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The Old Town Trolley operates in seven U.S. cities, offering a unique and lively way to see each town, here San Diego. HOP ON TO EXPLORE YOUR TOWN WITH A NEW POINT OF VIEW AS WE DID IN SAN DIEGO STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Horton Plaza with both historic and contemporary buildings is a good place to "hop off" and take a stroll, shop or find a fun restaurant.  PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The historic Hotel Del Coronado is on the trolley route. Little Italy beckons, a fun and lively place to stop. STEP ABOARD  the Old Town Trolley in seven U.S. cities and be entertained in a leisurely way as you play tourist and learn something new about the town. Located in Boston, Key West, Washington D.C., St. Augustine, Savannah, San Diego and Nashville, the trolley takes pride in showing off each city to its best advantage, exploring the historic sights and famous landmarks as well as charming hidden corners that might not be well known. Its hop on-hop off feature is a huge draw, allowing passengers to exit for lunch or a snack, shopping or a museum, or simply to stretch, wander and learn. IN SAN DIEGO , we boarded in Old Town with friends from Seattle. We four experienced all 10-stops with a mid-point "hop off" downtown, to share a meal Enjoying a trolley stop, from left, Bruce Keller, Christene (Cookie) Meyers, Julia Ratliff and her mother, Pam. Buildings with vintage character are described. at a favorite restaurant. We strolled and stretched near our beautiful Horton Plaza, in which one of our favorite venues, the Lyceum Theatre, presents award-winning drama by San Diego Repertory Theatre.  We loved showing off the theater and plaza to our pals, Pam and Julia Ratliff, who share our connection to Stillwater County in Montana. After our leisurely lunch, we waited only five minutes for the next trolley.  Stops are frequent so you can time your strolling, museum visit or meal and never have to wait long.  Trolleys arrive every half hour or less. A trip through Barrio Logan gave us a look at delightful art. BALBOA PARK  is also a fine place to "hop off" -- with wonderful museums, fountains, gardens and strolling paths. One could easily spend a day in Balboa Park alone. Each city has its parks, monuments and historic points, a lively nightlife and restaurant area -- in San Diego, Little Italy looked so inviting our friends returned there for dinner before heading to Coronado where they were based. The Star of India is the show piece of the San Diego Maritime Museum. If you are visiting one of the Old Town Trolley cities, your trip on the trolley will be greatly enhanced if you ride with a local person.  The driver-guides we had were great but having native son Keller with us really enhanced the day.  His asides were enriching -- about the harbor, Maritime Museum and Star of India, Horton Plaza, the restaurants and sports complexes,  his childhood haunts (he was born in San Diego) and more. He described our Hispanic neighborhood, Barrio Logan,  as "a blossoming artistic, industrial area with Mexican roots." At its heart is Chicano Park, with murals depicting the community’s activism, and famous Hispanic figures such as artist Frida Kahlo. Families are welcome on the trolleys. Warehouses have been converted to inviting galleries, taco shops and breweries.  At the harbor, the Maritime Museum houses a submarine and vintage ships including the Star of India. Drivers are knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating if you have a particular question or interest. ANOTHER PLUS  of the Trolley tour is a booklet of free attractions. And if you live in one of the seven cities, you can enjoy the trolley for free, when accompanied by a paying adult guest. Thanks to our Seattle friends, we enjoyed this perk. TrolleyTours.com Actor James Sutorius gives a brilliant performance in "The Father," displaying his title character's range of emotions. A terrific cast backs him, here Robyn Cohen as his daughter.                                                        --photo by Aaron Rumley BEST BET:  Magnificent,emotion packed              theater, "The Father," is on the boards at North Coast Repertory Theatre, Solana Beach, through June 24. Actor James Sutorius gives a masterful, nuanced performance as the title character, a once brilliant engineer plagued by memory loss. Fine acting and direction of a stand-out ensemble give dimension and feeling to the complexities of dealing with aging, dementia. The Florian Zeller work deftly expresses the confusion,  disruption and emotion of a family challenged to cope. The play is to be savored, even as it makes us uncomfortable. Sutorius and company and director David Ellenstein provide a  thought provoking evening of satisfying, moving,  theater with wit and grace.  northcoastrep.org The Hotel del Coronado, known affectionately as "The Del," is a landmark in San Diego, and known throughout the western world. UP NEXT:    We take you to the beloved Hotel del Coronado, across the Coronado Bridge in San Diego.  Home to movie stars, the wealthy, and setting for several movies, including "Some Like It Hot," with Marilyn Monroe, "the Del" has aged like a graceful matron. When built, she was the largest resort hotel in the world, made entirely of wood. She's survived and thrived and we share her lively history.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at travel, the arts, nature and whatever else strikes our fancy.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, both behatted, on a royal outing celebrating her 90th birthday. The couple has sustained a long, loving partnership through many ups and downs in country and family.   WHY THE ROYAL FUSS? POMP, PAGEANTRY, THEATER, TRADITION, FAMILY -- AND LOTS OF HATS Four generations of Windsors mark the line of succession to the throne. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER, CM & Archives Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth on June 2, 1953, here with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, greeting the happy throngs. (They will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary in November of this year.) 'WHY DON'T you write about your fascination with the Royal Family?" my partner and fellow travel writer-photographer Bruce Keller asked me. "You've seen more royals than most Montanans -- probably more than most Americans. And you adore the royal family and all the pomp and circumstance." I do love "my royals."  