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Doing Dublin in Double Time

We didn’t have a pot full o’ time to discover Dublin, we had but a day to discover her charms. 

But we made the most of this fair city – we learned how to pour a perfect pint at the Guinness Academy, stormed her castle, ate native food, made a daring escape, and took a peek at Molly Malone (where exactly was David looking?)… CONTINUE READING >>

Dublin, Ireland

We didn’t have a pot full o’ time to discover Dublin, we had but a day to discover her charms after landing at the airport and before making our way to Dingle and the Wild Atlantic Way.

So we mapped out a plan to hit the highlights in one lucky jaunt around the town.

One thing we knew for certain, we had to start our outing at the city’s top attraction, the Guinness Brewery.

The grounds of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin is so big it's like a city!

No need for the luck of the Irish when seeking Ireland’s most famous brew, a trolley and our feet did the job just fine.

The venerable old brewery at the St. James Gate has occupied the same space in Dublin since 1759, so it was not hard to find – it’s like a city on its own.

Of course it has grown over the years, but the end result remains the same, the world’s most popular stout.

The grounds of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin is so big it's like a city!

Our mission was to learn all about it at the Guinness Storehouse, the seven story former fermentation plant that serves as part brewery tour, part museum, and best of all, part pub.

We began in the tour area, learning about the methods and ingredients that go into creating the celebrated dark ale.

As with all beers water, hops, and yeast are required, but the most important factor is the specially roasted barley that gives the potion its distinctive color.

The water exhibit inside Guinness Storehouse in Dublin
The water exhibit is as bright as the exterior of the buildings are stark.

Exhibit in the Guinness Storehouse of Dublin, Ireland

We continued with the story of the founder, Arthur Guinness, and the nine-thousand year lease he signed on the brewery property.

His fame as a brewer led to his nickname throughout Dublin – Uncle Arthur.

Upstairs we found exhibits featuring the advertising behind the brand.

Many of the eclectic, iconic Guinness posters and signs are on display; including the toucan and the famous slogans Guinness is Good for You, Guinness for Strength, Lovely Day for a Guinness, and Guinness Makes You Strong.

Train exhibit at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland
David the Train nut found himself a Guinness train!
Wait. What? It’s the same Guinness?
Arthur Guinness founder of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland
“Uncle” Arthur Guinness

The first Guinness Book of World Records was released in August 1954 after the company’s managing director, Sir Hugh Beaver, got in an argument over the fastest game bird in Europe.

That gave him the idea to compile a comprehensive list of the world’s fastest, longest, strongest and best.

The resulting book became an incredibly popular resource for satisfying bar bets around the globe, as well as a unique marketing tool for beer.

Pouring the Perfect Pint

On the fourth floor we got schooled at the Guinness Academy’s Perfect Pint Bar.

The Perfect Pint Bar at Guinness Academy were we got school in the art of pouring a flawless glass of Guinness
Our classroom!

The Perfect Pint Bar at Guinness Academy were we got school in the art of pouring a flawless glass of Guinness

Maybe it should be considered an art institute, since the art of pouring flawless glass of Guinness takes a master’s touch.

After our instruction, we were certified by the Academy to step in if we encounter a bartending emergency or an incapacitated barkeep at some point in the future.

We stand ready to pour should the need arise.



What a View!

Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse Brewery in Dublin, Ireland

We did much more pub crawling… check it out!

St. Patrick's Tower in Dublin, Ireland
St. Patrick’s Tower was built in 1805 to grind grain, St. Patrick can be seen on top holding a cross.

With plenty of well-trained backup bartenders available in the Perfect Pint, we felt safe leaving the pub patrons behind and making our way up to the seventh floor Gravity Bar to enjoy our pints while taking in panoramic views of Dublin.

When seen from the outside, the windows form the head on a giant pint of Guinness, but from inside they capped off a bubbly visit.

We hated to leave, but with so much more to see we needed to step it up.

Panoramic view of Dublin from Guinness Storehouse's Gravity Bar.

Stormin’ the City

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

Foregoing the trams and busses for our return trip, we decided to walk back through town and take in the sights along the way.

First on our list, the one and only Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint of the Emerald Isle.

This is THE church in Ireland, so here there be no debate as to whether the tales and legends about St. Paddy are accurate or not.

Oddly, it does not serve as the cathedral for the diocese of Dublin, the nearby Christ Church Cathedral holds that honor.

While that name may not be as famous, this church dates back nearly a thousand years and remains one of the city’s main medieval landmarks.

Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland
Christ Church Cathedral
A Daring (and Disgusting) Escape

Continuing on toward the old city center, we came to another of those landmarks, Dublin Castle. The fortification was built as part of the defensive wall around the old Norman city. Centuries later, it became a royal residence and more ornate touches were added, such as Bedford Tower.

Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland
Bedford Tower
The Record Tower is the last intact medieval tower in Dublin, Ireland
The Record Tower is the only intact medieval tower in Dublin has a famous toilet chute!

Little remains from the original ramparts, but we did spot the only surviving turret from the castle’s early days, the Record Tower, across the courtyard.

We found an interesting plaque on tower, which served as Ireland’s maximum security prison, explaining the castle’s only successful escape.

After Hugh O’Donnell led a rebellion against the occupying English government back in 1593, he and two companions, Art and Henry O’Neill, were tossed in the tower.

The trio managed to make a getaway by climbing out of a toilet into the River Poddle. One might say they proceeded down the privy to the Poddle.

Pub Grub

Corned beef at O'Neill in Dublin, Ireland

If we were going to get everything in before dark we needed to get a move on, but first a pit stop for a late lunch.

