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Norwegian Cruise Line's colorful design carries through inside, with lively contemporary art and many other enticements. NCL's Spirit, anchored off Santorini, brought cruisers to land in comfy,  efficient tenders, offering great photo opportunities of ship and shore.   ALL ABOARD NCL FOR FREE-STYLE FUN,  RELAXING CRUISE, ENGAGING PORTS, PRETTY SHIP, TABLES FOR TWO NCL's colorful ships make mid-priced cruising attractive to sailors such as this column's photographer, Bruce Keller.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A balcony aboard NCL's Spirit offers a lovely view of passing sights and cozy reading corner for Christene Meyers.  SUN. JOY. Bliss, Sky, Jade, Pearl, Star. Those are NCL ship handles, and they lured us their way for a cruise aboard the Spirit. Aboard NCL's Spirit, seasoned travelers "Cookie and Keller" enjoyed dining, a table  for two, top shows and terrific land tours.  AFTER MORE than 100 cruises on ships large and small, top-drawer to modest, this Norwegian-Irishman and my Greek-Scandinavian sailor hybrid set our compass heading for Norwegian Cruise Line. We'd cruised NCL in the Caribbean decades ago, on the smaller Sunward, then on the much larger Norway, the former SS France. When NCL acquired her in 1979, the line spent $100 million on a glorious renovation, paving the way for a new era of cruising. A tour up the famed Amalfi coast, was part of the Spirit's attractive options. We loved those long-ago trips, and yearned for a return to the relaxation and pampering we remembered on NCL. This latest two-month trip included three cruises and three weeks on land. It was our 25th foray to Europe and the Greek Isles. We chose NCL's Spirit because we liked its "active relaxation" pitch, mid-size and fair-price ranking. (Our trip included three cruises, so we didn't want to break the bank.) AS TRAVEL  and arts writers, musicians, and romantics celebrating an anniversary, we also wanted lively shows, a table for two and interesting artwork. We liked the itinerary, an important consideration.  We were delighted that NCL captured our hearts again. NCL was the first cruise line to offer "freestyle" dining, a concept now used by many other cruise lines.  Founded in 1966 with a sound reputation and 16 ships in her ever-expanding fleet, NCL's Spirit pleased us both, satisfying my need for R&R in pleasant surroundings, a lively casino, good gym and myriad dining options.  It charmed my partner, feeding his lust for all things nautical with friendly officers who talked sailing with him and a balcony to view dock life below. This dessert was delivered to our room. Lively artwork is one of NCL's distinctions. The line has set trends in many areas of cruising. NCL tour groups  are kept small so each person enjoys the history, here viewing viewing Our Lady of the Castle in Rhodes.  NCL's Spirit took us on an 11-day journey with stops in Mykonos, Piraeus--Athens, Rhodes, Santorini, Chania, Valletta, Messina and Naples.  We'd experienced all these ports but looked forward to returning, especially to Malta and Sicily, which many cruise lines don't offer as regular ports of call. As seasoned cruisers, we look for places we love -- but also like new ports and locales we've not visited in a while.  Those were deciding factors on our choice of NCL's Spirit. WE LOVE  the "freestyle" concept pioneered by NCL. Now copied by many other lines, it allows for deciding when, where and with whom to dine in the evening, the one meal most of us truly enjoy and kick back for on a cruise. Spirit also offered late-night dining options, another plus, and fun eateries including a delightful late-hours pub that breaks from set schedules.  That flexibility includes casual dress options, ability to schedule entertainment and avoiding crowds. As arts writers, we enjoyed several on-board auctions, chatting with knowledgeable auctioneers.  he auctions feature work by famed artists such as Peter Max and Guy Harvey, who were also commissioned for the eye-catching artwork on the Breakaway and Escape. We even ventured from our comfy patio to the lovely pool area, a playful modern extension of the ancient architecture we viewed in Greece and Italy. We enjoyed an evening sail-out of Valletta, Malta, a port which  isn't regularly visited.   ALTHOUGH WE  are elite status on five other lines, through many  cruises, we haven't yet reached that level on NCL.  Still, we were invited to parties, and to tour of the bridge -- always a must. So taken were we with the trip's variety and professional, friendly service that we booked another NCL cruise, on Pride of America, the only mainstream ship sailing Hawaii itineraries with no foreign ports. We'll soon reprise the loop we took decades ago: stops in Maui, Kauai and both sides Kona and Hilo on the Big Island. Recalling our 13 blissful Atlantic crossings in Queen's Class aboard the QE2, we're also interested in sampling the "all suite" section of NCL's newer vessels.  The "Haven" concept on the newer larger NCL ships offers a special all-suite section accessible only by keycard holders booked there, in the style of Cunard's famous first-class/tourist-class ship design. The Haven has a private bar and lounge, a custom restaurant, secluded sun deck, and private courtyard so guests have little need to leave the complex. www.ncl.com A bird's eye view of the Water Taxi is yours from Double Tree Suites Gallery One, Fort Lauderdale, where we next explore.  UP NEXT:  Come cavort with us as we head to Fort Lauderdale for a frolic with the alligators and the beautiful canals and grand hotels. We ride our favorite Water Taxis and check out the newly renovated digs at the Gallery One Double Tree. Then, an homage to celebrities at sea, including composer-pianist Andre Previn, and a host of others interviewed on the QE2 by Christene Meyers. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a fresh look at travel, the arts, nature, family and off-beat fun.