I've met the Queen Mum and her granddaughter, Princess Anne, the Queen's only daughter.  I  perfected my curtsy in July of 1977 when I was invited to a four-day celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 25th year on the throne. (Knees bent, one foot slightly in front of the other. No problem.) Princess Anne meets gentle giant actor Richard Kiel, who stood 7 feet, 2 inches. He played the character Jaws in the James Bond film, "The Spy Who Loved Me." Princess Anne represented her mother, QEII, at the 1977  screening in London. SO WITH  the spotlight on the    wedding and honeymoon of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, I offer a few thoughts on my enduring affection for the royals -- and all things pomp and circumstance. My love affair with them began when I was a toddler, on June 2, 1953.  I remember it well.    Queen Mum: Beloved and always "hatted" The occasion was Queen Elizabeth's coronation -- the first to be televised. I sat on my mum's lap (yes, we called her mummy, not mama), holding my grandmum's hand. We were glued to the set, along with 27 million others in the United Kingdom and twice that many Americans. Our three generations joined a fascinated global retinue -- my mother, her mother, I and my infant sister. It all seemed splendid. I asked if the  Queen's gown, cape and jewels were heavy. "Yes, they probably weigh half as much as the Queen," mum replied, "for "Elizabeth is a small, elegant woman, don't you know." AS PRINCE  Harry takes actress Meghan Markle to be his wife, it will be very theatrical. "That's why you love all this," my Keller chides. "It's your theater background." Champagne toast: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle earlier this year. He's right, of course.  What could be more theatrical than centuries-old coaches made of gold, tiaras that weigh more than my Yorkshire terriers, oversized hats, soldiers, horses and endless parties, receptions, concerts and, yes, curtsies. Not least: family. Meghan is changing the royal family and the way it views things. She's divorced, her mother is a proud woman of color. She's American! I've written magazine and newspaper articles about  meeting "my two" memorable royals in July of 1977.  I was invited by United Artists and the Silver Jubilee to cover the celebration during Queen Elizabeth II's 25th anniversary as monarch. Princess Diana and Prince Charles at their wedding in 1981, leaving St. Paul's Cathedral which offered more seating than Westminster. The United Artists film, "The Spy Who Loved Me," was part of the festivities and Princess Anne attended in her mother's place.  I remember her as gracious and beautiful, in a satin gown. Bond, James Bond (and Cookie) She daintily shook hands with Sir Roger Moore, who played Bond, and Richard Kiel, who played his nemesis, Jaws. (Kiel's hand was huge, so Princess shook only a finger. My photos proved that.) Later, I met Queen Mum at a reception. Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, purchasing souvenirs in Wyoming. She bought some fishing hook ties for Philip. I AROSE EARLY to watch Princess Diana marry Prince Charles, and sadly visited the tunnel in Paris where she met her fate. When in 1984, Queen Elizabeth II came to Wyoming to look at horses, no reporters were allowed. It was a private visit. Both she and Prince Philip liked Wyoming. An expert rider, the Queen inspected thoroughbreds, rode, hiked and kept a low profile, calling it a private vacation -- no interviews.  She did go shopping in Sheridan, dispelling the myth that she carried nothing in her purse. Friends who saw her at Ritz  Sporting Goods in the small western town, said she paid cash for her souvenirs, including fishing hook ties for her beloved husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Glenda Jackson as Queen Elizabeth I. She based at the Wallop family ranch in Big Horn and visited the nearby Bradford-Brinton Museum. Her hosts were her friend Lady Porchester, nee Jean Margaret Wallop, a Big Horn, Wyo., native and sister of another prominent Big Horn personality, Sen. Malcolm Wallop. The beloved late Queen Mum hoisting a pint at a pub in Odeon Square during Silver Jubilee. EVEN BEFORE  I became a film reviewer, I saw every movie I could about the royals-- particularly Queen Elizabeth I and later Queen Elizabeth II.  My favorite QEI actress is Glenda Jackson, although Judi Dench made a magnificent older royal.  Bette Davis had just the right amount of grit to give her QEI the proper feistiness. Dame Judi Dench as Queen  Elizabeth I. Many actors have played the famous royal.  As for the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has spent over 65 years on the throne and has been fodder for pop culture ever since I watched her put on that first crown -- little Cookie sitting glued to the family's first television. She has been the subject of many impersonations -- including some irreverent ones by Monty Python and many others.  The Queen is said to have a good sense of humor -- she'd have to. Cookie and Keller met the Queen Elizabeth when she sailed into Long Beach. That's the ship, not the sovereign. An avowed  "cruise junkie," Cookie has fond memories of many QEII sails. MY FAVORITE  ship by far is the now retired Queen Elizabeth II.  I crossed the Atlantic on her seven times and sailed the Norwegian fjords and Mediterranean on her. The new Queen Elizabeth is lovely, too, but my heart yearns for the days of dinner in the Queen's Grill, and an interview with Kevin Kline or Josh Logan, two of many celebs I interviewed on that venerable ship. I'd love to interview the Queen -- or at least meet her -- but if not, I've had a good life with "my royals."  I wish Harry and Meghan my own royal best.  One year ago, Keller had his two-week follow up with his primary transplant surgeon, Columbia trained Dr. Jonathan Fisher, at Scripps Green Hospital. A fabulous ensemble interacts with an appealing gaggle of puppets in the smash hit "Avenue Q" at New Village Arts. NEXT UP :  It's been a year of ups and a few downs, since Bruce William Keller had his successful liver transplant. Several hundred readers want to know how it's gone so -- not known for wall flower protocol -- "Nurse Cookie" tells almost all, including how Keller is doing ("fabulous," he says) and how she nearly lost her nurse's cap. Tune in and remember to explore, learn and live. BEST BET:  "Avenue Q" at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad, is the most refreshing musical to come down the recent theatrical pike in our prolific, play-loving corner of southern California. Human actors sing, dance, tease and experience life along with a gaggle of charming, hand-operated puppets. We saw the Broadway production and loved it.  But the intimate staging at New Village Arts puts the audience close-up and personal in a way the larger house couldn't. An extraordinary cast of strong voices carries out AJ Knox's snappy direction. The winning ensemble is backed by Nina Gilbert's fine musical quintet to share appealing stories and life lessons. Our opening weekend  audience was captivated: SRO with cheers and a standing ovation! The storyline follows the denizens of a sketchy New York neighborhood but their problems are universal and tenderly told -- loneliness, money woes, confusion of goals and need for purpose. Don't miss it. newvillagearts.org

