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The clan gathered for a birthday party for Christene "Cookie" Meyers, but she didn't know it was also a wedding.  Her longtime partner, photographer Bruce Keller, had arranged the ceremony with the couple's niece and nephew, Amarylla and Steve Ganner. "Father Steve" officiated.   "Father Steve," a San Francisco lay minister, has  officiated at other weddings. He and his wife, Cookie's niece Amarylla, secretly arranged with Keller to add a wedding to the birthday bash. GROOM PROPOSES AT BIRTHDAY REUNION STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER (including selfies on timer) "The past is prologue." William Shakespeare WHEN ANTONIO  delivers that famous line in "The Tempest,"  he means that everything that has gone before sets the scene for what happens next. In my life, that rings true. I met Bruce William Keller 17 years ago --  symmetry in this crazy world. I was reeling from serious loss, considering the nunnery. Then I met Keller. Kind, funny, sweet Keller. Niece Amarylla, and great-nieces Peny and Isabella, enjoy weekend companionship. Little did I know that my two late husbands' first names -- Bruce and William -- were also his first and middle names. Are they keeping an eye on me from The Great Beyond?  A love of travel and the arts brought us together.  In those next high-flying years, we'd log close to a million airline miles.  We've had so darned much fun, visiting family and friends in Oregon, New York, California, Georgia, New Zealand, Israel, Great Britain, Italy, Norway and more. The party's mountain backdrop in the Beartooths. Niece Kelly, sister Olivia, and nephew Orion.   Nieces Ariel and Elliana. BUT I CERTAINLY didn't guess that he'd cook up a wedding proposal a few days ago. At our family reunion parties, there are two conditions:  One is that everyone must wear a hat, a tradition begun years ago by my behatted grandmother and mum.  The other is that we tell stories.  Everyone must come up with a line or two, an anecdote, a joke, a poem or song about the honoree. Future groom: day before the birthday party, the guys got together for a group photo. Sister-in-law Jane Milder made a lovely wreath. So when it came Keller's turn, he told a couple  Cookie stories.  (My favorite is how I fixed our new Audi's alternator with a motel coat hanger in Wallace, Idaho, so we could make the Oregon Shakespeare Festival opening.) Nieces "Izzy" and Peny with one of the clan pups. AFTER THE laughter subsided, Keller said he had a "surprise guest."  He introduced our niece's husband (our adopted nephew).  "Father Steve, from Scotland is here to perform a special ceremony."  Then on bended knee, he asked, "Cookie, will you marry me?" Girl time, the night before the official party. Poems, songs, tall and short tales prevailed. Oh, my, that was a shock.  We'd talked about formalizing our long relationship.     So here we were now, in my native state, surrounded by family. ''I'd be delighted," was my reply.   ******* OUR ROMANCE began two years after the death of my second husband, William Jones, and happily  continued many of the themes of my two earlier long-term relationships, first with Bruce Kemp Meyers, then Billy, now my adored "Keller." find out why he's called Keller Brother Rick delivers an ode at the party. With all three of these talented, energetic guys, I traveled, painted, wrote, played music, danced, hiked and cavorted. With Billy, a well known national film critic, I covered many movie premieres. With Bruce, a gifted writing teacher and actor, I performed in dozens of plays and musicals. With Keller, I continued my passion for the arts.  Thankfully, he loves theater, too. I've been lucky to have these fun, fulfilling chapters in my life, filled with plenty of good times and some deep, dark sadness. I'm crossing my fingers that this latest chapter is a long one filled with continuing adventure, joy and enough pluck to survive inevitable sorrow.    I'm one lucky girl who's had the world's three most happy fellas. An Alexander Calder sculpture, "Two Discs," created in 1965, resides at Tippet Rise to welcome visitors and set the tone.  UP NEXT:  Tippet Rise is an extraordinary arts and music show case in Montana.  Its founders aim to integrate music, art and nature and to make this unique merging available for all.  A lottery determines the lucky few who may attend concerts in the small, acoustically perfect Olivia "Barn."  The season is brief and runs from the end of August for only a few weeks with world class performers, including soloists and string quartets. If you didn't win tickets, you can plan a visit to this extraordinary place next season. We'll take you on a couple tours: one to the sculptures and one that studies the geology of this place, where dinosaurs once roamed. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on the arts, travel, nature, family and more:   www.whereiscookie.com

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Theater in San Diego is as varied as the jewels in a royal crown, each one offering its own unique light and sparkle. In five years of reflecting on the gems here, I’ve never seen a “faux stone.”  The talent pool is large and varied, the fare is a lively mix of drama, musicals and new experimental work, and – this is a critical element – the actors, musicians and crew are passionate.  It shows. Sunday’s matinee of “Man of LaMancha” at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town was a treat for this Broadway baby.  Veteran hoofer and director, the versatile Sean Murray, delivered a thoughtful and touching Don Quixote, backed by a powerhouse cast.  This was my seventh “LaMancha” worldwide, imaginatively staged and beautifully lit, a fast-paced thrill. From the moment a pair of classical guitarists approached the stage to the immediate standing ovation before the final lyric faded, I was transported to look at the beauty, accentuate the positive.  The play has not lost its luster.  Murray makes the role his own – as did Richard Kiley, Raul Julia, Peter O’Toole and Robert Goulet --  with a poet’s understanding of the rich lyrics, and an elegant phrasing of the lines.  Bryan Barbarin’s Sancho is endearing as the devoted sidekick, and there are no weak links in the support, from the important trio of female vocalists/actors to the spirited muleteers, the padre, duke and captain. The six pit musicians are precise and enhancing, never intrusive.   If it’s been a while since you conjured a knight fighting a windmill or dreamed your own impossible dream, there is still time.  The run continues through Aug. 26: 619 337-1525 or Cygnettheatre.com And a tip: hitch your play-going wagon to any production boasting Sean Murray’s name.  His gifts are enormous, including a brilliant Sweeney Todd, and his directorial triumphs range from hilarious stagings of “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Noises Off,” to an engaging “Our Town,”  a smooth and sophisticated “Private Lives,” a delightful “Dirty Blonde,” gender-bending “Cabaret” and more. How lucky we are that he wears Cygnet’s artistic director hat, and loves life here.  He could ply his talents anywhere! Watch for my look at other stars in San Diego’s theatrical crown, including the Old Globe, North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse.

