Japan's complex but efficient transportation system is known throughout the world. Here, one of the beautiful corridors connecting the city. It features both moving walkways and an option to walk on immaculate tiles. Story By Christene Meyers Photos By Bruce Keller "The Carpe Diem Kids" The Tokyo Pass and Rail, Metro Tips & What Travelers Should Know to Navigate Japan’s Efficient Transportation System Japan's transportation system is efficient but complex. Preparing before your trip will help. The first time most travelers enter a major Japanese train station, they experience a moment of awe followed by confusion. Streams of commuters move with precision beneath glowing signs filled with Japanese characters and color-coded lines. Trains arrive exactly on time. Escalators hum with orderly rhythm. Music plays, arrivals and departures are announced as bullet trains move in and out at breathtaking speed. If you aren't prepared, you could feel lost. Many rank Japan’s transportation system as the best in the world. In many ways it is. Yet its brilliance comes with complexity. Understanding how to navigate it -- before your trip begins-- will transform Japan from stressful to seamless, from intimidating to unforgettable. That's Cookie, second from left, resting on a hectic travel day, a rookie with a sea of polite local commuters. Japan Travel Transportation Guide: Pleasures of Traveling There Our Japan travel transportation guide shows that Japan’s transport system is part of the cultural experience. We rode the Shinkansen, took many subway trips, followed Japan transit etiquette. In three weeks, our confidence increased. Still, navigating Tokyo Station and other major hubs is not for the timid. Japan feels almost impossibly efficient. Trains routinely arrive within seconds of scheduled times. Stations are clean. The movement of millions of people seems calm and organized. We sometimes felt we were the only ones who didn't know what we were doing. But we met a confused New Zealand who made us feel less alone; they were challenged, too. Once we studied and did a bit of homework, travel in Japan actually became fun. Japan's famous Shinkansen bullet train resembles a James Bond car -- sleek, modern, efficient. The famous Shinkansen bullet trains glide smoothly through the countryside, turning long-distance travel into something serene rather than exhausting. A trip from Tokyo to Kyoto takes many hours by car, but by train took us just over two hours. We watched Mount Fuji outside the window while attendants passed through the cabin, bowing politely. It all felt distinctly Japanese: elegant, respectful, quietly theatrical. Bruce Keller contemplates the journey, sitting with Japanese commuters on a busy day. On local trains, we watched uniformed school children take their seats. Elderly passengers carried produce. Neatly dressed workers dozed or checked their phones. It was a cultural experience. Subway stations have personality. Some feature beautiful geraniums or other pretty potted plants. Some play traditional music. Some have elaborate underground shopping arcades, bakeries, bookstores, art installations. Stations like Shinjuku and Tokyo Station are subterranean cities. First-Time Traveler’s Biggest Shock: Scale Nothing prepares visitors for Japan's massive transportation infrastructure. Tokyo has the world's most complex rail network. Multiple companies run overlapping systems, including Japan Railways (JR), Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway and private lines. One area may contain several stations with similar names operated by different companies. Tokyo Station feels like a combination airport, shopping mall and labyrinth. Shinjuku Station handles millions of passengers daily with dozens of exits. It often took us twenty minutes to find the correct platform or exit. Locals do it quickly. This complexity at first frustrates. While Japan's efficiency is real, efficiency and simplicity are not the same. But Japan’s transportation is well organized once you know fundamentals. The Essential Secret: Use an IC Card Immediately. We recommend Suica One of the smartest decisions we made was to first obtain an IC transit card. Cards such as the Suica or PASMO function like rechargeable transportation wallets. Instead of purchasing individual tickets for each ride, we simply tapped into our gates and tapped out at our destinations. When we needed to replenish our cards, we found convenience stores to add more yen. If you have an Apple phone, you can add money from your wallet. We recommend the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Pass, which we obtained through Tokyo Pass. Various options for time are available. Tokyo Pass also offers unlimited access to nearly 40 different attractions. The cards work on trains, subways, buses, and even vending machines and convenience stores. Without an IC card, we would have spent time at ticket machines trying to calculate fares. Our cards made the process dramatically easier. The freedom of simply