Devil’s Elbow
You will no doubt be pleased to hear the the mystery of the name “Devil’s Elbow” has been solved. Sort of. Heceta Head State Park… Read More »Devil’s Elbow
The Coast
Mine was a family of fixed habits. Back in the days of Kennedy and Kesey going out to dinner meant either to the Colonial Inn… Read More »The Coast
Spencer’s Butte
The heart of Eugene, Oregon is bounded by Skinner’s Butte to the north and Spencer’s Butte to the south. What’s a butte, you ask? It’s… Read More »Spencer’s Butte
Dockton
Dockton is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. But at the end of the Nineteenth century it was very much somewhere. This speck of… Read More »Dockton
Favorite Photos
I’m aboard Étude on a calm, clear morning in Gig Harbor, Washington. You’d think I’d have something better to do than write a blog post.… Read More »Favorite Photos
Bordeaux at Night
It’s not a long walk from our hotel to the Garonne river, but after a day of walking, we decided to make the trip by… Read More »Bordeaux at Night
Out and About in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is called the Paris of the South. It’s not as large, of course, and notably lacks a tower or pyramid. But it’s elegant, beautiful,… Read More »Out and About in Bordeaux
Château LaTour-Martillac
Have you toured a winery? If so, you’ll see a lot that’s familiar in this post. Winemaking is like many other things – brain surgery,… Read More »Château LaTour-Martillac
Le Tour de Géants
Pau is a small town just north of the Pyrenees often used as either the beginning or the end of a stage of the Tour… Read More »Le Tour de Géants
Pigs and Fishes
The main reason that we came on this trip, the founding principle if you like, was to visit the Basque Country. We’ve been in and… Read More »Pigs and Fishes
Among the Basque
We cruised through Euskal Herria (Basque Country) today. The Basque are an ethnic group that lives in an area that spans France and Spain on… Read More »Among the Basque
Bilbao – This and That
Excusez-moi, Président Bush, mais vous envahissez le mauvais pays! France Tomorrow we return to France. Mary Anne and I love France, but many ‘mericans don’t.… Read More »Bilbao – This and That
Guggenheim – Bilbao
Everybody talks about the Guggenheim art museum in Bilbao. Designed by Frank Gehry, the same guy who gave us the Experience Music Project (now MoPop)… Read More »Guggenheim – Bilbao
Pamplona
Bullfighting. Meh. Look, I get it. Bulls are big, have pointy things on their heads, and can be dangerous if provoked. If you want to… Read More »Pamplona
Zaragoza
Zaragoza dates back to 14 BC when it was established by the Romans. There’s little left from that period, but there is a spectacular basilica,… Read More »Zaragoza