Just off the campus we found a perfect spot for a little pub grub, O’Neill’s. (Perhaps an ancestor of the escapees?)

Any Irish pub worth its salt also serves hearty fare so we ordered lamb stew and a slab of corned beef. Oh, and of course, a couple o’ pints.

Picking our poison was no easy task since there were 45 different brews on tap.

Lamb stew at O'Neill in Dublin, Ireland

We did much more pub crawling… check it out!

Filled and quenched we were ready to make our way back to our accommodations at the Morrison Hotel. The route took us right through Dublin’s premier shopping district. Grafton Street, named for Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, has become the epicenter of upscale stores and tourism for the town.

The Tart with the Cart

For a while it was also home to one of the most famous citizens, Molly Malone.

The statue of Molly Malone in Dublin, Ireland
David SAYS he was looking at what Molly had in her baskets, but it sure doesn’t look like it!

The Irish love a song, or a tale, and Molly fills both bills by starring as a fishmonger by day and a street walker by night in the ballad bearing her name.

This has led to her nickname among Dubliners, The Tart with the Cart.

It is quite possible that Molly’s reputation has been unduly sullied, since the lyrics of the song make no mention of her nocturnal activities.

Whatever her moral character, the fictional figure was captured in bronze and unveiled on Grafton Street by Lord Mayor Ben Briscoe in 1988. On our visit we found her pushing a wagon full of cockles on Suffolk Street, where she is residing temporarily due to construction.

Bridging the Gap

Temple Bar in Dublin, Ireland

We tore ourselves away from Molly’s statuesque statue and headed toward the River Liffey.

When we reached the south bank we found ourselves smack in the middle of Temple Bar.

While this is definitely the place for pubs and nightlife, it is not named for that kind of bar.

The name refers to a strip of reclaimed land along the riverside, sort of like a sand bar, that was settled by the Temple family.

The Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland
Why not use the famous Ha’penny Bridge?

Our last landmark of the day was one that proved quite functional, since we had to get across the River Liffey one way or another.

Two hundred years ago ferries were the only way to cross, but then the Wellington Bridge was built in honor of the Duke of Wellington.

In order to keep the ferry operators from being driven out of business, a tariff of half a penny was charged to use the span.

The Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland

Later the name was officially changed to the Liffey Bridge, but by that time everybody called it the Ha’penny Bridge, because of the toll.

Of course, as time went by many more bridges were built to carry vehicles from one side of the river to the other, leaving the good old cast iron Ha’penny to serve only pedestrian traffic.

Crossing the bridge completed our day, and in doing so we also crossed off almost all of Dublin’s don’t miss sights. There was still one little place, or perhaps we should say people left to see, leprechauns, and Irish luck was with us, because we would take care of that top o’ the next morning at the National Leprechaun Museum.

That would make us lucky – and charmed.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Where we stayed: The uber-sleek and in-the-thick-of-it-all Morrison Hotel!The Morrison Hotel in Dublin, Ireland

See all of our adventures in Ireland!

A big thank you to Ireland.com for providing this lucky adventure. As always, all opinions are our own.

YOUR TURN: Where would be your first stop in Dublin? What did we miss that we should see the next time we go?

12 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Caregiver in San Diego

Hiring caregivers can be life-changing, but it should not be a leap of faith. The best way to protect your loved one and your peace of mind is to ask the questions that reveal what happens after the first impression… CONTINUE READING >>

If you are reading this, you have probably had that quiet “oh no” moment. Your parent calls, and you brace yourself. Maybe it was a fall. Maybe it was a missed medication. Or maybe it is the growing realization that you cannot be everywhere at once.

This is where many adult kids end up. What starts as helping a little quickly becomes a second job. At that point, the real question is not whether your parent needs support. It is whether you can find the right support, someone safe, steady, and respectful in the home.

Hiring caregivers in San Diego can be life-changing, but it should not be a leap of faith. The best way to protect your loved one and your peace of mind is to ask the questions that reveal what happens after the first impression.

Below are 12 questions to ask before you hire, whether you are working with 24 Hour Caregivers or considering independent help.

1) Are you an employee of an agency, or an independent caregiver?

This is not about judging anyone’s path. It is about clarity and accountability.

If you hire independently, you may be responsible for payroll setup, taxes, coverage gaps, and what happens if someone cancels last minute. With an agency, you are typically getting a system, including oversight, scheduling support, and backup coverage if there is an emergency.

For example, 24 Hour Caregivers staffs care with in-house W-2 caregivers rather than independent contractors, which helps families avoid surprises around liability and consistency.

2) What background checks do you run, and what do they include?

Do not settle for “We do background checks.” Ask what that actually means.

You want specifics, such as identity verification, criminal screenings, and reference checks. If the answer is vague, rushed, or defensive, treat that as information.

3) How do you screen caregivers before they are ever placed with a client?

This is different from background checks. Screening is about judgment, professionalism, and temperament.

Ask what they look for beyond experience. How do they evaluate communication style? What does a caregiver do if a client refuses a shower? How do they respond to confusion, frustration, or anxiety? A caregiver can be technically capable and still be the wrong fit for your home.

4) What training do caregivers receive, especially for common senior-care challenges?

Training matters because real life does not come with a script. If you are interviewing an agency, ask how training is updated and reinforced over time. If you are interviewing independently, ask what they have done recently to keep skills sharp.

5) Who supervises the caregiver, and how is quality monitored?

This question separates “someone who shows up” from “a care plan that is being managed.”

Ask who checks in on performance, how concerns are handled, and what happens if you want to adjust the plan. A strong provider will not take it personally when you ask about supervision. They will welcome it.

