I ask where your accent is from?" Before Gillian even had a chance to answer Mr. Hyper Active Larry blurted out with a laugh "Oh I have a Baltimore accent."   The man and Gillian both looked at me like I was crazy.   Gillian said "Larry I think he is asking about my accent.  I  am from Manchester England."  Well of course he was talking about Gillian.  .  Later we saw the same man on top of the tower and he once again made a joke about my saying I had a Baltimore accent.  In my defense I have spent so much time with Gillian over the years that I don't really notice any accent.  So of course I thought he meant me!

Larry on the observation tower at Clingman's Dome

Mark and Gillian on the Clingman's Dome trail back to the parking lot

We still had six more days left to our car trip.  We had three days planned in Nashville and three more in the Memphis, Tennessee/Tunica, Mississippi area.  For the most part I behaved myself.  Gillian and Mark did not disown me. We returned home still good friends and have more travel adventures planned together this year.   Please don't judge me.  After all we all know who the real trouble maker is and I will use this photo below in my defense.

Gillian waking Mark up on a train in Germany

Swirl, Sniff, Taste. Cheers!

I love wine.  My mother is probably rolling over in her grave in Angle Hill Cemetery as I type this.  She has probably rolled all the way down the hill now by the little house with the chickens in the yard next to the cemetery. My mother did not approve of alcohol.  She drank when she was young.  But from the time I turned seven and my sister was born my mother never drank alcohol again.   But I will say it again.  I love wine.  If I became ill and had to give up sugar, candy, cakes, or bread I would survive.  I would miss them but I would survive.  If I never drank another glass of beer or scotch again I would miss it but I would once again still survive. Coffee?  I have already given it up.  I drink Sanka now.  I sleep better that way.   When I am old and in the rest home and not recognizing any of my family all I ask is that you visit, tell me your name, and bring me a glass of wine.  I will appreciate it and although I may  not remember your name, I will know your the nice one who brought me some wine.

If my mother was still alive and reading my blog this would be the image she would have in her mind.

Any of my online friends reading this will realize that in reality I am just sitting at my computer wearing my Eric Cartman pajamas's having a glass of wine and musing on my blog.

When I travel you can usually find a glass of wine nearby.  We visited our friend Sue Taylor in Scotland a few years ago.  Mark was worn out from jet lag.  Me?  I had a glass of wine.

Our good friends Tom and Joan have a frog who drinks wine in their yard.   I like their landscaping.

I love the fact that I can buy a bottle of wine with my dog's picture on it.

When we visit my home town we always take friends to the Vineyard, a great wine bar in Havre de Grace, Maryland.  They have a lovely lounge with a fire place.  And it's not busy on Saturday afternoons.  So when I visit with friends we have the place to ourselves and we have fun.

Ona and Lila at The Vineyard

My daughter Katie and I at the Vineyard

Ona and I at The Vineyard

Grand Cru in Belvedere Square Market in Baltimore is another favorite wine bar.  Mark and I are friends with the owner and managers.  We feel at home there.  One of my favorite photos of Mark and I was taken at Grand Cru.  I use it as my Facebook photo quite often.  

Frequent Facebook Photo of Mark and I

And much like the Vineyard, we take our friends to Grand Cru with us also.  Our friend Ona once again joins us in some fun in the photos below at Grand Cru.

Ona with Mark and I at Grand Cru

Ona at Grand Cru

Ona and her husband Bob at Grand Cru

So when do I recommend a glass wine?  

If you go through a nasty break up and need to get yourself back together buy a ticket to Budapest and have a glass of wine.

Alone finding my smile again in Budapest 

If you get married to that new love two years later buy two tickets to Santorini and  put a bottle of wine on your balcony.

The wine is only two feet away in Santorini

If you're out Christmas shopping with your sister go to Frederick, Maryland and have a glass of wine. And yes Mom, Shelley drinks wine too.  

Mark, Shelley and I Chrstmas shopping in Frederick.

