Journey's End

Thanks for following along!
Marina & Bryan will arrive in Phoenix on the evening of Wednesday, June 23. That's next week! They will be here close to two weeks. I personally can't wait.
No matter who you are or where you're going, travel safely and take pictures.
-RW

Barcelona

Caption: Barcelona, Temple de la Sagrada Familia

Transcription:

Dear A. & R.,
Morocco was a bit of a challenge but glad to have experienced it. This is a gorgeous city - clean, wide boulevards, lots of churches & other beautiful buildings, not a mosque in sight & no call to prayer 5 times daily. We're back in our comfort zone & good to be able to communicate more easily. Walking all day taking lots of photos. Have seen several of Gaudi's works. Nursing colds. Hope all's well with you & family. Love & kisses, M. & D.

Morocco

Caption: Fes

Transcription:

Dear Ones,
Back in action with cameras. Rabat was interesting, as was Meknes and an ancient city, Viblios, built by the Romans in 200 A.D. - now mostly ruins, but still some excellent mosaics remaining. Now in Fes. So far both our hotels have been riads with very few rooms & magical eye appeal. Dad & I both have colds, mine's more chesty. Otherwise O.K., hope you are also. Love & kisses, M & D

Florence

[No caption]

Transcription:

Dear A & R,
We've reequipped & are the typical tourists once more. We walk most of the day with brief stops at the hundreds of churches & for meals. Like in Rome, the narrow streets are lined with lovely old buildings once housing the gentry. The fast-flowing Arno is brown with lots of attractive bridges crossing it. We're OK. Hope you are also. Love, M & D

Moscow

Postcard caption: (top left) Moscow at night; (top right) The Kremlin, The Annunciation Cathedral; (middle left) The Kremlin at night; (middle right) View of Novodevitchiy Monastery; (bottom left) Monument to Minin and Pozharsky; (bottom right) A. S. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

Transcription:

Dear Anne and Rob, have had a few most interesting days in Moscow. Unfortunately have not been able to see Red Square because of the preparations for Victory Day celebrations. Our guide is amazingly knowledgeable but we couldn't shut him up. I just wish we could remember half what he told us. Marina's Russian skills have been invaluable. Hope you both are well and all the family also. Love M & D

Budapest

Postcard caption: Greetings from Budapest!

Transcription:

Dear A. & R.,
1st night, had dinner with our friend*, today walked up to a castle, around some lovely streets & then down to the Danube & onto & around an island. Some rain, but still very photogenic. All's well. Hope also with you. Thought of you extra on M. [Mothers] Day. Much love,
M & D.

*Editor's note: I recall this is a physician my parents met during Dad's doctoral program in London. Come to think of it, that's roughly where I come into the story. Mum or Dad, please use the comment tool if you want to add anything. -RW

Egypt

Postcard caption: map of the River Nile and Lake Nasser showing the tourist sites.

Transcription

So far: Pyramids, Sphinx, temples, felucca ride on the Nile, good food, nice dry heat, great guides. We're so lucky. Tomorrow the grandest temple of all - Abu Simbel. All's well with us, hope also with you. Love M + P

Bangkok

Postcard caption: Wat Suthat & The Giant Swing, Bangkok, Thailand
(I can so hear the conversation. Italian tourist: "What's a-that?" Thai guide: "Exactly, sir! Wat Suthat!")

Transcription:

Arrived late Monday night. Leaving airport building like stepping into furnace. Today (Tuesday) walked many miles in withering heat looking at many shrines & temples - all gorgeous, and the magnificent grand palace with its many buildings and lovely gardens. Chose AC place for lunch and later for fluid replacement and cool-off. (No booze!) Late afternoon to a huge mall - 5 floors, nice and cool. Leave late tomorrow for Cairo, probably totally wilted. All's well. Much love, M + P

(Emily Bronte in Thailand: Withering Heats)

Japan

Postcard caption: top-left, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto; bottom-left, Saiho-ji Temple, Kyoto; top-right, Rock garden of Ryoan-ji Temple, Kyoto; bottom-right, Sanju-sandendo Temple, Kyoto

Transcription:

Here we are in gorgeous Kyoto. It's bright, sunny, cool, clean, neat, tidy, organized, gorgeous and with the most polite people. Our first full day we've walked about 8 hours and saw just two tiny pieces of rubbish. No graffiti, spitting, shoving, or pushing. Too perfect. Came upon groves of flowering fruit trees - glorious whites and pinks. Managed to go around a palace and a castle. Both well, hope all's well with you.
Love & kisses, M & B

The Italian Job

Here's a quick rundown of M&B's ill-fated Roman Holiday, including the very latest updates on the outcome.
On May 17 they sent:

Thought we would tell you of our recent setback. Arrived in Rome Sunday morning and got hit by the pros at the railway station. They got away with the cameras, pictures, computer, Kindle and a bunch of other stuff, including our passports and travel documents. As you might imagine, we are a trifle distressed but trying to bear up. May have to modify our trip somewhat, but still waiting to see all of the consequences. Without the computer, we are having to rely on internet cafes....
Love, M. & D.

Then on the 20th we got this:

Robert, yours and Annes sympathies have been much appreciated. We are recovering as well as can be expected, and got our temporary passports yesterday, so the trip continues. Unfortunately, because of their lack of interest, could not get visas for Brazil, so will have to re-arrange that part of the journey. The police in Rome were particularly unhelpful, but we do have an official report, so eventually most of what we lost can be replaced. I have notified the insurance carrier of the event so that's on record. Bought a Nikon point and shoot today, but have not found a serious camera store that carries good Canon stuff. I did bring a spare body and lens (sitting at Rome airport) so things will work out.
Love you chaps lots.
M. & D.

and this:

The good news is that we are both well and recovering from the disappointment of losing our pictures. Bought a toy camera (i.e. point and shoot) today and started to take pictures. Got to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence and the battery went flat. Oh well. Love you both.
Marina and Bryan

Finally some better news today, May 21:

Your mum and I went to buy a spare battery for the new P. & S. and came back with a new (Canon) 7D and Tamron 18-270 mm. How's that for a recovery. Hopefully now we are back on track for the remainder of the trip. Really appreciate Anne and your messages.
Love to all,
M. & D.

 Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and support!

China

Postcard caption: The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall

For those who don't speak "Mum":
5-4-10
Yangtze Gorge tomorrow.
Having a great time. Wish you were here . So far... Ming Tombs, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Kung Fu show, Summer Palace, Jade factory, cloisonne factory, fresh water pearl outlet, much delicious food. All good.
Love + kisses M & B(D)
Rickshaw ride in old town :-)
Air quality :-(

Ta Da!

Instant web presence for the Westerman World Tour.