The famous Sydney Opera House is aglow with "Pride" colors, a proud rainbow celebrating Australia's strong support of the progress toward inclusion, tolerance and embrace of all people. PRIDE month encourages professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER  LGBT Pride Month is celebrated worldwide. It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots. LET US WELCOME JUNE and the celebration of Gay Pride worldwide. The acronym, PRIDE, was adopted by University of California San Francisco Medical Center and is now a part of our vernacular. It stands for professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence. Amen. As a heterosexual woman with gay friends around the globe, I celebrate PRIDE month and the hope, progress and understanding it symbolizes. Cookie takes wing for PRIDE month. Keller is ready to fly for PRIDE's message. Growing up in Montana in the 1950s, it didn't then occur to me that several of my most remarkable teachers were likely closeted gays. They either lived alone or with "roommates," and were unable to show their affection for one another in public in those days. How difficult it must have been. When "Bruce the First" and I married in 1970, one of our two best men, now passed away, was gay. Roger lived in San Francisco during his college years and frequented the famous "gay baths."  When he returned to his native Montana, as a brilliant university professor, he led a quiet, mostly solitary life. Another dear friend often met his longtime partner on weekends in another state and his choice of a mate was never discussed although everyone knew. Again, how sad for all. Elizabeth Taylor addressed Congress and raised millions for AIDS awareness and research. --photo courtesy AMFAR    LIVING IN THE  world of theater and the arts,  Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson in a promotion photo from "Giant." - -photo courtesy Warner Bros I am reminded of what ardent AIDS awareness advocate Elizabeth Taylor said to eulogize her longtime friend and fellow actor Rock Hudson when he died in 1985 of complications from  AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). "Without the gay community, there would be no Broadway, no Hollywood," Taylor said. She raised millions to find a cure for the disease while raising awareness. With emotion, she addressed a standing ovation Oscars crowd shortly after Hudson died at age 59. She believed: "There is no gay agenda; it's a human agenda. Why shouldn't gay people be able to live as open and freely as everybody else? What it comes down to, ultimately, is love. How can anything bad come out of love? The bad stuff comes out of mistrust, misunderstanding and, God knows, from hate and from ignorance." Sydney, Australia's streets are decked with posters, ads, promotions for PRIDE month. SHE WOULD, I believe, be comforted now by increasing public acceptance and the openness and honesty of my gay and lesbian friends around the world. Most are in their 40s, 50s and 60s now.  One gay couple is in their 70s, living in England. Another lives in Idaho. Both couples are world travelers as are a lesbian couple in Colorado. How hard this fight has been -- and how rich must be the rewards to finally be able to walk hand in hand, share a hug at a party or reception, book a room on a ship or hotel without fear of judgment or criticism. Phil Johnson and Omri Schein in "Withering Heights," a hysterical spoof of the classic, at one of San Diego's best and most adventurous theaters, Diversionary.    WE LOVE theater, and are grateful for such a lively mix of fine productions here in San Diego and nearby Palm Springs.  Diversionary Theatre is a favorite venue. This third oldest LGBTQ theater in the country produces quality work in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Bravo, Diversionary. Keep the good work coming. "Head Over Heels" musical is next up, and Diversionary's Clark Cabaret offers a pleasant environment to relax with a friend and a beverage before or after a first-rate show. Emcee Anita Rose opens a hit drag show at Oscar's in Palm Springs. We never miss a drag show, in Las Vegas or Palm Springs, where Oscar's showcases world class female impersonators, live music and great food.  Diversionary Theatre in San Diego produces first-rate theater and offers a welcoming show case and environment for thinking theater buffs. Millions will show their PRIDE this month around the world. THE PRIDE movement celebrates its 53rd year -- after its beginning in 1970, a year after the Stonewall Inn Riots in New York. As we mark this important turning point, I look forward to more peaceful marches when friends can express themselves and their sexuality freely. Such celebrations encourage continuing gay awareness and public understanding. We can't have enough of that. SO IT  is with joy that I join millions to celebrate LGBTQ and Pride. I'll continue to do my bit to to help achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) humans. And, on a humorous note: In 1997, my husband Billy and I toured the Amazon on a small boat with only a dozen staterooms. We'd tried to book the only stateroom with a queen-sized bed. It was unavailable so we settled for a room with two twins. Later, after dinner, our new friends, a fun lesbian couple from Colorado, invited us to their stateroom for a nightcap. Guess who had the only queen sized bed on the boat? For more information or to connect:   gaycenter.org diversionary.org oscarspalmsprings.com   Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on a circle tour of the island of Oahu, a full, rewarding day with E Noa. UP NEXT: If you have a day to explore the wonders of Oahu, try E Noa's Majestic Circle Tour which gives a spectacular, compact view of the island with lots of extras and pleasures. From lush Waimea Valley to Dole Plantation, the stunning coastline, macadamia nuts, coffee, shrimp and a beautiful Buddhist temple, it's all possible in a single full but relaxing and informative day. We take you to explore in stylish comfort, remembering to explore, learn an live. Catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel and the arts, performance, nature, family, food and more: www.whereiscookie.com

More than a half century after its release, the Montana-made movie, "Little Big Man,"is still entertaining, stimulating conversation and encouraging consideration of the plight of indigenous people and the white man's role in that.   There is an endless supply of white men.  There has always been a limited number of human beings.” -- Old Lodge Skins LITTLE BIG HORN SEMINAR DRAWS SCHOLARS, EXTRAS, MOVIE AND HISTORY BUFFS TO PONDER CLASSIC FILM                                                                      Chief Dan George portrayed Old Lodge Skins, receiving second billing to Dustin Hoffman, garnering an Academy Award nomination and other awards for his performance.                                                                      Editor's note: Christene Meyers covered the making of  "Little Big Man" as a young reporter and was among  panel participants discussing the Montana made movie.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and courtesy Cinema Center Films Actor Dustin Hoffman on location during the 1969 filming of "Little Big Man," here on the Earl and Toni Rosell Ranch near Billings. HOLLYWOOD   came to Montana in 1969 to film a movie that would change the way the world views indigenous people. When it debuted during the holidays of 1970, "Little Big Man" generated a then impressive box office of $31 million. It premiered just in time to qualify for Oscar consideration the next spring. A recent seminar in Hardin, Montana, celebrated the movie's contribution to the humanities and the ways in which it portrayed native Americans as "human beings." DUSTIN HOFFMAN  was a young looking 33 -- just three years after he rose to fame as Benjamin in "The Graduate," seduced by an older Mrs. Robinson, his parents' friend. Genius makeup artist Dick Smith created a 121-year old character in Dustin Hoffman's Jack Crabb. Through the make-up wizardry of Hollywood artist Dick Smith, Hoffman's character Jack Crabb appears first as a 121-year old man, relating the story of his remarkable life to a reporter. The character undergoes many transformations in both the white and native worlds, leading many lives, including as a scout for General George Armstrong Custer during the infamous Indian Wars. Crabb's life is as complex as any portrayed in the movies. Panelists discussed the impact of the film, and acting as extras.     