In this topsy turvy crazy world, at the best times and the worst times.  Find some time to relax.  Find some friends and family and have a few laughs.  Tomorrow could be better.  Tomorrow could be worse.  But for the moment take a deep breath.  Smile.  Have a glass of wine.

                    

                                                  Swirl, sniff, taste.  Cheers!

Turning 65 on Diamond Head

Diamond Head overlooking Waikiki

I turned 65 November 2017.  It was not a joyous thought.  Turning 65 bothered me very much.  I started thinking about it and dreading it November 2016 when I turned 64.   Birthdays had not bothered me in many years.  The last birthday that I dreaded was my 30th.  I honestly thought I was getting old and was over the hill.  Thirty seemed so ancient.   After that birthday I was fine.  Turning 34 was easy.  Turning 40 never bothered.   But turning 65 was a jagged little pill to swallow.   

My daughters wanted to do something special for my birthday.  But I told them I did not want to do anything.  I was not wanting to celebrate this birthday.  I just wanted the day to pass and get it over with.  No thoughts, no party hats, just a quiet day to not thing about the dreaded 65.  Then my husband Mark asked me "What can we do to celebrate your birthday?"   I told him the same thing.  I did not want to do anything.  Maybe sit at home, turn on Turner Classic Movies and have a bottle, not glass, of wine.  But Mark knows my heart.  He knows my love of travel.   He said to me let's go somewhere.  Name the place and I will make it happen.   We talked about Italy as a possibility and a few other places.  And then Mark said "What about Hawaii."   And my eyes lit up!  There is no place either of us have enjoyed more than Hawaii.   

Ashton Waikiki Circle Hotel

So in mid November we found ourselves at the Ashton Waikiki Circle Hotel right on the beach in Waikiki.  We saw the hotel on our two previous trips to Waikiki and it had always caught our interest.  It's one of the older hotels on the strip but it's a fun hotel.  The round shape of the hotel gives the rooms an interesting shape and also great views from any angle.  Although our room was in the back we could still see the beach from an angle on our deck.   It was an affordable and interesting choice.

Shaka brah - cruising in our rented convertible 

We rented a convertible car and with the top down we enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air driving around the island.  And not once did I think about the dreaded birthday.  We drove up into the mountains, explored historic graveyards, and explored secluded beaches.  

We spent our evenings dining and drinking local Hawaiian brewed beers.  

I even got to give the one fingered salute to a certain politician who shall remain nameless on this blog.  

Where Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster embraced in waves in the movie From Here To Eternity

Two days before my birthday we explored the beaches on the north shore of Hawaii.  It's the winter season when the waves are tall so it was great fun to watch the big waves at Waimea and the other beaches.   We got to see the famous beach where Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster embraced in the surf.   I even got to take this 65 year old body for a nude dip on one of the north shore beaches.  You can thank me later  for not posting photos.

My plan was to climb Diamond Head on my birthday.  I thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate.  I had climbed Diamond Head three years earlier and knew it was a good hike.  So I did not want to wear myself out the day before and not be able to enjoy the hike on my birthday.  While we at the Maui Brewery Company, one of our favorite bars in Waikiki, the bar tender told us about Manoa Falls.  He said it was between Waikiki and Honolulu and had an easy trail and was very worth seeing.  Manoa Falls is located in Manoa Valley in the rain forest between Honolulu and Waikiki.  The falls is 150 feet high and empties into a small pool of water.  Since the area around the waterfall is considered a rain forest it is prone to heavy rainfall often raining daily.  We were told it was a beginner trail so we should not have problem.  So we decided why not?  We wanted to see the falls and it sounded like an easy hike.  So it should not interfere with out plans to hike Diamond Head the following day,

Manoa Falls - Oahu

The falls were beautiful.  And yes it does rain in that area every day.   And no the trail was not a beginners trail!  The first half of the hike was not difficult.  The trail was paved and wide for the most part.  But the second half was another story.  The trail narrowed and the tropical plants grew taller and thicker.  We ended up climbing wet slippery rock formations and sliding in muddy trails.  It was quite a journey.  It was a lot more than I had expected.  But it also was not an advanced or dangerous trail.  We were tired the next day, but we both agreed the climb up Diamond Head would happen.