6) What services will you provide in our home, and what will you not do?

This prevents misunderstandings that can become stressful later.

A caregiver can be a wonderful support for daily living, including meals, bathing assistance, mobility help, companionship, and keeping the home safe. Some tasks cross into medical care and require different credentials. A professional should be able to draw clear boundaries without making you feel silly for asking.

7) How do you handle medication support?

This one matters because medication errors can be serious.

Ask exactly what “medication help” means. Many families need reminders, routine support, and help coordinating refills or pickups. More complex situations may require a higher level of oversight and coordination through appropriate channels.

24 Hour Caregivers distinguishes support like medication reminders as part of daily care routines and includes more structured medication support within their home health and chronic condition care approach.

8) What experience do you have with my parent’s specific situation?

This is where you get practical.

Instead of asking, “Have you worked with dementia?” ask, “Have you supported someone who wakes up confused at night?” Ask what they would do if your parent refuses to eat. Ask how they handle transfers from bed to walker. The goal is to hear how they think, not just what they have done.

9) What does a typical shift look like in a home like ours?

A great caregiver does not just sit in the home. They create rhythm and stability.

Ask what a normal day includes. Will they support morning hygiene and dressing, meals and hydration, safe mobility, light housekeeping tied to safety, and companionship that actually engages your parent?

If your parent has appointments around San Diego, also ask how transportation, timing, and handoffs are handled.

10) How do you match caregivers to clients?

Ask what they consider when matching a caregiver to your parent. The best providers look beyond availability and focus on fit, including personality, communication style, language preferences, and comfort with personal care. They should also consider experience with mobility challenges or memory changes. When the match is right, care feels more natural, routines go smoother, and your loved one is more likely to accept support without tension.

11) What happens if the caregiver is sick, late, or cannot make it?

Care does not pause when someone gets the flu.

This is one of the biggest differences between agency care and informal arrangements. Families often choose agencies because they can provide coverage and adjust schedules without leaving you scrambling.

For around-the-clock needs, reliability becomes even more critical. Many “24-hour care” setups are staffed in rotating shifts, often two 12-hour shifts or three 8-hour shifts, so coverage stays alert and consistent.

12) How do you communicate with the family, and how often?

If you are coordinating care from across town or across the country, communication is everything.

Ask whether you will get updates after each shift, whether they keep notes or a care log, how incidents are reported, and how quickly you will be notified if something changes. A professional caregiver should understand that family communication is part of the job, not an annoyance.

A Few Red Flags Worth Paying Attention To

You do not need to interrogate anyone, but you do want to notice patterns.

      • They get irritated by basic safety questions
      • They are vague about background checks, training, or boundaries
      • There is no plan for coverage if they cancel
      • They overpromise what they can do medically
      • They talk more about “needing work” than caring for the person in front of them

Where 24 Hour Caregivers Fits in for San Diego Families

If you are comparing options in San Diego and want more than a name on a calendar, 24 Hour Caregivers is built for families who need dependable, professional care at home. Their caregivers support daily living needs like personal care, meal preparation, mobility assistance, companionship, and safety-focused routines, so your loved one can stay safe and comfortable at home in San Diego.

When care needs increase after a hospitalization, during dementia progression, or when nights become unsafe, having a coordinated team and a clear plan helps San Diego families reduce stress and prevent gaps in care.

Talk to 24 Hour Caregivers About Care Options in San Diego

If you are feeling overwhelmed, start with one conversation and use these 12 questions as your checklist.

Reach out to 24 Hour Caregivers to talk through what level of in-home care in San Diego fits your parent’s needs, whether that is a few hours a week, overnight supervision, or true 24-hour coverage. Your parent deserves care that protects their dignity. You deserve support you can count on.

Finding Cheap Family Vacations that Don’t Feel Cheap

Even though our kids have flown the nest, we still remember how important affordable family vacations can be for making lasting memories, enjoying each other’s company, learning new things, and just plain relaxing and recharging… CONTINUE READING >>

You probably know the old saying about how the only thing certain is death and taxes, well we think that there is one more thing in life that is certain, traveling costs money. But just how much we spend is most definitely not certain.

There are so many possibilities, from the very low budget to the lap of luxury, and everywhere in between. However, when traveling with a family those high-end luxury excursions are almost never a viable option, but if you look around you can find a bargain on fantastic and affordable family vacations.

That said, we do understand that even the lower cost trips can be pretty pricey these days, so we got to thinking, and while running back through our old memory banks we came up with some of our favorite places that can still be enjoyed at a reasonable price. And even though we don’t travel as a family much anymore, we still remember how to look for family vacations on a budget.

Driving to Save Dollars

A big part of how much it costs to go somewhere depends on how you want to get there. The lowest cost is almost always going by car and staying at family friendly budget hotels and motels. These usually have swimming pools, and in our experience both kids and adults love a pool. So that’s a good start.

We highly recommend that you choose a destination fairly close to home for this type of vacation, that way the trip doesn’t become all about the driving. This is sometimes called a stay-cation, or as we like to call it, Gypsynesting in your own backyard, but we do feel like expanding the area is also acceptable.

So if you live in the Midwest, maybe the Wisconsin Dells, or a nearby theme park like Six Flags would be a good idea. Or further out west, several National Parks such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite, or Yellowstone are wonderful choices. They are all bucket list items that we are thrilled to have ticked off our list. Down south, a beach getaway is never too far away along the Gulf Coast or in Florida.

We have had a couple amazing visits to Washington, D.C. too. And our kids, who were teens at the time, had a great time as well. One good idea for saving some money on these types of trips is to stay outside the main part of town because hotel rates can be half or even less of the downtown prices. That goes for the restaurant prices too.

