Traveling to Greece?…Euphoria Retreat…Five days and counting…

Not our photo. Euphoria Retreat in Greece.

Many of our readers are cruising and flying to Greece for their vacations/holidays. Today, we stumbled across this article that may be of interest to those interested in wellness and spas. This article was written in the first person by the author from her personal experience.

From Travel+Leisure online magazine:

“This Might Be the Most Transformative Wellness Retreat in Greece—Where Ancient Philosophy Meets Modern Healing

At Euphoria Retreat in Mystras, timeless philosophy and holistic therapies help guests rediscover balance and purpose. By Janine Di Giovanni Published on October 11, 2025

Photo from ten years ago today, October 22. 2015:

There were no photos posted on this day ten years ago.

Six days and counting…It was great to get out and see our friends!…

A kindly passerby took this photo of the four of us.

It was fantastic to go to lunch with our dear friends Linda and Ken, whom we hadn’t seen in about six years. Time has a funny way of slipping by, yet when we finally met again, it felt as if no time had passed at all. We first met them years ago in Marloth Park at a dinner party at Kathy and Don’s home along the Crocodile River.

Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch, sharing adventures, stories, and laughter along the way. The last time we were together was in Wales, where we spent an unforgettable day exploring castle ruins and savoring a long, leisurely meal filled with good conversation and plenty of laughter. Seeing them again brought back a flood of wonderful memories from that carefree day in the Welsh countryside.

My first glass of wine in five weeks. Notice the skimpy pour. It couldn’t have been more than three or four ounces.

Over the years, we spent time together in Marloth Park on various occasions when our visits happened to overlap—a happy coincidence that always led to laughter, storytelling, and shared sundowners on the veranda. Then, in 2017, our paths crossed again on the other side of the world, when we enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Linda and Ken at the famous Fortune of War, a historic pub established in 1828, tucked in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Sitting in that old establishment, with its worn wooden bar and walls steeped in seafaring history, we reminisced about our adventures in the bush and marveled at how our travels continued to intertwine in the most unexpected corners of the world.

Yesterday, when we reunited at El Tribut, an oceanfront restaurant not far from our current location, it felt like coming full circle. The restaurant, perched above the sparkling sea, offered breathtaking views of the coastline, a perfect backdrop for an afternoon of reminiscing. The Mediterranean breeze drifted across the terrace, carrying the scent of salt and grilled seafood. There’s something so comforting about the familiar energy of friends who share your passions, and Linda and Ken are very much kindred spirits. Like us, they have a deep love for travel, cruising, and discovering the world one port at a time.

Tom ordered the Beef Wellington and thoroughly enjoyed it. No bread or potatoes were served with this entree.

El Tribut doesn’t open for lunch until 1:00 p.m., which is typical in Spain and many parts of Europe. We arrived a few minutes early and waited near the entrance, chatting and catching up on recent adventures. It reminded me how different dining customs can be around the world. While Americans often have lunch by noon and dinner by six, Europeans tend to linger through their afternoons, with lunch stretching well past 3:00 p.m. and dinner not beginning until 8:00 or later. There’s a certain rhythm to this lifestyle, a slower pace that encourages relaxation, conversation, and savoring every bite.

By 2:00 p.m., the restaurant was packed. Locals and tourists filled every table, their voices blending into a pleasant hum of conversation and clinking glasses. We ordered a leisurely lunch, each of us choosing something different so we could share tastes, as travelers so often do. The food was excellent, fresh, flavorful, and prepared with care. Between bites, we shared stories from our respective journeys: ports we’d loved, favorite cruise lines, unexpected challenges, and funny mishaps that only seasoned travelers could truly appreciate.

Linda, Ken, and I ordered this fish, croaker, with a side of aubergine (eggplant) and marinated grape tomatoes.

Linda and Ken had met us from their current cruise, on their port of call to Barcelona, and they spoke with such enthusiasm about their experiences. We compared notes on itineraries, ships, and destinations, laughing at how small the cruising world can be, how often travelers cross paths without even realizing it. We also talked about how travel has changed in recent years, with fluctuating prices, evolving visa requirements, and the ever-present balance between adventure and comfort.

