For the Love of Beer: Visiting the Sam Adams Brewery
It’s hard to believe Sam Adams is only 30 years old! A visit to their brewery helps us learn they really live by their slogan- For The Love of Beer! Boston Beer Company was founded by sixth generation brewer Jim Koch in 1984. He started the company brewing beer in his own kitchen. Jim found […]
Don’t Skip: Qingdao, China
Intro to Qingdao We visited Qingdao quite unintentionally, but it turned out to be a great stop. Located at the southern tip of the Shandong peninsula, this charming port city has a different feel than any other place we visited in China. From 1897 to 1914, Germany administered Qingdao as a concession, and made a […]
Nectar of the Gods: Georgia Craft Beer
In honor of American Craft Beer Week I’ve taken a moment to share some local Georgia beers as well as a couple of other favorites. When most people think of “American” beer the names Budweiser, Miller and Coors probably come to mind, and rightfully so. These beer behemoths have a tried and true formula for selling their […]
Don’t Skip: Loch Fyne, Scotland
Intro to Loch Fyne Known for amazing seafood, sailing regattas, outdoor recreation opportunities and rich history and culture, Loch Fyne is the longest of the Scottish sea lochs, extending 40 miles inland. The loch is situated within the Argyll and Bute district in the western part of Scotland. We visited off-season, but had such a memorable […]
Seaside Qingdao
Challenges of the Chinese Train in Summer Summer is in full swing, and it seems like everyone is on vacation. Trains are jammed, with seats sold out weeks in advance. We tried in vain to buy a ticket to Harbin in the north and to Xi’an in the south. Then we started looking into buses. […]
Shinkansen to Nagasaki
The first Shinkansen voyage of the trip was a long haul. We left from Odawara Station, south of Yokohama. It was the first day the Japan Rail Pass was valid, and we were excited to start getting our money’s worth. The pass is only for visitors, and must be purchased before you arrive in Japan. […]
Diamond Lake, Beer and Puzzling
The Diamond Lake Track near Wanaka leads past it’s namesake body of water, then up to the summit of Rocky Hill. The views from the top were fantastic and gave us a great idea of how the glaciers had carved out this amazing landscape. We were a bit parched when we got back down the […]
New Home
Christ Church was a pleasant city with the Avon River meandering through and punters giving people a ride along it. There were lots of historic buildings, monuments, parks and gardens, and some nice public spaces. We walked into the old Canturbury Provincial Council Building and were amazed at the stained glass, painted, ornate wood and […]