Peggy Sue's diner is a classic '50s diner, with fine food and a treasure trove of  movie memorabilia collected by its owners. Dine with Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and many others from the movie glory days of the 1950s.    Peggy Sue Gabler was a Hollywood actor in the 1950s. Her husband,Champ, worked nearby at Knott's Berry Farm, Los Angeles. The coupledeveloped the diner as a colorful way to share their extensive memorabilia. MOVIE MEMORABILIASPICES UP THE LONG DRIVE BETWEENL.A. OR SAN DIEGOAND LAS VEGAS     STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Actor James Dean leads the way to the colorful restroom. Behind the Dean manikin are photos of him with Marilyn Monroe, and other classic Hollywood portraits.  IF YOU ARE  old enough to remember the colorful diners and coffee shops of the 1950s, you'll find yourself in nostalgia heaven at Peggy Sue's '50s Diner, an original roadside attraction built in 1954. Turn your mental clock back 60-plus years, to the movies, fashions, food and fads of the day. Prepare your taste buds and sharpen up your sense of humor. Hit the I-15 and take the Ghost Town exit near Yermo. You'll be at Peggy Sue's, where friendly smiles and speedy service begin your journey into the past.  Take your pick from nine counter stools and three boths. Have a look at the hot pink menu, place your order, then enjoy the ambiance and a pleasant overload of movie memorabilia. PERHAPS YOU'LL  choose the Marlon Brando mushroom cheese burger, or the Buddy Holly bacon cheese burger. Maybe you fancy a Patti Page tuna melt or John Wayne's barbecue sandwich. Gary Cooper's ham and cheese on rye is tasty and Fabian's French dip charmed photographer Keller, who wandered around the place with his cameras for over an hour. Peggy Sue's is pure fun, with a capital "F." Set in the shadow of the Calico Mountains, the diner was built from railroad ties and held together with mortar from the nearby Union Pacific Rail Yard. Portraits of many Hollywood stars -- most of them signed -- cover the walls at Peggy Sue's. Our planned "quick stop" turned into a two-hour journey down Memory Lane with a leisurely lunch and enjoyable self-guided tour. A fun little gift shop sells all manner of memorabilia, posters, signs, and many fun road-trip souvenirs. Peggy Sue's waitresses greet you in colorful pastels reminiscent of the 1950s diners where a good burger and piece of pie were standard fare. The place induced such a happy reverie that we plan to return each time we drive through the desert on our frequent forays to and from Las Vegas. The imaginatively decorated diner is a love song to the 1950s,  crafted by a California couple whose enthusiasm for Hollywood and show business is contagious. The Duke has plenty of wall space at Peggy Sue's. The ladies restroom offers this surprise! A mural, all in good fun. CHAMP AND PEGGY  Sue Gabler came to Yermo from Southern California in 1981, and rescued the diner which was falling into disrepair. After careful restoration, they opened it in 1987,   using their memorabilia, imaginations and elbow grease. The result is a kitschy "not to miss" place to stop for fine fare and  nicely preserved movie  souvenirs and effects. Peggy Sue's Diner is a 10,000-square-foot '50s fantasyland with Tinseltown memorabilia and many famous customers.  For us, it livens up the tedious drive between Los Angeles or San Diego and Las Vegas. IT'S A THROWBACK to another time.  This '50s style diner entertains with remarkable memorabilia, friendly service and fine fare. And yes, chicken fried steak, great burgers and meatloaf appear, along with homemade pie and sodas fresh from the fountain. This treasure is in Yermo, California.  peggysuesdiner.com   *************************************************************************************** BEST BET:  "How the Other Half Loves" is funny, sexy well acted diversion on stage at North Coast Rep The ensemble in "How the Other Half Loves" at North Coast Repertory Theatre in San Diego: front, L-R: Benjamin Cole, Noelle Marion, Sharon Rietkirk; Rear, L-R: James Newcomb, Jacqueline Ritz, Christopher Williams.--Aaron Rumley photo Cookie (aka Christene Meyers) prepares for an assault on LEGOLAND with her niece, Amarylla Ganner, and great-niece and nephew, Peny and James Ganner. FANS OF WITTY  British comedies will delight in a charming production at San Diego's North Coast Repertory Theater. Sir Alan Ayckbourn's "How the Other Half Loves," is a fast-paced farce featuring a gifted ensemble. Three married couples and clever tricks of time and place, tell of an adulterous affair between a married man and his boss’s wife. Precise timing, clever dialogue, skillful direction are in store, plus a dinner scene to amuse. Head to Solana Beach for intrigue, irony,   jealousy, misunderstanding, humor and forgiveness. A  crack cast and Geoffrey Sherman's fine direction deliver Ayckbourn's vintage stagecraft with flying colors.   northcoastrep.org ************************************ ******************************* ********** UP NEXT:  Get ready for LEGOLAND! Rest up folks, because it's going to be a hectic, lively ride. We took to the famous amusement diversion recently, with our niece and her two enthusiastic youngsters. We rode rides, admired all the Legoland characters, stayed in the lovely nearby Hilton Garden Inn, walked miles and came back happy -- and exhausted. Tips on taking kids to the engaging site, and more. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays when we post a lively look at travel, the arts, family and nature.

