The GypsyNesters

Channeling our Inner Celebrity in Boston!

Once again we found ourselves at the fantastic Life@50+ Expo – this time in Boston!

And this time we landed on the cover of AARP Magazine! Well, sort of.

Becoming cover models is just one of the myriads of fun activities we participated in while visiting Beantown.

While pretending to be celebrities, we found ourselves mingling with several real celebrities… CONTINUE READING >>

We were guests of AARP Members Advantage at the AARP Life@50+ Expo. As always, all opinions are our own.

Once again we found ourselves at the fantastic Life@50+ Expo – this time in Boston!

And this time we landed on the cover of AARP Magazine! Well, sort of.

Becoming cover models is just one of the myriads of fun activities we participated in while visiting Beantown. And though it’s just a fantasy cover, it’s certainly a fantasy well worth having!

While pretending to be celebrities, we found ourselves mingling with several real celebrities – it’s nuts how many made the Life@50+ scene this year!

“Talking about singing is like singing about baseball” Linda Ronstadt w/@soledadobrien #AARPBos14 #LifeAt50 @AARP pic.twitter.com/vg9huvMKQq

— The GypsyNesters (@gypsynester) May 9, 2014

At the Life Reimagined stage, we listened to the incredible Linda Ronstadt speak with Soledad O’Brien about her life after Parkinson’s disease has taken away her ability to sing. Now adding author to her list of accomplishments, she is forging ahead into new territory – what a woman! Later, we chatted a bit more personally backstage – a dream come true for our California-rock-obsessed selves!

Yes! @WhoopiGoldberg & @jayleno dishing for us at @AARP‘s #LifeAt50 #AARPBos14 pic.twitter.com/6PyPenMGpe

— The GypsyNesters (@gypsynester) May 10, 2014

On the main stage, we watched Whoopi Goldberg and Jay Leno hysterically dish about life. Afterward we had a chance to meet them.

Here’s a photo of our buddies Elin and Allen backstage…

…because ours turned out like this (note to self: set your camera settings properly before handing your camera over to folks equally as excited to meet Jay and Whoopi):

Oops! The GypsyNesters pose with Jay Leno and Whoopi Goldberg

Maybe the blurriness comes from the fact that we were shocked that Whoopi remembered meeting David at Jazz Fest when he was performing in New Orleans. FIFTEEN years ago. True story. The woman has a mind like a steel trap!

.@lifereimagined asks “What’s Next?” – #travel is #1 dream for Boomers! #AARPBos14 #LifeAt50 @AARP pic.twitter.com/tVU9ig4J9G

— The GypsyNesters (@gypsynester) May 9, 2014

Another way we AARP-ers are treated like superstars is the many ways we can flash our AARP cards for travel discounts. We headed to our favorite pavilion, AARPDiscounts.com, to get the scoop:

Brand new! @AARP members get $40 membership & $40 voucher for @zipcar w/ @AARPMemberAdv! #AARPBos14 #LifeAt50 pic.twitter.com/3zc1LQzGRQ

— The GypsyNesters (@gypsynester) May 8, 2014

In addition to the great new deal from zipcar, members receive up to 30% off Avis, up to $400 off British Airways flights, as well as discounts from Vacations by Rail, hotel and cruise savings, and, our personal go-to site, AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia!

New to the line up is Liberty Travel – a full service travel agency with 24/7 support and emergency services for those of us who enjoy the full travel package experience with knowledgeable agents. Follow AARP Member Advantages on Facebook to keep up with the latest.

Packing food bags for @Gr8BosFoodBank at @AARP Community Day of Service! #AARPBos14 #Lifeat50 pic.twitter.com/dcifmATMmb

— The GypsyNesters (@gypsynester) May 9, 2014

Our newfound fame would go to waste if we didn’t give back, right? All kidding aside, our favorite part of the expo is the Celebration of Service. Prior to every national event, thousands of AARP-ers are unleashed into the host city in order to do good in droves.

This year we were proud to participate by packing food bags for the hungry of Boston.

At the AARP Bookstore, there were authors galore – signing books, reading passages, and mingling with attendees. We tried to pick up pointers so we’re ready when our book comes out in February!

The Supreme Mary Wilson invites ecstatic @AARP -ers up for Stop in the Name of Love! #AARPBos14 #LifeAt50 pic.twitter.com/xdpP5mOTvK

— The GypsyNesters (@gypsynester) May 10, 2014

Our final brush with greatness came when Mary Wilson and The Spinners hit the stage for a concert we will never forget!

Mary Wilson and the Spinners took the stage at AARP's Life@50+ Expo

What a way to end our stay, we can hardly wait until the next Life@50+ in Miami!

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

We were guests of AARP Members Advantage at the AARP Life@50+ Expo. As always, all opinions are our own.

Also at Life@50+ – the Movies for Grownups Film Festival
See the big time we had last year in Atlanta!

Picture This: Union Station in Washington, DC

Union Station in Washington, DC is the most impressive depot we have ever traveled through.

From the bright shopping area around the gates, to the amazing, massive main hall almost one hundred feet high, the station left our left our jaws dropping.

The thirty-six… CONTINUE READING >>

Thanks to Amtrak for providing the train travel portion of this adventure through Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, DC! As always, all opinions are our own.

Washington DC's Union Station

Exterior close up of Union Station, DC — The statues along the top of the exterior each weigh 25 tons and represent fire, electricity, agriculture and mechanics.

Washington DC's Union Station

Union Station in Washington, DC is the most impressive depot we have ever traveled through.

From the bright shopping area around the gates, to the amazing, massive main hall almost one hundred feet high, the station left our jaws dropping.