This alligator gave our tour boat the eye on a recent trip into the beautiful Everglades of Florida. Everglades caper: on the gator trail with gorgeous scenery, critters, beauty    The swampy marshes of the Everglades hide and protect alligators and more. Nature lovers enjoy the outdoors at Florida's Everglades Holiday Park.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER THE UNUSUAL  merging of salt and freshwater makes Florida's Everglades the only location in America where both alligators and crocodiles live together! You can see the wonder yourself by taking an airboat trip in the Everglades.  We did this recently, taking to the waters in search of gators. Visitors tour the small animal displays, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with friendly gators and snakes. We saw several in the wild, and an entertaining alligator  demonstration as "dessert." You can jet out into one of the world's most gorgeous attractions and get close-up later with more gators. We did just that at Everglades Holiday Park, outside of Fort Lauderdale. A great day! Everyone has heard of the Everglades, a unique treasure of South Florida. But not all people venture into the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the United States. We took a day to sample a small part of the park's 1.5 million acres of saw grass marshes, mangrove forests, and hardwood hammocks and wetlands.  After your boat tour, Holiday Park naturalists offer a fun gator show. THE EVERGLADES  is home to endangered, rare, and exotic wildlife. Fellow travel writers recommended the Everglades boat ride and we were not disappointed. Our amiable captain promised he'd find alligators in the swamps.  He revved up the boat and we held on to our hats as we sped around the wetlands to several spots with terrific viewing. As we zipped across the "River of Grass" between viewing sites, we bounced in our fast boat to the thunderous sound of the motor. Those little journeys were brief and we were safe and comfortable with our 30 fellow tourists from around the globe. Alligators roam the Everglades; if you're lucky, you'll see one. As we moved through the swamps, we noticed several small boats of fishermen -- "local folks," our guide said proudly -- bringing in the largemouth bass for which the park is famous, in fact revered. Fishermen cast off from the park's dock, or take a boat as part of a guided tour. The park offers boat and gear rentals, bait, licenses and everything else one needs to lure large mouth bass, peacock bass and catfish. Swamp land of a unique habitat offers a happy place for the alligator. The beauty of the wetlands make it a photographer's paradise. WE WERE  pleased to see two school groups visiting -- fishing, taking notes, listening carefully to guides.  Others were hosting guests on the boats, enjoying a celebration, spending an afternoon in a natural classroom for all ages. The park stages birthday parties and corporate events, with chartered excursions and packages. It also offers pick-up and drop-off options to take you from your hotel in Fort Lauderdale or Miami to this beautiful wildlife habitat. WE APPRECIATE  that the park is a family operation dating back nearly 40 years to 1982 when George Bridges left his tobacco farm to try his hand at the park.  He mortgaged his house and built his first airboat in the backyard, and the idea took off.  Everglades Holiday Park serves as South Florida's premier gateway to the Everglades, one of Florida's most interesting attractions. The place is a half hour from Fort Lauderdale, on Griffin Road, and attracts tourists from Miami, too, for the marsh expedition, live alligator presentations, a small animal "zoo" with petting options, meal service, fun souvenir shop and fresh water fishing.  WE HAD A  magical day at the park, exploring the wonders of Florida's most enchanting natural resource: the pristine Everglades. The magnificent ecosystem is an international treasure. The greenery alone satisfied our naturalists' appetites. The gators were frosting on the cake!

The Casa del Prado, also known as the Casa, and the adjacent Casa del Prado Theatre are historically accurate reconstructions of buildings from the 1915 exposition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal.    Spreckels Organ Pavilion houses the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park, San Diego. The Spreckels Organ is the world's largest pipe organ in a fully outdoor venue. UNIQUE CITY PARK BREAKS THE MOLD WITH INVENTIVE BLEND OF NATURE, CULTURE AND 'PEOPLE PLACES'  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER MORE THAN  150 years ago, a handful of visionary San Diego citizens strolled through the California scrub and decided to set aside 1,400 acres for a city park. It became an oasis of culture, architecture, nature and the arts. Today, Balboa Park is one of America's largest urban parks and considered by many the jewel in San Diego's crown. Balboa Park offers several modes of transportation, including walking, for getting around to the museums and a fine zoo. In the middle of a bustling city, nicknamed "America's finest" sits this 1,200-acre urban cultural park. It is beloved by locals and tourists alike for its unique blending of open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, restaurants, walking paths, theaters and museums. WITH ITS  17 museums, in fact, Balboa Park is a museum lovers mecca. Known for its widely diverse collections and cultural institutions, Balboa Park's museums attract scientists, theater lovers and fans of flight, automobiles, trains and art of all kinds. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum's marketing man, Fernando Beltran, and young train buff James Ganner. Penelope Ganner, left, and her brother James, had a private tour of the huge Model Railroad museum with Fernando Beltran. From satisfying a curiosity for local San Diego history, to the history of air travel, the art of the old masters, native American crafts and cultures of the world, it's hard to beat Balboa Park. ANY ONE  of the museums would be a drawing card, but don't forget the world renowned San Diego Zoo, also part of this unique park.    Balboa Park at night is a fairyland, with the Old  Globe Theatre, center-right, lit up for a performance The magnificent concept was developed for the Panama–California Exposition held in San Diego for two years, between January 1, 1915, and January 1, 1917. The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, and touted San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward through the canal.  . A STROLL  through the park feels like a walk through the United Nations Assembly Room. You will hear languages from all over Europe, the Far East and Russia (San Diego boasts a large Russian population and there are frequent visitors from that part of the world.) Lunch time for a beloved gorilla. Maka is a star at San Diego Zoo. We recently made a double-pronged visit, entertaining young guests who wanted to see the impressive San Diego Model Railroad Museum and the famed San Diego Zoo. I'd told them about my favorite zoo inhabitant, Maka, the adored gorilla. San Diego Zoo is world famous, visited recently by three generations -- from left, Olivia Cosgriffe, Peny Ganner, Christene "Cookie Meyers, James Ganner and Amarylla Ganner, mother of the kids. We'd parked near the organ pavilion so had a pleasant stroll to our first stop, the railroad. Fernando Beltran, the museum's amiable marketing director, toured us around the 27,000 square foot museum, the largest such indoor exhibit in North America, and one of the largest in the world. The museum is on the lower level of the Casa de Balboa Building on the Prado and we spent two interesting hours there with our eight-year-old train buff and Beltran. WE TOOK a break in the pleasant coffee shop, and headed to the zoo, our second adventure and a 20-minute walk from the railroad museum. We eyed the bounty of animals from atop the zoo's double-decker bus, with a lively, eco-friendly commentary from Lee, who knows the zoo like the back of her hand and stressed what young and old can do to help preserve animals and habitats worldwide.. We hopped off to watch Maka for an hour. She gave us helpful directions to see the panda before she returns to China, delighted in telling about a precious baby porcupette and pointed out antelope calves, mini meerkats and tortoises, whose beautiful patterned shells shown in the sunlight. The dedication of the Bruce Meyers Poets' Garden in Montana attracted hundreds of arts lovers for a two-day festival highlighted by an appearance by  famed poet Allen Ginsberg. Above, Corby Skinner and Christene Meyers. UP NEXT:  Join "Cookie" (Christene Meyers, left, with friend Corby Skinner) as we visit the Bruce Meyers Poets' Garden on the campus of Montana State University-Billings.  It was dedicated as a place for faculty and students to relax, study, paint, write and ponder. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a novel look at travel, the arts, nature, family, and unexpected ways to enjoy.

