The Adventures of Mod 1 RTW

28/04/2026

28/04/2026

I spent my last weekend in Europe in the city of Paris. I thought I would dive back into my city slicker subway riding in foreign country abilities. But it was a crowded petri dish, fostering the ingredients to my current bout with death. But I digress before I succumbed to illnesses on Sunday afternoon. I saw some things.

Claude Monet's House and Gardens in Giverny, France, is the beautifully restored home and gardens that inspired his famous Impressionist paintings, particularly the water lilies and Japanese bridge series. The estate features two main garden areas—the colorful Clos Normand flower garden and the Japanese-inspired Water Garden with its iconic bridge and water lilies—along with Monet's house, which showcases his private apartments and collection of Japanese prints. The gardens, which Monet cultivated from 1883 until his death in 1926, were restored and opened to the public in 1980 and are a major tourist attraction.

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is a Roman Catholic church located at the highest point of Montmartre in Paris. Built between 1875 and 1914 in a Romano-Byzantine style, it is known for its white travertine stone, a massive mosaic of "Christ in Majesty," and 360-degree views from its dome.

Père Lachaise Cemetery is Paris's largest and most famous cemetery, known as an "open-air museum" for its stunning funerary art, beautiful English-style park, and the graves of countless famous figures like Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Édith Piaf. Established in 1804, it's a major tourist attraction and a peaceful place for reflection, featuring diverse tombs, sculptures, and a wide variety of trees. Visitors can explore on their own or take guided tours to find famous graves and admire the art.

Napoleon's Tomb is a major landmark in Paris, located within the Dôme des Invalides, a grand Baroque church that is part of the larger Les Invalides complex. The tomb features a massive sarcophagus made of red porphyry (actually Shoksha quartzite) resting on a green granite base, surrounded by a crypt with sculptures and mosaics, symbolizing his military power and legacy. It is a key part of the Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum) and is a significant site for French military history.

22/04/2026

I'm in Annecy, France, well its just over the border from Switzerland. It's so beautiful it's hard to take it all in. I did a 24 mile circuit of the lake this morning on a rented bike. I wish I had 360 camera. Words can't justify the beauty I saw.

22/04/2026

I've been vacationing with my friends from back home in Europe for the last week and a bit. We left Bruges the beautiful, and caught a series of trains to reach Berlin. I hadn't been here since 1998, there was construction everywhere back then. It was newly reunited. From there I said goodbye to my friends, and continued my journey. I stopped in Frankfurt for one night. For no reason other than I didn't want to spend all day on the train to get to Basel, Switzerland.

22/04/2026

I've been vacationing with my friends from back home in Europe for the last week and a bit. We started in Amsterdam, and then I did a one day stop in Antwerp, Belgium. I met them on the train in Antwerp, and then we did a day in Ghent. Then, on to my favorite city in Europe, Bruges. Where this series of photos end.

22/04/2026

I've been vacationing with my friends from back home in Europe for the last week and a bit. The following pics are of Bruges the beautiful. My favorite city in Europe. And of Rothenberg ob der Tauber, a well preserved old German medieval city.

19/01/2026

19/01/2026

19/01/2026

19/01/2026

I had quite the weekend visiting my son Myles and his wife Zoey. He's just been promoted to Captain, and I stayed with them in base housing at Scofield Barracks, outside of Honolulu. I visited Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. Alone, and did a drive around the south side of the Island.
Then Myles and I went to the Arizona, it's still leaking oil. It's like the blood of the ship.
He and I hiked up Koko Head this morning. Well he hiked up ahead of me. Then came back down to where I was slowly, but methodically making my way up. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Then went back up again. The view up there is amazing, and that climb is not for the weak. Afterwards I drove around the North Shore, it was incredibly beautiful.

The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (approximately 400 acres) is a botanical garden located at 45–680 Luluku Road, Kāne'ohe, Oahu, Hawaii. It is part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, and is open daily, without charge, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, commemorates the 1,177 crewmen who died on the battleship during the December 7, 1941, attack, which brought the U.S. into WWII. The memorial is built over the sunken hull, serving as a tomb for over 900 sailors and Marines, and is a major national monument managed by the National Park Service, accessible by boat from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.

Hawaii Kai
Koko Head is the headland that defines the eastern side of Maunalua Bay along the southeastern side of the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. On its western slope is the community of Portlock, a part of Hawaiʻi Kai. Koko Head (at 642 ft or 196 m) is an ancient tuff cone that is somewhat dwarfed by its neighboring tuff cone, Koko Crater, with its peak, Kohelepelepe (or Puʻu Mai), rising to 1208 ft or 368 m. Koko Head itself has three significant depressions or old vents, the largest of which forms the well-known Hanauma Bay. Koko Head's last eruption was 3,000-5,000 years ago and it is part of the Honolulu Volcanics.

A strenuous 1.6-mile (2.6 km) rail trail leads hikers to the summit.

The North Shore of Oahu is a world-famous coastal area known for its massive winter surf, historic surf towns like Haleiwa, and beautiful beaches, attracting big wave surfers and visitors seeking a laid-back vibe. Key spots include Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach for surfing, while the calmer summer months are ideal for snorkeling at places like Shark's Cove. The region offers a mix of surf culture, local food (like shrimp trucks and shave ice), and attractions like the Polynesian Cultural Center and Dole Plantation.