I’m doing a Vegas guys weekend in August. I know it’s not anything extravagant but my buddies and I typically do a trip every year to a different location so we’re all excited to get together again. Last year we all got together via happy hour zoom calls which was actually kind of fun.

Our only trip this year has been Big Bend NP in April.
Planning maybe Namibia - Africa next year.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5a03a92b_k.jpg

We managed to get to Hawaii (Big Island) for a couple of weeks in February and it was excellent, and felt very safe. We’re doing a few days at a spa in eastern Washington in a couple of weeks and then Hawaii again (Kauai) in October. I won’t even think about Europe until next year.

Thinking back on our trip to Peru 21 years ago!

Nanc and I did the 4 day hike from outside Cusco along the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu. We both carried full packs (plus my huge camera bag) the entire way.
Not sure I could do that today with full packs.
The last night, we left our campsite at 2:00am and hike with headlamps through the jungle just in time to arrive at Machu Pichu at dawn's light!

One of our most memorable trips!


http://live.staticflickr.com/8368/85...130dbba7_h.jpg

http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/5...72ff305a_k.jpg

That’s a great trip. I did a similar trip, a bit longer, visiting Choquequirao, the sister site to Machu Pichu and other archeological sites on the trail to Aguas Calientes and Machu Pichu. Our trip was donkey-supported though, hiking with just day packs. Great fun. Now I try to
limit pack weight to 35 Lbs.

Another interesting site to visit in Peru is Pachacamac, which is pre-Incan (started around 200 A.D.) and only about 25 miles south of Lima. It is so large that is only partially excavated at this time. If memory serves, they told us when we visited in 2017 that it would be another 50 years before the site had been fully uncovered.

We finally got in another trip. This time to Quebec City. Canada was only fully opened on 25 October, so several restaurants were in the process of reopening. However, the Chateau Frontenac (our room was just above the right-most globe on the lamp-post) seemed to be doing well and both the Parmesan (decent food & an entertaining place to eat) & Paillard (excellent French pastries & coffee) were going strong. I recommend Paillard's Oranais Aux Abricot & millefeuille. :thumbsup: The funicular was running, which was good for our 74yr-old knees as it is many steps down (and then back up, of course) to that part of Vieux Quebec.

https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...1&d=1637248260
https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...1&d=1637248260
https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...1&d=1637248260

Spent a couple of weeks in GA, time split between Savannah & Jekyll Island, both of which we enjoyed. Savannah for the waterfront area & food and Jekyll Island for the relaxing near solitude.
Just confirmed our trip to Spain (A Coruna, Bilbao & San Sebastian) & France (Biarritz, Bordeaux & Paris) this spring. We are feeling optimistic about actually getting to go this time (covid). Will see in a few weeks.

Wonderful pictures! I was just there myself. Keep the pictures coming. You will love Namibia, and I can't wait to see those pictures.

Time to travel again?
 

Glenn, Did you enjoy the lobby of the new JW Marriott? Did you get to the Prohibition Museum? You were 25 mins from us. Craig

Craig - yes, to the Marriott, but not the museum. They've done a great job with the old power plant, as the 'city' (mix of public & private funds) has done with the entire river front area and 'market district'. We used to stay in a B&B next to Forsyth Park (think "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil"). Thankfully, they were booked and we found the waterfront district much more enjoyable.

Did not realize you are so close. Thought you were up next to Beaufort. We are definitely planning a longer-term visit next year to both Savannah & Jekyll Island. We enjoyed much more than the 'crush' that is Naples & Marco Island this time of year.