What I appreciated most about our time together wasn’t just the conversation. It was the feeling of connection. After years of moving from place to place, friendships like this become treasures, reminders that the world can feel wonderfully small when you find people whose spirits align with your own. We may go months or even years without seeing one another, but when we reunite, it’s as though we simply picked up where we left off.

It was wonderful to see our dear friends, Linda and Ken, once again.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting golden reflections across the water, we reluctantly said our goodbyes, promising to meet again, perhaps on another cruise or in some unexpected corner of the world. The meal, the laughter, and the warmth of old friends reminded us once again why we travel: not just to see the world, but to share it with those who understand the joy of exploration.

In a mere six days, we’ll be heading to that same Barcelona port where Linda and Ken arrived and begin our 47 nights of cruising. We can hardly wait.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 21, 2015:

Several emergency vehicles were on the hospital property. Locals don’t hesitate to call in an emergency and feel the local care is adequate for many conditions. For more photos, please click here.

Not so easy ordering a taxi…Out to lunch today!…

Not our photo.

This morning, I attempted to order a taxi for our ride to El Tribut Restaurant, located only about 1.5 miles from here. It wasn’t as easy as you’d think.

We have found that using credit cards online in Spain hasn’t been as easy as you think, either. Often, our cards are declined or the processing never goes through. When ordering most taxis, they verify a credit card before confirming a reservation. I have called our credit card companies, and they have stated there is nothing wrong with any of the cards (which we knew), and they can’t even determine if an attempted charge was made.

This same experience happened when ordering groceries online from the same supermarket each time. The processing often took a few hours of trying off and on, to process. I kept trying over and over again, as I did this morning when I attempted to order a taxi.

Finally, I found a taxi company that didn’t require a credit card to confirm the ride and arranged our pickup for 12:45 for our 1:00 pm lunch reservation with Linda and Ken at the oceanfront El Tribut Restaurant, close to the port. Once in the taxi, we won’t have any trouble paying for our ride using a credit card.

Each month, we pay off all our credit card balances to ensure we never run into issues. However, all of our credit cards have high credit limits, so it’s unlikely we’d ever encounter an issue, regardless of any recent holiday home or cruise transaction.

Even in South Africa, where we seldom experience such issues, we ran into similar problems when we placed orders through the Amazon-like equivalent, Takealot. Invariably, processing a purchase required the same several-hour, back-and-forth process to get the transaction to process.

I often wondered if these issues were due to WiFi problems with the company’s end or simply poorly run and operated online payment systems.

In Spain, we’ve used Amazon.es (for Spain), placing several orders, including, most recently, two large suitcases to replace old and worn pieces, including one with a broken wheel. With all the traveling we continue to do, it’s no wonder that our suitcases only last for four or five years. Amazon processing was relatively easy, with no credit card issues.

Thirty minutes ago, we received a taxi confirmation, and soon we will head down those scary steps to the street to await our taxi.

We’ll be back tomorrow with photos and details of our much-awaited get-together with dear old friends.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 20, 2015:

Colorful ocean view in Fiji near our holiday rental house. For more photos, please click here.

Eight days and counting…Japan is charging “tourist fees”…

Not our photo. Kyoto, Japan.

From Travel+Leisure online magazine:

“Visiting one of Japan’s most famous cities will soon cost more.

Government leaders are raising the hotel accommodation tax for overnight visitors in the popular city of Kyoto, Japan, according to international news reports. The new updates are set to take effect in March 2026, and some travelers may see an increase of as much as ¥10,000 ($65.33) per night.

The fee will scale with the room rate. Rooms costing under ¥19,999 ($130.66) will be required to pay a ¥400 ($2.61) fee, EuroNews reported. For more expensive and luxury stays above ¥100,000 ($653.32), a maximum tax of ¥10,000 ($65.33) will be charged, according to The Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper.

Accommodations below ¥6,000 ($39.19) will be responsible for paying a ¥200 ($1.31) fee.

