Blue Bee Odysseys

06/27/2026

06/11/2026

Seeing this young deer with growing antlers, soon to be a stag, inspired a vision of Bacchus gliding through Portuguese landscapes in a stag-drawn chariot, visiting lush wine estates. This image unites the symbolism of the deer with the spirit of wine and travel which I hope to bring to my 2027 tour from Vinho Verde to the Douro Valley to Alentejo to Setubal. Information will be on the website soon.

04/24/2026

Limestone pillars emerge from the turquoise sea off the Algarve coast of southern Portugal. Ponta da Piedade or Point of Prayer dates back 7-16 million years. The limestone cliffs contain ancient shells and coral fragments. Fierce storms sometimes put fishermen in danger leaving family members praying for their safety. Local communities focus on sustainability, restricting access to the grottos and building safe boardwalks above the cliffs. A slow moving catamaran created a peaceful day with an abundance of birdsong and natural beauty. 🇵🇹 🇵🇹

04/18/2026

Bacalhôa Winery near Azeitão, Portugal offers a journey through through time reflecting wine, art and nature. The beautiful Portuguese tiles from XVI to XX century are displayed in a darkened room with aged wine barrels. It was magical and difficult to leave. Wine tasting and sampling delicious cheese came later. In addition , there was the “Out of Africa” exhibit dedicated to Queen Ginga from Angola, 1587-1663, a symbol of Africa’s battle against foreign oppression. An exhibit of the “Forgotten Generation “ dedicated to 3 artists marked by the Holocaust. Outdoors there is a Japanese garden and Kaki tree, a great-granddaughter of the only tree to survive the Nagasaki bomb, and offered as a symbol of peace to the children of Azeitão. We felt privileged to experience a wine tasting that included in-depth and meaningful history and art. Thank you, Ride351.com.

04/09/2026

Soulful Lisbon continues to live up to that this week. The sun reappeared today after a couple days of nourishing rain. I am excited to create and collaborate on more slow and mindful adventures in Portugal. Tonight, we thoroughly enjoyed listening to traditional Portuguese Fado music while eating a marvelous dinner. Longing and sadness are universal feelings embraced by many cultures and languages, even if you don't understand any of the words. It is a felt experience. Portugal grows on you. I will share a Fado music reel soon. Experiences like this continue to nurture my love of exploring other parts of the world and sharing the connectedness with others at a deeper level.

08/13/2025

Gratitude + Reciprocity - I’m grateful for times when the air is not filled with Canadian toxic wildfire smoke. Yoga at sunset was blissful. A morning walk in the forest, before the smoke comes back today, will be reflective. Climate changes with warming and fires are worse. Walk.

05/10/2025

Very useful tech tools for travelers.

Your bags may be ready to go, but do you really have everything you need? Here are some apps that can make your travels smoother, safer and more fun.

11/02/2024

The impressive Greek Theater of Syracuse, Sicily, was built in the 5th century BC with the ability to seat 16,000 people. The plays, including tragedies and comedies, offered entertainement and the opportunity for Greeks to explore moral and societal issues. It is fascinating to think of Aristophanes plays being performed in the 5th century BC and even now.

Aristophanes' comedies displayed b***y humor, fantastical plots and direct political commentary. His plays offered a way for people to release thoughts and feelings which could be beneficial for any of us now in the American political season. I would like to see his play called "The Birds," 414 BC, where two Athenians try to convince the birds to create a utopian city in the sky called Cloudcuckooland, which obviously reflected his frustration with politics.