CROW AND Cheyenne men and women – elderly now -- were 53 years younger when they acted along side Hoffman. They portrayed members of Little Big Man's adopted Indian family and for the real-life families, the picture gave their lives an economic boost. Panelists at a three-day "Little Big Man" symposium in Hardin recalled that dozens of native people earned from $10 or $25 a day -- more if they had their own horse -- during the filming. The gathering, sponsored by Little  Symposium organizer Tim Bernardis spent years studying "Little Big Man" and planning for the festival marking its 53rd anniversary. Big Horn College, celebrated Montana’s connection to the film. It was the brainchild of author and veteran Crow Cultural Center library director Tim Bernardis, lifelong film aficionado. He spent years studying the movie, based on a 1964 novel by Thomas Berger and directed by Oscar winner Arthur Penn. Bernardis dreamed of a symposium to spotlight its impact and secured a grant to make it happen. Planned for 2020, 50 years after the film’s 1970 debut, the seminar was derailed by COVID. Bernardis wasn’t about to let the project be lost. “It is too important; we kept the dream alive,” he said. THE GROUNDBREAKING film begins with Crabb recalling the killing of his parents on their way west, and his rescue by Indians. Crabb describes multiple incarnations in diverse worlds, including earning the name "Little Big Man" from his adopted grandfather, Old Lodge Skins. His unique perspective and visits with his wise elder teach him the ways of the “human beings,” as Old Lodge Skins describes his people. Hoffman’s convincing acting continues to fascinate, 53 years after the film’s debut to critical acclaim. A scene from the film, "Little Big Man," now 53 years old, with this battle scene shot on location at Crow Agency, near the actual battle site. Some of the actors spoke at the seminar. During three lively and varied days, three years after the COVID postponement, presenters considered a wide range of topics, from academic insights to emotional musings and humorous, touching impressions.   Some gave vivid back stories, examples of present-day racism, feeling that the culture is back-sliding in a sea of increasing bigotry. Symposium emcee Sidney Chip Fitzpatrick Jr., related a vivid example of recent racism experienced when an elderly white woman accosted his daughter with   verbal slurs in a Billings store. “We still have a lot of work to do,” Fitzpatrick said, "to make certain that native Americans are regarded as human beings, not caricature   drunks and other stereotypes.” Sidney "Chip" Fitzpatrick Jr acted as emcee at the fete. Young beautifully dressed Indian girls delighted with their performances during the "LBM" symposium.   AMONG THE TOPICS was an examination of Richard Mulligan's portrayal of George Armstrong Custer, the man whose “Last Stand” came on a grassy knoll near Hardin. The Little Bighorn battle scenes were filmed on location at Crow Agency, near the actual battle site, lending authenticity to the movie.  Between presentations, seminar guests recalled the changing of the name Custer Battlefield to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in 1991. “It is important to recognize the indigenous perspective,” said one woman. “A very good thing.” Artists, historians, townsfolk and friends mingled to discuss the movie and its impact . DANCERS AND  drummers entertained at lunch time in the school cafeteria, while guests and participants reminisced about the movie's beginnings.  Director Penn read the book in 1966 and loved it. Billings mayor Willard Fraser got wind of the project and heard Arizona and Mexico were being considered as locations. He recruited arts advocate and rancher Earl Rosell to help sell Montana to Hollywood.  Fraser called upon his Indian friends—Johnny Wooden Legs, Edison Real Bird, Henry Old Coyote, Susie Yellowtail and others -- and with Rosell, they "sold" the Montana location, making lobbying trips to Hollywood and Cinema Center Films on their own dime.  Fraser biographer Lou Mandler described Fraser’s courting of “Little Big Man” producer Stuart Millar. The persistent, Montana boosting mayor toured Millar and movie scouts around Montana, enumerating the advantages of shooting a motion picture about Indians in authentic Indian country.  “The realism of the film would boost box office sales,” Fraser wrote. His lobbying proved effective and filming began on the Rosell ranch in summer of 1969. Rosell even scored a cameo as a soldier who spares Little Big Man when he realizes the Dustin Hoffman character is white, not Indian.  Rene Rosell Yarborough and Christene "Cookie"  Meyers" were panelists. Rosell is holding the sword her father used in a cameo scene. Here are links to some of the most watched clips from the movie, featuring Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabb and Richard Mulligan as a deranged, egocentric General Custer.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kflV0EBLBWIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch ? v=4hJ9igq1zZ8https:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=WihjvhJawEohttps:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpb q6nGbs50 The wedding/birthday party at High Chaparral on the West Fork of the Stillwater River, Montana.  UP NEXT:  Gentle readers: few things escape the eye of the writer of this column. But Bruce William Keller's surprise proposal took my breath away and left me in a rare stunned silence.  It happened during a clan reunion celebrating my birthday -- and will never be forgotten.  I said "Yes," of course, actually, "I'd be delighted!" We've been together more than 16 years and are legal domestic partners in the state of California. But we'd not discussed tying the proverbial knot. So when he asked -- on bended knee -- I thought "why not?" His co-conspirators were our niece and nephew, Amarylla and Steve.  He officiated at the ceremony, during the birthday tribute. Coming next. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on the arts, travel, nature, family and more:   www.whereiscookie.com

Lights, action, enjoyment. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks brings a pair of works to enthusiastic audiences from Bozeman to Cody, Wyo., Helena to Superior, and parts of Idaho with a stop in Washington state. The award-winning endeavor is presented free and sustained by grants and donations. "Love's Labors Lost" was on tour in an earlier production. Notice the elaborate costumes, and a stage that is collapsed, packed up and transported via truck dozens of times per season. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER ONE OF  Big Sky Country's treasured institutions is Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. The ambitious touring theater is beloved by thousands, and with good reason. Joel Jahnke ran Shakespeare in the Parks for decades. His vision of bringing the Bard's work to the people continues with Kevin Asselin, current artistic director. A troupe of seasoned actors  doubles as costumers, technicians, designers and fund-raisers for one of the state's most enterprising organizations. The troupe tours the Rockies each year to the delight of playgoers from eastern Washington to northern Wyoming and the prairies of Montana. With a schedule that would challenge most actors, the young, limber company presents two plays in repertory fashion. While theirs is a mostly Shakespeare repertoire, this year's docket features "The Three Musketeers," adapted from the Alexandre  Dumas work, along with "Measure for Measure," which many consider among Shakespeare's finest. I FIRST INTERVIEWED Executive-artistic director Kevin Asselin sustains the original vision.  