We’re heading back to the Southwest Coast Path; we walked a bit less than 100 miles in Cornwall in September 2018 and were eager to do more the next year. As it did for so many people, though, life, in the form of the pandemic, came between us and our plans. This time will beContinue reading “Back to the Path”
Author Archives: jennings@princeton.edu
Ah London, most beautiful of all cities…
Our hotel, the Vintry and Mercer, is small but extremely comfortable and rather stylish. We slept until after 9 and had a nice breakfast in the hotel restaurant to start the day. Let me get this out of my system right away: Lizzie has a lot of nerve, planning her 70-Year Jubilee just when weContinue reading “Ah London, most beautiful of all cities…”
Green Day
After a late start and a genuinely miserable breakfast—don’t ask—we got on the tube at Blackfriars for the ride out to Kew Gardens. Although the gardens lie pretty far to the west of town, the tube gets you there in a bit more than 30 minutes. Kew seems to be a pleasant, prosperous little town,Continue reading “Green Day”
Down to the Sea in…trains
Sunday was one of those London days: pretty gloomy and overcast, with a constant threat of drizzle. Undeterred, we walked across Southwark Bridge and strolled along the south bank of the Thames. Even in bad weather, the south bank always delivers: great views, great people watching, and great reminders of cultural history. Like the rebuiltContinue reading “Down to the Sea in…trains”
“Why can’t they flatten this path?”
This from one of many long distance walkers we met today. Why? Because our day started with steep ascents of three enormous cliffs. But more about that in a moment. I’m usually very careful in my planning for these long distanc walks. But I nodded this time, and selected an inn a mile and aContinue reading ““Why can’t they flatten this path?””
Back to Oaxaca
So, pandemic be damned, we‘re off to Oaxaca tomorrow, joining our trusty sidekicks Patti and David B. and their sister-in-law Mary Lou B. We‘re very much hoping that United doesn‘t perform as usual: we have one hour to make the flight to Oaxaca from Houston!
Princeton to Oaxaca on Delay Airlines
Our plane took off an hour late; United had built in a 67 minute changeover in Houston. So we did the math and started with the usual United anxieties. As it turned out, the pilot made up 30 minutes of the delay and the flight to Oaxaca was…delayed. On the flight to Oaxaca I satContinue reading “Princeton to Oaxaca on Delay Airlines”
Mezcal in the Morning?
We started the day with a very nice breakfast at the hotel: fresh fruit, good coffee, and a tamale with mole for me. We saw the fifth member of the merry band, Mary Lou B., for the first time in about a year. A brisk walk brought us to where we joined three young peopleContinue reading “Mezcal in the Morning?”
Monte Alban, again…and then Alebrijes!
We had a light breakfast in acknowledgment of the eating ahead, and met our guide and driver outside the hotel at 9. The guide was Riccardo, the same young man who had picked us up from the airport; the driver Raoul…both were delightful. The road to Monte Alban rises steeply from the valley floor; OaxacaContinue reading “Monte Alban, again…and then Alebrijes!”
You say Moreles, I’ll say Morales
Riccardo and a new driver, Omar, picked us up at 9 and we headed into the southern arm of the valley toward the lovely town of Ocotlan de Moreles. The town is named for a Mexican revolutionary hero; José María Morelos, who organized the struggle for independence from Spain. We had planned our visit onContinue reading “You say Moreles, I’ll say Morales”