tapping in and out of gates turned Japan’s transportation network from intimidating to manageable. Tokyo Pass: Why This Valuable Pass Is Worth It We appreciated the Tokyo Pass. It offers foreign visitors to Tokyo unlimited access to a variety of excellent museums, parks, gardens, zoos, and aquariums with the convenience of cashless admission. The Tokyo Pass is convenient and made it easy for us to explore the city. For a a fast-paced itinerary involving Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and back to Tokyo, visitors may consider the Japan Rail pass with access to Japan’s famous trains, including the fast Shinkansen bullet trains, plus a range of buses and a ferry. For many, it’s the key to exploring multiple cities quickly, easily and for less money than buying individual tickets. Travelers staying primarily in Tokyo need only the Tokyo Pass, both useful and convenient. Our trip from Tokyo to Kyoto during Golden Week meant we needed reserved seats. The Shinkansen was crowded but comfortable and we were grateful for having reserved ahead. The Beauty of the Shinkansen Riding the Shinkansen has been a defining pleasure in our multiple trips to Japan. The trains are smooth, quiet, and comfortable. Seats are spacious. Windows are large. Luggage storage is organized. Stations operate with extraordinary precision. Yet there are practical details visitors should know in advance. Pack reasonably sized luggage. Large suitcases may need reserved luggage storage seating. Not all Shinkansens are equal. Some stop frequently, others are express. Understanding the difference between Nozomi, Hakkari, Kodama, and other train categories saves travel time. Many Japanese travelers bring an ekiben, or box lunch. The word is a combination of eki (train station) and ben (short for bento, or boxed meal). They are tasty and beautifully prepared. Reserved seats are worth the additional cost during busy seasons. We learned this during Golden Week. Other crowded times are Buddhist Obon holidays, cherry blossom time and autumn foliage period. Consider your dates and book accordingly. A traveler stands patiently in line before boarding. Many travelers buy an ekiben -- an artful bento box. We found that eating quietly aboard the Shinkansen while countryside scenery glides by to be memorable. Japan's subway system is elaborate but efficient. Do some homework first to make it easier. Timing, Luggage and Etiquette Matter in Japanese Culture Japan’s transportation system rewards punctuality. If a train departs at 10:03, it genuinely departs at 10:03. Arriving at 10:04 can mean missing the train entirely. We learned to budget additional time inside major stations. Finding the correct platform in Tokyo or Osaka took us longer than expected, particularly with a month of luggage. Savvy travelers increasingly pack lighter or utilize Japan’s excellent luggage forwarding services. Companies transport suitcases between hotels, allowing travelers to move with just overnight bags. Experienced travelers arrive at major stations at least 20–30 minutes early. Quiet Is the Rule Japan’s transportation culture is built upon consideration for others. One of the biggest cultural surprises for foreign visitors is how quiet trains are. Even crowded commuter trains are nearly silent. Phone calls are discouraged although many people text and read email. Loud conversations are considered impolite. Music should never leak from headphones. Travelers line up neatly on platforms. Escalator etiquette varies, but locals generally stand on one side and leave the other open. Sides change from city to city. Backpacks are often carried low or moved to the front during crowded rides. Eating is common on Shinkansens. Always use trash dispensers built into hallways between cars. Understanding transit etiquette helped us feel comfortable and respectful. It works. Millions of people participate collectively in maintaining order and calm. Avoid Commuter Times We learned years ago to avoid major commuter travel windows, especially in Japan between 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. This is important on weekdays in Tokyo and Osaka. The difference between riding at 8 a.m. versus 10 a.m. feels huge. The Emotional Side of Japanese Transit What surprises many travelers most is both the efficiency and a quiet yet emotional atmosphere. There is dignity. People move with mutual awareness, orderly despite crowds. Employees bow as trains depart. Conductors point at signals, in precise safety protocol. For visitors like us from car-dependent countries, Japan’s transit culture feels oddly peaceful. We found our green Suica transit cards to be helpful and easy to use in Tokyo. As we traveled, we walked more, observed more, becoming part of the city's rhythm. We realized that Japan’s transportation system reflects broader cultural values: respect, precision, patience, cooperation, and collective responsibility. Final Advice: Preparation Creates Freedom Travelers who struggle most in Japan are those who