“The Accommodation Tax is used to cover costs involved in enhancing the attractions of Kyoto as an International Culture and Tourism City, and in promoting tourism,” Kyoto’s government wrote on its official website, which lists the old accommodation tax fees.

The government said the tax helps preserve Kyoto’s history and eases “congestion on roads and walkways.”

For years, travelers have complained of crowding in the renowned tourist city.

“Out of all the places in Japan, Kyoto definitely has an over-tourism problem,” one traveler wrote in a Reddit post. “The increased tax isn’t even that much anyway; if you are a tourist, you can afford it.”

Previous versions of the accommodation tax have included waivers and fee reductions in the event of a natural disaster or emergency to aid tourists in a time of need. The tax will also not apply to school groups, according to the waivers.

Known for its cherry blossoms, temples, and historical significance, Kyoto has long been a popular destination for tourists in Japan. The city was named the “most mindful” in Asia in a July ranking of mindfulness, thanks to features such as its zen gardens and ancient temples. Travelers who go there enjoy exploring the covered Nishiki Market, visiting the Sanjusangendo Temple, and learning about the city’s sake-brewing culture.

Overseas travel to Japan has been hitting record numbers since COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted. Each month has set a record high, with 3.4 million people visiting Japan in July, compared to only 3.3 million during the same period in 2024 and 2.3 million in 2023, according to data from JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.”

We had booked a few cruises to visit Japan. However, COVID-19 hit the world, and all of them were canceled. We hope to try again in the near future.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 19, 2015:

Fiji’s version of a “Quick and Easy,” or a superette. For more photos, please click here.

Nine days and counting…We can’t wait to go!!!…

Sant Marti almost entirely consists of apartments.

In only nine days, we’ll be packing our bags, closing the door to this apartment for the last time, and heading to the Port of Barcelona to board Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas for a 47-night cruise. Just saying that out loud fills me with anticipation. This voyage has been on our minds for months, a long stretch of ocean days and new ports, the comfort of not having to cook or deal with maintenance issues for a while. And after our experience in this apartment, that thought feels like a reward in itself.

It’s hard to describe how relieved we’ll be to leave. What was meant to be a comfortable stopover in Sant Martí has turned into one challenge after another. We’ve had our share of imperfect rentals over the years, some quirky, some dated, some just missing that extra touch, but this one has tested our patience in ways few others have. It all started with the three flights of stairs, misrepresented in the listing as “only a few steps to the front door,” severely limiting my ability to get out and about.

For five long days, we were without a working toilet. Imagine the inconvenience and discomfort of that, especially when communication with the property manager felt like shouting into the void. Promises were made, repair people were scheduled and showed up late or never arrived at all, and each day ended with more frustration than the one before.

The hot water has been another intermittent luxury, flickering in and out as though controlled by mood. Some mornings, we’d stand in the bathroom waiting for the water to warm, only to give up and face a cold shower. Other days, it worked just fine, teasing us with reliability, only to disappear again. Then there’s the sink drain stopper that doesn’t work properly, and the washer-dryer combination that turns a basic chore into a daylong event. What should take a few hours stretches into an all-day affair, the kind of small annoyance that builds and builds until it starts to shape the tone of your days.

After a recent power outage, the dishwasher quit altogether, leaving us once again hand-washing dishes in a single, poorly designed sink, one without a proper drain or stopper. Washing dishes has become an act of improvisation, balancing items in a large salad bowl, one hand while trying not to splash water across the counter. The lack of basic kitchen supplies has made cooking equally exasperating. Pots without lids, dull knives, and missing utensils —those small, taken-for-granted items that make a kitchen usable were absent. We’ve managed, of course, as we always do, but it’s made even the simplest meals a chore.

We’ve written to management several times, hoping for a meaningful response, but we’ve learned that their unresponsiveness seems to be part of their approach to working with renters. It’s strange how a place can look just fine in photos, clean and bright, yet reveal so many cracks once you settle in. We’ve grown accustomed to rolling with the punches while traveling. We know that not every stay will be perfect, but this one has stretched even our well-practiced patience.

