THE PAINTER AND THE POOCH.,,,,

Today the weather in Munich was delightful. For most of the day it was around 60 F and very conducive to outdoor activities. The morning found us hopping on the S-Bahn to Karlsplatz and doing a brisk 15 minute walk to a tiny restaurant called Batty Baristas' for brunch with friends. We planned on taking the tram from Karlsplatz, but tram 27 wasn't operating today and taxis were banned from the area due to a marathon. All streets in the area were cordoned off.

It was fun meeting new friends plus more that were brand new. It was a much delayed foray into the expat community for hubby and myself. We spent most of the morning chatting away with them before we realized how much time had passed by.

We hadn't walked very far when we came across a gentleman playing the xylophone near Marianplatz. He was playing Bach, Motzart, and Beethoven. As you can see the crowd was enamoured by his talent. His name is Alex Jacobwitz and he was classically trained and has played in the U.S., Germany, and Israel. Visit his website by clicking the link and enjoy his beautiful music. Enchanting.

This little guy, with his father, was awestruck. He stood in complete silence and soaked it all in. I so much love to watch youngsters at this age experiencing something new for the first time. You just never know--he may grow up to become a classical musician himself one day! What a cutie!

Next, we decided to make the most of the clement weather and continue our walking through the center of Munich, the Altstadt (Old City). It was a gorgeous day and we found plenty of entertainment along the way. There were violinists, mimes, and musicians of every sort. There was even a marching band!

Finally, the piece de' resistance, and what an encore it was. An honest to goodness live artist model was having his portrait painted. Sitting upright, attentive, and giving his undoubtedly best profile sat ....the pup.

I couldn't tell which of the subjects made for a better photo, the Painter or the Pooch. Nevertheless, they were a fun duo until Starbucks called out to us.

A macciatto later, we were finally ready to make our way back home.

What a sinfully delightful fall day in Munich!

"I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE MAN, I'VE BEEN EVERWHERE!

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HA! I haven't exactly been everywhere, but as the map above shows you, I have managed to cover a lot of territory. There are still destinations (too many to add) I hope to visit in the future. One is Jordan with my son and his Jordanian wife, and the other is Urguay with my eldest son and his Urguaian wife. Africa is a continent we haven't explored yet, but we have a grandson who is crazy about monkeys of every kind and I forsee an African adventure ahead. Alaska, South America, Iceland, and Russia are still unexplored by us.

Years ago, we made a vow to each of the grandchildren that they could pick one destination to visit with us. Our eldest grandson chose Shanghai, China and his brother chose Hawaii. There are other grandchildren coming up (8 and counting) and it will be interesting to see where they choose to go.

As you can see, we consider travel a priority in our life. The world is vast and destinations are limitless. We could never live long enough to see all we want to see or do all we want to do, but we are very thankful that we have done what we have. Our world view is based upon our travels and the people we have met. We are used to ideas, beliefs, and cultures much different than our own and we value that. To us, the opportunity to stretch ourselves and get out of our little world or comfort zone is as necessary as having air to breathe.

Yes, we have been fortunate that my husbands' career has taken us to many of these places. It sure helps the pocketbook. But where some couples spend on cars, cottages, boats, and other toys, we have chosen to see as much of the world as we can. It is what fuels us and predicates us.

We know that for as much as we've seen, there is much we have yet to experience.

I've been journaling about most of the places we have visited or lived for the last 12 years. One day, when we're too feeble or old to continue our passion, it will bring back many wonderful memories. Something we can look back on with much pleasure together.

Here is a list of some of the "PLACES WE'VE BEEN," (our favorite destinations are starred.) They are listed in no particular order other than by continent or country.