arrive without preparing. Japan rewards preparation. Download navigation apps before arrival. Learn basic station terminology. Understand IC and Suica cards. Reserve major train journeys during peak seasons. Pack light for ease. Study your hotel’s nearest station exit. Most importantly, allow yourself patience during the first few days. Most travelers get lost at least once. Almost everyone boards a wrong platform or feels confused. With preparation that changes. The maps begin to make sense. Transfers become easier. Tapping through ticket gates becomes second nature. Japan’s transportation system may initially appear overwhelming, but for travelers willing to prepare and adapt, it becomes one of the greatest pleasures of visiting the country. For Tokyo travelers, we recommend the Tokyo Pass, a digital, smartphone-based sightseeing ticket that grants travelers cash-free entry to Tokyo's top museums, gardens and cultural attractions: mytokyopass.com; jrailpass.com; Helena's Montana Historical Heritage Center is the setting for a visit from travel writers and photographers Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers, framed by a vibrant mural above the gift shop COMING SOON: In Helena, Montana, the Montana Heritage Center has become a major new destination for anyone who wants to understand our state beyond its breathtaking mountains, wide-open highways and legendary cowboy image. Admission is free, and various exhibits give a feel for Montana that enriches a visit to the Treasure State. Exhibits range from the Ice Age to Native American culture, present day attractions, animals and the state's extraordinary wildlife, plus much more. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, the arts, nature, history and more: www.whereiscookie.com

Peny Jil Cosgriffe Hayes was a beautiful and talented sister who died 27 years ago this week. REMEMBERING A LIFE WELL-LIVED:BLITHE, BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT PENY Editor's Note: This essay, by Christene Meyers, was published in 2013 and has appeared in various versions in newspapers and magazines. It was reviewed in 2026 and is reprinted by request, to honor Peny's Oct. 15 birthday TWENTY-SEVEN years ago, the world was mourning the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Our family was saying good-bye to our beloved Peny Jil, my sister, who was enduring the last few days of a nine-month battle with leukemia. Space shuttle Challenger explodes in a fiery cloud against a dark sky, leaving white smoke trails and horrified witnesses watching below. I was on my way from Montana to University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, on one of 25 flights to see sis since her diagnosis on a dark dawn, April 5, 1985. It was the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, and I’d raced into an airport lounge in Salt Lake City to watch the Challenger launch. Waiting for my connection, I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed for the TV. I watched in disbelief as the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into flight. Soon, everyone knew that all seven crew members had perished. I’ll never forget the anguished faces of Christa McAuliffe’s parents, Ed and Grace, as their joy turned to horror. "Evita" was the last pay the sisters saw together. Theater was a tradition. FOR MY family, it was sorrow upon sorrow. Losing My Sister Peny and Christa is Still Traumatic for the Families My father and mother, Richard and Ellen, were experiencing their own grief as the doctors in San Francisco told them that morning that Peny would not survive. The ardors of chemotherapy, radiation and failed bone marrow transplant had weakened her beyond recovery. We had been so hopeful – battling the odds – conferring with doctors, reading everything, hoping for a miracle. She slipped into a coma the night before and although I had just left San Francisco, hope in my heart, I headed back to say good-bye. Christa McAuliffe left the planet the same weekend as did Peny, 27 years ago during space shuttle Challenger's launch. PENY WAS BORN in 1949. Christa was born in 1948. They would have been friends. Both were gregarious, over-achieving, loving, fine teachers, intrepid adventurers, with daring, charisma and humor. Christa became famous as the first teacher to train for a space flight. Peny was a ground-breaker, too. She left Montana to live in a commune in northern California. There she met Jim Hayes, a New Yorker who left a successful law firm for a simpler life. They established a porcelain pottery studio and had two delightful children, Amarylla and James. Peny taught aerobics, grew vegetables, was an accomplished cook, singer and seamstress and made black berry pies instead of birthday cakes. She was a fine swimmer, sly prankster and never missed an opportunity to hear a jazz concert or take in a play. Peny, on mother Ellen Cosgriffe's lap, and Cookie, 1952, right. The sisters performed and dressed alike until their late teens. As children, she and I