And yet, in a way, that’s what makes our upcoming cruise feel all the more thrilling. There’s something about the timing, as if this less-than-ideal chapter is closing just in time for a new adventure to begin. In nine days, we’ll step into a stateroom where everything works, where meals appear without our lifting a finger, and where the most difficult decision of the day might be choosing between participating in a trivia game or chatting with other passengers.

It’s a reminder that travel isn’t just about beautiful views and perfect accommodations. It’s about endurance, adaptability, and gratitude, even when things don’t go smoothly. Because when they finally do, and you find yourself sailing toward the horizon, you can appreciate it all the more.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 18, 2015:

Tom’s mother, shown in front row center, wrote a book, “Memories of Muggs,” about the family’s history. On the date of the “book signing,” the family got together to celebrate the special occasion. This family photo was taken in 1997 with Tom, his mother, Mary, and his siblings. From left to right, front: Rita, Mary, Jerome; middle row: Mary Ellen, Margie, Patty, and Sister Beth. Since this photo was taken, Sister Beth, Jerome, Jim, and their mother Mary have passed away. The back row includes Colleen, Tom, and Jim. The book is listed at the Minnesota Historical Society. For more photos, please click here.

Why have I been sleeping better in Spain?…

Sleeping through the night has been blissful.

For years, my nights were measured not by the hours I slept, but by the hours I didn’t. No matter what time I went to bed, my body seemed to have an internal alarm set for 3:00 am sharp. I’d wake in the dark, wide-eyed, my mind alert as if the day had already begun. I’d try everything: deep breathing, guided meditations, herbal teas, magnesium, reading a few pages of a book, even counting backward from 300. Nothing worked for long. The nights felt endless, the mornings groggy, and I often wondered if I’d ever again know the feeling of sleeping soundly through the night.

And then, quite suddenly, I slept through the night, oddly, once we arrived in Barcelona over a month ago.

It happened without fanfare, no new supplement, no magic pillow, no life-changing revelation. One night, I drifted off, and the next thing I knew, the light was filtering through the window. I blinked at the clock in disbelief, 7:00 am. I had slept through the night for the first time in years. My first thought wasn’t joy, oddly enough. It was a suspicion. Surely I must have woken up and forgotten. But night after night, the pattern repeated itself. My eyes stayed closed, my body rested, and the long stretch of uninterrupted sleep became my new normal.

It’s hard to explain what it feels like to rediscover proper rest after years without it. The mornings feel different, clearer, somehow. The air feels lighter, my thoughts less tangled. I no longer wake up feeling as though I’ve been wrestling with my own mind all night. There’s a calmness now, as if some invisible knot has finally come undone.

I’ve tried to understand why this change happened. Perhaps it’s a shift in rhythm, a long-overdue balance my body finally found. Maybe it’s the result of countless small choices. Or perhaps it’s simply the natural ebb and flow of life that, mysteriously, our bodies and minds heal themselves when we stop forcing solutions. Has anything changed since we arrived in Spain?

  1. More extended periods of intermittent fasting to lose the weight I’d gained from heart medications, with no snacking during the day and evening. Eating dinner at 3:00 pm and not eating again until the next day.
  2. No wine…although during many other periods I haven’t had any wine for extended periods, that didn’t improve my sleep.
  3. Falling asleep later, accepting the fact that I usually won’t fall asleep until close to midnight.

When I think back to those sleepless years, I realize how intertwined sleep and peace are. It’s not only about rest but also about safety, trust, and surrender. During those long, wakeful hours, I sometimes felt the world pressing in with thoughts of unfinished tasks, travel logistics, and health worries. Sleep never stood a chance against such noise.

Now, as I drift off each night around midnight, I notice the absence of struggle. There’s no bargaining with my mind, no tally of hours left until morning. I close my eyes and trust that my body knows what to do. That quiet trust feels like the real miracle.

Of course, I’m not naïve enough to think the 3:00 am awakenings will never return. Life has its way of stirring things up. But for now, I’m grateful for this gift of uninterrupted nights. It reminds me that even after years of restlessness, change is still possible. The body remembers how to heal, the mind learns how to soften, and peace finds its way back in quietly, almost imperceptibly, in the middle of the night.

