• What a View!

    St. Tropez, France…the way to end a perfect day on the beach is with an enchanting stroll in town along the harbor at dusk…the sleek yachts are pulling in, people are relaxing over cocktails, and the sunset is a sight you won’t soon forget!

    There is something about the light here…it’s magical…it’s hypnotic…you can understand why artists would be drawn to such a place! The fiery orange sky lulls you into a certain state of awe…

    I love this time of day…everyone seems so relaxed! A cone of glacĂ© in hand and a view that I can savor…

    It’s nice to spend some chill time in this town known for it’s wealthy excesses and it’s all night parties! Right now it’s just a calm refuge that is totally beguiling!

    Reality of home seems like a distant memory…boy, will it be shocking when this journey ends!

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  • Sunset Farewell!

    Santorini, Greece…a perfect way to end my visit to the Greek islands was with a trip to Oia to see the most stunning sunset! Oia, a tiny town perched high atop the island is a quick jaunt from the main town of Fira.

    Bleach white buildings set amongst blue domed churches and cobbled walkways are clustered in this picturesque location high above the islands harbor. An artist’s dream, the tiny walkways are filled with galleries, shops, and balconied cafes. This is probably the Greece so many picture as this tiny town with the big wow has been the subject of many an artist’s brush and lens. Pure magic!

    Greece has been a great part of this summer’s travels and as I depart tonight from Santorini, it will mark my final visit to Greece this year…thanks Greece for being the star of my journey so far!

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  • Nothing like Old Friends!

    Mykonos, Greece…the difference a few weeks makes! I am back in Mykonos, this time as a cruise passenger…it’s the end of the summer season and they are ending it with a big bang here! It’s the infamous XLsior party, so the tiny island is crawling with gay men from allover Europe. Add together these hordes of European revelers with almost 3,000 party craving men from a cruise ship and that equals chaos! Elia beach was wall to wall testosterone; the sand was barely visible…what happened to my lovely chill daily hangout that I made my routine just a few weeks ago?

    The parade of muscles is total overkill! But the vibe is definitely energetic and contagious.

    I am traveling with my friend, Jeff…I have known Jeff since our sophomore year of high school in suburban Chicago. We have remained friends and sporadic travel buddies for decades! It’s amazing that after knowing one another for 30 years, being a thousand miles apart, and living totally different lives we still can’t diminish our adolescent fun we recreate when we get together! I feel blessed to have several good friends who are joining me for different segments of this long travel journey…this 10 day cruise will be with Jeff and we will amuse each other with our teenage silliness and desire to just have a great time!

    After a day at the beach, it was time for the sunset tea dance at Hotel Elysium…the setting was perfect perched over all of Chora with Mykonos’ spectacular sunset as the backdrop for an evening of amazing dancing. We danced on chairs, tables, ledges, you name it! Gorgeous people, great music, beautiful setting, and good friends…as the commercial says: “priceless!”

    I enjoy traveling whether it be with friends, family, or alone…but it’s magic to have people in your life with whom you “click” and can meet anywhere in the world to have the time of your lives!

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