Cookie's favorite royal, the late Queen Mum, sported a jaunty hat when she joined journalists and travel writers for her daughter's 1977 Silver Jubilee as Queen Elizabeth II.  The beloved monarch's hats became famous during World War II, when she wore them to visit bombed villages and cheer the people on during hard times. From left, sisters Christene (Cookie) Meyers, Misha Minesinger and  Olivia Cosgriffe are hats off at niece Kira Cosgriffe's wedding to Mike Hill last summer.  Most of the wedding party celebrated the occasion with hats. THE HATS HAVE IT: FAMILY TRADITION, FAVORITE MOVIES & THE QUEEN MUM STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER  CM & FILM STUDIO ARCHIVES That's a younger Cookie, left, her niece Amarylla Hayes (now Ganner and a mother of two youngsters herself) and the late Peny Hayes, Cookie's sister and Amarylla's mother, on the beach in Maui. SO WHAT IS IT  about wearing a hat that makes everything seem fresher, brighter, hopeful? A sense of play, suggestion of fun, a feeling that the occasion is going to be above the usual outing.   Cookie's late mother, Ellen, was never without a hat, here as she pets Nora. Hats make us happy.  They make us take notice -- and be noticed.  I've loved hats since I was a kid.  My mum had a trunkful of hats. My grandmother wore hats and gloves to travel, and I wore many hats during my years in the theater -- literally (25 hats on my piano, which I changed during many productions). Audrey Hepburn made this stylish hat famous in "Breakfast at Tiffany's. Hats off to the Ascot scene in "My Fair Lady."  FROM THE ASCOT scene in "My Fair Lady" to the delightful adornment of the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland," or Indiana Jones' jaunty fedora, we remember a scene with a behatted character. Remember Sherlock Holmes' dapper deerhunter? Charlie Chaplin's derby in "The Little Tramp." Wayne Campbell's Trucker cap.  Holly Golightly's swooping chapeau in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Gene Hackman's pork pie hat made his Popeye Doyle memorable.  Cookie's been behatted since childhood. Or Katharine Hepburn's sun bonnet as she toils at the church organ in "The African Queen." Gene Hackman's signature pork pie hat as Popeye Doyle.  When I met the late Queen Mum in 1977, she wore one of the hats for which she was beloved. SOME QUOTES for  the behatted:     "It isn't what I do, but how I do it. It isn't what I say, but how I say it, and how I look when I do it and say it. Sometimes with a hat and not much else." -- Mae West Keller is not about to be outdone by the girls. Ready for his close-up. "Women who love hats aren't jealous. They like a good hat on another. Women who wear hats know who they are.''   --Anonymous. "Life is like a new hat. You don't know if it suits you if you keep trying it on in front of your own mirror."  -- Shirley McLaine. "Wearing hats has become like fine art for me."   --Tina Brown  "I have 12 hats. Each represents a different personality. Why just be yourself?"--  Margaret Atwood “I wear my hat as I please, indoors or out.”  -- Walt Whitman, "Leaves of Grass.  " Luxurious, flirty, maybe a bit sexy. We believe a great hat can change your day."  -- a sign in New York's Plaza Hotel.                                                                                                                                *********************************************************************************   *************************************************** BEST BETS: Phil Johnson stars in a brilliant one-man performance, "A Jewish Joke" at San Diego's Moxie Theatre. This Roustabouts production is on stage through April 8, a tour de force for Johnson, whose writer character is on the rise in Hollywood until Senator Joe McCarthy's red-baiting tactics force him to make a crucial decision about his partner and his future. Johnson and Marni Freedman co-wrote the moving often funny work, artfully directed by David Ellenstein. Stunning, poignant theater, not to miss.   theroustabouts.org A spirited ensemble involves the audience and creates an enthusiasm that weaves a spell on the audience at "Beachtown" in downtown San Diego. UP NEXT: "Beachtown," in downtown San Diego, is a delightful throw-back to the innocent days of political fund-raisers, neighborhood potlucks and community gatherings.  Always original director Sam Woodhouse works his charms with a talented stable of San Diego Repertory Theatre actors to bring this unique Herbert Siguenza and Rachel Grossman work to the Lyceum stage. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch a new post each Friday for the weekend.

Dublin's famous Temple Bar was a pub stop on a memorable tour of Ireland with Cookie's late mother, Ellen, who played piano there and sang a medley of Irish tunes with the band. TAKE THE TRIP, MAKE  THE MEMORY: IRISH 'AYES' ALL AROUND Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. on a headstone found in a Dublin churchyard             STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS            PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER &cm MY MOTHER WAS  determined to visit Ireland and play piano in an Irish pub. I'm proud to say I helped make that happen before she passed in 2008. The trip made her happy -- and while I'll always miss my flamboyant and talented mum, I have memories aplenty.   As we pulled into Cork's city harbor, for several days in the Emerald Isle, mum's fingers were ready.  Her happy tears shown in the morning sun as we shared her first look at the home of half her ancestors.  Mum was as full of emotion as her ancestors were full of blarney. (The Norwegian side, her father's, were sailors and fishermen with their own droll wit.)    Cookie's late sister Robbie helped        choreograph several memorable European trips with mum   Ellen.  “I’m home, I feel it,” mum cried, lifting her hands heavenward. “These are my people.” Then she wept.  My sister Robbie and I smiled at one another, blinking back our own tears.  We had a group hug, all of us crying. We're a crying family -- so it wasn't surprising.  We cry when we're happy; we cry when we're sad.  Some of us cry for no reason at all.   Joy and sorrow, like the comic and tragic masks, are merely different takes on the heart's emotion. The Irish know that better than most. Cookie and her mum on the town in Dublin. Besides playing piano at pubs, they looked for family history. SO ON ST. PATRICK'S  day weekend, we celebrate my mother -- and one of her favorite wits:  Oscar Wilde.  He said: "A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal is absolutely fatal." "I can resist everything except temptation." "Be yourself.  Everyone else is taken." St. Patrick's Day delights, history "If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life." "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." And from "The Importance of Being Ernest" beloved by my mother, who played Lady Bracknell in a Portland, Oregon, production: "To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." Mum also loved this quote from playwright Sean O'Casey: "Money does not make you happy but it quiets the nerves."    Dublin born Oscar Wilde was a favorite wit, playwright of Cookie's mother, the late Ellen B. Cosgriffe. I'D BEEN TO  Ireland a half-dozen times before, but seeing it through my mother’s eyes was like seeing it anew.  From the rugged coastlines to misty meadows and stone fences, I felt connected to the country in a way I had never felt before.  The Blarney Stone took on new meaning.  The potato famine felt real.  When mum told sis and me the story of  her great grandmother’s departure, we looked the Emerald Isle in the eye. At our pub stops, mum was greeted like a favorite auntie. When the people discovered she was musical, we were center stage at the piano and couldn't buy a beverage.  We visited several graveyards looking for  family names of Pittendrigh, Cosgriffe, Wilson. We found all, and relished the meanings and histories -- Cosgriff means "victorious." The Pittendrighs migrated to Ireland from Aberdeen in northeastern Scotland -- interesting in light of the fact that our niece, Amarylla, married a Scotsman, Steve Ganner. We learned that Wilson is a common Irish name -- more common even than the ubiquitous Smith. (Mum sniffed at that. "Nothing common about my people.") WE'D PUT DOWN  anchor in the same place where my great, great-grandmother, Molly Wilson, left her family for America before the last Century’s turn.  She’d taken the train to Cobn from Cork, on a tiny track which we found.  More memories. Memories of a lovely trip. And love.  My 20 days in Europe with my mother and youngest sister rank high on my list of world adventures.  Not because of the exotic nature of  the ports, all of which I’d visited, but because of the unique bond we shared. Now, particularly with both mum and Robbie gone, I cherish the memories.  LIFE IS  shaped by defining moments. Often we realize their importance only in looking back. I'm grateful I helped mum follow her dreams, hold true to her vision, find a way to make that trip happen.  Call it my own "importance of being earnest."   ***********************************************************************  Karole Foreman's Desiree Armfeldt is warm, earthy, delightfully teasing and Sean Murray's Fredrik Egerman is vain but touching in a masterful production of Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, "A Little Night Music."  NEXT UP :   A fabulous San Diego production of Stephen  Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" has our veteran theater reviewer waxing rhapsodic. Find out what sets this extraordinary production apart as Cookie describes the talent, staging and magic unfolding at Cygnet Theatre in San Diego's Old Town. Since reveling in the original Broadway production in 1973, Cookie has become a "Night Music" junkie, even acting as music director and pianist in her own production.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays when we post a fresh take on theater, travel, nature, relationships and the arts.

Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix is the longest stretch of beach in the U.S Virgin Islands. This beautiful beach is a protected environment, home to the endangered leatherback turtle. The port that is now Christiansted was visited  by Columbus on his second voyage to the new world. ISLAND OFFERS MIX OF THE STATELY, SERENE, SURPRISING; BIKING IS A FINE WAY TO EXPLORE  IT  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Cookie takes to the bike with a custom helmet -- then away, St. Croix. PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER 'HOW ABOUT  a bike ride? St. Croix will be beautiful from a bike.'' My adventuresome partner suggested the outing. Mahogany trees, now several hundred years old, pave the way to still stately plantations reminding of the island's Colonial and plantation days.  "It's a beautiful island, and we could see a good share of the shoreline, plus forests and plantations.  And it's only 15 miles," he lobbied. "Okay," said I, not wishing to be accused of cowardice or laziness. So we booked the scenic bike ride from our Serenade of the Seas balcony.  It promised plantations, rain forests, panoramic coastal views, historic city sights and an engaging commentary. FOR OUR  brief return to this lovely 40-mile long island, whose name means "Holy Cross," we wanted to explore its highlights. We hoped to see a stately plantation -- elegant even in decay or renovation -- stone walkways, historic churches with grassy graves and fascinating inscriptions, rolling green hills, coral beaches where snorkelers claim to see unparalleled wonders.  Bikers get a brief history of the island, the only one actually named by Christopher Columbus, who anchored off a natural bay west of Christiansted, known today as Salt River. In its heyday, St. Croix was among the Caribbean's top producers of sugar and molasses.  Cruzan rum is still a huge export. We wanted to see a rum factory. We saw it all! WE HELMETED  up with bikes for our size, then set off from the Danish port of Christiansted on a lovely 75 degree day. We'd just heard on our ship that most of the U.S. was again blanketed in a blizzard, so we relished our bike outing on a gorgeous warm St. Croix day. We stopped for snacks and photos on our bike ride, enjoying the beautiful beaches of St. Croix, learning about the visits of the leatherback sea turtle. Baby leatherbacks take their first steps toward the sea. Photo Courtesy St. Croix Tourism FIRST, WE  biked around the town, a picturesque partly restored port, with vestigates of graceful Danish architecture and native peoples' imprint. The last of the Native Indian people to inhabit St. Croix were   the Carib, a nomadic people with wanderlust and sailing skills. Originally from the Guiana region of South America, the Carib were not the first Indians on St. Croix. The Tainos and Arawaks were there earlier, but the Carib greeted Columbus in 1493, when he anchored off a natural bay, know known as Salt River. Our  St. Croix bike tour included a visit to St. Croix's landmarks, such as this lovely Danish style government building, with its graceful archways.   ST. CROIX  is a world away from the U.S. -- 1,700 miles south of New York, 1100 miles south east of Miami, near the eastern tip of the Caribbean island chain. On the same latitude as Acapulco and Hawaii, just below the Tropic of Cancer, its eternal summer is caressed by cooling breezes.  The people are relaxed and friendly, and there is a greatest tourist draw: leatherback sea turtles.  We weren't there for their egg-laying, but heard of this oldest sea turtle species with its 150-million year history on Earth.  This largest sea turtle is the fourth largest living reptile on our planet.  It can weigh 2,100 pounds and be 10 feet long.  We saw where the females come to lay their eggs, under vigilant eyes of environmentalists.  We learned that this handsome leatherback is the only sea turtle that does not have a hard shell. It can dive up to 3,000 feet! WE LEFT St. Croix with views of vintage fishing trawlers, barges, tugboats and thriving coral reefs, thinking of the Arawak and Carib people whose burial grounds we'd visited.  Hoping to return to see the turtles. St. Croix's landscape still seems pristine and this lovely island was fortunately spared the ravages of the latest hurricane. We can't wait to dive again into the  serenity and beauty of St. Croix.   The Caribbean's oldest railway is still up and running on St. Kitts. Come with us on a 30-mile historic rail tour with lively tales of the island's lore. UP NEXT: Not far from St. Croix, but another world unto itself, St. Kitts welcomes us.  We hitch a ride on the Caribbean's oldest railway, listen to a wonderful vocal trio, learn of the military engineering for which the island is noted, and admire impressive volcanic rock structures built on the back of slaves.  We enjoy a spectacular view where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean and are eager to share all this with you.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays when we post for each weekend -- a novel look at travel, the arts, family and nature.