Sometimes the most profound changes aren’t the ones we chase but the ones that arrive, unannounced, gentle, and long overdue. For me, it came in the form of something beautifully ordinary, a full night’s sleep. And in that ordinary moment, I found something extraordinary, the feeling of being at home, certainly not in this place, but within myself.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 17, 2015:

In Fiji, these gorgeous red flowers are growing in the shade beneath the veranda overhang. For more photos, please click here.

US Department of State travel warnings for Spain?…What???

This popped up on the news today. There are only a few countries in the world that are exempt from such situations and subsequent warnings, but we haven’t heard anything about Spain until today. We don’t hear or see upheaval in this area of Barcelona.

From the US Department of State:

Exercise increased caution 

in Spain due to terrorism and unrest.

Advisory summary

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Spain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and target:

  • Tourist locations
  • Transportation centers like airports and train stations
  • Markets and shopping malls
  • Local government facilities
  • Hotels, clubs, and restaurants
  • Places of worship and educational institutions
  • Parks
  • Major sporting and cultural events

Demonstrations are common.  They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.

If you decide to travel to Spain: 

  • Avoid demonstrations and crowds. 
  • Be aware of your surroundings. 
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities. 
  • Check local media for breaking events. Be prepared to adjust your plans. 

US citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad. Use these general tips to stay safe:   

Fortunately, we have no plans to be out and about until Monday, when we see Linda and Ken for lunch and later, head to the port on October 27 to board our ship.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 16, 2015:

Beaches in Fiji are still eye-catching on cloudy days. For more photos, please click here.

What is a guarantee cabin on a cruise ship?…We’ve tried it for the first time…

This is the layout of our balcony cabin (it may be reversed) on the upcoming Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas: 203 sq. ft., with a 47 sq. ft. balcony.

When booking a cruise, one of the most mysterious and often misunderstood options a traveler encounters is the guarantee cabin (sometimes spelled guaranty cabin). It’s a term that sounds both promising and uncertain at the same time, as though you’re guaranteed something but also taking a gamble. Over the years, as we’ve sailed across oceans on various cruise lines, we’ve learned that a guarantee cabin can be a blessing or a mild disappointment, depending on your expectations and how flexible you are as a traveler.

A guaranteed cabin means you’re booking a specific room category— for example, inside, oceanview, balcony, or suite —but not choosing the exact location or cabin number. In other words, you guarantee that you’ll have at least that type of accommodation. Still, the cruise line has the right to assign you any available cabin within that category or even upgrade you to a higher one. The idea is simple: you’re trading control for value.

Cruise lines love guaranteed bookings because they give them more flexibility to manage their inventory. For instance, if certain sections of the ship need balancing for safety or operational reasons, or if they’re trying to sell more desirable cabins later at a higher price, they can shuffle guarantee guests around to fill the gaps. For passengers, the allure of a guarantee cabin usually comes down to price. These rooms are often cheaper than picking a specific cabin yourself, which appeals to those of us who prefer to save a bit for shore excursions, specialty dining, or perhaps a cocktail at sunset.

However, there’s always a catch. When you book a guarantee cabin, you won’t know your cabin number until closer to your sailing date, sometimes weeks before, sometimes even a few days. For travelers who like to plan down to the smallest detail, this uncertainty can be unsettling. We’ve known fellow cruisers who were assigned cabins in less-than-ideal locations: near elevators where late-night conversations echo through the corridor, under the pool deck where early-morning deck chairs scrape across the floor, or close to a crew service area where there’s a constant hum of activity.

But we’ve also met passengers who lucked out, getting unexpected upgrades to higher categories at no additional cost—say, from an interior to a balcony. Those moments feel like winning a little cruise lottery, and they do happen more often than one might think. Cruise lines prefer happy passengers, and if filling a better cabin makes sense logistically, it’s an easy gesture for them to make.

From a psychological standpoint, booking a guarantee cabin tests your comfort with uncertainty. As full-time travelers, Tom and I have learned to adapt to the unexpected—different cultures, languages, currencies, and accommodations, so a little unpredictability on a cruise ship doesn’t rattle us much anymore. In fact, there’s something oddly exciting about not knowing exactly where you’ll end up on board. It adds a layer of surprise, a small adventure before the bigger one begins. When the cabin assignment finally appears on your cruise app or booking page, it feels like unwrapping a gift.