were known as Cookie and Peny and we toured a song-and-dance act to Montana towns, performing for many functions, including a gubernatorial inaugural. Our musical mother dressed us like twins until we were in our teens. In our last years together, we began a tradition of sister weekends in San Francisco, seeing plays, going to clubs, ordering room service at midnight. The Hayes family visited Montana and we met in Hawaii when the kids were young. Our last play together was “Evita” and I think of Peny every time I hear “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.” I wonder if Christa’s sister, Betsy, thinks of Christa every day. Even after 27 years, I’ll bet she does. Cookie, left, baby Amarylla and Peny sunbathing on Kaanapali Beach, Maui, in spring of 1974. PENY JIL Cosgriffe Hayes had gorgeous red hair and a lilting soprano voice. She learned to play the viola in two days. She loved to dance and stopped the show with her passionate movements. She also mastered piano, guitar, trombone and flute. In her last weeks, she played her flute in the cancer ward, greeting other patients, her instrument in one hand and her portable IV in the other. She was also an accomplished artist and was building a successful porcelain business with her husband Jim when disease struck. Both Peny and Christa were married happily and had small children. Christa’s children, Scott and Caroline, were nine and six when they lost their mother. Peny’s children, Amarylla and James, were twelve and nine. I am devoted to my niece and nephew and follow their lives with pride. I wonder how Christa’s kids are, how their lives have gone, what they’ve become. From left, sisters Cookie, Olivia and Misha, with their niece Amarylla, Peny's only daughter, of whom she was proud. I KNOW Christa would be proud and I’m certain Peny would be pleased that her children have full, happy lives. She loved both town and country and her kids have many of her wonderful traits – one each living in the two worlds she loved. James is the country boy, settled in rural northern California where he grows and markets organic vegetables and eye-popping flowers. Amarylla lives in the Bay Area where she is taking time off from her marketing and catering career to be a busy mom. Both have loving partners. I gave each couple a holiday gift of a video my partner put on a DVD. In it, their mother sings a leading part in a Christmas cantata in 1984. That long-ago rehearsal is one of the few remnants we have of Peny in action, along with a funny tennis match with her husband Jim, filmed at Flathead Lake in Montana during the summer of 1983. My late husband, Bruce, provides a hilarious commentary for the match, the youngsters’ antics in the lake and the picnic we shared later in the day. Peny, left, and Cookie, sing a holiday song. ONE OF MY late mother’s favorite Cookie-Peny stories was of a holiday performance Peny and I gave in the Congregational Church in Columbus, Montana, in the early 1950s. We were singing “The Lord’s Prayer,” with our grandmother Olive accompanying us on the organ. I was four; Peny was three, “Irish twins,” as we were known. When Peny began fidgeting with the brass rings on the velvet curtain framing the altar, I slapped her hand. She slapped me back. The fight continued, all without our missing a note and offering a teeth-clenching “amen.” The congregation was in hysterics and the minister was laughing so hard he had to remove his glasses. I CELEBRATE my sister’s rich but brief life and her robust 36 years on the planet. Christa had only a year longer. How much more could these two wonders have accomplished had they lived? How I wish Peny were here with me now, for I’ve recently settled in California. We would see even more of one another, enjoy nightlife, museums, jazz and plays. She would cherish her grown children, and her adorable grandson. We’d meet again at the Fairmont or St. Francis to toast with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc and order clam chowder at midnight. WHAT I KNOW about loss is that it becomes a permanent part of our lives. Each fallen loved one holds a sacred place in our heart and history. Our affection never changes. Our sadness in their leaving never abates. But slowly, miraculously, the debilitating sorrow gives way to wistful thanks. Thanks for their having been here. For since their existence has altered ours, they are forever with us.