Author Archives: travelbynatasha

About travelbynatasha

I am a retired attorney who loves to travel. Several years ago I began working on a Century Club membership achieved by traveling to 100 "foreign" countries. Today, at 49 years of age the count is at 82. Many were visited on land based trips. Some were cruise ports. Some were dive sites. Most have been fascinating.

More Michigan with Mom

Posted on June 29, 2021 by travelbynatasha

It is not unusual for us just to do regular stuff while I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan with my mom. We run errands, do doctor appointment, shop, and, well, eat. It is significantly cooler here than at home where … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel | Tagged Alger Heights, Blue Dog Tavern, Bridge Street Market, Choo Choo Grill, Comstock Riverside Park, Fulton Street Farmers' Market, Fulton Street Market, Ken's Fruit Market, Maggie's Kitchen, Pietros, Riverside Park, Sanitary Fish, The Old Goat | Leave a comment

The Most Important Trip of the Year: A Visit with Mom in Michigan

Posted on June 17, 2021 by travelbynatasha

Photo ©Jean Janssen. This is what utter bliss looks like. My arrival at the Grand Rapids airport for my first visit with mom in a year and a half This is the most important trip I will make all year. … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel | Tagged Bridge Street Market, Cherie Inn, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Michigan, Jean Marie's, Lewandoski's Market, Michigan, The Found Cottage | Leave a comment

A Stop in Gettysburg on the way Home

Posted on June 14, 2021 by travelbynatasha

Photo ©Jean Janssen Cyclorama, Gettysburg National Military Park We are checking out of the Hershey Lodge today and driving to Gettysburg, PA on the way to Baltimore. Our morning began with packing and then the farewell wedding breakfast. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel, road trip | Tagged Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg PA, Pennsylvania | Leave a comment

The Cake in the Chocolate Ballroom

Posted on June 10, 2021 by travelbynatasha

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Today is our first full day in Pennsylvania. The wedding is at 2 pm and the dress is cocktail attire, so Natasha needs some time for grooming. We got up early so we could head out a see … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel, road trip | Tagged Grand March, Hershey Lodge, Lancaster, Lancaster PA, Lititz, Lititz PA, Pennsylvania, Tomato Pie Cafe, Wilbur Chocolate | Leave a comment

A WEDDING IN PENNSYLVANIA

Posted on June 9, 2021 by travelbynatasha

Photo ©Jean Janssen Natasha is vaccinated and ready to travel. In the last two weeks, I have visited Washington DC, the Mouse in Orlando, Florida, and made stops in Maryland and Pennsylvania enroute to a wedding in Hershey, PA. I … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel | Tagged Hershey, Hershey Lodge, Hershey PA | Leave a comment

Mother’s Day in the Texas Hill Country During COVID-19

Posted on May 14, 2020 by travelbynatasha

We started Mother’s Day with another wonderful morning at Emma’s Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. I got up early and walked into the kitchen to spot deer just outside the window. It just gave me a warm feeling inside. … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel, road trip | Tagged Bakersmith, Bakersmith TX, Fredericksburg, Moulton, Parts Unknown, Rustic Star, Texas | Leave a comment

Coming out of COVID-19: A Taste of the Texas Hill Country

Posted on May 13, 2020 by travelbynatasha

I haven’t been out of Houston since our ill-fated trip to Vietnam in March. Here in our urban setting (Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA), we are still wearing masks, social distancing, and sanitizing like crazy. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in domestic travel, road trip | Tagged Biergarten, Buc-ee's, Comfort, Fat Ass Vineyards, Fredericksburg, Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Old Tunnel State Park, Pecan Grove Store, Texas, Willow Creek Loop | 2 Comments

Headed home from Vietnam during COVID-19

Posted on March 23, 2020 by travelbynatasha

Today we are trying to get home to Houston Texas from Vietnam as worldwide panic has set in over COVID-19. Boris was convinced that he would sleep through the night knowing we had flights in the morning. It didn’t work … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Ho Chi Minh City, Houston, Saigon, Uniworld, Vietnam | Leave a comment

The Saigon River at Night

Posted on March 22, 2020 by travelbynatasha

Our last night in Saigon, we are taking a dinner cruise on the new riverboat, the Saigon Princess. Since Cambodia has closed its borders and river traffic along the Mekong has been shut down, Uniworld was forced to cancel our … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged battens, Bitexco Financial Building, Chinese Junk, Ho Chi Minh City, Junk, Saigon, Saigon Princess, Saigon River, Thu Thiem Bridge, Vietnam, Vincom Landmark 81, Vinhomes Central Park | 3 Comments

Reality hits us in Saigon

Posted on March 21, 2020 by travelbynatasha

No sleep again last night. We were just too anxious about what was happening with our trip. We went down to breakfast at 6:30 am when they opened. We had been up for hours. Even though our meeting was not … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City, Independence Palace, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Reunification Palace, Saigon, South Vietnam, Uniworld, Viet Cong, Vietnam, War Remnants Museum | Leave a comment