That said, there are some practical considerations. If you’re particular about cabin location—say, you get seasick easily and prefer the middle of the ship on a lower deck where motion is minimal—then a guarantee cabin may not be wise. Likewise, if you’re a light sleeper or sensitive to noise, you might not want to risk being near high-traffic areas. In those cases, it’s better to pay a bit more and handpick your cabin.

On the other hand, if you’re simply thrilled to be sailing and aren’t fussy about where you lay your head at night, then the savings of a guarantee cabin might be worth it. After all, much of cruise life takes place outside the stateroom—on the decks, at shows, in restaurants, or exploring exotic ports of call. For some, the cabin is just a place to sleep between adventures.

On these three upcoming back-to-back cruises, for the first time, we booked a guarantee balcony cabin, not knowing where on the ship we’d be or whether we’d have to move twice. I hesitated when Tom suggested this during the cruise booking process a year ago, even with the over US $1000 in cost savings. But, I relented and said, “Let’s give it a try.”

Now, with only 12 days until boarding, we’ve been informed of our balcony cabin number and that we’ll be able to stay in the same cabin for the first and second legs of the back-to-back. We won’t be informed about the third leg for weeks, but if we have to move, it won’t be so bad, since we’ll be able to stay in the first cabin for the first 35 nights (out of 47). We are thrilled.

All in all, the unpredictability keeps travel from becoming routine. Much like flying standby or choosing a mystery hotel, the guarantee cabin is for those who can embrace a little chaos in exchange for potential reward. It’s about trusting the process and remembering that every cabin, whether inside or out, shares the same destination, the same ocean breezes, and the same star-filled nights.

If you decide to try a guarantee booking, it helps to understand the fine print. You can’t change your cabin once it’s assigned, and you can’t request a particular location in advance. The assignment is final, and that’s the trade-off for the lower fare. Some cruise lines assign guarantee cabins weeks before departure, while others wait until the last moment as they juggle cancellations and upgrades. Patience is key, and a positive mindset goes a long way.

For travelers like us, who’ve lived out of suitcases for years and learned to find comfort wherever we are, the guarantee cabin fits our philosophy: make the best of every situation. What matters most is the experience itself, the laughter shared at dinner at shared tables, the sound of the sea against the hull, the feeling of waking up in a new port with the world waiting just outside your door.

So if you’re planning your next cruise and debating whether to book a guarantee cabin, ask yourself this: Are you more excited by certainty or by surprise? Either choice can lead to wonderful memories. But for those who crave a touch of adventure even before stepping on board, a guarantee cabin might just be the perfect way to begin the voyage.

We’ll let you know what transpires for our third leg of the back-to-back cruise when we know sometime in the next several weeks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 15, 2015:

In Fiji, the tiny freezer contains meat for the week, streaky bacon, bagged portions of Tom’s daily egg dish, homemade low-carb flax-and-almond-meal lemon poppyseed muffins, and low-carb coconut cookies. Also, ice, lots of ice. We Americans like ice with our cold tea. For more photos, please click here.

For adventure lovers…

Individual wearing protective gear sliding down a volcanic slope on a board
Not our photos. A tourist slides down the slopes of the Cerro Negro volcano.Credit: OSWALDO RIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

From Travel + Leisure online magazine:

“You Can Surf Down the Side of an Active Volcano at This Central American Destination

At Cerro Negro, travelers hike an active volcano—then board down its black slopes in a blaze of speed. By Carley Rojas Avila, Published on July 26, 2025

  • Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro is one of Nicaragua’s most thrilling adventure activities.
  • Riders descend the steep volcanic slope at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, wearing jumpsuits and goggles for protection.
  • It’s a must-try because it combines adrenaline, unique terrain, and stunning views from an active volcano.