And you can save even more on any adventure like this by camping. There are obviously campgrounds at and around the National Parks, but guess what? There are private campgrounds almost everywhere, including near any city you might want to see. Whether in a tent, a trailer, or a big, fancy motorhome, this is always cheaper than staying in a hotel, and camp cooked meals are an added bonus.

Traveling by car is still one of our favorite ways to get around because we really like the freedom to go wherever and whenever we want. It’s great because if we see something interesting or fun along the way we can just pull off the road and make a quick itinerary change.

Let’s Fly Away

When traveling farther from home, flying becomes more attractive and can actually save some money. When you add up the cost of fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle, hotel rooms, and meals for all of the extra time driving takes, then at some point flying becomes the better bargain. Plus, sometimes it is simply impractical or impossible to drive.

For example, once our kids were a little older they were into history and ancient ruins, so we looked at the Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula and found it to be just about the prefect destination for a big family trip. Cancun, Mexico makes for a great base camp for enjoying the turquoise waters and white sand beaches it is famous for, and also offers much more as a destination for both relaxation and adventure.

But there was no way we were going to drive there, so we figuring out how to keep it affordable even though we had to fly. In fact, we found we didn’t even need a car once we got there. We saved a bunch by staying in the town of Cancun instead of at the beachfront resorts, and by using our feet, Uber, or cabs to get around town, then taking busses for our longer excursions.

The Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichen Itzá are both an easy escape for a day trip or longer. And we discovered an incredible experience near Playa del Carmen at an underground river called Rio Secreto. This is way more than just a cave, it is truly a river below the surface. We floated downstream for quite a distance and got to “see” the darkest dark ever. Absolutely no light whatsoever. It made us feel like we were floating in space.

We totally understand how flying has become more and more stressful and expensive, but if you are able to be a little bit flexible on your travel dates, you can still find some good deals and maybe even avoid some of the crowds by traveling on weekdays and in the lower seasons. It is always worth it to avoid the big holiday weekends and busiest times of year. Your budget will thank you.

Making an Affordable Family Vacation Even More Affordable

As we just mentioned, when you choose to travel can make a huge difference in how much it costs. But we have come across a few other ways to stretch our travel dollars. Perhaps the best one is free stuff. That’s right, there is a whole bunch of free stuff out there just waiting to be scooped up by savvy travelers.

Many cities have free guided tours available, just check online when you arrive. We have used these in several places and found them to be really great. They are usually led by volunteers who are local and quite knowledgeable about their hometown. The tours can be a clever way to not only learn about a new city, but to get some real inside information on the best restaurants, attractions, and local events. Bonus point, the guides usually know where the best deals are too.

There are also tons of free hiking and biking trails just about everywhere we’ve been. Our favorites are the rail trails, where old train tracks have been converted into bike paths. The best thing about them is that trains can’t go up steep hills so the trails are fairly level and easy. We have found amazing trails that are easy to ride even in very hilly areas, but we really like the ones that follow along a river or the beach.

Now, even though our kids have flown the nest, we still remember how important affordable family vacations can be for making lasting memories, enjoying each other’s company, learning new things, and just plain relaxing and recharging.

So let’s get going…

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Sir, Yes Sur! Driving the California Coast


The images look unbelievable, but they are real and they are spectacular. This is Big Sur. Waves crashing against the craggy coast, mist drifting up mountains that rise abruptly from the sea, and bridges impossibly clinging to cliffs made for a perfect day trip ending with elephant seals… CONTINUE READING >> 

We drove the coast highway through Big Sur a few years ago and it is truly spectacular! So, let’s take a look back at one of the world’s most beautiful drives.

Waves crashing against the craggy coast, mist drifting up mountains that rise abruptly from the sea, bridges impossibly clinging to cliffs — we’d seen the iconic photos of the California shore along the Pacific Coast Highway.

The images look unbelievable, but they are real and they are spectacular.

This is Big Sur.

The name Big Sur dates back to the Spanish explorers who dubbed this area El Sur Grande” meaning The Big South.

Sounds a little like a college football conference but really, this land IS big, sir.

This region has no official borders but is loosely considered the column of coast flanked by mountaintops and ocean that meanders between Carmel and San Simeon.

Running about ninety miles, it seems custom-made for a great day’s drive. Easy, even when including stops for sightseeing and sustenance.

For most of the trip we were within sight of the ocean and often looking straight down on it.

It can make a body queasy.

The Pacific Coast Highway, California State Highway 1, is a remarkable piece of road, and  it is a good idea to keep your vehicle in top condition.

Thirty-three bridges connect one wickedly winding section of cliff-clinging roadway to the next.

It’s slow going and imperative to keep the old eyeballs glued to the blacktop — hard to do considering the magnificent vista viewing opportunities.

More than once Veronica gave me a gentle reminder that certain death may be impending if I didn’t focus…

OK, some not so gentle, depending on how many wheels were hanging over the edge of the cliff.

Construction of the road through Big Sur was completed in 1937 after eighteen years of work. Prior to that this was one of America’s most inaccessible areas — even now only about a thousand people live in the region.

The surprising lack of development is due not only to the difficult terrain, but also the incessant efforts of the inhabitants fighting to preserve this pristine place.

Monterey County has banned billboards along Highway 1 and has adopted some of the strictest land use policies in America — disallowing any new construction within view of the highway.

Believe me, the unobstructed view makes a huge difference.

These policies have kept Big Sur remarkably rustic.

There are no high-rise hotels, no fast food franchises, no supermarkets — or even towns to speak of — and only three gas stations along the way.

