Discover Unique Places

The Alburquerque Balloon Festival 2023 was inspirational with some 500 balloons from all over the world. And the opportunity to experience a solar eclipse. With thousands of people attending over a nine-day period, it was well organized. Parking was surprisingly easy, and the traffic was not as bad as anticipated. Getting up close to the balloons made all the difference. And speaking with the pilots and chase crews offered a learning experience.

Candelario, Spain is nestled in the Castile Mountains about 3 hours driving west of Madrid. The once upon a time village is preserved by time. Its origins are from the Roman era, a place where Christians and Jews once lived together. It was once a village of cattle products, now many are attracted to the quaint picturesque of the town itself. With nearby skiing and hiking trails throughout, its truly a wonderland area to explore and simply enjoy. Time stops in Candelario.

Palacios de Becedas, a village, is located about 2.5 hours west of Madrid, Spain. The village is small, quaint and off a main road. About 8 miles away is a small town, El Barco, next to a river and the town has numerous amenities: stores, restaurants, library, hotels and historic sites such as the Castle. The village is quaint, a walk back into time. Enjoy the local Bar/Restaurant which is family owned and offers excellent food.

El Barco de Avila is located about 100 miles west of Madrid, Spain. It lies within the Sierra de Gredos, mountain range. The Tormes River runs through the small town providing the needed water to sustain life and for recreational purposes. Barco's population is about 3000 yet it is vibrant with a host of bars, restaurants, hotels and shops. Getting to Barco is fairly easy by car or bus from Madrid. Barco is very historic sprouting from the Middle Ages. The Valdecorneja Castle was built at the end of the 15th Century. A Roman Bridge was built in the 14th Century and a church was built in the 13th Century. Every Monday, merchants sell their merchandise in the Town Plaza. This has been going on since the 13th Century.

The walk from Carrion de los Condes to Moratinos on the Camino de Santiago, Spain, was full of experiences. We passed through small villages and met new Pilgrims as well as one's we've met before. It was nice to meet old friends again. This was the last part of our Pilgrimage for this year, 2023. We will pick up where we left off in the future. Meanwhile, the walk is what you make of it, whether it's for recreational, leisure or spiritual reasons. The walk is for you but only you can make the decision to walk, one step at a time.

The walk from Carrion de los Condes to Moratinos on the Camino de Santiago, Spain, was full of experiences. We passed through small villages, a town and met new Pilgrams as well as one's we've met before. It was nice to meet old friends again. This was the last part of our Pilgrimage for this year, 2023. We will pick up where we left off in the future. Meanwhile, the walk is what you make of it, whether it's for recreational, leisure or spiritual reasons. The walk is for you but only you can make the decision to walk, one step at a time.

If you ever have the opportunity to walk the Camino Santiago in Spain, do it! Our walk from Fromista to Carrion de los Condes was full of surprises that made the journey such a Blessing. Meeting people from all over the world is a joy in itself as well as interacting with the Locals, taking in the sights and just absorbing what the Creator has instore for us.

We are walking the Camino de Santiago from Castrojeriz to Fromista. Coming out of Castrojeriz is a long hill climb but once upon the plateau the walking is really nice. We passed through a couple of villages and a 12th Century hospital built to serve the passing pilgrims. Also, there's a canal system that was built in the 1800's for the purpose of transporting goods to various places throughout Spain. Goods would be loaded on a barge, lines were attached to animals on shore, and they would pull the barge through the canal system. When the railroad was introduced, the canal became obsolete. There's about 200 kilometers of this canal system that is primarily used for irrigation purposes today. And should you be interested in a little boat tour, there is a boat in Formista that will cruise the canal for a short distance.

We are on the Camino de Santiago from Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz. Along the "Way" we meet other Pilgrims and some unique places. We pass through the ruins of the 14 Century San Anton Convent. We also pass through different terrains and weather conditions. We are on the Camino at end of June into July 2023. We are walking about 20 to 25 kilometers per day. The weather's been cool in the mornings and hot in the afternoons. The castle in Castrojeriz is amazing, especially the view. After a longs days walk it does take a little effort to reach the castle on top of the nearby hill, but worth the time and effort.

Camino de Santiago, the French Way, is the most popular route of all the Camino Santiago's. The route begins from St. Jean in France and ends in Santiago, Spain. It's a pilgrimage of some 500 miles passing through numerous villages and towns along the way. It typically takes about a month to complete the full journey; however, some break up the journey into various weeks journeys over the years. The people walking the Camino are referred to as Pilgrims, a name used over the centuries. The Pilgrims walk or bicycle the Camino for various reasons, spiritual, rest and relaxation or recreational. It's common for Pilgrims to walk together and share. It's a great place to meet people from all over the world and learn about oneself.

Camino de Santiago, the French Way, is the most popular route of all the Camino Santiago's. The route begins from St. Jean in France and ends in Santiago, Spain. It's a pilgrimage of some 500 miles passing through numerous villages and towns along the way. It typically takes about a month to complete the full journey; however, some break up the journey into various weeks journeys over the years. The people walking the Camino are referred to as Pilgrims, a name used over the centuries. The Pilgrims walk or bicycle the Camino for various reasons, spiritual, rest and relaxation or recreational. It's common for Pilgrims to walk together and share. It's a great place to meet people from all over the world and learn about oneself.