With chill coastal communities like San Juan del Sur buzzing with surf-minded visitors, the stellar swells crashing along the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua are no longer the best-kept secret in Central America. But in-the-know thrill seekers are heading into the country’s interior for another kind of surfing experience: “volcano boarding” down the sandy black cone of Cerro Negro volcano.

“Volcano boarding is a really unique and memorable experience to try when visiting Nicaragua,” says Javier Silva, a long-time Nicaragua expat and executive director of the non-profit Lacrosse the Nations. The adventure is just as other-worldly as you’d imagine, starting with facing down the slopes of a still-active volcano and culminating with a dusty, high-speed descent that feels somewhere between sledding and go-kart racing. To protect against the ashy, sandy spray that coats the sides of Cerro Negro, boarders don bright orange jumpsuits and ski goggles, only adding to the next-level thrill of the experience.

“Keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to stand up on the board; you’ll definitely want to sit on it,” says Silva. “The descent is so steep that you get going very fast, and it’s pretty challenging to control the board. Hold on, and simply lean into the ride.”

Just how fast is fast? Wait until you reach the bottom of the cone to find out. Most volcano boarding excursions will have someone standing at the bottom of the volcano with a radar gun to clock your speed, which can reach up to 40 miles per hour. “If you’re traveling with friends and are at all competitive, seeing who can reach the highest speed will be a riot,” says Silva.

Named by Travel + Leisure editors as one of the best places to visit in 2025Nicaragua wows with everything from white-sand Caribbean islands and centuries-old churches to immense biodiversity in its untouched rainforests. But for a destination that still draws many intrepid travelers, volcano boarding is easily one of the country’s most popular experiences. “It’s one of the most highly-requested tours from visitors and guests,” says Howard Coulson, general manager at Jicaro Island Lodge, a sustainability-focused luxury lodge on a private island in Lake Nicaragua.

Most volcano boarders embark early in the morning from the charming city of León, located just 45 minutes from Cerro Negro. However, volcano boarding’s growing popularity means that tour operators now offer the excursion, with transportation included, from other destinations across the country. Many hotels and resorts, including Jicaro Island Lodge, curate their own private or small-group excursions for guests, but Coulson also recommends Vapues Travel for their certified guides with years of experience.

León’s proximity to Cerro Negro allows volcano boarders to get an early start on the expedition, beating the crowds and avoiding the midday sun, which can make the experience more challenging. “It’s important that travelers know that the experience can be demanding,” cautions Coulson, citing the high temperatures on the sunbaked surface of the volcano. Though the descent down the slopes is invigorating and lasts less than a minute, it’s the hour-long ascent up the volcano’s cone carrying your board that makes it unexpectedly challenging. The sandy, unstable terrain and steady incline don’t make it easier.

Boarders should come well-prepared for the experience by wearing sneakers or hiking boots and carrying plenty of water, sunscreen, and sun protection gear, such as UPF-rated clothing and a sunhat with a chinstrap. Tour operators will provide orange jumpsuits for the descent, but you’ll want to be comfortable when ascending the volcano.

There’s one unexpected highlight of the experience that most visitors forget until they arrive: taking in the view from the top of the towering crater. “Walking to the top of an active volcano, where you can contemplate all of the volcano’s beauty and the beauty of its surroundings, is something truly special,” says Coulson.

Vistas stretch on for miles in every direction, but peeking into Cerro Negro itself, less than 200 years old and still belching streams of gas and smoke, is arguably just as enchanting. “That’s definitely one of the highlights of the experience,” says Silva, “but the thrill ride back down the volcano again doesn’t hurt, either.”

Tom and I will never embark on such an adventure, but it’s exciting to see that other tourists are taking advantage of this unique experience.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, October 14, 2015:
Horses on the grounds of Namale Resort in Fiji. For more photos, please click here.

The Challenge of Stairs as We Age: A Traveler’s Reflection…

Not our photos, but an example of the stairs here in Barcelona, which are much narrower and have three flights.

The Challenge of Stairs as We Age: A Traveler’s Reflection

Living a nomadic life around the world, we’ve come to realize that stairs are far more than just a way to move from one level to another. They often define how comfortable a stay will be, especially as we grow older. In my younger years, I hardly noticed them. I bounded up and down stairs with a suitcase in hand, never giving it a second thought. Each steep climb, especially when going down the stairs, feels like a quiet reminder that time and circumstance have their own agenda.