Most of the few lodging and dining options available are in Big Sur River Valley, where the road leaves the coast and enters a redwood forest for a bit.

When we stopped for a bite and a break we discovered that Big Sur is partially inhabited by a species I hadn’t encountered since my days in the Colorado Rockies back in the seventies.

Back woods, off the grid — part Grizzly Adams, part hippy, completely fascinating. Very friendly, very groovy and unafraid to train a wolf or half-wolf as a pet. Back in the day we called them mountain goats, not sure what they’re called in these parts, perhaps “Big Sirs.”

Whatever they go by, it was wonderful to make the reacquaintance.

About halfway down is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

We parked next to McWay Creek and took the short hike to McWay Cove where the creek drops eighty feet over the edge into the ocean as McWay Falls.

We quickly learned why the trail to the falls was called Overlook Trail — the untouched little cove is wisely protected from large, clumsy tourist feet and we had to be satisfied with looking down upon it.

Nevertheless, this is a must-see spot along the McWay.

As we wound our way south, the scenery became slightly less spectacular and more and more surfer-dude-in-search-of-the-gnarly-wave.

Little did we know, we were in for a BIG surprise.

We rounded a corner and out of the blue were saw hundreds — if not thousands — of ginormous elephant seals lazily lounging in the afternoon sun.

Piles upon piles of blubbered bodies basking on the beach by Piedras Blancas.

We slammed on the brakes and wheeled off the highway into the parking area for a closer look.

The elephant seal had all but disappeared by the early 1900s due to excessive hunting.

Then, all of the sudden, in November of 1990 about twenty of the giants unexpectedly showed up in this small cove.

We’re ba-ack!

The population dramatically grew and by 1996 this beach became the birthing place, or rookery, for over a thousand new pups.

Through the efforts of The Friends of the Seals Central Coast, parking and viewing areas were constructed for the safety of both the seals and the spectators.

Members of The Friends man the viewing area to answer questions and make sure that nobody does anything profoundly stupid like go in for a close up look at a five thousand pound bull.

Different seasons bring different activities for the seals.

In the winter the females birth the pups, wean them and prepare themselves for breeding.

Meanwhile, the males stake out territory for their harems, defending or invading with extraordinary jousting battles.

It’s quite a spectacle, with a dose of gross.

Proboscises and slobber fly as the giant bulls bash their calloused necks against each other in an effort to drive away their rivals.

These bad boys really know how to throw their weight around. The winner gets the babes, the loser tries another foe or gives up and has to watch the procreation from afar.

Pretty strong motivation to win.

When springtime arrives, the adults skedaddle and the pups are left to fend for themselves.

No boomerang pups in elephant seal land. The pups seem quite adept at learning to swim on their own when the time comes to go off into the big wide world.

Watch: A one day-old baby seal hangs with his mommy, while the big boys fight for territory!

Over the summer, everybody returns to molt before heading back out to sea to stuff their faces and make more blubber.

The fall brings the juveniles, too young to breed, in for a rest before they have to clear the beach for the next round of birthing, battling and baby-making.

We were lucky enough on our visit to see the first pup of the season — just a few hours old.

Veronica’s mommy instinct kicked into high gear and proclaimed him “tiny and cute.” I suppose he was tiny compared to his blubbery beach mates, but he already weighed in at about seventy pounds.

Cute, I’ll give him — all babies are cute. It’s a survival mechanism, this way you love them even when they keep you up all night.

Have to say, it works like a charm.

As daylight waned, we completed our journey through Big Sur by making our way to Morro Bay, the nearest town of any size, in search of a place to sleep for the night.

The city is dominated by a 581-foot ginormous volcanic plug perched out in the bay… ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for the Gibraltar of the Pacific… Morro Rock!

Named and charted by the Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542, stories vary on whether he meant morro, a crown shaped rock or moro, a Moor’s head when he dubbed the protrusion.

Noggin or knob, it still made a bodacious backdrop for the sunset of an exhilarating day through Big Sur.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

See all of our adventures in California!

Do Alligators Like Tabasco?

For a long time roads weren’t an option in South Louisiana. This was some wild country back in the day, not Bourbon Street wild, but wilderness wild. The incredibly wet, squishy ground made bayous the only reasonable routes for transportation and Bayou Teche was the Superhighway. Following The Teche, we set out to discover the real… CONTINUE READING >>

For a long time roads weren’t an option in South Louisiana. This was some wild country back in the day, not Bourbon Street wild, but wilderness wild.

The incredibly wet, squishy ground made boats the way to get around and bayous the only reasonable routes for transportation. Back then, Bayou Teche was the Superhighway.

Following The Teche, we set out to discover the real Acadiana.

Our odyssey began in Breaux Bridge, which gets its name from a footbridge across the bayou built by Firmin Breaux back in 1799.

The town, officially dubbed “The Crawfish Capital of the World” by the Louisiana legislature, is said to be the first place where mudbugs were ever offered on a menu, and the birthplace of Crawfish Étouffée. Well then, let’s eat!

We headed for Rocky and Lisa Sonnier’s Bayou Boudin & Cracklin, a real slice of Cajun culture on the banks of Bayou Teche.

The menu is flexible, depending on the time of day and day of the week, but there is always boudin, pronounced approximately boo-daah, and cracklins.

Traditional boudin is made with sausage casing and stuffed with a delicious mixture of pork, pork liver, onion, spices and rice.

This particular afternoon the Sonniers were serving up some seafood boudin alongside the standard variety. Crawfish, shrimp and crab are used in place of the pork products, and seeing as how we were in the capital and everything, well, what else could we order?

