I had heard that the mountains of Oman were majestic and had vague knowledge of its “Grand Canyon,” but nothing prepared me for the reality. Continue reading “Oman | Heading for the Hills part I”
From the majestic mountains to to beautiful beaches, with history and culture to boot: Muscat is a must-see city . Click to read more. Continue reading Oman | Muscat Love
Until I started traveling in the Middle East and North Africa, I had no appreciation for dates (the fruit, that is). The lone boxes purchased to make Christmas cookies often languished well beyond their “sell by” date. Better late than never: I am now a convert.
Omanis consume dates from sun up to sunrise with the average person eating almost 1/2 pound a day. Dates are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and mineral and their high sugar content (40–80 percent) protects them against bacterial contamination and means they can be stored for years.
Continue reading “Foodie Friday | Oman”
These two islands were by far my favorite on the trip. That is not to say I would have skipped a single one, just that if I had two days, these are where I would spend my time. Continue reading “Genovesa and Bartolomé Islands”
Charles Darwin and the Galápagos are inextricably linked in many people’s mind. After all, this archipelago and its inhabitants gave birth to his theory of evolution. Darwin only spent five weeks on the islands, but what he observed resulted in his masterpiece On the Origin of Species. Santa Cruz Island is the most populated island in the Galápagos and home to the Charles Darwin Research Center. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Santa Cruz Island”
Only a few miles away as the pelican flies, Santiago Island is as different from its neighbor Rábida as night from day. Its stark cratered surface reminded me of the moon. Sea lions, marine iguanas and American Oyster Catchers were abundant, and we saw fur seals (which are actually sea lions – a fact that caused great confusion) for the first time. 
This bright Yellow Warbler with its colorful plumage was a standout, especially on Santiago’s moon-like surface. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Santiago Island”
Rábida Island is relatively small, with steep rocky cliffs and only one beach where it is possible to land. The distinctive deep red color of its sand is due to the high iron content in the lava. The island is known for these maroon beaches and its abundance of birds. (The small black bird mid-photo above is a penguin!) Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Rábida Island”
Fernandina sits just off Isabela Island and is the youngest island in the archipelago. Its volcanos are still active and most of the island is covered with lava. Consequently, there are relatively few plant species, mainly cactus and mangroves. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Fernandina Island”
While many people associate the Galápagos with Charles Darwin and his theories of evolution, what they may not realize is that the islands themselves evolve over time as well. The tectonic plates that caused the volcanic eruptions that became islands continue to move eastward at the rate of a few inches a year. Continue reading “Galápagos Close-Up: Isabela”
It’s -14 degrees Fahrenheit and time to warm up the house with some Christmas cookie baking! No travel posts this week as it’s time to enjoy time with family and friends. Here is the best recipe for those of you who bake, or want to bake, cookies, too! Continue reading Easy Holiday Sugar Cookie Recipe and Tips
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