Joel Jahnke, the energetic impresario of Montana's Shakespeare in the Parks, many years ago. Through the years I've keep track of the company headed for decades by this visionary man. He believes the touring troupe's mission has always been "to serve rural areas and people who might not normally be able to afford or have access to quality theater." My first of many interviews with Jahnke was in 1976, three years after the company was founded. He spent 35 years at the helm as director and is crucial to its success and longevity. Kevin Asselin has been the company's executive director since 2014 and is continuing Jahnke's crowd-pleasing tradition. THE CROWD at a recent production of "The Three Musketeers" in Fishtail Family Park was an eclectic blend of locals -- Republicans and Democrats, students, families -- a mix of tourists new to Shakespeare in the Parks, and devotees who haven't missed a year for decades. A tender moment in "The Three Musketeers" recently in Fishtail, Montana.  "We' re about finding ways to come together regardless of political or socioeconomic differences. That belief forms the backbone of the company's success," Asselin says. What makes the endeavor noteworthy is that in a single day, the company transforms an empty space into a believable theatrical stage -- complete with balcony, set and costumes. The feat is remarkable when one considers it is done day after day with little time off and in unpredictable weather. DONATIONS  are welcome and the website shows you where to catch the next show. The company's outreach extends beyond Shakespeare in the Parks to a school program and other fund-raisers and presentations. The season began in "hometown" Bozeman for a rare week. Usually stops are a single night, or sometimes two. The troupe returns to  Bozeman for Sweet Pea Festival, visits Butte and Big Sky, then heads west into Driggs, Pocatello and Salmon, Idaho.  A young girl is head over heels for her night at the theater. OTHER STOPS included Silvergate, Big Timber, Powell, Cody and Worland Wyoming, Roundup and Townsend Gardiner, Boulder, Forsyth, and a swing into Beach, North Dakota, in July. The August run includes western Montana and a stop in Liberty Lake, Wash., northern Montana towns and Missoula in western Montana, then two weeks in September in Philipsburg, St. Ignatius, Superior, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Whitehall, Livingston, Three Forks, White Sulphur and a finale in Bozeman with "The Three Musketeers" at Grand Chamberlain Park. The road home, outside of Fishtail, at sunset, which is when the plays end this time of year. Check the schedule for a play near you by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. "We love it when we get to stay two nights," the company members say. "It's a real treat not to have to move everything every day."  For tickets or more information: ShakespeareInTheParks.org

In late spring and into summer,   temperatures in the Alps can dip to 15 °C (59 F), and there can still be snow on the mountain tops, as Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers discovered recently during a ride on the famed Bernina Express. HISTORIC RAIL TRIP OFFERS SPLENDID VIEWS ON BERNINA EXPRESS The viaduct  outside Tirano offers spectacular Alps viewing. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IT'S BEEN OUR dream for 17 years  to take a train trip through the Swiss Alps and transit the terrain of some of the world's highest mountain ranges. Both of us love mountains and winding trails. We both love trains, too, so the irresistible combination came to us via Bernina Express. We viewed several villages from the train's panoramic windows.   The famous train connects Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy by crossing the rugged and lush Swiss Engadin Alps. For most of its journey, the train runs along the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway.   Picturesque sights abound, including this cafe, Restaurant Alp Grum in Poschiavo, Switzerland. WE BOARDED  in Tirano,  a picturesque Italian village, the northern Italy counterpart to the little village chosen for filming "The Godfather." People are friendly and family oriented. They love their dogs and keep tidy, small gardens.  It's a lovely place to stroll the winding streets as we did from our  B&B, the delightful Ostello del Castello. (More on that in next week's feature on Tirano.)  Framed by Lake St. Moritz are Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce Keller, on a unique train trip from Tirano, Italy. AFTER RESTING a couple days following a hectic time in southern Europe, we were ready to resume our adventures. We walked the mile from the hotel to the train station to await our departure from Tirano. We'd booked our reservations weeks before and found our seats in a comfy car resembling the Vista Dome of my youthful train travel. Glass ceilings in these first class cars offer a panoramic experience. Note in booking that not all the cars have these expansive windows and ceilings. AS WE  traveled, we reveled in the green of the Alps, its rugged terrain, villages and meadows, snow capped peaks, alpine lakes and a remarkable viaduct. While we were on our train, friends took the Bernina Express going the opposite direction, a four-hour, 90-mile journey from icy Switzerland to sunny Italy.  We reversed, starting in Italy and wending our way through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges to St. Moritz.  So while we were digging light jackets out of our backpacks as temperatures dropped, our friends were shedding their sweaters as the weather warmed. Bruce Keller enjoys a stunning view enroute to St. Moritz. Right outside our window, skiers readied their gear for an afternoon on the slopes. The train makes a stop or two along the way for photos.  We saw skiers and sunbathers in a day. The train  was built in 1896-1904 and is itself a UNESCO World Heritage site. We appreciated the train's clean, spacious seats. First class is a bit more, but worth it. Everyone was in good spirits and we met delightful people -- Americans, Australians, French, English, German, Swiss, Italians -- all bonded by an appreciation of the spectacular sights we enjoyed together.  A PLEASANT  attendant circulated with a refreshment trolley, offering light snacks, tea, coffee, wine and souvenirs. It is allowed to bring your own food and drinks, including wine, as several passengers did. It's a thrill to have experienced this wonderful journey. If you love trains, mountain scenery and adventure, we highly recommend this outing. For more information: The Chur–Tirano route runs daily between Chur, Switzerland and Tirano, Italy. In summer, the train continues from Tirano to Lugano some days.St . Moritz–Tirano: This shorter route runs between St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Tirano, Italy. The classic Bernina Red Train route offers panoramic carriages and requires advance ticket reservations. We took it from from Tirano to St. Moritz. Tickets begin at about 29 Euros. www.berninarailway.com For rail and ticketing elsewhere in Europe: www.eurail.com Strolling the streets of Tirano, Italy, are Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers, The charming village was our base for exploring northern Italy and taking Bernina Express.   UP NEXT :  We spent a few relaxing days in Tirano, based at the charming Ostello del Castello, a unique family run inn in Tirano, Valtellina, Italy.  Host Andreas and a welcoming staff made us instantly at home and we were surrounded by spectacular views, geraniums in window boxes, and the clanging of cowbells to greet the morning.  We'll visit Tirano and its treasures with tips on combining the train trip with a village visit. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on nature, travel, performance, family and the arts: www.whereiscookie.com

