Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Lions and tigers and bears, oh, my (all but the tigers and plenty more  in the Beartooths of Big Sky Country) Home, home on the range,...

Remembering 'Uncle Cog' for his wry wit, Harry A. Cosgriffe,above right, poses with his siblings, circa 1930.From left, Richard...

The writer and photographer say "ship ahoy, mates" on a Jada lark.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Many people dream...

Expert tango dancers move with the music at Pampas Argentine Grill. STORY: CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Is there a dance more...

Distinguished bass player Bert Turetsky delighted Jewish Festival jazz lovers. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The 20th...

Framed by the glitzy hotels of the world's greatest gambling city, Cookie and Keller enjoy a night out!  STORY BY CHRISTENE MEYERS ...

Chocolate coated waffles caught Cookie's eye resulting in a tasty purchase from Belgium Gourmet ( www.belgium-gourmet.com )  STORY BY...

Bruce Keller and his mother, Jean Keller, board a harbor cruise at Oceanside, where Jean taught Keller to paint as a lad. STORY By...

Cookie and Nora sit by Tony Bennett's vibrant heart which is on display in San Francisco's Union Square. The famed jazz singer is also an...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Last Saturday's "starter kit" talked prices and posed questions to ask yourself when planning a cruise. Cruising offers value, variety, safety and more... you pack and unpack  once!  Recapping: *Are the ship and amenities more important than ports? Prefer to sail the Norwegian Fjords or wander the streets of a Sicilian village? *Must you have an ocean view or balcony? Happy with a cheaper, inside cabin? What's your budget?

Cruise ships and private yachts make a pretty sight in picturesque St. Thomas. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER There...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER It's all in the family at Arslan's Gyros in Pacific Beach. In the European tradition,...

A walk through a vineyard always surprises and delights. Both European and American grape growers frame vines with roses. STORY By...

The Colosseum remains one of tourism's most visited sites.       Story by Christene Meyers      Photos by Bruce Keller      "Rome...

Yes, jalapeno makes a tasty, zingy, complex brittle. Chocolate candy, of course!  Photos by Bruce Keller  Story by Christene Meyers...

The Ashland Springs Hotel holds center stage on Main Street.     Writing by Christene Meyers    Photos by Bruce Keller        One of my favorite William Holden movies is "Shangri-la."  It's set in a Utopian village in the Himalayas and director Frank Capra captures beautiful mountains, soothing forests and low-hanging clouds that seem to say "touch me, come in, enjoy." It is a magical place.      Shangri-la lives! The hotel's gracious lobby is artfully decorated in the styl

You’ve got to love a town where National Public Radio news includes the morning surf report.  Start your San Diego day with the weather...

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Carpe Diem Kids Today while perusing journals, I began a tally of cruises I’ve taken. The result surprised me! View from the promenade deck on our ship where art is part of the enticement. The grand total:  99!  So my next cruise will be my centenary.  I am excited.  What and where will it be?  Crystal, Oceania, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Cunard, Holland America, Carnival, Disney? Although born in land-locked Monta