Mark  and I on the trail to Manoa Falls

The next day was the big day.  And also it was our final day on Oahu.  So no matter how tired we were from our many days of walking and swimming this the day we had to climb Diamond Head.   

Field below Diamond Head as we begin our hike

We arrived at Diamond Head the next morning.  I was now officially 65 and it was time to finish the planned celebration.  The volcano seems impressive from the bottom.  But the hike is not difficult.  The hike up Diamond Head is only about 45 minutes.  It was much shorter than the  hike to Manoa Falls the previous day.  The path is wide and well paved with hand rails and  benches to stop and rest if you need them. 

Mark on the trail to the top of  Diamond Head

It's an easy climb but with heat and humidity on Oahu it is a bit tiresome.  There are wonderful views as you climb the base of the mountain.  When you get near the top there are steps you have to climb a set of steps so it best to know this in advance.  There are 74 four steps that lead to a tunnel.  

I survived the 74 steps and then made it through the tunnel

After leaving the tunnel you still are not at the peak of Diamond Head.  Once you leave the tunnel you see another set of steps.  99 steps this time.  You can hear the sighs and the voices saying "Oh no" as you leave the tunnel.  But it's really not that bad.  

The final 99 steps to reach the top of Diamond Head

Mark on top of Diamond Head with the volcano caldera behind him

And we made it. We climbed the trail, steps, and walked through the tunnel.   I turned 65 and I climbed Diamond Head.  And it was worth it.  I spent the dreaded day not thinking about the age, not   dreading the moment.  I realized once more, just as I did turning 30, that age does not define you.  It would have been a lot easier at 30 than at 65 to climb Diamond Head.  But it would not have been a major accomplishment at 30.  And I would have not appreciated the experience as much.  We are going back to Hawaii again this coming November.  I do not know if we will climb Diamond Head again or not.  I may just save that for turning 70.

Happy to be 65 on the top of Diamond Head

(Thank you Mark for making all of this happen.  You will never really understand how much I appreciated this.)

Lost travel photos Shaken Not Stirred

Larry at Piz Gloria on the peak of Schilthorn  - Switzerland

Travel photos.   There are few things I enjoy more than travel photos.  I love taking them.  I love coming home and editing my photos.  I love posting them on the Internet and in blogs.  And I love looking at them over and over many times after my vacation ended.  Each time I view them I relive the experience of the trip all over again no matter how long ago the actual trip happened.

If you know me at all you probably know I am a huge James Bond fan.  And I have visited many James Bond movie locations in my travels.  I don't go out of my way to visit Bond sites, but if I am in the area and one is near by I do want my photo taken there.  In 2003 I got to visit one of the Holy Grail sites for Bond fans.   I was in Switzerland with my then partner.  I let him know with no question that while we were in Switzerland that I had to see Piz Gloria, Blowfeld's fortress from the movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service.  Piz Gloria is a rotating restaurant on top the peak of Schilthorn towering above the tiny Alpine community of Murren.   It's very isolated.  It is not easy to get there.  It is not one of those places where you can take a train, walk out of the station and say there it is.  You have to plan your way to get there.  There are no roads to reach Murren.  There are no cars in Murren.  We had to take a train from Bern to Interlaken Switzerland.  From Interlaken we took a train  to Lauterbrunner. Then from Lauterbrunner we had to take the narrow gauge train up the mountain to Murren.  The train station is at the north of the village.  From there we had to walk through the beautiful village of Murren to the Schilthornbahn .  This is a mountain cable car that takes you to the peak of Schilthorn  at 10,000 feet in the Alps.  There is also a stop and change in cable cars half way up at the station called Birg.  So you have to plan and prepare your journey if you are going to Piz Gloria.