The sampans navigate the harbor in Hong Kong, taking tourists around for 350 Hong Kong dollars ($70 a couple, U.S.) You can get cheaper fares to take you around the Aberdeen area, if you negotiate. The sampan is part of Hong Kong lore, distinct because it is maneuvered with oars at the stern.  Retirees make up the majority of the sampan drivers. TAKE A MUSK OX RIDE, HOP A BULLET TRAIN, JUMP ON A JUNK, OR BIKE, BABY! In Halong Harbor, we were happily jostled about in our tour boat. Navigation to the famous caves nearby includes boats bumping each other.  ''I've flown around the world in a plane. I've settled revolutions in Spain.  The North Pole I have charted. But I can't get started with you.....'' STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Tuk-tuk time for Sue, Cookie, John and Keller in Bangkok. "WE'VE FLOWN  around the world in a plane. Been part of traffic tie-ups in Spain. Rode in sampans, tuk-tuks, Treaded snow in mukluks,it's true." Awaiting the famed bullet train in Tokyo, we joined tourists from all over. WE APOLOGIZE  to Vernon Drake and Ira Gershwin for taking liberties with their wonderful song, but we couldn't resist the segue to our travel modes and highlights story. During a 33-day Asia trek, we sampled a dozen water-borne vehicles: ships, barges, cruise boats, sampans, even a Chinese junk. We saw couples riding motorbikes in Vietnam and Thailand (with the girls sitting daintily side-saddle), and we boarded a tourist boat for a joyously bumpy ride in Halong Bay which took us to the famous caves. WE CRAMMED  ourselves into tuk-tuks in Bangkok, enjoying the company of friends from York.  It was our first time in the colorfully decorated, three-wheeled motorized vehicle used as taxis throughout Thailand. Stylishly dressed, this young Thai lady rides "side saddle" with her beau. In Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbor, which separates the city from Kowloon, we sailed on a junk, the type that has transported Chinese merchants and precious cargo since the Third Century B.C. INSTEAD OF  hauling spices, silks, tea and produce, our lovely junk transported tourists from all over the world.  We sipped green tea and watched the world go by, circling the harbor three times, as the kindly tour guide indulged us and our seafaring delight. Hong Kong's famed junks are among the last left in the world. The junk is centuries old. IN VIETNAM , we biked past rice paddies and vegetable gardens, enjoying a close-up view of the musk oxen and water buffalo that farmers still use. This musk ox grazes in Vietnam, while  his owner rests in the early afternoon. In Japan, we beheld another wonder, the bullet train.  We took several rides on this super fast train, known as the Shinkansen, which literally means “new trunk line." We biked through rice paddies and enjoyed fresh air and visits with the friendly Vietnamese people. The bullet train reaches speeds of more than 250 miles per hour, zips to major cities and some of the small outer villages, and has never had a fatality (despite being shaken on its tracks during tsunamis and earthquakes.) It's a quick, comfy way to get around this efficient country. WHILE THE bullet train is known for its modern technology, older, time-honored modes of four-legged transportation are still in use. We saw both musk ox and water bison in the fields, and enjoyed talking to several of the workers, who proudly showed off their male oxens' reproductive jewels.   Point Arena Lighthouse is famous for rugged views. "See!" a farmer exclaimed, holding up his prized bull's tail. "He has very large ones. Makes many babies!" COMING UP: The historic Point Arena lighthouse makes a wonderful get-away if you're headed to northern California and Mendocino country.  It's lovely gift shop features unique, handmade wildlife magnets, the museum has a beautiful French made lens, you can stay overnight in a guest house, and even climb to the top -- for a bird's eye view of passing whales!

Project Hope in Columbus, Montana, offers hope for the new year and beyond to anyone in need in Stillwater County.  Here, the Project's next-door sister  shop, Laughing Ladies, aids the effort through antiques and vintage clothing. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I'VE ALWAYS  been proud of the warm-hearted spirit of small towns. Project Hope in Columbus, Montana, is proof that good deeds and generosity can change lives. The non-profit organization provides help from the heart for needy families in Stillwater County -- a chilly place now that winter is upon the northern Rockies. An unassuming storefront leads the way to Project Hope. Project Hope is a volunteer effort with a little bit of everything, and help for the needy in Stillwater County, Montana. A window display shows the range of clothing, fashion accessories and more. Hope brings just that -- hope -- and warmth -- in warm winter clothing, welcome food, bedding, furniture and household goods. School supplies find their way to eager students, in donated books, paper, art, pens, pencils, writing materials, back packs and studying aids. THIS FROSTY  time of year, Project Hope's belief that people should not be homeless or hungry makes a real impact. This small mountain town is 40 miles from Billings, Montana's largest city.  Founded as a stage coach stop along the Yellowstone River, Columbus is home to middle-class families, the usual mix of working parents and stay-home moms.  There are retirees, too, and successful businessmen and ranchers.  But there are needy people, who may not be eligible for other aid. Through the town's generosity and a faithful network of volunteers, Project Hope was born. The Project relies on donations from the public, area stores and businesses. "We exist from grants, donations of generous residents, and a yearly fundraiser," a volunteer told me. Well tended clothing -- gently used -- is part of the charm of Project Hope.  Laughing Ladies, the Project's "sister store," is a charming vintage shop of unique clothing, antiques, art and sundries. Laughing Ladies contributes 30 per cent of its take to Hope. WE STOPPED BY  the pair of stores on an autumn visit to Columbus before the first snow. We came because a good friend, also a Project Hope volunteer, spotted a painting done by a woman who once lived in our 1881 log room in our renovated home in the Beartooths. Our friend recognized the setting and knew the artist's history with the place. Project Hope's fare ranges from kitschy to collectible, antiques, fun finds and more. A gorgeous mirror will hang in a Montana country home, a recent find at Project Hope in Columbus, Montana. We called to see if Helen Hereford's painting of the mountain and meadows of our beloved property might still be there.  It was! So Project Hope put it aside for us to come buy it. While we were there, we found another treasure perfect for the country place: a wonderful mirror artfully framed with cowboy boot pieces. We strolled about Project Hope and Laughing Ladies, enjoying banter of customers and volunteers, browsing the well organized pair of stores which so delightfully complement one another. There's also a consignment wing to the operation. MONEY EARNED  through these donated, resold items there, plus a percentage of commissioned items, go back to Project Hope. Home may be where the heart is, as the old saw goes. But "hope" -- make that Project Hope -- has a lot of heart, too. Happy New Year, Columbus friends.  Thanks for sharing, and keeping us mindful that generosity is a gift to the giver. Tony Bennett -- in his late 80s -- and Lady Gaga -- 28 -- have a fantastic vocal blend and we're excited to see them! COMING UP:   Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga hit Las Vegas for New Year's Eve and so do we! We'll be there for their sold-out show, "Cheek to Cheek."  Then we're Down Under at Australia's famous Sydney Opera House, plus a near miss with a terrorist, delights of the sea, new friends, fabulous food, Maori life in New Zealand, "Cheek to Cheek" for New Year's Eve -- Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, above, and Cookie and Keller, at left! Follow our adventures -- cheek to cheek (well, most of the time!) exotic birds, surfing and diving, bridge climbing and more.  Remember to explore, learn and live, and visit us Wednesdays and weekends at:   www.whereiscookie.com And have a look at our new novel, "Lilian's Last Dance," an Amazon e-book with free downloads to any device. Romance, adventure, history, film, theater, art. We think you will enjoy it. Let us know!

