2nd Life Travel

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2nd Life Travel I lost my travel buddy of 35 years to cancer in March 2015. I set up this travel site to help others who also might be longing to travel. Really? That's me! Wow!

I can't remember a time when I didn't want to travel. In 1972 when I was a Sophomore at Bourgade Catholic Central high School in Phoenix, Arizona, I decided that I needed to act on my dreams. I traveled to Mexico City as an exchange student for two months. I was immersed into the culture with very little knowledge of the language. I quickly picked it up and soaked up the culture, fell in love with

the food and the people. I returned to high school and suffered through the boring Spanish class that really taught me nothing about culture or language. Two years later I graduated from high school enrolled at Arizona University and left after one semester. Classroom learning was not in my immediate plans at that time. I returned to Mexico City to live with the same host family. After two months I decided that I wanted to live on my own and get a job. I was only 18 and living in a huge city and not able to communicate very well with those around me. I picked up an English newspaper , looked very carefully through the classified ads and found the job just for me. Needed: A native English speaker to teach business English. No experience necessary. I said to myself. I found the school and walked into the office and announced that I was a native English speaker with no experience. They told me to fill out the form and the next day I had a job. That was the beginning of a forty-two year career of teaching English as a Second Language. My life in Mexico was an adventure and a jumping off point for what was to come. I was eventually told to leave Mexico because I had become an illegal immigrant unless I got married. That was not going to happen. A friend and fellow teacher of mine drove me across the border of Mexico and smuggled me back into Arizona. That move saved me a lot of money. My next adventure was to complete the necessary credits that would grant me a degree in teaching English as a Second Language. I landed in Cedar Falls, Iowa and began my studies. Life was not easy because I was paying for my own education. I worked part time on campus and had some money saved in the bank. I met my husband in less than 8 months at the University of Northern Iowa. His English was minimal, but his smile was big. He was from Japan and I couldn't speak Japanese. It was a very interesting courtship which lasted about five months before we tied the knot. He was then assigned to return to Japan. That was adventure 2. He returned to Japan ahead of me because he had to warn his parents about the American wife he had just married. I arrived alone on a very dark night with so many different smells, sights, and sounds that I soon became accustomed to. We traveled for almost two hours by train to reach our destination, Toyohashi, Japan. We spent five years in Japan. My husband was transferred to Battle Creek, Michigan to help open up a factory which would produce air conditioners and heaters for Toyota. That was adventure 3. We lived in Michigan for 27 years. Michigan was where we raised our family, worked, and made many friends. The only downfall for me was that is was too cold and I hated the snow. I applied for a job in 2010 at Arizona State University. That was adventure 4. I have worked at ASU for almost six years and will retire in December 2016. I am now ready for adventures 5, 6,7,8, etc. I am taking both writing and photography classes to help me share my stories with others. An adventure is often better when you can share. I want to share with all of you and hope that maybe you can join me someday.

So true
19/03/2023

So true

I know the feeling
19/03/2023

I know the feeling

Every. Single. Day.

03/08/2022

This should put a smile on your face.

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with the...
20/01/2022

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain My friend Ruth Ann and I are still friends. We were together for fifteen days in Barcelona and never left each other's side. There are changes I will make the next time I travel with a friend....

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2022/01/20/lessons-i-learned-traveling-with-a-friend-for-fourteen-days-in-barcelona-spain/

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain My friend Ruth Ann and I are still friends. We were together

The windiest road, Coronado Highway, aka Devel's Highway (666), is Arizona's windiest road. When you look it up online, ...
20/10/2021

The windiest road, Coronado Highway, aka Devel's Highway (666), is Arizona's windiest road. When you look it up online, you will find that it has over 460 curves, and if you fear not knowing what you will find around the next curve, you should take another road. My sense of direction is that of a first-grader. I don't know which is East or West....

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/10/20/finding-the-windiest-road-in-arizona/

The windiest road, Coronado Highway, aka Devel’s Highway (666), is Arizona’s windiest road. When you look it up online, you will find that it has over 460 curves, and if you fear not knowing what you will find around the

These wonderful ladies attended the first Women Writers' Workshop in Prescott, Az. They learned how to throw out adverbs...
17/10/2021

These wonderful ladies attended the first Women Writers' Workshop in Prescott, Az. They learned how to throw out adverbs and expand on their senses of smell, hear, taste, and sight. We ate at Farm Provisions for lunch and Carmella's for dinner. Some of us took the Ghost Tours with the Prescott Trolly Service. We are now looking for our next Arizona writing adventure for 2022. Come join us.

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/10/17/women-writers-workshop/

These wonderful ladies attended the first Women Writers’ Workshop in Prescott, Az. They learned how to throw out adverbs and expand on their senses of smell, hear, taste, and sight. We ate at Farm Provisions for lunch and Carmella’s for

Travel with a conscience.
30/09/2021

Travel with a conscience.

Pre-pandemic, we were flooding the world and wrecking it. As we start to travel again, we need to be more mindful of our impact.

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can in...
17/09/2021

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends." – Maya Angelou. “You must be rich to travel .” says an acquaintance who walks her dog at the park. “No, I am not rich.” I reply…...

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/09/17/you-dont-have-to-be-rich-to-travel-9-tips-for-diy-travel-planning-retirees/

    “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou.