Larry at the Schilthornbahn station of Birg

It was one of my favorite all time travel experiences to stand on the top of Schilthorn and see Piz Gloria. And it was such a wonderful photo opportunity. Neither my ex partner nor I had digital camera's at this time. We were still taking photo using film. And with film you can't take hundreds of photos to bring home and edit and delete the bad ones. You only have a few chances to get the right photo and then hope it turns our well when you get it developed. We ended up with a couple of good photos of he and I together at Piz Gloria and I had a couple of him alone at the location. It never dawned on me until we ended our relationship two years later that I did not have a photo of me alone at this Holy Grail of Bond fandom. I only had the photos of he and I and of him alone. So I have spent years angry at myself for never having my own individual photo taken at Piz Gloria. It was just a stupid mistake. 

Every time some one chats about Piz Gloria in one of the Bond fan groups I get angry all over again because I don't have of photo of myself to share with the group proving I had been there. And as each year passed I realized more and more that I would probably never have that opportunity to return there and take my photo. Last year my husband Mark and I went to Switzerland. It was my first time back since the trip with my ex back in 2003. I really wanted to return to Piz Gloria and take that long lost photo. But it was just too difficult. We were no where near Bern or Murren on this trip. And it would have been really out of our way to try and get there at this time. Although that was a disappointed I was still thrilled to be back in Switzerland and share this wonderful country with Mark. We visited my favorite city of Zurich. We went to several other mountain peak restaurants much like Piz Gloria. And I made sure to have solo photos taken as well as photos with Mark this time.

Mark and I at Uetilberg overlooking Zurich

Since the beginning of this new year it's been a very cold winter. I have spent a lot of time inside my house. I decided to take the time and organize some of my junk that I have need to sort through for a long time. Right now I am working on my home office. It's a bit of a disaster. I have a closet full of old scrapbook papers and supplies that I have not used in over ten years. I am taking them all to Goodwill. Hopefully some one will find good use for them. I also found several boxes of old photos. A lot of these were very old family photos. So I decided to scan them and share them with my daughters. Also in the box was several envelopes full of photos that I realized had been taken by my ex. I remember when we broke up almost 13 years ago now that I had gone through all of our photos and divided them up. We had duplicates made of all of our photos together so I took half of mine and left them with him and then took half of his duplicates and brought them with me. I really had no desire to look at old photos of him and I at the time so I just put them all in a box and packed them away when I moved. I had never really looked that close at his photos before as I was usually more interested in the ones that I had taken not ones he had taken . I was really surprised at some of the photos and have scanned them to save digitally. And then suddenly there it is. A photo of me at Piz Gloria. I did not even remember him taking the photo. All these years being angry at myself for being so stupid about not having a photo taken and now here it is. The photo at the top of this blog is me at Piz Gloria from this collection of photos. The one above of me at Birg is also from this collection. I was really happy to see them. And seeing the Alpine peaks of Schilthorn seems kind of appropriate with all of the cold weather and ice outside. Below is one last photo of me at Piz Gloria. I will be using this in conversations in James Bond facebook groups and posting it to my Flickr account also very soon.

Larry at Piz Gloria

There is one last photo of me sitting inside the rotating restaurant having lunch. I will post it below. There is only one problem. I am not holding my James Bond martini in the photo. Can you believe that. I am so mad. No martini photo shaken not stirred. How stupid could I be. I will just have to find a way to get back to Schilthorn and Piz Gloria again. I guess some people are just never satisfied. Hey Mark can you book those tickets for Murren?

2017 - It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

Here I am on my 65th birthday at the top of Diamond Head.  

Happy New Year.  Looking back at 2017 is difficult at times.  In many ways it was the worst of times.    I am starting out the new year still hating that Donald Trump is our President but thankful Mike Pence is not the President.   So it could always be worse.   But I am not going to focus on the tragedy in Washington right now.  There were too many good things to celebrate about 2017.  I turned sixty five in November.  That's a land mark of sorts.   Starting in November 2016 I started dreading the next birthday.   Turning sixty five was really bothering me.  I honestly was depressed about it the entire year.  But looking back at the highlights of 2017 it's hard to believe I was depressed over my age. 