Photographer and Big Bus fans, Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers enjoy a return to Sydney, Australia. They used Big Bus Tours to reacquaint themselves with the city's top stops and architectural wonders. BIG BUS TOURS FILL THE BILL WHEN YOU WANT TO SEE A FAMILIAR OR NEW CITY   Tokyo's splendid cherry blossoms, on a hop on-hop off Big Bus expedition. Easy hop off for photos STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS  PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER  BIG BUS means large fun, wherever in the world you step aboard. We enjoy this inventive tour option in many cities around the globe and heartily recommend it. It's great for both newcomers to a place and those returning to a familiar town and simply wanting a refresher course on its high points. Either way, it's enjoyable and you're sure to learn something new. THE MEETING  places to board are always near familiar landmarks-- hotels, parks and gardens, markets, museums, government buildings, cruise terminals, stadiums, castles, cathedrals, concert halls. These are determined by careful research of the places tourists frequent. Barcelona is a beautiful city served by Big Bus.  The tours can help you tick off your bucket list -- whether it's Barcelona's Sagrada Familia cathedral you want to see, Big Ben in London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Tall buildings, centuries old castles and monuments, modern shopping centers, famed concert halls, museums -- Big Bus hits them all.  ONE HOPS on to the bus -- always in a central location in many major cities worldwide. Keep the ticket for future boardings. There are several pass options; the two-day ticket is our favorite. We've walked a couple short blocks from our hotels to board  Big Bus in Sydney, Singapore, New York, Paris, Barcelona and London-- favorite familiar cities. Big Bus covers the world-- from Darwin, Dubai and Dublin to Las Vegas, Prague and San Francisco. Radio City from the second story of Big Bus. If you love a city and are returning, it's a great option.  If you're new to a city, Big Bus is even more important in giving you grounding. It is a wonderful tool to help orient you so you can decide where you want to spend time or return. If you have only a couple days, Big Bus helps you hit the high spots. DRIVERS ARE courteous and helpful, the buses are kept clean, WiFi is free, and a lively narrative unfolds in many languages. Just plug in your complimentary headphones or bring your own, select the language channel and you're in business. The buses wind through a city, stopping at a variety of well known places. A map allows passengers to hop on and off, see the nearby attractions, grab a bite or a beverage to recharge and reboard from the same stop at specific intervals. Usually, we've waited less than 15 minutes. Keller and his nephew, James Ganner, hop off to enjoy San Francisco's Vaillancourt Fountain, and a stroll around the Embarcadero.  IN SINGAPORE, we hop off at the magnificent Botanic  Gardens. In Sydney, we hop off at Bondi Beach and the Opera House, or in San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf and the Embarcadero. However, you don't have to hop off at all. Many people simply stay on the bus and enjoy the loop -- usually a couple fun  hours. Often there are two loops -- distinguished by different colors.  Well designed maps help you make choices for your hopping off. It's a great way to people watch, and enjoy the city's neighborhoods, landscape, shops.  You'll cross major bridges, glide past government buildings, explore ethnic neighborhoods and learn colorful detail. Big Bus Tours officially goes back more than 13 years to 2011. But its history in tourism dates back further than its founding. The merger of two popular companies resulted in worldwide expansion as Big Bus Company of London and Les Cars Rouges of Paris blended. Both are proud of their longer histories: Les Cars Rouges dates to the late 20th Century and Big Bus has decades of history in the bus and sightseeing tour business. BESIDES THE CITIES  mentioned here, many more cities are served by Big Bus Tours, including such diverse tourist destinations as Abu Dhabi, Chicago and Vienna.  Tourists hop off Big Bus to see Marina Bay Sands, a Singapore landmark-- casino, parkway and more. In the United States, besides hitting the famous spots of the Big Apple, Big Bus Tours operates in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and many other cities. Big Bus is our preferred bus tour. It's user friendly, comprehensive, reliable, and you're sure to meet like minded fellow travelers. We've met folks on Big Bus who've become longtime friends, and fellow travelers.    www.bigbustours.com/ To book a tour or for more, click here: Photographer Bruce Keller smiles as a young kid munches on the flowers of his shirt. Hard to resist .  UP NEXT:  Goats galore in Maui. We explore a unique and fascinating enterprise, the Surfing Goat Dairy. Meet the charming kids, the elderly lady goats, the big daddy who has dozens of girlfriends. Learn how a Canadian man's desire to do something different developed into a flourishing enterprise. And check out the fabulous goat cheese and truffles created by the milk of these healthy, adorable and affectionate creatures. In the coming weeks, we'll explore a delectable food tour in Brisbane, and mingle with koalas and kangaroos in more rural parts of Australia.  Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, family and more at www.whereiscookie.com For a taste of the goat story, here's a link: Preview of Maui's goat dairy, click here

All aboard! Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers took a pair of spectacular train trips on a recent Celebrity cruise around New Zealand. Trains allow prime viewing of the country's spectacular scenery. Cruise tours are the best way to see the most in a short time in port. Celebrity's are tops. STEP ABOARD PAIR OF TRAINS FOR A TRIP BACK IN TIME WITH STUNNING SCENERY STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Passengers have time to admire scenery and take photos. I LOVE TRAINS. My great-grandfather was a telegrapher on the Northern Pacific Railroad and his daughter, my gran Olive, grew up on trains. She passed that affection down the generations and I felt her presence as we hopped on the Marlborough Flyer for a step back in time to the days of World War I and steam locomotives. It was the first of two memorable train rides. We were in Picton aboard Celebrity's lovely New Zealand cruise on the line's Eclipse. A fun scenic tour is offered on this lovely heritage steam train from a majestic bygone era. The Flyer's carriages boast meticulous interiors. Our journey took us from Picton and Blenheim in Marlborough, New Zealand, to the picturesque village of Seddon, where we were greeted by a Johnny Cash impersonator, homemade pastries, wine tastings, friendly people and a gaggle of sheep. AS WE chugged along in the Flyer, we heard fascinating commentary about the historic WWI “Passchendaele.” It is named after a great battle and pays tribute to soldiers who worked for the railway and fell in that "Great War."  Built in 1915 in Christchurch, a major "redo" of the locomotive was engineered by Steam Incorporated in 2014. The locomotive's noble history  complements its reputation as one of the country's most successful of "AB Pacifics." Royals have boarded her and our group spanned the globe. New Zealand's trains offer close-up views of the track with winding curves, tunnels and time to admire the engineering. My train-loving partner and ever curious photographer, Bruce Keller, loves trains of all kinds and is particularly fond of steam trains. He enjoys "the sound -- the hiss of the steam, the feeling of nostalgia, the fun of being part of something that no longer exists in much of the world." THEN, IF YOU'RE planning a Dunedin stop, don't miss a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway, one of the world's great train trips and Dunedin's top attraction. It departs  from downtown Dunedin's stately train station, to travel deep into the Taieri Gorge for eye-popping scenery: brilliant golden fields, grand old trees and gorgeous foliage cloaking the mountainsides. Cookie is front and center on a viewing station between carriages on a colorful New Zealand train trip. BOTH JOURNEYS  offer stunning landscape -- gorges, lush vegetation, tunnels, twisting roads, valleys and meadows. The quaint town of Picton is heritage-listed and has a welcoming charm while Dunedin's train station is a dazzling architectural wonder. Built in 1906, a magnificent Flemish Renaissance-style edifice features white Oamaru limestone facings on black basalt. Its dramatic "Gingerbread House" look is worth a visit, even if you're not boarding the train. We've taken the train journey three times and never tire of it. WHILE THE   Marlborough train ride has a leisurely classic look, a ride on the Taieri Gorge train has a sleeker, more contemporary feel. We walked out of the carriage into a small, open-air balcony, to admire passing scenery and take photos -- without the intrusion of windows. Dunedin's stately train station is an attraction in itself, but do book a Taieri train trip while there. Perfect weather (end of summer now in New Zealand) showcased dramatic scenery: Otago's hills, sweeping viaducts and verdant landscape. We appreciated two distinctive, different trains, each with class and character. Scenery of New Zealand's South Island is remarkably varied. BECAUSE IT  is vintage and lovingly restored to its century-old look, the Flyer takes pride in its classic, older rail car appeal.  