Good thing too, because there ain’t no better boudin, anywhere, anyhow, I guarantee. Big chunks of crawdad tail and shrimp stuffed into natural casing, a little hot sauce and a cold beer and ooooweee, it don’ git no better dan dat.

Since Rocky is known in these parts as the Cracklin King, we had to take a crack at a crackle too. Most people might call these pork rinds but that would be like calling The Queen Mary a boat. These are fresh fried and have a flavor no bagged pig skin could ever match.

Long live the king.

Rocky and Lisa also offer cabins overlooking Bayou Teche, for a real Cajun bed and breakfast experience.

I tell you what, nothing says good morning like a plate full of cracklins and a gator on your porch. As tempting as a stay in the “Fifties Cabin,” described in the brochure as the “Most modern with Elvis and decorations from the 50’s” sounded, we decided to move on.

Wait, what?

Did that say we actually get to stay with Elvis? So THAT’s where he’s been hiding.

Bellies filled, we headed south tracing The Teche through St. Martin Parish down into Iberia Parish. In the town of New Iberia, The Shadows-on-the-Teche is certainly worth a look.

This beautiful example of an antebellum mansion from the early 1830s is now a museum. Better yet, it’s right on the way to the promised land for pepper sauce lovers, Avery Island.

Every bottle of Tabasco sauce ever made came from this little island.

A massive salt dome, said to be the size of Mount Everest, lies just beneath the surface. The huge formation pushed this spot up above the surrounding swamp.

The deposits led to the island becoming the site of America’s first commercial salt mine. Turns out that this just so happens to be a perfect place to grow peppers too.

Prior to The Civil War, Edmund McIlhenny married into the Avery family, moved onto the island bearing their name, and started a life of salt and peppers.

After the war, he began experimenting with a sauce made from those peppers. It seems that he got the formula right, because untold millions of bottles have been sold in over 160 countries around the world.

The first thing we noticed upon arriving to the island was the smell. It simply reeks of Tabasco, which is not a bad thing as far as we’re concerned.

After a few minutes, we got used to it and didn’t even notice. Either that or our smell buds had been completely fried.

The tour through the factory was short and sweet. After a brief film, we all headed down a hallway with windows overlooking the shop floor. As we walked along, we observed every phase of Tabasco production.

We got to see the big barrels of mashed peppers being aged for the required three years.

Next we saw the liquid from that properly aged mixture being drained off and stirred into giant vats with vinegar and salt from the island’s own mines.

At the end of the hall, we watched while the final product was squirted into bottles, labeled and boxed up for shipping to the far corners of the globe.

A member of the McIlhenny family still personally oversees every aspect of the operation. The peppers are grown with seeds, chosen by a real live McIlhenny, from each season’s best plants.

Meticulously tended in their patches around the island until harvest time, the peppers are hand picked at the perfect point of redness.

Each pepper picker carries a “petite baton rouge” (small red stick) to match the exact McIlhenny-decried shade of crimson. This attention to detail continues throughout entire production process.

There is of course the obligatory crap shop at the end of the tour. Anything and everything Tabasco is available here.

The usual souvenir items, plus countless varieties of Tabasco sauces, condiments, canned goods and prepared foods.

Now we both like hot stuff as much as the next guy, but the gift shop had a few items that tested our limits. Not everything needs Tabasco.

Let’s just say that ice cream and soda pop aren’t improved by the addition of the hot sauce.

Sharing Avery Island with the Tabasco plant is a botanical garden and bird sanctuary, Jungle Gardens and Bird City. In the 1890s, just before taking over as President of Tabasco from his father, E.A. “Mr. Ned” McIlhenny started this refuge in an effort to save the snowy egrets.

These beautiful birds had been hunted to near extinction for their decorative plumes. From Mr. Ned’s initial eight birds, the colony has thrived and now thousands migrate here every spring.

These Jungle Gardens are lovingly landscaped with azaleas, Japanese camellias, Egyptian papyrus, bamboo and of course live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.

A shrine to an ancient Buddha, a gift to McIlhenny back in 1936, stands as the centerpiece of the “Jungle.” It really is a beautiful place and we had a fantastic afternoon.

Ah Southern springtime! Blue skies, colorful wild flowers, the kudzu coming in and the algae pond scum greening up so nicely.

Beautiful, and made even better by the fact that we didn’t get attacked by a single carnivorous swamp dweller.

For most visitors this should never be an issue, since they drive through the gardens in the safety of their cars, but we had the bright idea to ride our trusty bikes through the jungle.

The folks at the front gate gave us the green light, and it seemed like a great way to experience the landscape until we rounded a corner and found ourselves about ten feet away from a six foot alligator.

Yup, this is a nature preserve so there are no fences or cages. No motes or walls or any other barriers. The gators roam free to feed on any stray cyclists that might wander too close to the water.

No mention of this when purchasing a ticket. I guess they figured it doesn’t take too much brain power to understand that steering clear of large, sharp toothed swamp reptiles is a good idea.

Plus they did put up a few little signs around the watery spots that say: Alligators Are Dangerous.

Seems like plenty of precaution, if not for the fact that we had just come from the Tabasco tour and smelled like delicious sauce.

Do we know if anyone has ever been eaten?

In no mood to find out we gave the gators plenty of room, and enjoyed the rest of our ride without incident.

We even hung out with Buddha for a while. Very peaceful, Zen even.

Once the sun started getting low we headed back out to follow the bayou. Later we learned that alligators don’t really think of humans as a delicious dish.

No mention though, rather the smell of vinegar, peppers and salt might change their minds.

Do gators like Tabasco?

