June 8, 2025 Greetings! I’m coming to you from home for a change, where the lilacs are out and the weather is great…when it’s not bucketing down with rain, that is. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. Lilacs in Riga Whatever the weather, it is great to be back in Riga, particularly with the big news that Latvia has become a member the United Nations Security Council for 2026-2027. Here’s the official announcement, which outlines Latvia’s...
25 days ago • 15 min read
May 25, 2025 Greetings! I hope this finds you very well, and if you are in the Northern Hemisphere that you are enjoying a lovely late springtime/early summer. I’ve been felled by a rather insidious cold I picked up on the ship (along with everyone else) and so was frustrated in my ambitions to see all kinds of exhibits and do all kinds of New York things before sailing on Friday. Instead, I holed up in my cousin Mark’s apartment and relished some truly amazing takeaway, which is one of the...
about 1 month ago • 11 min read
May 11, 2025 Greetings from Glacier Bay, Alaska! A very happy Mother’s Day to all celebrating today! I’m very grateful to be spending this Mother’s Day with my mom, on Seabourn Quest. My only concern is how to get her off the ship when we arrive in Vancouver: she's had a wonderful cruise, made lots of friends, and sampled each of Seabourn's signature souffles. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. Our six-day voyage across the Pacific to...
about 2 months ago • 15 min read
April 27, 2025 Greetings! Hello from the Pacific Ocean on a hazy sea day as we make our way from Kagoshima to Shimizu, Japan. We’ve been in southern Japan, primarily in the Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami Islands, enjoying tropical weather and all kinds of sights and sounds and good things to eat! I loved visiting the colorful Makishi Market in Naha — so many colors, textures, noises, and smells! Green garlic was in season and I really enjoyed all of the ways they parlayed this into...
2 months ago • 11 min read
13 April 2025 Greetings from Japan! I am writing this on the bullet train to Tokyo, after a splendid 5-day stay in Kyoto. We were lucky enough to hit the city at peak Cherry Blossom season, and Kyoto was a riot of every shade of pink, from almost white to vibrant rose and everything in between! How fortunate to explore the city decked out in its finest! Cherry Blossom Season in Kyoto As you read this, my mother Frances, and I are boarding Seabourn Quest for our cruise around Japan and on to...
3 months ago • 15 min read
March 23, 2025 Greetings from Riga! I hope this finds you very well today! As I finish up this newsletter on Saturday evening, I’m basking in the glow of a long walk on the seashore in lovely Jūrmala, which is just a 10-minute drive from Riga. This is such a great luxury to be so close to one of the longer, sandy beaches in this part of Europe, which is kept free of almost all commercial activity, making it a wonderful unencumbered space for families to take long walks, play in the sand, and,...
3 months ago • 13 min read
March 2, 2025 Greetings! I hope this finds you well! I’m coming to you today from home for a change, in lovely Riga, where yesterday we celebrated the first day of spring. Although there was a hint of something spring-like in the air, it was still grey, chilly, and rather foggy. There is no better antidote to this than a trip to Riga Central Market. I’ve been working through several annual medical things, and happily, my clinic is right across the street from the market, via an underpass...
4 months ago • 13 min read
February 16, 2025 Greetings! Our three-month journey has ended, and we are delighted to be back in Riga, and are trying to remember to put socks on each morning! It is lovely to be home after so many weeks in transit! I’m headed into the kitchen today to perfect my recipe for Norwegian Fish Soup, which will necessitate a trip to the Central Market (yeah!) for some very fresh salmon, which is the key ingredient! Our three-week voyage on the Queen Mary 2 was a delight, and I plan to write more...
5 months ago • 10 min read
Date: February 2, 2025 Greetings! Hello from the stunning island of Dominica, a volcanic island in the Lesser Antilles, and the scene of some truly stunning rainforests and waterfalls. Sadly, the island was badly damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017, and still getting back on its feet in terms of infrastructure. This island is the perfect stop for a day’s exploration, with plenty of opportunity to wander around and enjoy the amazing natural beauty. We have been on the Queen Mary 2 for about a...
5 months ago • 14 min read