At Monterey Aquarium, beautiful works of art are created from plastic and other junk pulled from our oceans. Eight million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans each  year, a staggering amount. It poisons or strangles creatures who mistake it for food.    WE HUMAN BEINGS HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEMS  ON THE PLANET BUT WE CAN DO MUCH TO RECTIFY OUR MISTAKES  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER EARTH DAY GIVES US TIME TO THANK AND HELP OUR FRAGILE PLANET The bluff above Torrey Pines State Beach offers a splendid  view of the Pacific Ocean. When we hike it, we often find plastic and it goes in an old cloth bag we carry.   WE SPEND  many happy hours each year in nature -- on our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams.  Like many of our readers, we visit national and state parks, estuaries, wildlife habitats and other places where we know we'll find birds, plants, animals.  We hold our planet and its creatures in sacred space. But while we love Mother Earth, we are imperfect creatures and have unwittingly done our part to jeopardize the planet. So when Earth Day rolls around each year, we do our bit to help preserve the planet we so cherish. An artful turning of plastic rescued from the ocean, by a contributing artist at Monterey Bay Aquarium. CELEBRATED annually since 1970 on April 22nd, Earth Day holds immense importance as a global platform.  Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson was a staunch environmentalist, deeply concerned about the planet's declining health.  He believed the solution could be found in individuals and grassroots movements.  He urged teachers and parents to expose young impressionable minds to an aquarium or nature driven place, encouraging them to respect our fragile planet and our fellow inhabitants.  This launches them into little environmentalists.  By teaching them to pick up plastic and cans, consider personal habits and be good stewards of the land, we're fostering respect and activism in future generations. Thousands of us plant trees, feed birds, plant gardens that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.  Many of us pick up trash and study pressing environmental issues like climate change, pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. As individuals, communities and governments, we can take action to protect our planet and ensure its sustainability for future generations. I believe this in my heart.  I KNEW A   lot of plastic goes into our oceans, but I had no idea that 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the seas each year. Keller figures that’s the equivalent of dumping one garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. More than 171 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the world's oceans, according to scientists' estimates. Plastic kills fish and sea animals and takes hundreds of years to break down. Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk  in a light rain. Celebrate Earth Day by planting a tree, taking a walk, visiting a nature driven place  -- a park, beach, river, preserve. UNFORTUNATELY,  we people are the sole cause of the plastic debris destroying our oceans. The good news is, we have the power to solve the mess we created.  Here are a few things we do in our life and home to help to help the Earth.  It may sound corny, but if everyone does his or her bit, together we can make a huge difference. The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is a magical display of ribbons of light. * We are ridding our home of single-use plastics. * We ride our bikes daily and on errands whenever possible. We're considering a hybrid or electric car. * We support our local environmental watchdog grassroots resource council. * We try to recycle and compost properly. * We patronize farmer's markets and other places that avoid plastic packaging and always take our own cloth bags whenever we go to a store. Big Sky Country, near our Montana place in Stillwater County.  Pristine places like this dot the landscape all across the United States. We feel a responsibility to keep it beautiful.   * We take an old fabric bag with us in the car and on our bikes to pick up cans, bottles and other litter. * When we order a take-out meal, we make sure there are no plastic utensils, wrapping or plates. We look for places that use recycled materials when shopping or dining out. * We've planted 97 trees on our Montana place and each year we scatter native wildflower seeds to promote clean air and the survival of indigenous wildlife. Feels good to plant things. * We make presents of gift certificates to greenhouses and garden centers. Great way to thank someone who has done us a favor. * We are members of a variety of nature oriented foundations including Sierra Club, Arbor Day, National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, and many other agencies and non-profits that save and protect birds, trees, animals and the ocean.  We love seeing families enjoying wildlife, here at Hilton Waikoloa Resort where it is possible to swim with the dolphins and learn about them. * We're taking shorter showers, using the dishwasher only twice a week, turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth. No more plastic in our lives Other ideas we're already doing or hope to implement:  * Shopping at thrift shops and second-hand stores for toys and gifts for kids or when we need to replace an appliance. New stuff has lots of plastic packaging.  Gentoo penguins frolic near Ushuaia. Visit a national park or just take a hike in the woods, or the nearest bird sanctuary or nature preserve.  * Hosting a clothing swap or clothing repair party to encourage our friends (and ourselves) to recycle, mend or salvage old garments rather than buying new ones. We are donating a box a week of good, useable clothes. Women's shelters and many other places welcome good used items.  I'm a packrat and like most of us, I have too much stuff. So I'm going through closets, try to winnow, share and make use of what is still useable. * Volunteer to pick up litter in a neighborhood or local park. Get a child interested. Take him on a whale watch or to a place where nature is revered. Exposure in youth creates lifelong environmentalists. * Get neighborhood kids to run a recycling drive for glass and plastic containers. Have a happy Earth Day! Do something to improve our imperiled planet. More info: earthday.org   hawaiimagazine.com/see-how-kauai-artists-turned-marine-debris-into-art Special effects wizard Andy Schoneberg shakes hands with his creation of famed actor Humphrey Bogart. Also an actor, he played the part of Bogart in "Play It Again, Sam." UPCOMING FUN : Variety is our spice.  We're talking with a Wyoming born Hollywood special effects artist and his make-up and wig artist partner. Find out how a kid from Casper made it in Hollywood.  Then we're off to explore northern U.K with a train trip to Britain. And we celebrate our love of nature with visits to New York's Central Park and the city's fabulous High Line Park, created on a derelict rail site. All that and more, always with a look for the fresh and new. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fun look at performance, art, nature, family and more. Please share the links: www.whereiscookie.com