Comfy seats are a rich burgundy leather and the wood is nicely cared for. One hears the soothing clickety-clack, but it's not bumpy.  The vintage car continues its "step back in time" with several photo stops. At the longer pause in Seddon, passengers stretch, shop and nibble. Seddon, named after a New Zealand prime minister, is 25 kilometers south of larger Blenheim, known for fine wine. The journey follows the banks of two rivers, the Awatere and Blind, home to choice grape growing regions. Their sauvignon blanc put New Zealand wines on the map. Many of our fellow passengers returned with bottles.   THE TAIERI trip offers another kind of spectacle -- equally engaging. The scenery is more rugged, and its history unfolds before the eyes. Wrought iron viaducts and hand-carved tunnels conjure images of hardship during this impressive endeavor 100 years ago. Train lovers should make a double-header of these two colorful, narrated trips offering history, waterfalls, streams, flora, livestock and more. They reveal how people live, work and build: www.celebritycruises.com info@pounamutourismgroup.com www.dunedinrailways.co.nz www.marlboroughflyer.co.nz ; siredmundhillaryexplorer.com ; www.taierigorgeshoreexcursion.com ; marboroughflyer.com www.newzealandrailways.com.nz And in the UK: www.britrail.com A lovely new play, "High Table," at San Diego's Diversionary Theatre features a gay marriage and unfolding complexities when a Nigerian family faces their confusion. It's an imaginative,  thought-provoking production, beautifully acted and directed. Stay tuned for another inventive work: "Monsters of the American Cinema" by an exciting San Diego playwright. diversionary.org 619 220-0097 BEST BET: San Diego theater is booming, with memorable March productions in a month dedicated to the lively arts. San Diego's Diversionary Theater's new play, "High Table," is a beautifully rendered love story told by a talented ensemble, directed with  skill, perception and emotion. The complex story unfolds with an evocative accompaniment of classical African chants and drumming. The cast's deft portrayals of departed ancestors parallels "real time" family, with accomplished actors playing multiple roles. The story unfolds with imagination and restraint. It's a touching, intricate work, exploring the myriad cliches facing the gay world, as well as complications of a gay relationship. What emerges is an enchanting, enduring love story.    Bruce Keller feeds a grateful kangaroo, communing with the graceful Australian figures, a national treasure. Up next! UP NEXT:  Wonders abound at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, a magical place located near Brisbane. You'll walk and talk with famous Australian animals in an 18-hectare koala sanctuary in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket in Queensland, Australia, the largest such sanctuary in the world. We're thrilled to have mingled with and fed the kangaroos and cuddled a sleepy koala. Come with us, remembering to explore, learn and live and catch us each week for a fresh spin on travel, nature, the arts, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com  Please share the link. .

All aboard! North Yorkshire Moors Railway pulls out of the station with a full complement of passengers.  York's National Railway Museum has won national awards for its expansive telling of the country's rail history. MERRY OLDE ENGLAND NURTURES A DEEP AFFECTION FOR RAIL TRAVEL STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER TRAINS ARE  as much a part of English life today as ships were centuries ago. The National Railway Museum in York is the largest and most expansive in the country, known for its variety, welcoming layout and detailed exhibits.  We recently explored several rail venues in Northeast England and are anxious to expand our rail travel to other parts of the United Kingdom. Since the country's first steam locomotives chugged out of Stockton and Darlington in 1825, that pastoral corner of England has held rail travel close to its heart. People in all parts of the UK enjoy relaxing, soaking up views. Nowhere is the rail experience more rewarding than in the North York Moors. With lovely scenery, a beverage and perhaps a pleasant lunch, tea or dinner, train travel here combines three things the British love: countryside, history and sharing a bite, a cuppa or a pint. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway offers splendid scenery and a chance to relax and visit over a beverage or snack. QUEENS, SOLDIERS  and school children enjoyed rail travel dating back to the golden age of steam. We began our "train fix" with a history lesson at York's fine National Railway Museum, part of the extensive Science Museum Group. Admission is by donation and upon entering the expansive halls, wonders unfold: iconic locomotives, Queen Victoria's plush car, a detailed rail ambulance which saved lives during wartime, a magical mail car with a Eurail pass beckons fascinating film of workers tossing and collecting bags of post from moving trains. The Royal Scotsman, Orient Express --  trains, from antique to sleek-contemporary. BRITISH RAIL travel, much like train travel in the U.S., developed during the railway boom of the 1840s, with dozens of competing companies.  Through the 19th and early 20th centuries, these consolidated or were bought up  by competitors until only a few companies remained Miss Eastwood serves beverages aboard an old-fashioned steam train. . One enterprise that flourishes is the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. We joined 100-plus fellow train lovers for a pleasant journey from Whitby to Pickering.  Our hosts, John and Sue, arranged the trip -- she dropped us off via auto and John joined us in our red velvet car. We traveled through lush woodlands and picturesque villages, much as they were 100 years ago. We visited, relaxed and sipped beverages served by a smiling stewardess then Sue kindly met us to motor us home. We've trained around the UK through England, Scotland and Wales in past visits, and recommend it for its "no hassle" ease, speed and convenience. As passengers departed their trains in York, we headed for ours, in a lovely car taking us to London for six days.   SINCE THEY "do the driving," rail travel is a stress-free, comfortable way to travel, even on short notice.  A spontaneous trip can easily be arranged. Visiting BritRail's website is a good place to start.  You'll find passes for extended travel, sleeping cars and even package tours. The expansive BritRail train system offers a variety of excellent passes to suit every desire for travel in the UK. This trip, we experienced only a small part of BritRail's destination bonanza. Our York-London trip was a comfy two-hour journey to central London, then just a 10-minute taxi to our hotel. THOUSANDS MAKE  use of BritRail passes for the flexibility in using the UK's expansive national rail network to historic places. All major cities are served, including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Brighton, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham and many more.    Here are a few of the impressive variety of passes BritRail offers: Cookie and Keller visit York's famous Rail Museum which features all manner of train-related transportation, antique to contemporary.  The museum asks only a donation. BritRail England Pass  - travel the whole of England. BritRail London Plus Pass - travel Southeast England to Stratford Upon Avon, Bristol, Bath and Cambridge. BritRail Spirit of Scotland Pass - travel all over Scotland including ferry routes to the islands. BritRail Central Scotland Pass  - travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh via historical towns such as Stirling, Linlithgow and Dunblane. BritRail Scottish Highlands Pass - travel around the Scottish Highlands by rail with some ferry routes. BritRail Southwest Pass - travel from London (including busy Heathrow Airport) to Southwest England, to visit  the beaches of Cornwall or have a cream tea in Devon.   TO GET YOU  in a train state of mind, the York museum is planning fun holiday displays, including one featuring the original Stephenson's Rocket, which changed rail travel in 1829.  Another exhibit features "The Age of Innovation" when vicars, lace-makers and miners brought their own miniature locomotives to life. We recommend rail travel over renting a car in Britain, particularly for our fellow Yanks. To avoid driving "the wrong side of the road," why not ride the rails instead? nymr.co.uk ;   railwaymuseum.org.uk ;  britrail.com Bruce Keller, aka "Keller" and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on board the Madaket, on a cruise around Humboldt Bay. UP NEXT:  Did you know that there exists in  northern California, the country's oldest still operational ferry boat.  The Madaket proudly patrols the waters of Humboldt Bay, with a skipper who knows her business and shares information about the wildlife, economy, waterways, history and purpose of the charming ferry, which among other attributes boasts the smallest licensed bar in the state.  More next week.  Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn, laugh and live and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at travel, nature, the arts, family and more:  www.whereiscookie.com   Please share the links and tell your friends. We have a global readership of which we are very proud.

