When I first started traveling long-term after retirement, I thought experience made me a smarter traveler. Then I tried to buy travel insurance. Aging changes everything about travel coverage — what you qualify for, what it costs, and most importantly, what will actually be paid if something goes wrong. After a few years of trial, research, and many cups of coffee with policy documents, here’s what my huband has learned. First lesson: Buying insurance is easy. Getting a claim paid is the real test. Every insurance company makes the purchase process smooth. The real question is: How do they handle claims? One of the most useful tools I’ve found is Trustpilot → https://www.trustpilot.com When you read reviews there, you must filter for comments from travelers who actually filed a claim. That’s where the truth lies. Look for patterns: * Were claims denied for technicalities? * Was reimbursement slow? * Did the company require excessive documentation? A cheap policy that’s easy to buy can...

 January 19, 2026   It's the driest year on record so everyone was surprised and feeling grateful for the sparse inches we got overnight.  We had already planned a hike to Lory State Park and brought along our microspikes just in case.  It was 20 degrees when we arrived at 9am and the snow was perfect to walk on.  We hiked the Wells Gulch to Overlook and along Overlook until conditions softened and we turned back.     It was foggy setting out  Surreal foggy photo Sun burning through the clouds     Blue skies!    Happy hikers set out for a great time  

Visited mid November 2025  Patras Greece was unexpectedly charming and not touristy when we visited.   Located  in the northern   Peloponnese , 215 km (134 mi) west of   Athens , the city is built at the foot of Mount   Panachaikon , overlooking the   Gulf of Patras .   Website Visit Greece describes this city  as "a bustling student city, a place where entertainment, history and culture mingle together to create a destination filled with wonderful discoveries.  Gifted by nature, Patras is nowadays a commercial hub and Greece’s third most significant city".  We spent almost 24 hours in Patras in order to meet with a lawyer.  We enjoyed walking around the city in addition to creative wall art and doors, there's a nice coastal walk.   Don't these cats have some prime real estate?     Vibrant downtown  And safe to walk at night Wish our crosswalks were as well marked and reflective in t...

 December 16, 2025    Illuminated Christmas Ride  was the option our daughter chose and oh what fun it was to pedal through the lights on this 2 mile route that took about an hour. There's a 15 min break at the turn around with hot chocolate available for purchase.  December 16 was unseasonably warm with temps in the 50's and no wind!   Colorado Railbike Adventures in Erie Colorado https://www.coloradorailbikeadventures.com   Afterwards we drove by this house you see from the railbike ride      

 October 2025 Taste heaven on earth on Le Joat ( https://lejoat.com/en/home/ ) Avignon France Amuse bouche: Cauliflower foam with purple cauliflower black sesame salt appetizer  with  Beef carpaccio with Comté cheese and citrus vinaigrette Carrot amd caraway tartlet Catch of the day, mackerel, celery and shellfish Poultry, Parsnip & Rin Jaune Pear and Caraxéx baba Chocolate Soufflé Tartlet Chocolate mousse bonus  John chose this excellent wine menu  Oh yes, the above photos are from one dinner for two! Couldn't resist and returned for lunch  Amuse bouche Cauliflower foam with purple cauliflower black sesame salt appetizer  Pumpkin velouté with chestnut foam Haddock beetroots Catch of the day, pollack,  citrus sabayon Quail stuffed with mushrooms, broccoli and port wine jus. Not a pretty photo however,  divine on your tongue & in your mouth.  Chocolate and ginger. This is the same name as dinner dessert and even better!  Dyna...