Santorini's rugged hillsides are shaped by volcanic eruptions of more than 3,000 years ago. A tram offers a pleasant ride up. Close-up of the turning wheel, which keeps the pleasant cable car ride going. Pulling away from our ship, we approached the volcanic rock of Santorini. 'KALIMERA' -- GOOD MORNING -- FROM THE AEGEAN'S  SEDUCTIVE  SANTORINI STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER THE SIX MAJOR STARS  in the Cyclades shine brightly, each with a beauty unique to it alone. Located in the central Aegean Sea, Santorini is perhaps the most famous of the group -- followed by Mykonos, then the less visited Naxos, Paros, Andros and Tinos. The approach to Santorini is memorable -- sheer cliffs surrounded by winding harbors and topped by houses. The famous donkey ride up the hill to Fira. Today, we take you to Santorini, also known as Thera, where we hiked to the rim of an ancient volcano that exploded in about 1,600 BC.  Then we took a boat ride around the warm-colored limestone cliffs which make the island famous.  And we capped the day with a ride up the famous tram, where we caught bird's eye views of the pink, brown, black, white and pale green, topped by  white village. We passed on the donkey ride -- we did it years ago. It's become controversial because of abuse and neglect of these charming and hard-working critters by some ride operators. SANTORINI WAS  called "Kallisti" for centuries, meaning "the loveliest" and in several visits, we've come to agree.  We love the blend of Cycladic architecture, volcanic rock, Venetian elegance, fine food Cookie and Keller board the tender to take them back to the ship.  and friendly folk. Our Santorini journey began in Fira, with a fine museum of bronze age relics, many fine restaurants and a stellar view of the sea below. The late autumn morning was chilly but we bundled up for an energetic climb to the caldera, a lovely crescent of cliffs about 1,150 feet above the sea where we could see the other islands in the background, and listen to stories from our knowledgeable and animated guide. She does not buy the myth that Santorini was the mythical Atlantis, mentioned in both Egyptian papyri and by the great philosopher Plato.  She, like Plato, believe Atlantis is in the Atlantic. We do know that this cataclysmic explosion destroyed the Minoan civilization on Crete. Greek food on Santorini is classic -- tasty lamb and beautiful salads of olives and feta, plus hearty flavorful tomatoes, cukes,  lettuce and red onion produced by the island's volcanic soil. SINCE ANTIQUITY,  Santorini has relied upon rain for both drinking water and irrigating the island's bountiful crops. Although water is imported as well, one still sees cisterns collecting the rain.  The locals drink stronger stuff,  and say there is more wine than water on their island.  Indeed, wine is the island's major export. I relished a glass of the retsina, having many years ago developed a taste for the unique pine-citrus blend. Keller opted for the Greek version of lemon soda -- tasty, too. We dined on skewered lamb, delightfully seasoned with olive oil, garlic and rosemary, and a fine Greek salad with generous olives and feta. We also shared a side of keftedes, delicious spicy meatballs.  And we split a  piece of Santorini baklava, that ambrosia of honey-nut pastry which both Greeks and Turks claim as their invention. Baklava and a Santorini sunset, wow. We toasted the day at a cliff-hanging tavern in Fira, our last stop before heading south to Malta, then back to Barcelona. St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands was spared the wrath of the most recent hurricanes, and remains beautiful.  NEXT UP :  St. Croix beckons -- oceans away from the Greek Isles. Come along to visit a turtle refuge, mahogany forests, stately sugar plantations, gorgeous beaches, friendly people and a national park famed for its  archaeological sites, mangroves and coral reefs. We biked around the island one day -- a memorable time indeed. Remember to explore, learn and live, and visit us Fridays when we post a new, fresh look at global travel, the arts, nature, family and fun.

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is known worldwide for its dramatic bridge towers.Since 1941, it has been featured  in a wide range of movies -- from suspense dramas to family fare and science fiction. WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS BRIDGE CELEBRATES  81 YEARS WITH DOZENS OF FILM APPEARANCES -- CAMEOS TO STARRING ROLES Tourists and locals alike traverse the bridge on  foot, by car, bike and even aboard a vintage fire truck. Hollywood has shot many pictures on and around her.  'San Francisco, open your Golden Gate, you let no stranger wait outside your door....' STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and Hollywood studio archives ONE OF THE  world's most famous landmarks is celebrating her 81st birthday this month with a star-studded string of movie close-ups to her credit. The song that became the anthem for 1906 earthquake survivors implied what savvy Hollywood has long known: no one is a stranger to this magnificent architectural and engineering feat. Hollywood has loved the landmark for decades, even when the bridge was but a youngster. DID YOU KNOW  that since the bridge opened to the public in 1937, it has appeared in nearly three dozen movies -- romances to science fiction and disaster epics, suspense thrillers to Disney pics? Director John Huston loved San Francisco and used the bridge in his film, "The Maltese Falcon." Right, we toured the bridge recently aboard a vintage 1955 fire engine, for our own movie. Jimmy Stewart rescued Kim Novak in "Vertigo." Director Alfred Hitchcock loved San Francisco. At the young age of four years, the bridge made its movie debut. Director John Huston used it to enhance the mood of his 1941 film noir classic, "The Maltese Falcon," starring Humphrey Bogart as the no-nonsense private detective Sam Spade. Director Alfred Hitchcock, who loved northern California and the City by the Bay, used the bridge in a famous scene in his 1958 thriller, "Vertigo." Remember when Jimmy Stewart's detective Scotty rescued apparently suicidal Madeleine (Kim Novak) from the bay?   Visit the bridge by fire truck Christopher Reeve in “Superman: The Movie,’’ saved a group of teens just as their school bus was about to slip off the ‘quake-damaged bridge. "Planet of the Apes" films have used the bridge. "Star Trek" has used the bridge more than once. Roger Moore's James Bond took a turn on the bridge, too. My favorite James Bond, Roger Moore, went on location in San Francisco for the 1985 film "A View to a Kill." The suave Agent 007 took on his nemesis Max Zorin on one of the bridge's iconic towers high above the roiling waters and whizzing traffic. The bridge is constantly being painted its distinctive  orange by a full-time crew, to keep it looking good for international tourists and for the movies. IN MORE  than one "Planet of the Apes” movies, the bridge has been featured. In 2011, a super smart chimp, Caesar, led a revolution of apes and a whiz bang fight scene on the bridge pitted apes against the California Highway Patrol. Remember the shock as a giant tsunami hurdled a huge freighter at the bridge in the 2015 disaster film, “San Andreas"?     THE BRIDGE has taken bows in romances, too, as in “Going the Distance” a 2010 romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. "Star Trek" fans know that the bridge was featured in the 1986 time-travel adventure “Star Trek IV – The Voyage Home.’' A captured Klingon Bird of Prey starship from 2286 flew under the foggy span to land in 1980s San Francisco. Then William Shatner’s James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s Mister Spock rode a bus across the bridge to Sausalito, trying to track a rare humpback whale. In the 21st century “Star Trek’’ flicks, Starfleet Command runs the galaxy from headquarters near -- guess where -- the Golden Gate Bridge.                                                            photo by Aaron Rumley From left, Omri Schein, Richard Baird and Loren Lester are three of the gifted ensemble in "Around the World in 80 Days." The North Coast Repertory Theatre production is top drawer. UP NEXT :   Elevate your artistic visions and feed your soul with a  satisfying offering of fine theater.  The arts are bread and butter -- not mere dessert -- and there's nothing like a first-rate production. Here in southern California, San Diego's North Coast Repertory Theatre is serving up a smashing version of  Jules Verne's classic novel, "Around the World in 80 Days."  Five gifted actors, dozens of quick costume changes and inspired direction make for an engaging time.  It's held over through Feb. 11. Don't miss it -- and other San Diego theater treats which we'll preview next time. Remember to explore, learn and live. Catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature and art.

