Author Archives: walkingward3

November 23, 2023 Kohimarama, commonly known simply as Kohi (pronounced koey) is a coastal residential suburb of about 4,400 residents that centers around a beautiful beach and a large park. In maori, Kohimarama, apparently refers to the gathering of the scattered wood chips that are left from the carving of waka (canoes). After a deliciousContinue reading “Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand”

November 16, 2023 On a beautiful point overlooking Narrow Neck Beach on Auckland’s north shore, we visited a large sculpture show, raising funds for Women’s Refuge. With over 130 works by 100 artists, it was a spectacular show to visit on a beautiful sunny day. Here are some of the stunning works. The most powerfulContinue reading “Narrow Neck, Auckland, New Zealand”

November 7, 2023 In September of 1967, Mal and his family took The Queen Mary across the Atlantic from New York City to Southampton, England, on one of the iconic ship’s final voyages. Soon after, it was retired from service and entered into its new life as a hotel in Long Beach, California. Fifty sixContinue reading “The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, USA”

November 6, 2023 About an hour’s drive down the coast from LA is scenic Laguna Beach. We made the drive down to meet Lauren’s old school friend Lisa and her husband Dave. After a beautiful lunch at Las Brisas restaurant, sitting high on a point overlooking the beach, we went for a stroll along theContinue reading “Laguna Beach, California, USA”

October 28, 2023 Named after Griffith J. Griffith (cool name), who donated the over three thousand acres on which it sits, the Griffith Observatory is the place to go for extensive views of Los Angeles and the nearby Hollywood hills. Opened in 1935, it is a beautiful deco style building that has featured in numerousContinue reading “Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California, USA”

October 27, 2023 Silver Lake is a hip suburb in Los Angeles. It is east of Hollywood and straddles across Sunset Boulevard. Our son, Ben, recently purchased a property there. On yet another sunny LA day, we headed out to explore the neighborhood. It was quite a strenuous walk as it is very hilly inContinue reading “Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA”

October 25, 2023 Our son, Jake, and daughter-in-law, Kylie, recently purchased their first home. It is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival house in the California Heights historic district that was developed in the late 1920s. Jake and Kylie took us for a tour through the neighborhood. Here are some of the houses we passed, startingContinue reading “California Heights and Los Cerritos, Long Beach, California, USA”

October 23, 2022 In the center of Los Angeles, next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) are the La Brea Tar Pits, an active paleontological research site. Over many centuries, animals ventured into the pits and became stuck and their bones have been preserved. There is now a museum on the siteContinue reading “La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, California, USA”

September 5, 2023 Outside Charlottesville, high up on a hill, is Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. The name derives from Italian, meaning “little mountain”. Originally, the property consisted of a 5,000 acre plantation growing tobacco and labored on by slaves. Jefferson designed the home at the age of 26 and the similarities with the University ofContinue reading “Monticello, Virginia, USA”

September 4, 2023 On a scorching hot Labor Day, we found ourselves In Charlottesville, Virginia, home of the University of Virginia, commonly known as UVA. We headed down to the pedestrian mall, in the historic part of town. But with most places closed due to the holiday and temperatures soaring into the high nineties thereContinue reading “Charlottesville, Virginia, USA”