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Bon dia y bon bini na Dushi Curacao (Good morning and welcome to sweet Curacao).  Part of the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and situated 30 miles north of Venezuela in Mar Caribe.  A small island with small pockets of crowded pristine beaches, a deep baseball culture and a language, Papiamentu that blends Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch.  Easy to get around, good water from the tap and a temperature that ranges between 78-86 with a constant breeze.    Went with Ruby to get a soda and found out one of their secrets for the enthusiastic involvement from the parents during youth games. (read the menu) Dock at Pirate's Bay in Willemstad, Curacao. Scout day for a few 14 year olds.  Getting on the radar of MLB teams and training for the new International Signing Date of January 15th.  If you turn 16 before the sign date and 17 before Sept. 1st the following year the player is eligible.  It's a big deal in t...

  The word 'travel' comes from an old French word, 'travail,' or toilsome, laborious work.  If you've ever travelled with a group, or with a group of youth in any capacity you can start to understand the meaning.  Looking into the word a little more it probably originates from the Latin word, 'tripalium,' or torture and a painful, laborious effort.  If your accommodations have you crammed into a small European apartment in the damp winter with six people and zero space for sports or activity you start to understand the deeper meaning of the word.  As with work, there has to be an incentive to travel.  One incentive of 'travel' for an amateur historian is that it allows you to get a feel for the area and gain a deeper understanding without having to read an entire book.   Travel day.  I can get us there and we'll eat food at some point.  The better half ensures theres a reasonable level of comfort along the way. The WINE WORLD: Route des ...

Roman Theatre in modern day Lyon, formerly the city of Lugdunum during Roman rule.  It seems that France was predestined to have a contested history of its borders.  Controlling a swath of land running from the Atlantic and North Sea down through famous vineyards and valleys to the Mediterranean was always going to be a valued prize.   River Saone running through Lyon and the streets of Vieux (Old) Lugdunum. Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) is a reminder to me that someone is always doing it better.  Backing up a super yacht into Monaco or Cannes just says that you're winning.  Winning the game of life.  I'm not even jealous, I just feel good standing next to such success.  The town of Annecy, also known as 'Venice of the French Alps' The walk up to Chateau du Clos de Vougeot in the region of Bourgogne, or a castle in Burgundy for the layman.  Besides demanding my pinot noir have striking and vivid colour, fleshy, generous, long to the tongue intro...

Arriving in Paris from SaiGon made 42 degrees feel like 14.  Endless walkathons, vin chaud and famous structures at every turn keeps the chill off and interest up for the most part.   Peak low-season around Paris.   Vistas from Eiffel Tower.  Arc de Triomphe and a look down the River Seine.  Napoleon's tomb is under the gold dome.  Gustave Eiffel had a small apartment at the top of the tower and would invite special guests.  One guest was Thomas Edison who gifted him a model phonograph after the 1889 World Fair. Endless walking, but somehow the city just keeps grabbing your attention around every corner. Au Revoir to Paris, it was time to head south for some of the Mediterranean climate. Cannes on La Cote d'Azur.