This is the perfect getaway opportunity in the greater Seattle - Tacoma area. Nestled in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, the Sleeping Elk Cabin is the place to stay. Mt. Rainier National Park and Crystal Mountain Ski Area are only 25 minutes away. You will have the chance to explore some of the finest natural areas in the world. And, your cabin experience welcomes nature too. Just outside the fenced area of the cabin, elk forage for food. You'll be memorized by their shear appearance will relaxing in the hot tub, enjoying a barbeque, or simply relaxing in the comforts the Sleeping Elk Cabin has to offer. We found this gem to be simply marvelous and want to share it with you. Check out https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/892239917603617037 for more information and the opportunity to book a stay.

We will cruise by coat along Lake Havasu exploring the shoreline making our way to Copper Canyon. And of course, The London Bridge is a prominent feature to view. Copper Canyon on Lake Havasu is a famous hot spot to anchor your boat and enjoy the surrounding. It can get extremely busy with numerous boats. And there's a notorious cliff jumping spot. Once a copper mining town, steam ships would navigate the Colorado River to transport copper ore to a smelter. Eventually the mining of copper in this area was not cost effective, therefore, the mine was abandoned. When the Parker Dam came into existence, Lake Havasu was created, flooding the area creating Copper Canyon.

Acapulco was once a thriving resort town beginning in the 1950's for the wealthy. Eventually the costs were stabilized allowing for a whole spectrum of people to enjoy the beauty Acapulco has to offer. However, in the 2000's, crime swept in with gang warfare and the kidnapping of tourists. The Mexican Army came in, disarming the corrupt police force and taking control. Gradually the crime went down where now the tourism is on the rise. Take a peek at a place the locals venture off to and check out the Quebrada cliff divers.

Arizona Snowbowl is located on the western slope of Mount Humpherys, the tallest peak in Arizona, just north of Flagstaff, AZ. The base elevation in 9,200 feet with the lifts serving to 11,500 feet. There are 55 runs, the longest is 2 miles. The average snowfall is 260 inches. Season runs from Mid-November to the end of April. Enjoy the warm Phoeniz Valley weather and drive a couple of hours to enjoy some exciting skiing and snowboarding.

Superstition Wilderness Area is located east of Phoeniz in the Tonto National Forest. It was designated as a wilderness area in 1939 and expanded in 1984. Currently there are some 160,200 acres that are composed of a series of trails. The area is rugged and can be extremely harsh if one is not prepared. There can be searing heat, bitter cold and no water. Rumors are still floating about the lost gold mines worth a fortune. Be careful about buying one of the secret maps.

In 1924 Boyce Thompson set aside 400 acres for an arboretum. Over the years it has grown and developed into a milestone. Trails meander throughout the arboretum, with numerous plants and wildlife. It's a beautiful spectacle of nature. Situated in the desert, the arboretum is an oasis in the desert.

The White Tank Mountains in Arizona are in Bloom. There are many wildflowers that bloom at varies times in the desert. The desert is full of life even though the landscape may appear to be dry and barren.

Georgetown is the Capitol of the Grand Cayman Islands. Nestled between Cuba and Jamaica, The Grand Cayman Islands are protected from the Caribbean storms. Still a territory of Britian, the Grand Cayman is independent, somewhat, from Britian. There are over 500 banks on the Island driving the economy with the banking, investments and insurance. The population of the Islands are about 70,000 while the population of Georgetown is about 30,000. The Grand Cayman is a great opportunity for an adventure.

Antigua, Guatemala moved three times until it settled in its existing location. On September 11, 1541 it was destroyed by a volcano, Volcano of Water; named appropriately as the town was destroyed by a fast-moving lahar. The City is surrounded by three volcanoes. In the 1770's, the population was about 60,000. Today the population remains about the same, 60,000. There are many historic buildings throughout the City, most within walking distance from one another. Antigua is known for its coffee and volcanoes.

Going through the Panama Canal aboard a cruise ship. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Canal offers the opportunity to view man's extraordinary feats. Opened in 1914, allowing thousands of vessels to shorten their sea time by going from one ocean to another.

With the warm weather the desert comes to life with wildflowers. Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear, is a perfect place to experience the wildflowers.

The "Scar" is located in the Southeastern White Tank Mountains. It's a 30-foot-wide gash on the mountain that can be seen for miles. It's actually a road that, now provides access to service the antenna farm on top of Barry Goldwater Peak, the ranges highest peak at 4,083 feet. The scar is about a 15% grade, rather steep. It was built by the Caterpillar Tractor Company to test its new machinery during WWII, 1944. In 1990 Caterpillar moved is testing ground to a place near Tucson, AZ. In 1997, Caterpillar partnered with a developer to transform 8,800 acres into the Verrado community. The Scar is still a reminder of when Caterpillars were crawling up the mountain.

Rawhide, now an event center, located in Chandler, Arizona is host of relic buildings. Rawhide got its beginnings from a pioneer in the late 1800's who was traveling through the area on his way to California. His wagon broke down, consequently unable to move, he decided to stay, build a store and serve the other pioneers heading west to California. His nick name was Rawhide Rawley, so the towns name became, Rawhide.

Organ Pipe National Monument is a hidden gem in Arizona. A 21-mile loop gravel road allows you to see the secrets the desert keeps. There are an abundance of animal and plant species that will keep you looking for hours. And if you have time, capture one of Arizona's finest sunsets along your drive. It's highly recommended that you have a high centered vehicle to drive the loop.