Hotel with music lessons: Christene Meyers, aka Cookie, and Bruce Keller, known by his surname, signed up for ukulele lessons at Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki Beach.  The pair are partners in life and theater, travel, adventure, and now music study.  Cookie plays many instruments but for Keller it was a new experience. A good time was had by all and new friends were made. STRUM THE ANCIENT, TUNEFUL INSTRUMENT WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE -- the ukulele is not just a cheap plastic toy played under a palm tree! It's not the islands fair that are calling to me.  It's not the balmy air nor the tropical sea.  It's a little brown gal in a little grass skirt. In a little grass shack in Hawaii..." --from "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii" a famous ukulele-accompanied tune STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Our hotel ukuleles were adequate but not expensive, about $59 each. There are fancy ukuleles to be had for much more, ranging in the hundreds to $12k for a Martin. ALTHOUGH I PLAY   more complicated musical instruments, the ukulele called to me. I knew it was more than a cheap plastic toy played under a palm tree.  But the ukulele sounds so lovely and looks so simple, surely it could not be that easy, I reasoned. So when I saw ukulele lessons on the activities sheet at the Hilton Hawaiian Village I talked Keller into coming along, not just as a photographer but as a participant. An hour-long lesson at the lovely property on the beach attracted 15 of us ukulele aficionados from all over the world, including Australia and Japan.  With the help of two amiable coaches, we actually played a recognizable song by lesson's end. IT'S NICE TO  have a pretty, calming view when learning anything new. Tiny Tim made the ukulele famous again, with his warbling "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." So we relaxed our wrists and placed our hands on the instrument while our two cheery Hawaiian  kaikamahines  passed out our tune. Quickly, they had us strumming this captivating instrument, using our first finger to strum gently down and up. I thought of Robert Preston in "The Music Man," coaxing the youngsters to play. (We sounded something like that. It wasn't exactly harmonious.) THE UKULELE  is a member of the guitar family. It usually has four nylon or gut strings, as ours did at the resort lesson. More sophisticated playing involves pairing the strings in courses to give the instrument a total of six or eight strings. That's for another lesson. Our coaches promised the ukulele would be an easy instrument to learn.  While we were far from wizards, we did master a few simple chords and basic strumming patterns.  We tuned our instruments to G, C, E and A, and worked on a song -- "You Are My Sunshine." Spanish guitar master spotlighted Ukulele masters through the years range from British comic George Formby back in the 1930s and 1940s to Tiny Tim and his mournful "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" on a 1968 Johnny Carson Show to young "America's Got Talent" whiz kids and perhaps the world's most famous virtuoso player Jake Shimabukuro.  He is the instrument's equivalent of Proper ukulele technique begins with holding the instrument correctly.  A Hawaiian born teacher assists. Pablo Casals on the cello or violinist Jascha Heifetz. THE HAWAIIAN -born ukulele master grew up playing traditional Hawaiian music with his mother but quickly segued into more complicated repertoire. He strums and plucks a variety of sounds and styles from the tiny instrument, from "Ave Maria" to jazz and show tunes and George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Shimabukuro grew up playing traditional Hawaiian music on the ukulele, and has stuck with the instrument for 25 of his 29 years. Jake Shimabukuro is considered the modern day master of the ukulele.  He is a true virtuoso. "I feel people get bored of playing the ukulele because they hear other things and they want to be able to play other things," he says. "But... I've always felt there was so much more to explore, and I really love it." So might you, if you brave a lesson. The Hawaiian word means, literally, "jumping flea."  You might be jumping for joy if you make the ukulele leap. If you open your heart to adventure, and meeting new people. you'll soon be sailing with friends around the world/ UP NEXT: Travel enhances our lives more than any other aspect. It encompasses so many wonders -- nature, theater, dining -- and makes the world more accessible. Come with us to discover how relationships develop at sea, on airplanes, on a ship's tour, a boat excursion or a restaurant table. With a curiosity to learn about other cultures, strangers become friends. Up your international contact list and enrich your life, remembering to explore, learn and live. Catch us Fridays for a novel take on travel, the arts, family and nature at whereiscookie.com

The sting rays we swam with were friendly and enjoy people. The creature has one or more large sharp barbed dorsal spines near the base of the whiplike tail and is capable of inflicting severe wounds, and even death.  We braved an encounter recently. Christene Meyers, right, holds a sting ray with help from a naturalist. GENTLE GIANTS OF THE SEA MAKE HUMAN CONTACT ON BEAUTIFUL ISLAND The man in blue is the naturalist, guiding tourists from Germany, Australia and the U.S.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IF YOU  have never taken a swim with a sting ray, why not stretch yourself a bit, widen your horizons, try something new. I am not a water baby like much of my family or my part-amphibian partner. But I love nature and enjoy the bonds I've made with other species. So I entered the water and for a brief, happy time, making friends with a pair of sting rays off Antigua. Southern rays are the brightest rays in the  Caribbean. As promised, we found them friendly, gentle and as interested in us as we were in them. It's believed to be good luck to kiss a ray as they snorkelers do. According to my partner, photographer Bruce Keller, they have learned to trust humans because they get food from them, and because people treat them with respect. WE FOUND the experience "a thrill of a lifetime," to use an overworked but accurate cliche.  The cruise line billed it as "a unique opportunity to interact and feed the rays."  What do these graceful guys and gals eat?  Animals that are smaller and live on the bottom of the sea: worms, clams, oysters, shrimp, squid and fish smaller than they are.  They're carnivors, like lions and tigers. Speaking of tigers, a segue to the incident with naturalist Steve Irwin.  His bizarre death by a sting ray was caused because the creature believed his shadow was that of the tiger shark, the ray's greatest predator. That was a fluke. But the byword is still be careful and make slow movements.  The sting rays are friendly and swim up to humans. The lure to visiting Stingray City is two-fold:  besides the sting ray opportunity, Antigua offers some of the most magnificent snorkeling with brilliantly colored coral reefs and wildly colorful tropical fish.  WE TOOK  a bus from our cruise ship terminal, then boarded a speedboat for a 15-minute ride which whisked us to a shallow pool with a white sand bottom surrounded by beautiful coral reef. You may stand up or swim with the rays. After feeding, snorkeling and taking pictures with our new friends, we returned to our land base for punch and a rinse off. The "city" has a small bird zoo, with disappointing small cages. The sting ray experience is the highlight.  Captain Keller on the boat to swim with the rays. You will be in a group when you venture out to swim with the sting rays. TO CHECK  on Antigua travel given recent safety issues, use a free service for travelers or nationals living abroad: Smart Travel Enrollment Program, or STEP, issues updated advisory on global travel safety, sanctioned by the U.S. State Department: step.state.gov .; stingraycityantigua.com UP NEXT:  Blue Hawaii beckons. That's Blue Hawaii Helicopter. Ride with us high above the clouds for a breathtaking adventure. The top-rated helicopter tour of the islands is waiting for you and we'll take you along on our journey above volcanic mountain tops, the city skyline of bustling Honolulu, the gorgeous canyons and beaches that make Hawaii famous -- and beautiful from a bird's eye view. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us each Friday for a novel look at travel, art, nature and family.