The Slurping Turtle is a ramen restaurant in Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. I am not a ramen fan, but I couldn't ...
11/09/2021

The Slurping Turtle is a ramen restaurant in Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. I am not a ramen fan, but I couldn't resist the suggestion by my daughter and her friends to indulge in the seven choices of ramen and seventeen toppings. The spicy miso tonkatsu with chicken, spicy pork miso, buttered corn, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, scallions, chili oil caught my eye....

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/09/11/the-life-of-a-slurping-turtle/

The Slurping Turtle is a ramen restaurant in Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. I am not a ramen fan, but I couldn’t resist the suggestion by my daughter and her friends to indulge in the seven choices of ramen

How many of these places have you been to? Do you seek out the small unknown places or follow the crowds ?
02/09/2021

How many of these places have you been to? Do you seek out the small unknown places or follow the crowds ?

Do you have one to add?

I wish I could be a male when I travel. I am sixty-five years old and travel solo. These are my personal experiences and...
29/08/2021

I wish I could be a male when I travel. I am sixty-five years old and travel solo. These are my personal experiences and might not apply to all female solo travelers. If I were a male: I could walk into a bar anywhere in the world, sit down, order a drink, and strike up a conversation with others around me....

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/08/29/i-wish-i-could-be-a-male-when-i-travel/

  I wish I could be a male when I travel. I am sixty-five years old and travel solo. These are my personal experiences and might not apply to all female solo travelers. If I were a male: I could

Check out these friendly places.
26/08/2021

Check out these friendly places.

The places that stayed with you in a year when travel may have been out of reach.

Do you want to stay at a farm or ranch for your next vacation? Check these out. If you know of other places, please post...
22/08/2021

Do you want to stay at a farm or ranch for your next vacation? Check these out. If you know of other places, please post them in the comment section.

From forest foraging to garden-fueled dinners, these properties encourage guests to look beyond their plates — and better understand where their meals come from.

A smuggler's tale.
22/08/2021

A smuggler's tale.

Staying in a house with a colourful history, our writer enjoys a sunny week of cycling, markets and festivals in two countries

Not sure of what kind of mask to wear when traveling? Check this out.
22/08/2021

Not sure of what kind of mask to wear when traveling? Check this out.

Not every airline allows every kind of mask.

Barcelona. My next destination.
15/08/2021

Barcelona. My next destination.

Join us in Spain! Barcelona’s world-renowned architecture, artistic heritage and lauded cuisine make the city a traveler’s delight. This seven-night journey ...

Are you going to Sicily and have a lot of money to spend? Read this.
13/08/2021

Are you going to Sicily and have a lot of money to spend? Read this.

The chef behind London hotspot Norma and author of a new cookbook inspired by his travels, Ben Tish picks his favourite Sicilian hangouts

This is not your childhood treehouse.
13/08/2021

This is not your childhood treehouse.

Modern treehouses are in demand by travelers who want a five-star, outdoor experience with a dose of childhood nostalgia.

I can't wait to get on board.
13/08/2021

I can't wait to get on board.

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway reopens after a three-year, $100-million refurbishment and building of LEED-certified visitors’ center, the highest in the world.

Four of us are walking the Camino de Santiago, the Portuguese Way, in March. The group we hooked up with gave us a reaso...
11/08/2021

Four of us are walking the Camino de Santiago, the Portuguese Way, in March. The group we hooked up with gave us a reasonable price which includes hotel accommodations, breakfast every day, two dinners, and transportation of our luggage to the next town. That's it. The rest is up to us. There is no guide. We are walking. I contacted the same unnamed company for a solo hike I wanted to take in December....

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/08/11/7-reasons-not-to-book-a-packaged-tour-if-you-are-traveling-solo/

Four of us are walking the Camino de Santiago, the Portuguese Way, in March. The group we hooked up with gave us a reasonable price which includes hotel accommodations, breakfast every day, two dinners, and transportation of our luggage to

Culture affects our views of reality. It provides the mental concepts by which people perceive, interpret, analyze, and ...
02/08/2021

Culture affects our views of reality. It provides the mental concepts by which people perceive, interpret, analyze, and explain events in the world around them. JAMES G. PEOPLES What is American culture? Japanese culture, which I absorbed into my bloodstream when I married my Japanese husband, has very distinct rules. Eat your food with chopsticks. Don’t eat with your fingers. Take your shoes off when you enter a home, school, or other public buildings....

https://2ndlifetravel.com/2021/08/01/what-is-american-culture/

  Culture affects our views of reality. It provides the mental concepts by which people perceive, interpret, analyze, and explain events in the world around them. JAMES G. PEOPLES   What is American culture? Japanese culture, which I absorbed into

14/03/2018
Airbnb Isn’t As Mainstream As You Think. Can It Get There?

Airbnb wants you to think of them not just as a place to sleep,but a place for entertainment. What do you think?

Airbnb doesn’t just want to be a home sharing platform. It wants its app to turn every day of your life into a vacation.

14/03/2018
9 DIY Ways to Upgrade Economy Class - SmarterTravel

Some great tips on making you more comfortable on long flights!

Don't have the miles or money for an upgrade? There are still plenty of affordable indulgences you can pack to make economy class feel more luxurious.

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Qutb Minar
Qutb Minar

Qutb Minar is has a 73-meter high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's Hindu Kingdom. The stones of the Hindu Temples were used to build the structures of the tower and complex.

Two Hippies Magic Mushroom Restaurant. Great place to eat if you are near the VA in Phoenix.

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