London, August 2019

And More Moscow, August 2019

. The entrance to the restroom. Pelmeni!

January 9, 2013 Arriving in a city under cover of darkness is always fascinating. The city is planning a surprise party. I arrived in Tehran at night, or rather, the very early morning, to barely glimpse a city that looked abandoned. Quiet, peaceful. I arrived last night in Addis Ababa at nearly midnight to find a city still well populated. Merchants closing down shops, taxi drivers parked and gossiping, people everywhere. I can see nothing of the city beyond the hotel's front door - I keep thinking that when I will wake up, when the sun comes up, I will get to see where I am. What I can do now is hear it. The night is full of dogs barking, horns honking, life. The morning will bring with it not only a view of the city, but birds singing, construction beginning, and loud lobby music piped into the hotel. A different kind of life. At the airport an employee strikes up a conversation with me, asking me where I am from, what do I do? I tell him, American. His face lights up, the

"Purple Poncho Picchu" Peru; February 9, 2017

It is Machu Picchu day. How does one get to Machu Picchu? It has certainly evolved since Hiram Bingham's day, thank god. In my case it involved a bus, a train, another bus, a hike, and another bus...and lots of rain. Or, as the guide chose to call it "holy water." I would end up in a plastic purple poncho (say that three times fast), feeling very blessed indeed. The train from Ollantaytambo was quite elegant, with comfy seats and big windows everywhere. Coffee and tea are served, along with a snack. The views are lovely, with river and mountains racing by. Aguas Calientes or "Machu Picchu town" welcomes the train travelers with a light sprinkling "holy water." Bags are quickly dropped at the hotel, and then it is time to take the bus up the hill to the site itself. Half of the bus is pre-ponchoed, which makes for a slightly damp, hot house effect with a lot of plastic rustling. Others are winging it, hoping for the best in their fleece or jeans.

Jill Will Go...

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