InsideJourneys

I’m Taking the 1000-1000 Travel Blog Challenge

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

I like a challenge. They give me an opportunity to stretch. So six months after pledging to blog every day, I've decided to take on the 1000-1000 Travel Blog Challenge to grow my blog to the point where it earns at least $1000 US per month and gets an average of 1000 visitors a day. It won't be easy but I won't be alone. I'll be joining a fabulous group of travel bloggers who I'll support and who will, in…

Paris, Day 2: The Louvre

Posted on June 13, 2011March 3, 2016 by Marcia Mayne

As a former art gallery director, a visit to Paris would not have been complete without a visit to the Louvre. Yet, when I finally arrived at this world renowned museum and saw the lines, I balked. I had three days in Paris. There was no way I wanted to spend my time in an endless queue! In addition, it was an unseasonably warm April and the unrelenting afternoon sun forced several people to take refuge under their umbrellas. They came prepared,…

Soulful Sundays: Diana Krall

Posted on June 12, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

The first time I heard Canadian singer/songwriter Diana Krall, her voice made me think of someone from another generation not someone who was born in 1964. I loved her voice and phrasing -- I was hooked. I bought her CDs as soon as they were released and played them over and over. [caption id="attachment_5698" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Diana Krall photo from the Internet"][/caption] Ms. Krall has recorded about a dozen CDs. She's had nine Grammy Award nominations and won three. Take a…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Morning

Posted on June 11, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Morning. Sunrise. The start of a new day filled with promise. A fresh opportunity to start over, to begin anew, to do better. [caption id="attachment_4300" align="aligncenter" width="620" caption="Morning on the Golden Mile, Durban - Maynefoto"][/caption] Morning. Everyone awakens after a night of rest to pick up where they left off. A few hours after I took this photo, there was hardly an empty spot on the boardwalk. [caption id="attachment_4297" align="aligncenter" width="620" caption="Dawn of a New Day, Washington Mall, January 19, 2009…

5 Things To Do When The Temperature Hits 100 Degrees

Posted on June 10, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

What to do when the temperature in hits 100 degrees? Reach for cover and do these five things: 1. Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothes and limit strenuous outdoor activities. 2. Slather on the sunscreen. The highest rating is generally best but minimum SPF35. 3. Wear a floppy hat. 4. Drink lots of water. Add a twist of lemon or lime for flavor. 5. Carry a hand or mini electrical fan - perfect for times when you have to wait on…

Tasty Thursdays: Sorbet

Posted on June 9, 2011August 2, 2013 by Marcia Mayne

When the temperature turns warm, we reach for cooling foods. Sorbets and ice cream are delicious ways to help beat the heat. I love the flavors of sorbet, especially mango, which reminds me of home. I love how light sorbet is, how it feels on my tongue, at the back of my mouth and how refreshing and clean-tasting it is. [caption id="attachment_4245" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Lemon and Raspberry Sorbet - Maynefoto[/caption] I found this recipe of one of my favorites, Lemon…

Paris, Day 1: Paris on Foot

Posted on June 8, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Golden sunlight filled the room when I woke on my first morning in Paris but as soon as I opened my eyes, I began to sneeze. It had been an unseasonably warm and everything was in bloom, someone told me later. I didn't let that stop me. I had planned on being in Paris for only two days then head to Barcelona for a day before returning to London. But when I mentioned my plan to Karen, she said I…

My First Paris Night

Posted on June 7, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

I was a little nervous as I walked into the terminal at the Gare du Nord. It was my first time in Paris and unlike my London trip, I was not prepared. I had not mapped my route from the terminal to my hotel. The most I'd done was an Internet search for hotels within a 15-minute radius of the terminal and booked the first one that looked acceptable. It was then that I realized that I'd missed a key…

London-Paris via Eurostar

Posted on June 6, 2011July 15, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Train travel is definitely a lot more popular in Europe than it is in North America, where we tend to drive or fly more. When I heard about the tunnel that was being built under the English Channel to connect Britain and France, I was fascinated. I marveled at the vision and the incredible feat of engineering it took to bring it to life and wondered what it was like for the people who worked on building it. More than…

Soulful Sundays: Abbey Lincoln

Posted on June 5, 2011July 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

I saw Abbey Lincoln perform at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts years after I had become a fan. (The juxtaposition of the names Abbey Lincoln and the Lincoln Center caused me to question myself for a second.) [caption id="attachment_5718" align="aligncenter" width="395" caption="Abbey Lincoln courtesy of thegrio.com"][/caption] She was wiry and dynamic. I can still hear her voice, strong and smoky, as she came on stage. In my mind, I sang along to some of my favorites but soaked…