ASIA/PACIFIC/ EUROPE

Australia: Brisbane

Austria: Vienna*

Australia: Cairns

Austria: Innsbruck

Australia: Melbourne

Austria: Salzburg

Australia: Port Douglas*

Greece: Santorini

Australia: Sydney

Belgium: Brussels

Australia: Surfers Paradise

Belgium: Antwerp

Australia: Gold Coast

Belgium: Bruges*

China: Beijing

Bulgaria: Sofia

China: Guanzhou

Croatia: Dubrovnik *

China: Hong Kong

Croatia: Split

China: Shanghai*

China: Urumqi

Denmark: Copenhagen

China: Xianshan *

France: Paris

Indonesia: Bali *

Italy: Venice*

Indonesia: Kuta

Germany: Frankfurt

Indonesia: Surabaya

Germany: Munich

Indonesia: Jakarta

Italy: Assisi

Indonesia: Denpasar

Italy: Milan

Indonesia: Seminyak

taly: Naples

Japan: Kyoto

Italy: Padua

Japan: Osaka

Italy: Pisa

Japan: Tokyo

Italy: Rome

Malasia: Kuala Lumpur *

Italy: Sorrento *

Singapore: Singapore *

Italy: Positano *

Taiwan: Taipei

Italy: Florence

Thailand: Bangkok

Spain: Barcelona

Thailand: Krabi

Spain: Madrid

Thailand: Pattaya

Spain: Toledo

Switzerland: Geneva

Switzerland: Zurich

The Netherlands: Amsterdam

UK: London

UK: Manchester

UK: York

Czech: Prague

CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO UNITED STATES

Antigua

AZ: Phoenix

Barbados

AZ: Scottsdale

Bahamas: Freeport

AZ: Sedona *

British West Indies: Montserrat *

Cayman Islands

AZ: Tucson

Jamaca: Montego Bay

CA: Carmel

Jamaca: Negril

CA: Lake Tahoe

Jamaca: Ocho Rios

CA: Los Angeles

Mexico: Acapulco

CA: Monterey

Mexico: Oaxaca

CA: Napa

Mexico: Puerta Vallarta

CA: Oakland

Mexico: San Jose Del Cabo *

CA: Sacramento

Mexico: Todos Santos *

DC: Washington,

FL: Cape Canaveral

CANADA

British Columbia: Vancover FL: Clearwater

Ontario: Niagra Falls FL: Daytona

Ontario: Ottawa FL: Ft. Myers

Ontario: Toronto FL: Kissimmee

Quebec: Montreal FL: Miami

Quebec: Quebec City

THE UNITED STATES

FL: Marco Island

FL: Naples

FL: Sarasota

GA: Atlanta

HI: Honolulu

HI: Wailiea

IL: Chicago

IN: Indianapolis

KY: Louiville

KY: Lexington

MA: Boston

MA: Salem

MD: Baltimore

ME: Bar Harbor *

MI: Detroit

MI: Mackinaw

MI: Traverse City

NC: Asheville

NM: Santa Fe

NV: Las Vegas

NV: Reno

NY: Brooklyn

NY: Buffalo

NY: Long Island

NY: Niagra Falls

OH: Cleveland

OH: Cincinnatti

OH: Columbus

OH: Toledo

PA: Erie

RI: Newport

SC: Chareston

SC: Myrtle Beach

TN: Chattanooga

TN: Gatlinburg

TN: Knoxville

TX: Dallas

TX: San Antonio

TX: Houston

UT: Salt Lake City

VA: Norfolk

VA: Virginia Beach

VA: Williamsburg

WA: Seattle *

WI: Milwaukee

PARIS IN 2010

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I can't believe that I turned down a trip to Paris with my husband. Does this sound crazy? I hope I made the right decision.

He has meetings in Paris on Oct. 17th and invited me to fly with him and stay while he meets with some CEO's of his company. I jumped at the invitation!

Then....I learned that while we would have the Saturday to fly in and explore, the Sunday was going to include him going to the airport to collect the CEO's. That would reduce it to half a day. Then, he would be moving from Paris to the outskirts of Paris twice; once on Sunday night and again on Monday night. That would take me even further of the city and all of the sights I wanted to visit.

Sadly, I turned the opportunity down, but not before I got a promise that we would make it one of our 2010 destinations. I want time to be with him in the City of Lights when he isn't running from meeting to meeting. I would love to have time to cozy up with him at an outdoor cafe and spend an hour or so sipping expresso while mentally taking the pulse of this exciting city. I'd like to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower with him--at night. I've been to Paris, I've seen the Louvre and floated down the Seine in the glass bottomed boats, but my hubby hasn't. I want to experience it with him on his first trip to Paris.

Wonder if I did the right thing?