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, New Year's Eve 2015. Cookie, Keller had ringside seats to ring in 2015! They also saw Bennett and Gaga at his farewell concert in New York's Radio City Music Hall. Bruce Meyers and the Kit Kat Girls. The actor and writing teacher was emcee in a 1977 production of "Cabaret" for which writer Christene Meyers was music director and head of the Kit Kat Band. DANCING THROUGH LIFE, FAVORITE PLAYS AND PERFORMANCES, INTERVIEWS, CHANCE MEETINGS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER (and newspaper archives, studios) "The Carpe Diem Kids" Cygnet Theatre moved from its Old Town venue to Liberty Station, naming its primary theater after one of its largest donors, Joan Jacobs. IN THOUSANDS of plays, concerts and star interviews, I've collected a steamer trunk of programs, playbills, ticket stubs, autographed photos. Notes from chats with hundreds of stage and screen personalities. Film reviews. Observations on live productions. Notes for my annual Oscar predictions. Academy Awards reports. Scribbles on napkins from surprise meetings. Sitting by Christopher Plummer to watch his daughter, Amanda, in her Tony nominated portrayal of a young nun in "Agnes of God." Harry Belafonte: activist, brilliant singer, played to a sold-out gala at the Alberta Bair Theater. Orchestra seats across from Indira Gandhi at that same New York production, days before she was assassinated in India. Getting a last-minute "okay" for a 10-minute interview with Sammy Davis Jr. at his final Sands performance in Las Vegas. Interviewing Harry Belafonte in Billings, Montana, and learning that Martin Luther King wrote his most famous speech while a guest in Belafonte's New York town house. Meryl Streep, a delight to interview. I treasure interviews at world premiers with the greatest actress of our time. Ditto, Gene Hackman, who gave me a private interview at "The French Collection" premier because he liked my questions at the round table. Christopher Reeve as "Superman" before a riding accident changed his life. Thoughtful, kind Christopher Reeve, a gentleman to all, gracious and intelligent interview, super "Superman" in so many ways. His humanitarian contributions and heroic dealing with a crippling horseback riding accident endeared him to me and millions of fans. Grace under pressure. ROBERT REDFORD was our traveling companion on a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to New York. He sat in 2A, quietly reviewing the script for "A River Runs Through It." We didn't bother him-- we'd just interviewed him at Sundance. But we overheard him ask the flight attendant to switch his first class meal of tenderloin for the coach fare of fried chicken! "Can you bring me whatever they're having back there?" he asked. "It smells good." LIFE WITHOUT performance, literature -- interviewing dancers, writers, painters and directors-- would be a dull proposition. Sammy Davis Jr. sings to a sell-out audience in the Sands' Copa Room in Las Vegas. Show Biz Journey of Christene "Cookie" Meyers: both sides of the footlights MY MOST vivid memories are shaped by theater, books, museum visits, concerts and film -- drama experienced on both sides of the footlights. As a kid, I watched movies in the Erie Theater in Columbus, Montana. I saw hundreds of movies in my reviewing career, acted and played piano for many shows, interviewed directors, playwrights, writers, singers and dancers. Barysnikov at the Kirov, Pavarotti in Milan-- each seen with a much loved late husband. "Cabaret," at Montana's Billings Studio Theatre. My first spouse, Bruce Meyers, was emcee; I headed the Kit Kat Band. Brilliant Skip Lundby directed. Performance keeps me going. As my gran Olive said, "We can't choose the tune we're played. We can choose how we dance to it." 'MAN of La Mancha" is a treasured memory. I saw it first on Broadway with Richard Kiley as Don Quixote then performed it two dozen times at Der Schwartzwald Dinner Theater in Montana with Bruce Meyers in the title role, a fundraiser to "Save the 1931 Fox" I was musical director and pianist. In San Diego, Cygnet Theatre's "La Mancha" evoked happy flashbacks via Sean Murray's sensitive "Don Q." I vieed this fabulous production with my third husband, Bruce Keller, in his hometown. OTHER highlights of the show biz journey of Christene Meyers: Maggie Smith patting my nervous hand in 1969 when she knew I was nervous about the interview. Kind, gracious, talented "Miss Jean Brodie," only 35 herself then. I was a greenhorn reporter on one of my first big interviews. Maggie Smith was gracious and kind at a 1969 interview for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." She wasn't honored as "dame" until 1990. This interview was long before her fame in "Downton Abbey" and "Harry Potter." ...Folies Bergere in Paris with mother Ellen and sister Robbie. Dame Joan Sutherland in concert at Sydney Opera House with my sailor turned play-going pal, "Keller." A lively interview with writer Frederick Forsyth, working on his next novel, prowling Montana's backroads. The Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles is a regular part of Cookie and Keller's theater life, seeing and writing about an average of 100 plays a year. Disney Concert Hall is in the complex, too. A FULL day spent at “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” in New York, with a brief break for wine, a nosh and quick interview with star John Howard. I MET DUSTIN Hoffman in 1970 when I interviewed him on the Montana set of "Little Big Man." So seeing Hoffman’s Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” in London was