Trivia Team L & B in our ugly Christmas Sweaters 

One of the best things about 2017 was making new friends.   Mark and I joined a trivia team.   Team L and B.   We drove each week to Port Deposit, Md to eat mediocre food, play trivia, and laugh with some good friends.   Clare Pippin and Bonnie Campes and Johnathon Beltz became three of our best friends this year along with Todd and Laurie Starkey who joined us on many nights.   Also on our team was one of my dearest friends Barbara Snyder.  Barbara and I have a long history and this past year seeing her each week at trivia made our "old" friendship feel new and fresh all over again.  We laughed, we bashed Trump, and we all bonded.  Thank you Charm City Trivia for helping create this group.

Debbie  Harry in her save the bee's head dress

I got to meet some celebrities this year.  I always enjoy meeting celebrities.   I got to see Debbie Harry in concert in Atlanta.   My daughter Danielle and her wife Andrea invited me down to visit them and to go see Debbie in concert.   Opening the show was another favorite of mine.  Shirley Manson and Garbage.

Shirley Manson singing through a down pour

Shirley Manson had to stop her performance due to a thunderstorm that poured rain down on all of us.  But it didn't stop our fun.  We just danced in the rain and got soaked. 

I also go to meet a Bond girl this year.  Each year I go the the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention to meet a new Bond girl.   This year I got to meet Maryam Dabo who starred in The Living Daylights.  She also wrote the huge coffee table book Bond Girls Are Forever.  I have a copy that I take to the convention each year to collect Bond girl autographs.  Maryam was honestly honored that I had her book and she sat down with me to look at the other autographs I had collected in the book.  Such a nice lady.

Maryam Dabo and me 

Meeting Cindy Williams.

I also got to meet Cindy Williams.  I have been a fan of hers since the 1970's   She was also very nice and seemed to enjoy meeting her fans.

2017 was also a good travel year for me.  I go to travel to Atlanta in August to visit Danielle and Andrea and also to Nashville with Katie.

Danielle at Chastain Park before the down pour on Shirley Manson

In October my daughter Katie invited me to travel with her to Nashville.  I had never been to Nashville so this was great fun.  It was an early birthday gift to me.  So turning 65 might not have been bad after all.   We had a wonderful time. We do not always get a lot of alone time together so this was very special.   

Katie and I at our favorite honky tonk in Nashville - The George Jones Museum and Bar

In May Mark and I traveled to Germany and my beloved Switzerland.  We were on this trip with our extended family member Gillian Hobson.  Gillian is our favorite traveling partner and we always have a great time with her.   We also got to see many of our old Virtual Tourist friends again after not seeing them for several  years.

Mark and I at Lake Zurich in Switzerland

Mark and I in Ulm Germany.

Few places make me happier than Zurich Switzerland.

Few places make me happier than Zurich Switzerland.  If I could chose a place to live out my retirement years Zurich would be near the top of my list.  Only one other place makes me happier.

Dreading the birthday in November I told my family I did not want a big party or celebration.  I just wanted to get the day over with and move on into my next year.  And most of all I wanted no surprise parties.  That would have been the worse.  But Mark told me he really wanted to do something for my birthday.  He said to me where would you like to go to.  I will make it happen.  That's a special offer I could not turn down.  So we flew back to Hawaii for our third time in five years.  For years Switzerland was my favorite place of all.  I mentioned above it would be near the top of where I would like to live out my retirement years.  That is because the island of Oahu would be at the top of that list.  Mark and I spent my birthday week walking along the isolated beaches of Oahu's north shore, climbing mountains to find water falls near Honolulu and then finally climbing Diamond Head on the day I turned 65.  That's is not a bad way to turn 65.

So what does the new year hold?   More Trump bashing I am sure.  Fun with the trivia team.   One or hopefully two travel adventures with Gillian.  And lots of home time with Mark doing household projects.   I do best watching and taking photos!