Those close to me know I am a value-minded person. I kept thinking about my expensive asparagus purchase yesterday and something kept gnawing at me. I finally pulled current exchange rates. I did not pay $8 for 8 stalks; I paid $11.02 for that asparagus. I wouldn't knowingly do that in a million years but I think I was dazzled by the sight of fresh, first-of-the-season, asparagus and I lost control. Plus that savvy vendor is probably well-seasoned in sizin...

Stockholm - April 8-9, 2017 We had time to take one last outing before leaving Helsinki yesterday because our flight to Stockholm was not until 2:15 pm. Instead, we packed, tidied-up the cute tiny house and simply took it easy. My cold has reached the raging stage. I truly have the suds. Hopefully yesterday's rest will help me kick this thing soon, and I pray Stan does not get it. Arlanda Airport is located far outside Stockholm. There are two ways t...

It's a sad day for us. We just learned about the USA air strikes on the Syrian airstrips. While this may indeed be the right course of action for us, the USA, it is sad to me that it is necessary. It is also concerns me about how other countries will respond. My heart absolutely breaks for those who died in their own country as a result of the chemical attack at the hand of their fellow countrymen. This kind of hideous, heartless brutality must cease, and...

Once travelers enter the European Union, airline passengers flying from country to country are not required to go through customs unless there is something to declare. Although this certainly simplifies arrival at a new location it is somewhat disappointing that we are not collecting the cool stamps in our passports from each country we visit. We have not had to show a passport since Amsterdam. We arrived at Helsinki at 16:40 and were directed to exit B2 to ...

We usually begin to get the real feel of the local transportation system on our third day in any given city. Instead of fumbling around figuring where to go and how to get there, by this time we walk into stations like locals (Ha! We wish!), find the right tracks and hop on the correct train -- going in the right direction, hopefully. By this time, we start to feel pretty confident and then, boom! We change cities! We knew exactly what we wanted to do tod...