exciting. But my most thrilling production of that brilliant Arthur Miller work was in a Beijing theater. Despite my limited knowledge of Mandarin, I was mesmerized. This fine play moved its Asian audience as deeply as it does American fans. When Willy's widow, Linda, delivered her “attention must be paid” line near the end, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. MY MARLON BRANDO interview wasn't the favorite in the journey of Christene "Cookie" Meyers. It was short. The brilliant actor was distracted, perhaps because he had gained weight. He was also having trouble with his lines on "The Missouri Breaks" set. This annoyed Jack Nicholson, who said the prompter was annoying. Burt Bachrach's sell-out concert christened the renovated Fox Theater as the Alberta Bair Theater. During 45 years interviewing stars at the old Fox now Alberta Bair Theater, two "ABT gala" interviews stand out: Burt Bachrach and Harry Belafonte. Both were gracious and loquacious in the renovated ABT green room, a far cry from its musty, decrepit Fox days. I REMEMBER a favorite actress, Mary Tyler Moore, not just for her brilliance in two Emmy winning TV sitcoms, but for her Tony winning performance in "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" that searing, but warm and touching study of end-of-life questions. In 1980 I interviewed her at the premier of "Ordinary People." She portrayed a mother struggling with the death of a son, rejecting her remaining son's affection. (It was Robert Redford's directorial debut. Moore was delighted when I expressed Mary Tyler Moore, at the world premiere of "Ordinary People," directed by Robert Redford. my fondness for earlier work: "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show.") I also interviewed two of her longtime collaborators, Betty White and Cloris Leachman on the "MTM" set (and Leachman again at the world premier of "Young Frankenstein.") What a kick in my theatrical pants. Both White's and Leachman's impeccable comic timing had reporters in hysterics as the two actors bantered and ad-libbed one-liners. Leachman did a little curtsy at interview's end. White blew reporters a kiss. Manhattan Transfer in San Diego's Balboa Theatre. Founder Tim Hauser, is second from left, Great performances -- drama, concerts, ballet, on stage or screen -- move us as few other experiences do. WHEN OUR family saw “Oliver!” in July of 1964 at the Imperial Theatre in New York, it left indelible marks on us all. We still sing “Consider Yourself,” “As Long as He Needs Me” and “Where is Love” at family reunions. Even the youngest remembers the lyrics to "Food Glorious Food" and Fagin's nimble dance as he sends his charges off. We tear up remembering our heartbreak when Bill Sikes murders Nancy. We recall my dad hailing two yellow cabs from after the matinee, off to Sardi's for dinner, surrounded by stars’ portraits. Our orchestra seats were $4.75 each, taxi rides were $5 and we all dined splendidly for $128! Thanks to our theater-loving mother for organizing it all. Cirque du Soliel's Beatles show, "Love," in Las Vegas. Cookie and Keller are Vegas regulars -- for shows of course, and perhaps a bit of gambling. Fishtail, Montana, hosts Shakespeare in the Parks in July at the town park across from Fishtail Store . I'VE SEEN our beloved “Oliver!” in London revivals – in 1984, in 2008 and again 2025. A few years ago, I took the family to "Oliver" at Venture Theatre in Billings, Montana. It was all I could do to keep myself off the stage. Seeing this revered musical with brothers Rick and Patrick and sister Olivia, who flanked me so long ago in the Imperial, was a treat. Now the tunes are beloved by my niece Aurora and great-nephew Connor. ...I've lost track of my Elvis impersonator shows -- dozens. I love seeing multiple productions, always a new twist. I never miss "My Fair Lady," one of my childhood's Broadway favorites, which we've seen brilliantly delivered at Welk Resort, Cygnet, Ahmanson and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival with two pianos instead of an orchestra! The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's "My Fair Lady" featured two grand pianos instead of an orchestra. I LOGGED three productions of "Sunset Boulevard," with Patti Lupone, Glenn Close and Betty Buckley. Each gave it her own unique spin. I saw Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett in the original production of “Sweeney Todd,” then Lupone and three others. All fabulous, on both coasts -- New York and in San Diego. At the film version, I sat between nephews Kenji and Eric, clutching their arms as blood flew and Sweeney's razor did its job. Who’d have thought Johnny Depp could sing (he can) or that Helena Bonham Carter would be such a mesmerizing Mrs. Lovett (she is.) Stephen Sondheim is on my bucket list of most coveted interview subjects! Cookie lands in Paris, heads for the Folies Bergere. Cher's show featured this poster at Caesar's in Las Vegas. It sold out the Colosseum show room. I'VE COVERED the