Category: Travel
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Tonga Through A Visitor’s Eyes
We arrived in Tonga thinking we knew what island life would feel like. I imagined beaches, palm trees, and an easy vacation rhythm. What I didn’t expect was how quietly Tonga would change the way I think about time, people, and what truly matters. The first thing I noticed was the pace. Things don’t always…
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Marble & Myth in the Borghese Gallery
July 31, 2025 Borghese Gallery, in the north of Rome.A former vineyard and Cardinal’s home.The Borghese dynasty, power and wealth bestowing. Buzzing cicadas dominate our garden walk.Dodging bicycles and scooters as we talk,as we make our way to the famous museum. Marcus Curtius leaping into a gaping hole.In Roman myth, Curtius saved their souls.Courageous man…
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Sagrada Familia
In 2018, I went on a training tour to Madrid, Spain. The most stunning attraction I saw was the Sagrada Familia. The basilica tour was planned for later in the afternoon when the light could best be seen streaming through the stained glass windows. The soaring towers, which represent the twelve apostles, the Virgin Mary,…
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From Wondering to Writing
What do you wonder about? Spend ten minutes making a list. It can be anything from Komodo dragons, to how babies learn, to what happens in our brains when we cry. Anything you’ve ever wondered about. Because wondering can be the best beginning for writing. (This was a writing prompt from Teacher Write). These are…
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Michelangelo
I am really excited to be traveling to Italy next week with my youngest daughter. The last time I was in Italy was in 2018. For this trip, we start in Venice, then Florence, Rome, and Sorrento. I have not seen the David by Michelangelo since I was 19, though. So, I am looking forward…
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What Is Your Earliest Disney Memory?
Entering Main Street USA in Disneyland is magical! The smells, the music, the Dapper Dans, the firetruck, the parades, and the fireworks are what I looked forward to when I was little. It is like stepping into an early 20th-century small town in America. Based on Walt Disney’s childhood town, Marceline, Missouri, Main Street USA…
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One of The Seven Tangible Wonders
I don’t know if there are tangible wonders, but I am naming the Book of Kells as one of them. I went to Ireland a few years ago (2019), and one of the places we visited was Trinity College, where we saw the Book of Kells. Entering a dimly lit room, the 1,200-year-old book is…
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The Tongan Way
Tongan customs, or angafakatonga, are an important part of Tongan identity: all of their values, practices, beliefs, and behaviors. Their angafakatonga can also be found through their connections to the Christian church and family, and both are of the highest importance. Tongans love to share their family tree. One of the first things many Tongans…
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The Beauty of Haleakala- House of The Sun
Some people prefer to avoid the drive as there are switchbacks, and it takes quite a while to get to the top. But I loved it. I like driving anyway, so the views, the clouds, and the mountain were stunning and remarkable. At the top, I was truly above the clouds! It was a little…
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One of The Oldest Foods On The Earth
I enjoy researching unique things about life in Tonga, and the other day, I came across an article about seafood, limu in Tongan. Known as one of the oldest foods on the earth, and touted as a superfood, limu is becoming more popular. I purchased some through Amazon to add to shakes; I am trying…