The most spectacular views of the Na Pali Coast are from the air or sea.  HIDDEN OAHU: NA PALI COASTLINE OFFERS STUNNING TERRAIN, NATURAL BEAUTY ABOARD 'PRIDE OF AMERICA'. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Not far from the coast line, pineapple fields grow much of the world's fruit. OAHU'S NORTH  Shore offers one of the world's most spectacular coastlines. But not many visitors to Honolulu take the time to enjoy the beauty. We took a leisurely sail past this wonder, aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America.  Years ago, Hollywood discovered this pristine stretch of coastline with its eye-popping scenery. The crystal-clear water, jagged mountains and cascading waterfalls transport the viewer to fictional worlds such as those introduced in the "Jurassic Park" movies, "The Hunger Games" and many other famous films. Yet the cinematic beauty of this part of the Hawaiian Islands is very much "non-fiction." More than four million years ago, volcanic plates formed the islands. Where these plates came together, volcanoes were created, sending magma rising upward until it erupted on the seafloor, at what are called  “hot spots.” Pride of America offers a leisurely way to see the islands. WE HAD a recent close encounter with the result of this Earth-shaking phenomenon.  We've visited Hawaii many times, so booked a week aboard NCL's Pride of America for a different take. NCL is the only line making a popular weekly spin around these fabled isles. We wanted a laid-back cruise, since we are taking five other more demanding cruises this year.  We highly recommend this pleasant transit of the islands.  The Pride makes the trip each week for a leisurely look at the top towns and attractions on the four major Hawaiian islands. If you want a longer time on Oahu, we also recommend Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore, which provides fine access to the Na Pali Coast for myriad activities. Eager Pride of America passengers disembark for a look at the North Shore. Some of us took helicopter rides, as well as enjoying the boat's tour. LUSH JUNGLES  and rain forests lead to verdant cliffs that sometimes hang below the clouds. The jagged peaks and shades of green remind of the mountains and jungles of Peru. The scenic Na Pali coast is hard to beat for spectacular beauty, which is why it has attracted film directors for decades.   Some of the jungle scenes of  the "Jurassic Park" films were shot in Waimea Valley, also on the North Shore. That lovely canyon is also a great place for a delightful hike. Among the 250 other films shot here are "Blue Hawaii," with Elvis Presley, "Jumanji" and "Godzilla."  At Kualoa Ranch, you can tour jungle film sets  or a secret island, visit Hawaiian fishponds, go for a horseback ride, or drive an ATV. While visiting the North shore, check out the Kualoa Ranch, which served as a backdrop to the "Jurassic" pictures and many other science-fiction and adventure films. A working cattle ranch, it offers fun tours, some by jeep, of  its "Jurassic Park" locations, chosen by directors and cinematographers for the stunning scenery. Today, world famous Kualoa Ranch capitalizes on its good fortune -- with tours that take visitors to the locations, telling the stories of dinosaurs brought out of extinction through cloning. Approaching the Na Pali Coast, passengers aboard NCL's Pride of America enjoy the sun and prepare for a treat.  MANY OTHER  movie jungle scenes were captured in nearby Manoa Valley. One can take the trail in Manoa Valley to the 150-foot Manoa Falls. This gorgeous waterfall is well worth the hike, even if you aren’t a fan of the movies. There's something cinematic about visiting Oahu's North Shore and Na Pali Coast, but pinch yourself -- because it's all very real. This wonder of the world is thankfully being preserved by the Hawaiian people and shared with us all through  tourism -- and the movies! Veteran travel writer Christene "Cookie" Meyers and horticulturist Kate Logan at the entrance to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. UP NEXT:  One of the world's most extraordinary gardens is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, created by a Bay Area man who discovered a neglected 17-acre property 40 years ago and determined to create an oasis. After seven years of work, seven days a week, a beautiful garden emerged.  It is one of the treasures of the "Big Island" of Hawaii and we'll take you there.   Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us each Friday for a novel look at travel, the arts, family and nature.

