Barry's Adventures Following Retirement
This blog is about my experiences after retirement and other travels
I am a very discerning eater as many will tell you. As you may know, my ancestors have descended from nobility where they roamed the hills on the Iberian Peninsula and flourished by foraging for their (and my) favorite foods.
To this day our feasts include rare delights and delicacies appropriate for our station in life. This is my story about my family’s life in central Spain near La Alberca.
In a few days I will have an anniversary marking three years since I began my European adventures. When I began my exploration I also started to create my blog. I think of my blog not only as a journal of my discoveries but also as a place to remember the stories I have heard, the people I have met, and the cultural differences which I have encountered.
I maintain my blog for myself so I can enjoy reliving memories from the many places I have visited. However, I have shared my blog with everyone and I can’t help but notice that people in 61 countries have read at least one of the 75 stories I have written. I hope that you, my readers, enjoy the glimpse into my life and my explorations.
This story is different from others I have written. I always try to add several photos into my stories to help bring memories alive. I have also noticed that I have a significant collection of photos from the past three years that have not been posted. So, this story is all about the faces I have encountered over the past three years.
When I was in high school I was fascinated by “ancient” history. At the time, my classes were focused on numerous facts about people who were difficult to relate to such as Athenians, Romans, Trojans, Carthaginians, and others. But even though I was fascinated, ancient history really didn’t come “alive.” In fact, in the larger scheme of things, history 2000 years ago really isn’t that “ancient” considering the age of mankind.
However, in my recent explorations history has come alive as I have explored remains of once-great civilizations. Such it was a few months ago when I made a journey to Pula in Croatia.
Continue reading “Ancient Roman Encounters in Pula, Croatia”
Dragons, along with St. George slaying them, are a common theme for statues in the Central European countries I have visited. I have previously written about my observations in “Slaying Dragons in Zagreb” and I have discovered additional fierce dragon statues in Austria and Romania. So, I wasn’t particularly surprised to find dragon images in Ljubljana, Slovenia. However, what surprised me was the extent of the emphasis on dragons and the absence of George.
A few days ago I returned to Ljubljana, Slovenia from a visit to the USA and my hometown, Somerset in Pennsylvania. Although several meaningful things happened during this journey, my adventures to Somerset were nostalgic and I easily lost track of time.
I am presently helping with the planning for a reunion weekend of my high school class. This event is a special one as it marks the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation. Even though my travel involves quite a distance traversing six time zones, it is worth it to me to contribute to the event and help make it memorable. Meanwhile, my journey reminds me of the time growing from childhood into being the person I am today.
Continue reading “My Visit Home – Somerset, Pennsylvania USA”
My plan to visit Piran was by chance and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful and exciting locations I have explored. My tastes in places to explore are not limited to historical sites like those found in Rome, the party locations like Barcelona, or the postcard cities like Paris or Budapest.
It isn’t that I dislike these places, but rather that I tend to enjoy places that are sometimes considered to be off the beaten trail where one can enjoy natural and man-made beauty in harmony together. These become some of my favorite spots. Such is what I found in Piran, Slovenia.
I bet your imagination wandered when you read the story title! You probably thought to yourself about what spot I am referring to! After all, I have been known to ask similar questions in my blog stories like “Are You Regular?” and also to get a bit provocative as in “Nude in the Sauna.” But this story isn’t like that. However, I hope the title captured your attention so you read on!
By chance one day in 1833 France Prešeren and Julija Primic met at church. France, who led a fairly unhappy life, was infatuated with her and quickly knew that he loved this young, female vision.
France thought he would surely win Julija’s love. But her feelings and his were not mutual. There were complications including their economic status… he was a modest poet and aspiring lawyer and Julija’s family was wealthy. Even more problematic was that he was 33 and she 16.
Continue reading “An Unfulfilled Love in Ljubljana, Slovenia”
My blog exploration adventures are presently followed by people in 56 countries. During the past two and a half years, my regular readers know that I like to write about interesting aspects of my life during my travels. Sometimes my topics get a bit personal. Even though I have readers, I remind myself that I write this blog for myself and I try hard to not offend anyone.
In past stories I have reflected on the effects of apricots in “Are You Regular?” and the potency of wines while lamenting in “One Too Many.” In the spirit of the song “Dance to the Music,” I present my story, “Peeing to Sounds of The Blue Danube Waltz.”
Continue reading “Peeing to Sounds of The Blue Danube Waltz”
How do I write a story with a theme that is intensely horrific? How can I grapple with remnants of history and do it in a way that makes sense of an extremely painful period of human existence?
How can I write a story with full knowledge that it will be incomplete, inadequate, and certainly more deserving than the feeble words I present?
It is with these questions that I write a story that I have avoided for two years even though I knew I wanted to write it. This story is about my exploration of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria and Vienna’s “Nameless Library” Memorial to its 65,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
Continue reading “Holocaust Remembered at Mauthausen and in Vienna”
Barry's Adventures Following Retirement 