I don’t get out of breath or become tired. It’s my legs that simply don’t work properly, especially since the two surgeries on both legs after they became infected post-cardiac bypass surgery in 2019.

Our current apartment in Sant Martí, Barcelona, has 30 narrow, uneven tile steps leading to our door. There’s no elevator, and the tiles are slippery even when dry. Each time we go up or down, I grip the handrail tightly, one deliberate step after another. It’s the uncertainty of footing, the awareness that a misstep could mean a painful fall. I’ve learned to take my time, to place both feet firmly on each step before continuing. Tom always goes down in front of me to break any potential fall.

It’s humbling, really. Stairs, something so ordinary, have become a symbol of how we must adapt as we age or after injuries. I often think about seniors who live in multi-level homes, especially those who’ve spent decades there, surrounded by memories on every floor. How difficult it must be to decide that the staircase they’ve climbed thousands of times has now become an obstacle, something to be avoided, or even feared.

I remember visiting a friend’s mother in Minnesota years ago, who proudly showed me how she’d converted her living room into a bedroom after taking a nasty tumble down her stairs. “I don’t go up there anymore,” she said, gesturing toward the upper level. “But I’ve got everything I need right here.” She spoke with quiet dignity, accepting her new reality with grace. That small act of adaptation, creating a safe haven on the main floor, was her way of preserving independence.

In our travels, we’ve encountered countless variations of this same challenge. In Italy, we stayed in a charming 300-year-old stone house with a winding staircase so narrow that we had to carry our luggage one piece at a time. The steps were uneven, polished smooth from centuries of use. Beautiful, yes, but I couldn’t help thinking how treacherous they’d be for anyone with aching knees or uncertain balance. In Madeira, Portugal, the hills themselves feel like endless staircases, each one steeper than the last. Locals take them in stride, but I often wondered how older residents manage in those picturesque but unforgiving neighborhoods.

Today, many modern homes are designed with aging in mind, featuring gentle ramps instead of steps, subtle railings seamlessly integrated into the architecture, and thoughtful lighting that reduces shadows. Many cultures respect aging, not as something to hide or resist, but as something to accommodate gracefully. I’ve often thought the many other parts of the world could take a lesson from that quiet practicality.

In the United States, where homes tend to be larger and more spread out, many older adults are choosing to “age in place.” They install stairlifts, grab bars, and brighter lights, or relocate bedrooms to the main floor. But even with all these modifications, there’s still a bittersweetness to it. For many, giving up the freedom to use the whole house feels like losing a part of themselves.

For travelers like us, the question of stairs comes up often when booking accommodations. Does the building have an elevator? How many steps to the door? These are details we never used to consider. But after years of navigating steep staircases in old buildings, we’ve learned that such questions aren’t just about convenience, they’re about safety. This apartment was advertised as having only a “few” steps to the unit. We’d never have rented it if we’d known the reality.

On our upcoming cruise, we won’t have to worry about stairs. Elevators glide effortlessly between decks, and everything is designed for accessibility. It’s one of the reasons we find cruising so comfortable. It offers a sense of freedom without physical strain. Yet even so, I find myself reflecting on how something as simple as going down stairs has become a small metaphor for life itself.

Aging doesn’t take away our ability to experience the world, but it does change how we move through it. We adapt, we slow down, and we learn to respect our limitations. Every careful step becomes a quiet victory. And in those moments, pausing halfway up a stairwell, feeling the weight of these limitations, we realize that gratitude grows where effort exists.

I’m grateful for the strength to still climb, for the balance that still holds, and for the patience I’ve learned along the way, albeit with extreme caution. There may come a day when stairs are no longer possible at all, but until then, each step is both a challenge and a reminder: life, at any age, is still about moving forward…One steady step at a time.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 13, 2015:

The Captain Cook cruise ship, which tours the Fiji Islands, is based in the main island of Viti Levu. For more photos, please click here.