Bruce Keller poses by one of the UK's many efficient and comfortable trains. By using a BritRail pass, we were able to visit several cities during a brief trip, making the most of our time. TRY A TRAIN ON BRITRAIL FOR YOUR NEXT UK VISIT  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IF A VISIT to the United Kingdom is on your bucket list, you might be overwhelmed by the variety of historic places vying for attention. Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers in Edinburgh's Waverley Station, an easy hop to Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, many cafes and shops. The two and a Yorkshire friend met with Scottish family. A visit to Hampshire's Highclere Castle, where "Downton Abbey" was filmed, makes a pleasant train  trip. A package includes a trip on a classic British Pullman, a lovely brunch and castle tour. We visit England often, and had grown tired of renting cars.  This time, we let BritRail do the "driving" to make the best use of our brief time in a favorite destination. THE BRITISH  rail system is time honored. Our UK cousins really know how to run their trains. Theirs is one of the oldest rail networks in the world.  In the early 19th Century when most people traveled by horse, ships or carriages, those clever Brits were already riding the rails!    On this most recent UK visit, rather than the stress of renting a car and the confusion of driving on the other side of the road, we chose to travel by British Railway. We had several places to go, after crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2. Our BritRail passes made it possible to combine historic landmarks, cities, castles we'd admired on TV, and family visitations.  In the same UK visit, it is possible to travel from Southampton Visiting old friend, well known Oxford scholar David Howlett, was a treat. He pointed out historic buildings, Bill  Clinton's student digs, some of the famed university's many colleges and favorite spots on quaint streets. A delightful day trip from London's Paddington Station. to see friends in Yorkshire, from London to connect with  Oxford friends, spend a day with family in Edinburgh, and  tour an English castle or manor house. "BritRail," as it is affectionately called, makes it possible to organize smooth train travel between whatever points your itinerary includes. It just takes a bit of planning. THE COUNTRY'S extensive rail network offers a variety of passes for various amounts of time. Do your homework because there are multiple choices for travel across England, Scotland and Wales. There are some discounts for youth and seniors and watch for promotions which can stretch your pounds with a bit of research and homework.  Over 20 Train Operating Companies (TOCs) make up the National Rail network of Great Britain. BritRail sells the passes and other companies operate the trains. Our passes were issued through ACP Rail, one of BritRail's star partners. So ACP Rail is where you need to get your BritRail passes, particularly if you are seeking a mobile pass. Passengers may use selected BritRail passes on all National Rail trains. Just know the boundary of your specific pass zone.   The ease of UK train travel made a family reunion possible.  Bruce Keller, Margaret Ganner, Christene Meyers, Gerrard Ganner, Jane Brodie and Sue Speight met  for a day in Scotland. The Ganner party took the train into Edinburgh from their nearby town, while Cookie Keller and Sue came by train from Yorkshire. THE HUGE VARIETY of passes and tours allows one to custom design a specific itinerary. Because there are so many choices, you'll have to narrow the field. First, determine what places you really want to see and how many days you have. Then review the options at the website. What's your pleasure? Do you want a scenic trip through Scotland, cultural delights of village life and rural England, a visit to an abbey or castle where a favorite PBS program was filmed? We truly enjoyed seeing where PBS productions were filmed. Access to the famed "Downton Abbey" and "Brideshead Revisited" sites are easily arranged. Perhaps you wish to visit the town of your ancestors to look for family roots and records. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Yorkshire are the largest of its kind in Europe, a vast ruin  open to the sky, popular with locals and tourists. A train trip from King's Cross to York then a short taxi ride make a lovely day trip.   TO MAKE the most of your time, arrange your itinerary before and don't be unnerved if your favorite abbey or castle is a few kilometers from the nearest train stop. If you want to see Fountains Abbey, for example, take the train from London to York, then take a taxi or hitch a ride with a friend to see the abbey.  An amiable steward offers beverages and snacks. WITH OUR  Yorkshire friend, Sue, we booked a train to Edinburgh using our passes. She purchased a single roundtrip ticket from Darlington to Edinburgh, arranging to sit with us.  This enabled us to spend the day with our Scottish relatives. They were eager to show us highlights of Scotland’s magnificent capital city,  treating us to a Scottish meal at a delightful restaurant, regaling us with the city's Cookie relaxes on BritRail with a splendid view, comfy seat to see the picturesque English country. history while we strolled Princes Street, bought souvenirs and stopped for a bagpipe trill at Scott Monument, the world's largest monument to a writer. On another trip, we toured the Royal Yacht Britannia and heard the mid-day gun salute from Edinburgh Castle. To do that would have meant overnighting, but we accomplished a lot in a single day's journey. We're forever fans of BritRail and the variety of passes which save time, money and nerves. If you want a pass, ACP Rail is the only distributor for BritRail pass especially on the Mobile-Pass. More information or to book: www.acprail.com/ www.britrail.com/britrail-passes/britrail-pass/ www.visitbritainshop.com/au/en/uk-travel-passes-and-transport-tickets/britrail-passes Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers in front of the intriguing Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. COMING UP:  A treasure trove of Latin American art, by both famous and emerging artists awaits in the fascinating, user friendly and beautifully curated Museum of Latin American Art. The metal sculpture in front of the Long Beach museum is typical of the work at this extraordinary museum which is the only facility in the United States dedicated to both modern and contemporary Latin American art.  A unique sculpture garden is part of the pleasures of this intriguing and imaginatively curated museum.  We step inside to reflect on the diversity of sculpture, paintings and more.  Meanwhile remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on art, nature, performance, family and more. Thanks for sharing the link, too: www.whereiscookie.com