We have some unfinished business, Barcelona and I. We met seven years ago, not under the best of circumstances. Herb and I had been traveling on a one-week Mediterranean cruise that disembarked in the Catalonian capital. On the last day of the voyage, while walking through the lovely cobblestone streets of Aix en Provence, France, … Read More
Notes from Home
Notes from Home: Extraordinary People
We were traveling to Rochester, Minnesota, to celebrate their 75th anniversary. No, that is not a typo. Lyle and Betty have been married for a remarkable three-quarters of a century. Before the trip, I stopped at our local card shop to pick up a 75th anniversary card, only to realize the foolishness of my thought. … Read More
Notes from Home: A Dog’s Love & Letting Go
Many years ago when we lived in the Bay Area, we were invited to a party hosted by someone I didn’t know. The man who greeted us at the door stood next to a large friendly dog and immediately introduced us to his canine friend. “You know that one dog who is more special than … Read More
Notes from Home: On Girlfriends, Gratitude & Growing Up
“My mom asked that I send you a little something from her home,” my friend Mary had emailed late last summer. “You will get a good smile out of it.” Mary’s mother Helen was one of the neighborhood moms I grew up with in St. Paul, Minnesota, a tight-knit cadre of women who watched over … Read More
Notes from Home: Ideas for Organizing Travel Gear
“Oh! What a tangled web we weave…” Sir Walter Scott, Marmion When our family first began traveling, organizing our gear was not much of a concern. One camera, one video camera, extra film and an 8mm cassette tape – and we were good to go. But as technology inched its way onto the travel scene, … Read More
Notes from Home: Travel Lessons from a Long-Ago Honeymoon
“One’s mind stretched to a new idea can never go back to its original dimensions.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. The hope and excitement in her eyes make me smile in the deepest of places. After weeks of pouring over the seemingly infinite details that come with planning a wedding, our daughter Emily is telling me … Read More
Notes from Home: Exploring a City With a Clever Smartphone App
I first discovered scavengerhunt.com in one of those heading-down-the-rabbit-hole research moments of travel planning. A modern take on the traditional scavenger hunt game – minus the knocking on doors and asking for random items – it intrigued me as an interesting idea for travelers visiting unfamiliar places as well as a fun activity close to … Read More
Notes from Home: Introducing…The Travel Resources Page!
I’m excited to introduce a new page on The Modern Postcard! For quite some time, I’ve been wanting to pull together my favorite travel resources in one convenient spot. My plan has been to create a central clearinghouse of starting points and ideas that have served me well. The page would feature strategies I’ve discovered … Read More
Notes from Home: On the Kindness of Strangers
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou We had just checked our suitcases for the flight home from Auckland and were heading upstairs to Security when we noticed the sign. Next to a bin for … Read More
Notes from Home: On Counting Continents & The Next Adventure
“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.” ~Joseph Campbell I’ve never been a numbers kind of traveler. Goals of setting foot in all fifty U.S. states or ticking off visits to every country in Europe just haven’t been on my radar. Instead, my … Read More