Travel Log

These photos, except for Botticelli’s “Three Graces,” which adorns an inside page of my third novel, were taken on a trip to Mexico in 2004. I do not like having my picture taken, so these are the rare and odd photos of me that I could find. The city, where we stayed for two weeks, is San Miguel de Allende, about four hours north of Mexico City by auto. I had rented via the Internet a house for our party. I did not realize until seeing our digs, I had rented a splendid mansion with ornate tile work and twenty-foot high vaulted ceilings. The house was without compare in the rest of city. The cost: about $400 per week. The two story home was a veritable museum of artifacts from where the owners had visited and lived. I saw a bullfight in San Miguel de Allende. It was not so bloody an affair, but definitely not one for animal rights advocates, bull lovers, or the overly squeamish. The exchange rate was over one hundred pesos to the dollar, and we had brought plenty of cash. The shopping was exquisite. Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Belize round out my trips to Latin America. My Spanish is perpetually rusty, but it comes back quickly upon immersion in Latin culture.

In Asia, I lived in Japan, more specifically Yokuska, Japan. My father was a naval captain and doctor for a time. We went all over the major islands. My favorite place was a little town called Moshico, famous now for its glazed pottery. I stayed for a short time in Guam and the Philippines as well.

Europe is my most recent discovery. My first trip I spent twelve days in Paris. I traveled with my father, who had a minor stroke the first night we landed. He needed to remain in the hotel and recoup, so I set out to explore on my own. The highlight of the trip, other than seeing my father home safely, was definitely the Louvre. Great museums take my breath away. There were vacations to Copenhagen and Kiev in addition. Other than the Bahamas, Canada, Okinawa, and four trips to Hawaii, I think that is the extent of my journeys. At home, my best memories are of New York and Savannah.

I try to wander every year or so. It is good for the soul. I some times enjoy a lack of familiarity with my surroundings. Getting lost in a foreign country is exhilarating. Everyone should be so lucky. Next trip: New Zealand. Hopefully.