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Savannah Squared

Savannah is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. But the city is gorgeous and the pace slow, so it seemed like a perfect place to take a little bicycle tour. We did know that Forrest Gump waited for his bus somewhere… CONTINUE READING >>

Factor's Walk, Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. Or at least we didn’t.

But the city is gorgeous and the pace slow, so it seemed like a perfect place to take a little bicycle tour.

We did know that Forrest Gump waited for his bus somewhere in Savannah, so that seemed like the perfect place to begin our explorations.

With a minimal amount of Googling we learned that the movie scenes on the bus bench were shot at Chippewa Square, one of the twenty-two historic squares that remain from the original twenty-four that the old city was laid out around.

All we had to do was follow Bull Street through a couple other squares until we found the statue of General James Oglethorpe.

Chippewa Square, Savannah, Georgia

We didn’t know we’d get a square that commemorates a whole lot more history than a Tom Hanks movie, even if it is a really good movie.

In fact, there’s no acknowledgment of the cinematic history made here whatsoever. No plaque, marker or sign, not even the park bench ol’ Forrest sat upon expounding his observations.

That bench was a fake, made of plastic and is now in a museum.

What we got was plenty of real life history memorialized. Laid out in 1815 and named in honor of American soldiers killed in the Battle of Chippawa in the War of 1812, Chippewa Square is presided over by the looming bronze statue of James Oglethorpe at its center.

(Note, for no apparent reason the different spellings of Chippewa are correct, box of chocolates, you never know, and so forth.)

City Hall, Savannah, Georgia

General Oglethorpe founded Savannah, along with the whole colony of Georgia, when he landed on Yamacraw bluff, the site of the current City Hall, back on February 12, 1733. He laid out the city from that spot around four open squares.

Anticipating growth, places for additional squares were designed into the plan and sure enough, squares were added over the following years. By 1851, the city surrounded twenty-four squares, each with its own theme honoring people or events in Savannah’s history. Kind of like the squares in a box of… oh never mind.

Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia

So we had picked a good confection with this first stop, on to our next treat, Forsyth Park. Thirty acres of paths and gardens right smack dab in the middle of Savannah’s historic district.

The park and its famous fountain were designed to give a Parisian flair to the city. A Confederate Memorial Statue was added later, giving Forsyth more Southern charm than European flair, but hey, a box of chocolates can have bonbons and pecan clusters.

In the park we ran into, not literally, luckily, street artist extraordinaire , K.C., weaving palm fronds into flowers. Mesmerized, we had to stop and watch. Palms are a huge part of the decor and charm of the city, lining the boulevards and accenting the antebellum mansions.

Seeing he had an audience, our weaver worked wonders with the foliage, sprayed it with rose scent, and offered it to Veronica. To top of the experience, K.C. filled us in on the history of the roses he creates, while barely looking down at his fingertips as he worked.

We’d rate that right up there with finding a dark chocolate with caramel filling, our personal favorite.

Wedding Cake Mansion, Savannah, Georgia

As we worked our way down toward the waterfront, we passed block after block of ornate old homes, many, like the Wedding Cake Mansion, which are now available for events or even as vacation rentals.

Having a holiday in the historic district would no doubt be quite stylish, but not quite our cup of tea.

Plus we were getting too hungry for any more mansion gawking. To the waterfront – they must be cooking up some sea critters down there.

Fiddler's Crab House, Savannah, Georgia

We rode till we hit water, and found that River Street is lined with eateries.

Fiddler’s Crab House caught our eyes, especially since they had “Lowcountry Boil” prominently scrawled on their outdoor chalkboard.

We were hooked, and felt even better when we were seated at a table with a nice river view and a big bucket in the center of the table.You know good things are coming when there's a bucket in the table!

Obviously they were prepared for us to toss mass quantities of expended exoskeletons into this tin pail.

We started out with the “Savannah Style” Crab Stew, as much to kill time until the boil arrived as to see what it was like.

Turned out to be very good, a lot like the She Crab Soup found in Carolina, but bring on the boil.

Lowcountry Boil in Savannah, Georgia

Ah, a gigantic steaming platter of shrimp, sausage, corn on the cob and Lowcountry potatoes arrived. In case that wasn’t enough, they threw in a side of slaw.

We think that this was actually meant for just one person, but we split it, and still could barely make it back to our bikes afterward. We didn’t even have room for a chocolate.

In lieu of calling an ambulance, we decided to work it off, so we left the bikes locked up and walked around the old, hard-on-the-butt-when-biking cobblestone streets along the waterfront.Riverfront Savannah

These buildings, converted into restaurants, bars and crap shops, were the lifeblood of Savannah back when they were cotton warehouses.

Stair-stepped up the bluff with entrances on three levels, from the water level fronts on River Street up to the Bay Street entrances facing the city at the top. In between, a hidden alleyway known as Factor’s Walk is snuggly tucked in.

Factor's Walk, Savannah, Georgia

This is where cotton merchants, called factors, transacted their business in the days when cotton was king.

A series of stairways, bridges and catwalks access hidden doorways, connected by narrow streets paved with the ballast stones brought in by the trade ships coming in from Europe. In the 1800s, this was the Wall Street of cotton.

Click photos of Factor’s Walk to enlarge.

River Street Streetcar, Savannah, Georgia

As cool as it looked by daylight, we just knew we had to see it in the dark, that left us with some time to kill.

We moseyed back down to the river, across the streetcar tracks, and onto the river walk for a view of the old time paddle wheelers, as well as the modern giant container ships, coming and going from this bustling port.

Along the walkway we found plenty of historical markers explaining the history of Savannah and the importance that the shipping industry has played.