Academy Awards, interviewed dozens of stars of stage and screen, previewed and reviewed hundreds of productions. I try to be kind, appreciating the energy and effort that actors, musicians, directors, dancers, designers, prop people and technicians give. I’ve done time on that glorious side of the footlights, conducting and playing piano to raise money to save our beloved Fox, in its reincarnation as the ABT. When I took the helm of the “Save the Fox” endeavor, in Billings, spring of 1976, the future of the Fox was doubtful. Would the building be leveled? Would it be a parking lot? Helping save that gem is one of my proudest endeavors and led to many delightful interviews. IN LAS VEGAS on the grounds of the venerable old Sands Hotel, now stands the flashy Venetian, with gondolas and glory. But this reporter remembers seeing a dozen headliners in the Copa, interviewing them in the Sands' elegant showroom. I heard the ghosts of the Rat Pack, honest! I've savored a string of cabaret shows in the Carlyle Hotel in New York City's upper east side -- Bobby Short, Mary Martin, Rosemary Clooney, Debbie Reynolds, Judy Collins -- in cozy Bemelman's Bar cabaret. Dolly Parton -- king, smiling, smart and gracious to reporters -- here in a black sequined top answering questions at the world premiere of "Nine to Five" Dolly Parton remains a highlight. Warm, funny, sharp. She was gracious and kind -- completely herself -- confident and teasing at the premieres of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Nine to Five." Her fellow stars spoke highly of her -- everyone loves Dolly. At the Fairmont in San Francisco, "Bruce the First" and I saw Duke Ellington, Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli. We hit showrooms and concert halls in Vienna, Paris, Rio, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Milan. Many of my icons were backed by a full orchestra before taped scores became the norm. Dean Martin, Donald O’Connor, Liberace, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Short, Marian McPartland. Peggy Lee. I saw them all, interviewed them. I have the Playbills and notebooks to prove it! Aerial view of tugboats towing a cargo barge through a Panama Canal lock. The canal is one of the world's great engineering marvels, worthy of inspection from travel lovers around the world. UP NEXT: The Panama Canal. Transiting the canal's massive lock system is intricate. As your cruise ship enters the locks, columns of water lift or lower the massive vessel with pinpoint precision. You stand on the deck and watch the stone walls inches from the ship. Small locomotives, known as "mules," guide the vessel safely through the chambers and workers make sure all goes well. It's a wondrous experience. This is just one stop on the journey find more destinations, itineraries, and travel tips at WhereIsCookie.com

Join veteran travel writer Cookie and photographer Keller on Where is Cookie?—a travel blog celebrating cruising, the arts, food, and cultural stories from around the world. Trusted Travel Insights for Millions of Travelers Around the Globe Follow the Adventures of The Carpe Diem Kids Award-Winning Global Travel Blog by Cookie & Keller Inspiring Curated Adventures in Culture, Cruising, Theatre, and Nature Welcome to Where Is Cookie? , a globally followed travel and arts blog sharing inspiring journeys across 120+ countries. Follow award-winning writer Christene "Cookie" Meyers and photographer Bruce Keller as they cruise the world, explore hidden gems, attend cultural performances, and review top hotels and destinations. Whether you're a travel lover seeking expert advice or a tourism board looking for curated media exposure, you'll find travel tips, hotel reviews, theater guides, nature escapes, and more — all captured with authenticity, wit, and heart. VIEW FULL BLOG About Our Blog Where Is Cookie? is a travel and lifestyle publication with 2+ million views, blending decades of journalism, photography, and global exploration. We share timely, trend-focused content that enriches and educates, making travel more accessible, fun, and meaningful. We’ve been featured in SD Voyager, Big Sky Journal, and more. ADVENTURE TRAVEL STORIES CRUISE REVIEWS & TIPS TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FAVORITE HOTELS & STAYS MUST-SEE MUSEUMS THEATRE, MUSIC & ARTS SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEYS ABOUT US HIRE US TO HELP WITH TRAVEL As featured in Heads Up! We’re currently updating our website, so some older content might be temporarily unavailable. Thanks for your patience and support! - Cookie & Keller We're based in sunny San Diego and Montana but we spend months each year flitting about the world, chasing great food and migrating whales, with tips on cruises, theater, cultural events. WhereisCookie.com brings our travel curiosity to readers from our SoCal and Montana roots to everywhere else on the planet. Check often for travel tips and suggestions on how and where to get the best bang for your hard-earned buck.