The superb location of Delos -- right in the middle of the Aegean --  made it an ideal meeting place and trade center centuries ago. Aboard RCCL's Brilliance of the Seas, Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, elaborate houses,  mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions await your exploration of a magnificent ancient Greek culture Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo, has splendid ruins of temples, markets, a theater and famed Terrace of Lions. Delos  was declared a free port in 167 BC, it became a main trading   centers on the Eastern Mediterranean. A thriving town developed.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER APPROACHING DELOS , one marvels at the sophisticated people who thrived here two thousand years ago. What happened to these wealthy merchants and scholars, no one knows. They simply disappeared,  -- but here on the lovely Aegean Sea, early in winter, the light seems -- dare we say --Apollonion. An animated, accomplished Greek guide brings Delos history to life.  No wonder, for it was here in the center of a magical archipelago where Apollo was born. The god of music, truth and prophecy, healing, sun, light, poetry is a spiritual presence as we stroll through   ruins    dating  to 600 B.C.  OUR BRILLIANT  guide brings the culture back to life, describing a busy port, important religious center and home to wealthy and sophisticated merchants and scholars.  Their highly evolved hygiene, culture and architecture made the prosperous village a huge internationally touted "find" when it was discovered by the French centuries later in 1873. Cookie about to board a ferry after a wonderful day in Delos.  As we studied glorious ruins, the morning sun reflected off the marble and stone as if to say: search always for harmony, ask questions, seek reason and balance -- all trademarks of Greek philosophy. WHY THE  ancient Greeks left their island home is unknown -- perhaps disease or crop failure, a sudden shift in tides or weather.  But we know that long abandoned Delos was once sacred throughout Greece, as the centerpiece of an artfully arranged archipelago . Mykonos was the port for a day in Delos on Brilliance of the Seas. We joined a group of students and tourists on Delos, to study a  culture dating to the early Bronze Age. Important mythological,  historical and archeological discoveries make it one of the world's most famous excavations. RCCL organizes great tours.   . The French began extensive excavations of Delos in 1873.  Work continues today, with many questions unanswered. We boarded a ferry in nearby Mykonos, setting off for a half-hour sail on the peaceful Aegean Sea. It was Day 8 of our Mediterranean odyssey aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas. Our destination was this famous mythological birthplace of Apollo, whose mother, Leto, gave birth to him and his twin, Artemis here. EXCAVATIONS on Delos started in 1873 by the French School of Archaeology at Athens and by 1914 the most significant sections of the ancient site had been uncovered. Work is ongoing, and recently more ruins were discovered underwater nearby: kilns, pottery and    remnants of a major religious center and port during the 1st millennium B.C. We admired ruins of Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues. We wished for more time in the excellent Archaeological Museum on site which displays statues excavated from the site. It was our third visit to Delos, and not long enough. Young James Brian Ganner gives thumbs up to his ride aboard a Mack fire truck. More on this fun family tour soon. UP NEXT: Thumbs up for San Francisco Fire Engine Tours, a unique way to see the city.  Whether you're a native to the City by the Bay (as is our great-nephew James Ganner) or a tourist on a first-time or 20th visit, the delightful 90-minute tour will introduce you to new sights and little known streets, as well as familiar and iconic sights, buildings and parks. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a novel approach to travel, the arts, nature and family.

Photographers from all over the world are drawn to the colors and sea views of Cinque Terre, visited from Portovenere. SPEND A DAY TRAVERSING PICTURESQUE VILLAGES BELOVED BY POETS ON ITALY'S ALLURING COAST Cookie and Keller, happy in Porto Venere, Italy, near a famed Gothic church, stunning beaches,caves, rocky promontories and a clifftop fortress. Seafood is one of the draws of the exotic ports of Cinque Terre. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER UNFORGETTABLE VIEWS  of the bay inspired English poets more than a century ago, and continue to draw visitors from around the globe to the magic of Cinque Terre. Lunch al fresco, featuring calimari, clams, octopus and local greens in Monterosso. Five picturesque townships bursting with color and charm look out on the Ligurian Sea, an alluring arm of the Mediterranean.  WE SPENT   a few delightful days here, on the northwest edge of Italy's boot," recharging after a week of hectic touring. We jumped ship after a rejuvenating Royal Caribbean sail aboard Brilliance of the Seas, and returned to Monterosso. Nestled between the  Italian Riviera (Liguria) and the island of Corsica, this quintet of enticing hamlets may be accessed by train or boat from La Spezia. The castle of Porto Venere draws hikers to a stunning view. We motored to Cinque Terre from the Brilliance, tracing the route Napoleon developed when he was assembling his navy in the late 18th Century. We motored from La Spezia, also famous as an entree to Tuscany.   We'd explored the wonders of Florence and its magnificent Uffizi Gallery many times so searched for a new discovery: enter Cinque Terre. Winding streets with fun shops featuring handmades are part of Cinque Terre's charm. WE BOARDED  our boat in the village of Porto Venere, known for its Regional Natural Park, a lovely protected area with trails and dive sites. The park encompasses Palmaria Island, dotted with beaches and caves. We walked past colorful shops and hotels to the Gothic-style Church of St. Peter, which sits atop a rocky headland. Nearby is the centuries-old Castello Doria, an imposing clifftop fortress with views of the Gulf of Poets. The wonders continue to entertain the senses -- grottos, tower-like houses, riots of bougainvillea,  delectable seafood, beautiful handmade linens and pottery, and romantic footpaths dating back to the Middle Ages.     Our favorite walk was the Via dell'Amore, dedicated to lovers. More info:  www.cinqueterre.eu.com/ Fishing is an important career for many locals. We watched the owners of these boats repair their nets one sunny afternoon. UP NEXT:   What do you know about Malta?  This small but interesting Mediterranean country is less than 100 kilometers from Sicily.  Nearly everyone speaks Italian, but  Maltese is the major language, a pleasing blend of several languages, including Arabic, because of the proximity to Africa. Other languages spoken are French and English, But its closeness to Africa inspires not only language, but Malta's art, architecture, food and temperament.. Join us each Friday  to explore, learn and live  as we offer  a fresh approach to travel, nature and the arts.