Bromeliad, heliconia, anthurium, ginger, mango, spider lily and more await viewers at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. A gecko suns himself on a leaf, here caught by the camera in silhouette. LUSH TROPICAL BLOOMS FAIRLY DRIP FROM THE TREES IN BOTANICAL PARADISE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Hawaii's familiar upright heliconia is on showy display. The garden also offers a lovely hanging variety. Fronds, stalks and stems make beautiful patterns as you stroll. At right, Kate Logan, horticulturist and supervising manager at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, greets Cookie. A GARDEN  in a valley, with a walking path to the ocean..... and along the way a fabulous fiesta of flowers, shrubs, trees, surrounded by abundant bird life, lovely little lizards enjoying the sun, bees buzzing happily, beauty all around. In 1977, Dan Lutkenhouse Sr. was visiting from the Bay Area when he fell in love with the Big Island of Hawaii and its lush Onomea Valley.  Vacationing with his wife Pauline, he purchased 17 acres without really knowing what he would do with it. BUT SOON HE HAD  a  vision to transform the neglected piece of land.  Says his son, Dan Lutkenhouse Jr., who carried on the project, "When my father first saw the valley, it was an overgrown, virtually impenetrable jungle." A beautifully laid out gift shop offers unique way to support the Botanical Garden with handmade and local crafts. His dad returned to the mainland, sold his 40-year old San Francisco trucking business and moved to Hawaii.  For eight years, he devoted himself to the garden's transformation.  With assistant Terry Takiue, and two helpers, the four men labored. Today, devoted horticulturist Kate Logan continues Lutkenhouse's dream, which showcases the natural environment and preserves valuable plants.  During the creation, to preserve rare plants and not disturb tree roots, they used cane knives, sickles, picks, shovels and chain saws.  Working seven-day weeks and long hours, they eventually cleared paths through the jungle.  Colleagues and family remember that he'd leave in the morning  with a sandwich, his tools and high hopes. The garden opened to the public in 1984 and now hosts more than 150,000 visitors each year. You'll feel as if you've gone down the rabbit hole as you duck to avoid the garden's thousands of brightly blooming plants. WHILE IT OFFERS visitors a beautiful, restful experience in nature, its mission is also to educate.  School children learn the importance of conservation on our beleaguered planet. Guests join the move to preserve the planet's beauty, faced with over-population and imperiled resources. Armed with an excellent trail guide and map of the garden's dozens of plants and trees, we meandered. We followed paths leading gently down to the sea, mingling with people from around the world, just as the founder imagined. Two lovely rivers and waterfalls enhance the 2,500 species of plants, including many endangered species. The ocean coastline hosts mollusk, black crab, endangered sea turtles and the threatened Hawaiian monk seal. The garden boasts spider lily, ti leaf, jackfruit, mango, ivory nut palm and more The sound of water enhances the garden's beauty. WE RETURNED TO OUR ship after the eight-mile drive back to Hilo, having spent   a lovely afternoon being peacefully educated by the fruits of one man's dream. The glorious garden he imagined lives!  For a few short hours, we were an international link, admiring flowers and plants from the Hawaiian Islands, talking quietly, taking photos, praising the vision of this visionary man with a dream. And so it came to pass: "If you build it, they will come." www.hawaiigarden.com New York at night by Hornblower offers a fine opportunity to view the Statue of Liberty.   UP NEXT:   Experiencing New York at night is a memorable affair.  No other city, except perhaps Las Vegas, has such glamour, glitz and allure.  But New York has history, too, and water.  Come with us to Ellis Island, Times Square and other famous landmarks, celebrating remembering to explore, learn and live. Catch us each week for a fresh take on travel, the arts, family and nature at whereiscookie.com

Viewing the New York skyline from the water aboard Hornblower makes for a splendid evening. Lady Liberty aglow viewed from  a Hornblower cruise. NIGHTTIME MAGIC UNFOLDS ABOARD HORNBLOWER AND IN WEE HOURS NIGHT SPOTS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "I want to wake up in that city that doesn't sleep And find I'm king of the hill -- top of the heap." --"New York, New York," by Fred Ebb & John Kander NO OTHER  city in the world offers the nighttime magic that New York does. Vegas is a close second, but it doesn't have the water. Nor does it boast the history.  After all, President George Washington first took office in New York City. From left, Bruce Keller, Cookie Meyers, Misha and David Minesinger about to board Hornblower's New York evening dinner cruise. It's no prettier than from inside a cozy boat, transiting the waterways at night.  The city's lights and the water's beauty make a Hornblower evening cruise a spectacular way to see one of the world's great cities. Sister time:  Misha and Cookie pause to reminisce before joining others on deck. WE BOARDED Hornblower's City Lights Dinner Cruise with my sister and her husband, celebrating our reunion and a Broadway binge.  The evening marked the 55th anniversary of a fondly remembered family trip to New York to witness the 1964 World's Fair.  In honor of that my show-biz sister Misha  dressed us alike, as our mother had over a half-century ago. Our husbands were gracious good sports, donning look-alike shirts to match our blouses and jeans. For free:  strolling New York at night, to admire its classic and new buildings. New York's Brooklyn Bridge,  a treat to pass under. Our family has a long, happy history with Hornblower. It's a sentimental favorite at reunions on both coasts. We've toasted birthdays and anniversaries aboard Hornblower vessels in San Francisco, San Diego, Newport and New York with festive brunches, dinners and whale watching treks.  This trip we booked a delightful three-course meal surrounded by other happy cruisers from around the globe.  An Indian couple was celebrating their 20th anniversary.  A family from Boston was celebrating with their recent Columbia Medical School graduate.  Guantanamera serves up spicy Cuban fare late, with live music. New York's "The Imbible" is a fast-paced history of the evolution of drinking.  BARTENDERS served up artisan cocktails so we could stroll out on deck to admire the city's architectural mix -- from Art Deco to modern. Breathtaking.  As our amiable DJ announced our approach to Lady Liberty, champagne was delivered and our international group toasted the statue. Hornblower offers a leisurely way to admire famous New York landmarks -- the Chrysler Building with its ornate spire, the World Trade Center standing proudly rebuilt, Rockefeller Center and the Empire State building.  