World War II memorial designed by Eric Meyerhoff

As we walked, we came upon a giant globe, split in half. A closer look revealed “The World Apart,” a World War II memorial designed by Eric Meyerhoff, and dedicated just last year.

The split sphere represents the Pacific and European theaters of the war and honors Savannah’s World War II veterans, living and deceased.

One of those surviving heroes happened to be present with his daughter. They were looking for the donated brick with his name on it, and when they found it, we happily snapped a photo for them and thanked him for his service. No candy could be sweeter than that moment.

The Waving Girl, by Felix De Weldon

At the seaward end of the walk, another statue caught our attention. The tale is told that from 1887 to 1931 Florence Martus ran out to the shore and greeted every ship that entered the port of Savannah.

Theories as to why are as numerous as the citizens of Savannah, but for whatever reason, she became a local legend, and had the Liberty Ship SS Florence Martus named in her honor in 1943.

In 1971 Florence and her trusty collie were immortalized with this phenomenal statue, “The Waving Girl,” by Felix De Weldon, the sculptor of the iconic Iwo Jima flag planting scene at the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Factor's Walk at night

Since the sun was sinking, it was time to fetch our bikes, put them away, and head back to the darkening alleys of Factor’s Walk.

With the old gaslights flickering and the moon rising, it felt like we might find a wayward pirate, confederate ghost or maybe Jack The Ripper around any corner. No wonder Savannah ghost tours are so popular!

But we steeled our spines and completed the length of the Walk, loving every minute of it.

Savannah really was like a box of chocolates, in that we never knew what we were gonna get. But everything we got turned out to be delectable. Not one yucky, pink gooey middle in the whole box.

And that’s all we have to say about that.

Click here for a photo gallery Factor’s Walk

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Seeking Spain’s Hidden Gems Seville and Zaragoza

We think it’s time to start singing the praises of Spain and we found two cities that we have not visited before, Seville and Zaragoza. They may not be as well known as Barcelona or Madrid, but there are plenty of good reasons to visit both… CONTINUE READING >>

I was just thinking, dangerous I know, that people ask us all the time about which are our favorite places after all of our travels. It’s a tough question for us because we have loved so many that our answer seems to change with our mood. But when someone asked about Europe the other day we weren’t sure what to say.

We have been smitten with Italy for a long time, ever since I used to work there a lot back in the nineties, and France is big on our list now because our daughter and grandchildren live in Paris. But it just hit me that we seldom think of Spain. I don’t know why because we have been many times and always loved it.

So I think it’s time to fix that and start singing the praises of Spain. That got us looking and we found two cities that we have not visited before, Seville and Zaragoza. They are certainly not as well known as Barcelona or Madrid, but there are plenty of good reasons to visit both.

We are more familiar with Seville, because you know, the barber and all, so let’s start there. But before we get into our exploration, we need to find a place to stay. From our previous trips to Spain we know that ILUNION hotels are some of the best in the country, so the ILUNION Alcora Sevilla is our top pick. They, like all ILUNION properties, offer accessible rooms and welcome all pets and service animals so that everyone, including people with reduced mobility, can enjoy all of the comforts and services of this 4 star property.

Better yet, the fantastic rooms and amenities are included in special discount rates for Early Booking and Long Stays. So we can enjoy a beautiful room, gorgeous pools and gardens, and all the wonderful options without spending a fortune.

While we were making our plans we decided that early spring is the perfect time to go. The weather could not be better, and the orange blossoms are in bloom. Not only do we get to stroll through the over 40,000 orange trees, but we also have the magical aroma to surround us for our stay.

They make a perfect backdrop for visiting the Cathedral of Seville, which is one of, if not the, largest church in the world. We hear that it depends on how it is measured with volume being the key factor. And we definitely must see the palace Real Alcázar, not just for the awesome gardens and extravagant architecture, but to stand in the room where Christopher Columbus planned his journey to the Americas.

Then, just when the orange blossoms are fading, Semana Santa, or Holy Week, begins. This year it starts on March 27th and Seville is known as one of the best places in Europe for experiencing the celebration leading up to Easter with floats, parades, and pageantry throughout the city.

Our timing couldn’t be better to continue our trek because Zaragoza also throws quite a celebration for Semana Santa, so we can check out both. Better yet, there is also the ILUNION Romareda in Zaragoza so our hotel needs are all taken care of. We hear that the breakfast is really something special and, as always, they are pet and family friendly.

Located near both the Romareda football stadium and the National Auditorium, this modern hotel has quick, easy access to the Delicias train station and is only a half an hour from the airport. But it is the more ancient attractions of the city that caught our attention.

Zaragoza was once a thriving Roman metropolis named for Emperor Augustus, and quite a bit of the ancient archaeological artifacts still remain. The Forum, Thermal Baths, and the Great Theater, all portray the history and grandeur of the city as it was during the Roman Empire.

About a thousand years later the Moors built the amazing Aljafería Palace, which we would more likely call a castle. At least that’s how it looks to us from the outside. Inside is another story. From the marble floors to the incredible details on the archways and ceilings, the entire residence shouts royal palace.

After our palatial explorations we should be needing a bite to eat. We don’t know why but all of that luxury makes us hungry. Good thing Zaragoza is well known for having plenty of great tapas bars. We hear that the best ones are in the old city, known as Casco Viejo.

Several excellent establishments offer classic bites, including Seafood tapas. Some have specials called a Tabla, which is a wooden plate of cheese and sausages served with a bottle of wine at a discount price. Sounds good to us.

Almost as good as discovering Seville and Zaragoza.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com