GLORIOUS DECORATIONS, LIGHTS ENTERTAIN THOUSANDS OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS Mission Inn is aglow and magical this time of year in Riverside, California STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Cookie and Keller pause in front of the historic hotel. PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER FOR TWO DECADES , the historic Mission Inn in Riverside, Calif., has lit itself up for the holidays to the delight of thousands of appreciative onlookers. People book rooms -- often a year or two in advance -- so they can live happily among the splendidly lit decorations for a day or two. This year, the famous hotel has more than five million lights ablaze. Carriages, beautifully decorated, and well tended  horse's offer beauty and entertainment. The lights accent  displays ranging from classic Biblical scenes to tableaux from the beloved "Nutcracker" ballet, to a fanciful Santa with reindeer and elves. THE RICH history of the hotel dates back to 1874 when a when a Wisconsin civil engineer arrived in Riverside. C.C. Miller began work on an inspired water system, and with his family, started a small boarding house in the center of town. A docent tour takes guests into lobbies, alcoves Handsome, merry nutcrackers  and friends provide color  as they line the balconies and walkways. The inn was popular with travelers and its reputation grew.  The Miller family accented it with their own art collection.  In 1902, Miller's son Frank Augustus Miller changed the name to the "Glenwood Mission Inn" and started a much grander vision enlarging the grounds and adding buildings, in a variety of styles, He continued the expansion until he died in 1935.  THE YOUNGER    Miller's architectural flair resulted in an eclectic structural blend  drawn from a variety of influences.  His study of historical design periods, revivals, influences, and styles created today's delightful property.    The Spanish mission-style structure is the crowning jewel of a charming downtown which includes galleries, museums, bistros,  taverns and a performing arts center. The inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a State of California Historic Landmark, and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Tours of the property are available through the Mission Inn Foundation, which operates the enterprise.   Along with architectural styles and furnishings from around the world, the inn contains dozens of entertaining stories, which docents colorfully share.. / www.missioninn.com/ Bright pastels dot the rocky terrain which rises from the sea in  Monterosso. UP NEXT:   Ah, Cinque Terre. Five villages of heaven on Earth.  Gorgeous pastels, picturesque villages, water, flowers, pleasant people, fabulous seafood.  Sounds too good to be true. But this lovely array of small, welcoming towns is a favorite of Cookie and Keller. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays when we post for each weekend.

A bighorn sheep nods to winter, near Nye, Montana, near the Beartooth Mine.  He was photographed on a recent visit.  SPLENDOR IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES, AS FALL STEPS ASIDE, AND WINTER WAITS IN THE WINGS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "For how can one know color in perpetual green, and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness...."  John Steinback, "Travels with Charley." Between snows, it's pleasant to wander the river, and maybe even catch a fish. Beetween snows and melts, the deer are out to forage, making them excellent material for an afternoon or morning of photos. MONTANA IS  truly a land for all seasons -- if one likes variety.John Steinbeck loved our mountains and prairies -- and even found our cold winters  inspiring.While his affection might have been partly bourbon induced, his sentiments have plenty of supporters. Right now, the temperature is zigging and zagging from freezing and below, to downright balmy.Rain, snow, ice and gorgeous bursts of sun and thaw come with the territory this time of year. Thousands are reveling in it, when downhill and cross-country skiing are at their best, with the snow crisp but not icy, the welcome sun shining without melting the white. AMONG THE virtues of wildlife viewing in the winter is the fact that the crowds of summer are vanished.  You can find parking and hiking even in the most normally crowded scenic viewing pull-offs.  There's a freedom, calm and, yes, sweetness in winter that the crowds and heat of summer sabotage.   Bighorn sheep -- a male on the right -- enjoy a stroll in late autumn. The male appears to be courting the female. The time was right. Cross country skiing in the Beartooths can make for an invigorating day. This guy was late to hibernation -- or took a break -- to play in the snow. He may have been unearthing something buried before to eat later. PHOTOGRAPHERS , nature lovers and bird watchers  have long known that winter is prime time for viewing -- if one is  properly dressed.  Birds and critters -- except most bears -- are easier to see against the winter trees and rocky outcroppings often edged with white.  Animals such as rabbits and deer are spotted more readily because their coats aren't as easily hidden in winter.  Birds in the trees don't have the leaf cover of the other seasons.      But patience is a virtue. Keller says he always does his homework on an animal's or bird's behavior before setting out for " the photograph." HE OFFERS  these tips -- and he should know.  His work is well published and you view it here week after week. He has the essential patience for researching his photo shoots  before hand.  I do   that when I prepare for an interview with an actor, musician, writer, painter or politician. Makes sense to apply the same advice to photography. This chilly fellow at a feeder near  our place in south-central Montana appears to like the mix of seed. A ranch near us is blanketed with snow for months.  We often see the footprints of deer as we drive in or out. "Getting to know something about the subject before I set out with my camera makes the difference between being ready and prepared to do justice to that “golden moment” and feeling utter failure and frustration.  (As when you stand not quite ready and watch your subject fly by or trot away.)" In our safaris to Africa -- both Kenya and Tanzania -- Keller's advice was echoed by our naturalist tour guide-photographers.  In Masai Mara, a noted photographer said there is only The promise of spring -- and the beauty of green -- kept  Steinbeck returning to Montana, as it does us! one certain way to get to know wildlife, even  after copious reading and research. "You must spend time with them. Don’t just hang around for a few minutes, or pop your head out of a viewing coach.  Study the subject.  Read, of course. Then take every opportunity to be near the animal or bird, even in a preserve or zoo. "Look at other peoples' photographs.  And if your subject isn't co-operating, try something else for a few minutes -- stand up, change position, move to the next clearing or spot. Sit quietly while the animals move around. Watch them. And wait. Your time to get a spectacular photo will come." Riverside's Mission Inn is a wonderland Of holiday lights and magical displays. UP NEXT:   The Mission Inn, in Riverside, Calif., is known for its lavish holiday decorations which feature five million lights and attract visitors from all over the world.  For two decades-plus, the Inn has championed the Festival of Lights, which besides its millions of lights features over 400 animated figures. Come have a merry look at Santa and his Elves, the Nutcrackers and fairies, palm trees and religious icons, all in the finest reds and golds. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for our weekly posts.