We picked out these landmarks as we dined to soft background jazz. A perfect evening's afterglow. Dawn breaks over the bridges and skyline. OFF THE  boat, it was still prime time for New York, although it isn't exactly true that the city never sleeps. However, a good reporter can find intimate bars and neighborhood restaurants that stay open into the wee hours. As in Europe, diners often don't take a table until 9 or 10 p.m., and some joints offer live music and dining until 3, even 4 a.m.  One of my favorites was the popular French diner, Florent, which closed, sadly, in 2008.  It was "the" destination for those who had too much medicine, serving up legendary goat-cheese omelets and black coffee in a noisy "New York" after hours atmosphere. Near Tiimes Square, the action is lit up and lively all night long, providing great strolling. UPHOLDING the Florent standard for the hangover crowd are Taco Mix, at East 116th St., with fabulous spicy fare; the Penrose on East 82nd Street with smoked gouda on its mac and cheese; Guantanamera on 8th Avenue,  with delicious calamari, magnificent Cuban sandwiches and live music; Vida Verde between Hell's Kitchen and the Theater District, with tasty nachos and fish tacos. WE DISCOVERED  a delightful play, "The Imbible," a spirited musical comedy tracing the history of alcohol from the cave man to modern times.  A little science, a lot musical theater, the show is clever, quick-paced and includes several drinks and another evening option. If you're in the mood for a walk, nothing is prettier than the historic buildings and new skyscrapers of Manhattan's mid-town.  Take a walk -- it's free -- then taxi back to your hotel.  hornblower.com/new-york/ imbible.nyc/ New York's Bryant Park provides chairs, tables and a lovely green expanse for residents and tourists to enjoy. UP NEXT : A pair to draw to.  New Yorkers love their parks and there are dozens of them -- from large, welcoming and expansive public spaces to small neighborhood parks accessible only to residents. Then there are lovely alcoves within museums and businesses.  We take you to our two favorites -- Central Park and Bryant Park, much beloved by tourists and native New Yorkers alike. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays for a novel look at the arts, travel, nature, family and more. www.whereiscookie.com

A gathering --  family, friends, doggies -- in Bozeman, for coffee enroute to Yellowstone National Park. From left, Bruce Keller, Rick Cosgriffe, Elliana Broscious, Christene (Cookie) Meyers, Ruth Rudner and David Muench. It's fun seeing Yellowstone through new eyes -- and those young eyes are learning how to photograph the park's wonders. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and CM MY FAVORITE trips -- aside from the romantic ones  -- are family adventures, with two, three or even four generations. A cruise is perfect, with everyone doing his or her thing during the day then coming together for dinner and story-sharing at day's end. A variety of ages and backgrounds makes for learning -- stretching, growing, looking at the world from another's point of view. "Grannie Cookie" and Rowan Jones  are hands on at the wonderful Musical  Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Ariz.  Cookie and pal Grady Martin on a hill above the Pacific, overlooking La Jolla Shores in north San Diego. Cookie, Keller, Kristen and Zack cruising Lake Tahoe.  WE'VE HAD grand times with my late mother at the Folies Bergere and the Opera Bastille in Paris, splendid cruises with sisters, brothers and nieces on the Rhine River, Baltic, Alaskan  fjords and Caribbean. I've taken my late husband Billy's grandson Rowan Jones to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, a grand place where hands-on exhibits let one try instruments from around the globe.  Rowan, who calls me "Grannie Cookie," became a crack drummer. We've taken Keller's daughter, Kristen, and her fiancé Zack, cruising on Lake Tahoe, enjoying dinner, drinks and dancing and catching up. Stopping to smell the roses -- or share the ice cream. Here, Cookie with Nick and Nora in Julian, Calif. My Montana neighbor, Grady Martin, was a frequent visitor to southern California, where he lived for many years.  I have happy memories of our times in his old stomping grounds, now my part-time home. Cookie, Keller and Cookie's sister Misha on San Diego Bay aboard their favorite Hornblower for a dinner cruise TRAVEL slows me down.  It offers the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and learn about their towns -- or show off mine.  When my sister Misha comes to San Diego, we always take a dinner cruise. Sometimes we go for a sail, with "Captain Keller'' at the helm. From left, niece Amarylla, Cookie's mum Ellen, sister Robbie, and Cookie (Christene) tucking into appetizers on a Baltic cruise a few years ago on a favorite ship, Celebrity Century.   When I'm at her home in Atlanta, we share cooking in her beautiful kitchen. When my niece Amarylla comes down from San Francisco, we hit the aquarium or Sea World.  I'VE TAKEN sisters, niece and my late, much missed mother on the Baltic and all around Europe. Never have I enjoyed a sail-in as much as the morning we entered the harbor in Cobh, Ireland, from where my mother's grandmother came. "I'm home," my mum cried. Later on that same cruise, in Amsterdam, we took mum to the city's legendary smoke shops, where she enjoyed a few tokes and several brownies.  We sang and told stories and made friends from all over Friend Corby Skinner and Cookie cruising near Athens. Europe that memorable night. That same year, my friend Corby Skinner and I traveled with a group of six other friends through the Greek Isles. Fun seeing Hadrian's Gate and ancient ruins with curious Corby. Near the end of her long life, my grandmother Olive delighted in meeting her first great-grandchild, Amarylla (now a mother herself).  Wee Ama lovingly massaged her great-grandmum's arthritic legs. My parents lived to travel with their first great-grandchildren.  STOPPING TO  smell the flowers -- and perhaps to look one a new up with a curious niece or great-niece -- is a singular pleasure.  Sharing your strawberry ice cream cone with a pair of hot, thirsty Yorkshire terriers is fun, too. Keller and Cookie at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles.  COMING NEXT: Steve Martin's lively and touching Tony-nominated musical, "Bright Star," which he co-wrote with his friend Edie Brickell, is a stunning work, with an amazing bluegrass band on stage, a touching storyline, fine acting, snappy choreography and a delightful script (no surprise there, for Martin is a terrific writer, too.) We take you opening weekend to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles where the musical is in revival and selling out, after opening a few years back in our stomping grounds, San Diego, at the Old Globe, being revised for last year's Broadway run, and worked over again by Martin and Brickell for L.A. audiences.