Discover the train travel media kit: scenic rail journeys, historic trains and rail‑culture stories from around the world by Cookie & Keller. TRAINS MEDIA KIT Our story and media kits about global adventures For inquiries please contact us here We love train travel and log countless scenic miles across the globe—whether riding Japan’s sleek bullet trains, unwinding aboard a vintage steam train in rural Yorkshire, admiring New Zealand’s landscapes, journeying through Alaska’s rugged terrain, crossing Australia by rail or taking a desert ride in Arizona. From a formal dinner aboard the famed Orient Express to sleeper cars in Patagonia, Melbourne, Tokyo, Dunedin, Seward, and the Oregon Coast, we specialize in rail‑journey storytelling and the time‑honored, educational magic of moving through the world by train. DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT Alaska Railroad features close-up views of nature's vast and magnificent scenery PICTURE YOURSELF relaxing in a comfy train car, beverage of choice in hand, watching the world's most spectacular scenery glide by. You've got a front-row sea to nature's wonders with a spectacular adventure on Alaska Railroad. The popular rail offers a variety of day trip adventures to some of the state's iconic sights -- from snow-capped mountains to picturesque villages and the ever changing landscape of the sea. Cookie & Keller Sep 11, 2025 3 min read High speed British trains offer organized, relaxing way to see the UK your way Glide across Britain on sleek high-speed trains linking iconic cities like London and Edinburgh in comfort and style. Spacious seats, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi, and onboard dining make the journey part of the adventure. With departures from historic city-center stations and countryside views along the way, rail travel offers a fast, relaxed way to explore the United Kingdom. Cookie & Keller May 1, 2025 5 min read Bernina Express Train takes adventurers to the top of the world with striking mountain views Riding the Bernina Express to St. Moritz is one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world. This scenic rail adventure climbs through the Swiss Alps, crossing soaring viaducts, gliding past glaciers, and winding through postcard-perfect villages. From dramatic mountain views to engineering marvels, the Bernina Express delivers an unforgettable travel experience on the way to glamorous St. Moritz. Cookie & Keller Aug 8, 2024 4 min read 1 2 3 4 5

Download the museum & cultural travel media kit featuring world‑class galleries, museum tours and cultural stories by Cookie & Keller. MUSEUMS MEDIA KIT Our story and media kits about global adventures For inquiries please contact us here We can’t imagine life without art — so we take readers on museum journeys from maritime relics to modern masterworks and classical icons. We explore intimate galleries and meet artists, mingle with Van Gogh fans in Amsterdam, step inside Salvador Dali’s surreal mind in Spain, spend the day immersed in Picasso’s Malaga, and travel from ancient Greece and Egypt to New York’s Guggenheim and MoMA, New Zealand’s Te Papa and California’s Getty. From world‑famous institutions to Hilo’s tsunami museum, we museum‑hop and share art‑travel stories that inspire. DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT Exploring the Guggenheim Museum, Its Spiral Design and Its Impact on the Art Experience The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City is an absolute must-see for buffs of both art and architecture. It stands out for its impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. But its groundbreaking architectural design is an artwork in itself. Cookie & Keller Mar 26 6 min read Route 66 Museum, Kingman, Arizona, is a Must-See Stop For Travelers Route 66 Museum in Kingman Arizona has strong interest decades after the famous roadway was established. Known as the "Main Street of America," this historic highway has inspired countless travelers to explore its unique blend of Americana, nostalgia, and adventure. Cookie & Keller Mar 19 5 min read Botanical Garden showcases Scottsdale's unique desert plants A Desert Dreamscape: Exploring the Botanical Garden in Scottsdale, Arizona The desert has a way of surprising you when you least expect it. This isn’t just a garden—it’s a living, breathing love letter to the Sonoran Desert, where towering cacti, winding trails, and bursts of unexpected color invite you to slow down, look closer, drink it all in. Cookie & Keller Mar 12 4 min read 1 2 3 4 5