Wanderboomer

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

BY Nancy Mueller 7 Comments ON April 30, 2013

Z is for Zihuatanejo Bay!

ZihuatanejoBayRoryFinnerenflickr (450 x 338)

Photo courtesy of Rory Finneren – flickr

To wrap up my participation in the April A – Z Blogging Challenge – and coincidentally the last day of National Poetry Month – I’m ending with three distinct travel destinations:

I.ZihuatanejoBaySunsetRoryFinnerenflickr (450 x 253)

Photo courtesy of Rory Finneren – flickr

Z zips us to Mexico’s tropical coast, Zihuatanejo Bay.
Come play in the surf, eat lobster, too, and practice
your Spanish – olé!

II.ZwingerPalaceTheLastMoorishKingflickr (450 x 338)

Photo courtesy of The Last Moorish King – flickr

The Zwinger Palace in Dresden is
capped by an onion-shaped crown.
With its beautiful setting and showcase for art
it’s a major landmark in town.

III.ZigZagRailwayBotheredbyBeesflickr (450 x 322)

Photo courtesy of BotheredByBees – flicker

Follow the Z in a series of switchbacks, dated 1869.
On Australia’s Zig-Zag Railway, we’ve come . . .
to . . . the . . . end . . . of . . . the . . . line.

 

Thank you for joining our A – Z journey!

But of course, dear Reader, we haven’t seen all.

So pack your bags and a sense of adventure –

there’s so much more to explore.

The whole wide world is waiting,

just as soon as you open your door.

Where are you headed next in your travels, wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Activities, Australia, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Mexico, Travel Experiences Tagged With: A - Z Blogging Challenge, Australia, Dresden, Mexico, National Poetry Month, Spanish, Zig Zag Railway, Zihuatanejo Bay, Zwinger Palace

BY Nancy Mueller 6 Comments ON April 4, 2013

D is for El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

DayoftheDeadcarmichaellibraryFlickr (450 x 338)

Photo courtesy of carmichael library – flickr

One of the many cultural holidays that I have yet to experience firsthand is Mexico’s El Dia de los Muertos. Celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd, the holiday brings family and friends together to remember, honor and pray for the deceased.

DayoftheDeadElaphurusFlickr (338 x 450)

Photo courtesy of Elaphurus – flickr

Though the holiday begins at midnight on Oct. 31st, the Mexican celebration differs from Halloween in the United States where skulls and skeletons traditionally frighten people away. Instead, hoping to attract the spirits of the dead, celebrants of El Dia de los Muertos decorate altars, sugared skulls and skeletons.

DayoftheDeadminicooper93402Flickr (300 x 450)

Photo courtesy of minicooper93402 – flickr

Other activities include joining in candlelight processions, and carrying photos of loved ones and food and flowers for the deceased on visits to cemeteries. While the practice may seem somewhat macabre to the uninitiated, the mood appears festive rather than somber. Music, dancing and sharing traditional Mexican foods like pan de muerto (bread of the dead) are all part of the ritual.

What about you, wanderboomers? Have you experienced this traditional Mexican holiday?

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Holidays, Mexico Tagged With: Day of the Dead, El Dia de los Muertos, Mexican tradition, Mexico

BY Nancy Mueller 8 Comments ON August 31, 2011

Who Was That Unmasked Man?

What is it about a man in uniform? Or the sighting of a famous actor that turns otherwise sensible movie-lovers into mush?

“Did you see him?” asks my guide, Giovanna.

“See who?” I wonder.

“Well, you know, I was having breakfast in the dining room. At first I wasn’t sure it was him. So I asked my friend who it was. He told me the man was supposed to be a famous actor but he didn’t know who. But when he told me his first name, I knew it must be him.”

“And you didn’t come to get me!?” Hmm . . . Maybe that explains the strange dreams I had last night.

I’m staying at Hacienda Cusin, a beautifully restored country estate in the northern Andes. Just the name hacienda stirs up romantic fantasies. Am I the only one who remembers (sing along with me here): “Out of the night, when the full moon is bright . . . ?” But I’m pretty sure there have been no reported sightings of Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro, in this country. Spain, Mexico and California, yes. In Ecuador? Not likely.

But an unmasked actor? You never know.

My visit to Hacienda Cusin comes at the recommendation of friends who dream of returning here for a week without the kids (not that they didn’t have a wonderful time here with the kids). With one panoramic glance, I can understand why.

After clattering across cobblestones, our car comes to rest in an intimate, lushly landscaped courtyard. Inside nearby scattered cottages, the first evening lights begin to flicker, creating a warm and welcoming way station for any wandering travelers off the beaten path.

Historically, these large estates were working ranches deeded to well-connected families during Spain’s colonization. The properties have long since been divided and sold off, leaving the main house and smaller buildings as lodging for travelers. Walking into my cottage room is like stepping into a time capsule. With its beamed ceilings, antique furnishings and kiva fireplace, the setting is stunning. A vase of ever-present Ecuadorian roses, colorful paintings and bed coverings complete the tableau.

The dining room is cozy and equally lovely. I overhear guests planning their next day activities, including horseback riding, Spanish classes and tour of a craft village nearby. While I love the traditional Ecuadorian meal of pork, potato cake, fried bananas and corn, my favorite meal is breakfast for its abundant fruit juices, jams and breads.

In the morning I stroll through the gardens on my way to the Establos (stables) and Monasterio (monastery) before our departure. The area is so peaceful and lovely, so restorative, that I leave with much less baggage than I had brought with me. It’s hard to ask more of my hosts than that, except maybe an introduction to that famous actor.

So who was that unmasked man? Well, even famous actors need somewhere to unwind without worrying about being recognized. And I never really saw him myself. Perhaps it’s best to leave our story with a bit of mystery and a place where our imaginations can play.

* Zorro photo courtesy of Flickr – PopCultureGeek.com

* Z photo courtesy of Flickr – LosAnheles

Next Up: The Galapagos Islands!

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Destinations Tagged With: actor, Andes, antique furnishings, beamed ceilings, California, cobblestones, cottages, Ecuador, establos, estates, famous actor, fantasies, Guy Williams, Hacienda, Hacienda Cusin, horseback riding, imagination, kids, kiva fireplace, Mexico, monasterio, monastery, mystery, off the beaten path, ranches, romance, roses, Spain, Spanish, Spanish colonization, stables, tour, Zorro, Zorro song

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
For travel tips, news & inspiration in our Wanderboomer newsletter, subscribe here.

Destination:

  • North America
  • South America
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Australia
  • Africa

Categories:

  • Business
  • Family
  • Purpose
  • Writing

© 2023 · Wanderboomer. Terms and Conditons | Sitemap | Contact · Site by Wordpress Barista