With her faithful service dog, a young visitor poses her animal next to a one of the AKC Dog Museum bronzes.  DOG DEVOTEES DELIGHT IN WHIMSICAL MUSEUM DEDICATED TO MAN'S BEST FRIEND STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A fine collection of vintage books is among the museum finds. NEW YORK has gone to the dogs -- and happily so -- with the AKC Museum of the Dog. The delightful museum recently returned to New York City, back to where it began over 35 years ago. We spent a fun afternoon there, strolling from our Times Square hotel a few pleasant blocks to 101 Park Avenue, to enjoy one of the world's finest collections of canine-related art. Beautiful bronzes, whimsical watercolors, oils, ceramics, drawings, prints, carvings and inter-active exhibits celebrate man's best friend. A lovingly curated two-story tribute unfolds as one walks from room to room, admiring portraits of royalty with their dogs, hunters with theirs, children and their favorite pets, society matrons dressed to the nines with their canine companions and more. Beautiful bronzes of dogs are poised to watch over visitors at various spots in the two-level museum. THE SHINY new purpose-built galleries are across the street from Grand Central Station in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Combining fine arts with cutting edge technology and interpretation, the Museum of the Dog provides unique and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.   A whimsical band features these musical pugs. As a life-long dog lover, with more than 15 doggies in my history, I was moved by the permanent collection and its variety. It is both touching and expansive, one of the finest and largest collections of canine-related fine art and artifacts in the world. Dog-related memorabilia and artifacts await the dog devotee:  trophies, collars and books about dogs. Show trophies, collars and other dog-related works are also featured in the collection. One of the most famous White House dogs, Millie, belonged to George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. IF YOU  have dog related art in your home, and are thinking of passing it on, but not sure who in the family or friend circle might enjoy it, consider donating it to the museum. Many wealthy patrons have done this, contributing oils, bronzes, watercolors, terracotta and many other treasures. An interactive exhibit allows visitors to pair their "bark" with a dog. Ours: a Tibetan Mastiff. The museum, sponsored by the American Kennel Club, relies primarily on donations and provides a forum for other AKC endeavors, including a highly ranked canine retreat and changing exhibits. On view now is a lively collection of Constance Bannister's world famous dog and baby photos. "Bannister Babies and Pet Pin-Ups" is on loan from Bannister's daughter, Lynda, who inherited her mother's 100,000 images. Memberships range from basic $60 a year, with unlimited museum admission, to "Blue Ribbon," "Best of Breed," "Champion," "Grand Champion" and "Best in Show." Those higher-priced tax-deductions range from $500 to $10,000. Walk-in admissions are $15 or $5 for kids, $10 for seniors or military.  We give paws up and recommend an engaging afternoon or morning visit. museumofthedog.org Welcoming touches with natural rock, wood and even lichen make the Wayne and Pamela Gustafson home an inspiring retreat. UP NEXT: A place to call home, and a beautiful place it is.  The elegant home Pamela and Wayne Gustafson is built with love and artistry.  The couple integrate their artful touches -- he an architect and she as a needle artist -- to create a restful, soothing and inspiring home.  A recent writers' workshop there was a wonderful experience for a dozen accomplished participants.  Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us each Friday for a fresh look at the arts, nature, travel, family, pets and more at www.whereiscookie.com

The home of architect Wayne Gustafson and his artist wife Pamela is an oasis of calm and inspiration. INSPIRATIONAL HOME OF ARCHITECT AND ARTIST LIGHTS A FIRE OF CREATIVITY UNDER WRITERS The Gustafsons hosted a recent Writer's Voice workshop for 12 writers who used the grounds -- interior and exterior -- to sharpen their prose. At far left is teacher Christene Meyers, next to Gustafson. Pamela is at far right of the photo, surrounded by workshop participants.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "A structure must be functional, but it must be inviting and inspiring, too." -- architect Wayne Gustafson Lichen is integrated into the design. DRIVING UP  a discreet, tree-lined cul de sac, a picturesque scene comes into view. The house and landscape seem as one.  Trees and flowers complement the lines of the home. Unique  artful touches abound. Wayne Gustafson shares his architectural acumen and the artful background of couple's home. The home of Pamela and Wayne Gustafson is truly their castle, and a restful and rejuvenating playground for children of all ages. Real stone is a crucial part of the Gustafsons' natural looking decor. RECENTLY,   the artistic couple hosted a Writer's Voice gathering.  A dozen workshop participants spent the day writing, revising, sharing and creating in a half-dozen alcoves, patio spaces and welcoming niches.  The home and grounds were designed by architect Gustafson in the tradition of another great American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, whose environmentally integrated precepts changed the way people build and inhabit space both business and personal. Attention to detail marks every aspect of life in this home. Here, a beautiful alcove  includes a bedroom fireplace and plants.  The home and its soothing surroundings -- in the style of "form follows function" -- are a perfect  muse for writers, including Pamela, whose elegant needle art is displayed throughout. GUSTAFSON IS known by peers for his attention to detail and skillful use of organic materials. The master artisan's architectural eye blends light, wood and natural products as he has done for decades.  For he was light years ahead of his time -- "building green" from his early professional An expansive lawn the size of a football field was a chipping green in Gustafson's golfing days, later a playground for grandchildren. Now he and Pamela invoke the muse and share creative inspiration with friends. Pamela Gustafson and Christene (Cookie) review the day's efforts in the cheery living area. THUS AN  invitation was extended to Corby Skinner's Writer's Voice national project to spend a day in workshop. (Full disclosure:  I taught the session, at the request of previous writing seminar participants.) Wayne's hand chosen stone and Pamela's needle art. We gathered in the living room, on the north side of a  sandstone fireplace that rises from the lower level, lit by subtle, natural light. Gustafson gave a tour, noting a skylight above the main fireplace. It channels the sun through slats of wood salvaged from a building in a coal-mining camp in southern Park County. Lichen on the wood and horizontal stones lends an earthy detail. Gustafson believes a structure must be functional, but invite and inspire, too. "It must be kept in context, especially when the effort is historical preservation or renovation." Bruce Keller, left, and Christene "Cookie" Meyers in a quiet corner of the Gustafsons' welcoming home and grounds. Recycled barn wood on the fire place, hand selected rocks and boards, and subtle filtered light enhance the beauty of the wood. Pamela Gustafson's elegant needle art is inspiration as she writes. Impeccable detail in the moldings and mitered glass  corners create a stunning panorama, connecting the indoors and outdoors in the time honored style of Wright whose homes accented nature's beauty with meticulous interior design. PAMELA'S NEEDLE  art provides the crowning touch. Her delicate, detailed designs -- all original -- provide sculptural accents, tapestries  and wall hangings. Those who have lived in Billings a while know Gustafson's other works, including the Security Federal Savings Building at 24th Street West and Grand Avenue, built in 1974, and Faith Chapel at Broadwater Avenue and 24th Street West, built in 1993. He used his own home for inspiration on his other design projects, taking his notebook to one of the alcoves, meditating beneath the fir trees. The Sydney Harbor Bridge at the famous Sydney Opera House at night are probably among the world's most recognizable landmarks and harbors.   UP NEXT:  Harbors. Or is it harbors? Whichever way you spell it -- and both are correct --  you're near restful water giving shelter to ships, passengers and the citizenry. No matter which side of "the pond" you inhabit, or where in the world you love to travel, you're probably attracted to water, ports, rivers, harbors. We'll explore some of the planet's most beautiful "water linked" cities. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us Fridays at whereiscookie.com