The statues in Union Station are nudes, but shields have been put up hide this fact. Washington, DC

The thirty-six statues in the main hall are Roman legionnaires and are depicted nude.

In order to protect the eyes of the innocent, it was decided to add shields to cover the naughty bits.

The ceiling of Union Station, Washington DC — “Egg and dart” molding, enhanced with gold leafing, decorate the coffers that connect the ceiling to the roof structure.

Union Station, Washington, DC — Netting has been erected so the station can remain open and viewed during restoration and repairs.

See our full America’s Founding Cities Tour by Train here!

Washington DC's fabulous Union Station

Opened in 1907, this grand old terminal was the largest in the world at that time and has seen many kings, queens, and, of course, presidents pass through.

Back in the pre-Air Force One days, seventeen presidents from Taft to Eisenhower used a private suite added in 1909. But perhaps even more surprising were the mortuary, bowling alley, YMCA, and Turkish baths that were also on the premises.

The East Hall, Union Station, Washington, DC — The East Hall

The Center Cafe in Union Station, Washington, DC — The Center Cafe is one of over thirty-five restaurants in the station…

See our full America’s Founding Cities Tour by Train here!

Union Station, Washington, DC

Equally impressive is the exterior of the building.

The neoclassical design set the tone for many of the memorials and buildings throughout Washington, DC.

Exterior of Union Station, Washington, DC

The Columbus fountain outside of Union Station, Washington DC — The Columbus Fountain stands in front of the station.

The Capitol Building is visible as soon as you step out of Union Station in Washington DC

The Capitol Dome highlighted the view as we walked out the front doors, and instantly we knew we were in a city like no other in America.

Or anywhere else for that matter.

Just outside the station, there were bikes for rent — so we hopped on a couple of trusty steeds and headed out toward the National Mall… Follow us to the memorials and monuments!

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Thanks to Amtrak for providing the train travel portion of this adventure through Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, DC! As always, all opinions are our own.

See our full America’s Founding Cities Tour by Train here!

Got Melk? A Look at the Benedictine Abbey

The small Wachau Valley village of Melk, Austria has one claim to fame, but it is a doozey!

The Benedictine Abbey has dominated the town for nearly one thousand years… CONTINUE READING >>

The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley

The small Wachau Valley village of Melk, Austria has one claim to fame, but it is a doozey!

The Benedictine Abbey has dominated the town for nearly one thousand years, although the amazing Baroque version that stands today was built between 1702 and 1736.

The entrance to The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria on the Danube River

It is still an active monastery, and also houses a school for about nine hundred students.

The entrance to The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria on the Danube River

Mural on the entrance to The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria on the Danube River

The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley

Blown away is the only way to describe our reaction – and that was before we got to go inside.

Part of the interior serves as a museum, with some really cool artifacts.

See more about the beautiful Wachau Valley of Austria

A reusable coffin with a trap door used in the 1700s at The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley — In the 1700s, these reusable coffins with a trap door underneath were used.

Antique heaters in The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria on the Danube River — Antique heaters

Paintings in The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria on the Danube River — Striking paintings by Jörg Breu (1502)

The ceiling of the Marble Hall of The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley — The ceiling of the Marble Hall, Paul Troger (1731)

The library of The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley The sections that are still in day-to-day use, the library and the church, were even more fascinating to us.

The incredibly impressive library holds one hundred thousand volumes that are still in use by the monks, some over ten centuries old.

The monks have rebound most of the manuscripts, not only to preserve the precious volumes, but to give the shelves a uniform look. Being in the room with all of these great works of science and literature gave us quite a charge.

The library of The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley

Before we could get too excited though, we were off to the focal point of the abbey, the Stiftskirche.

The staircase between the library and church of The Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria in the Wachau Valley — The amazingly beautiful spiral staircase between the library and the church .

The Stiftskirche of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk, Austria on the Danube

The Benedictine Church at Melk Abbey, Austria

The church is dedicated to Saint Coloman of Stockerau, who is interred there, and is considered one of Austria’s finest.

While the outside is beautiful –if somewhat conventional –inside we were in for a real eye opener.

The monks really went for baroque, they didn’t skimp on the gold leaf, marble, or the frescoes on the ceilings… and the pipe organ, wow!

See more about the beautiful Wachau Valley of Austria

The pipe organ at The Benedictine Church at Melk Abbey, Austria — The pipe organ

The cupola at The Benedictine Church at Melk Abbey, Austria — The cupola

A catacomb saint in the Melk Abbey, Austria

In spite of all that, the highlight for us was the two “catacomb saints” on display.

During the 16th and 17th centuries the desire to display relics in churches became so great that the Vatican ordered numerous unknown skeletons be brought up from the catacombs under Rome and declared them to be the remains of saints. Then they sent them off to eager churches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The thinking seemed to be that since they came from Rome, they must have been a martyr or great Christian of some sort. On arrival to their new homes, the “saints” were adorned in jewels and gaudy finery and proudly given places of honor.

A catacomb saint in the Melk Abbey, Austria

It was a little unclear to us why this would happen at this church, considering they have had the remains of their patron saint on the premises for a thousand years.

The Abbey in Melk, Austria

We ended the day on a high note, as a reward for our walk back to our ship we got our best view of the abbey just as we were getting back to the river.

See more about the beautiful Wachau Valley of Austria

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Thanks to Viking River Cruises for inviting us along and providing this adventure! As always, all opinions are our own. See our entire Christmas cruise along The Danube with stops in Budapest, Bratislavia, Vienna, Durnstein & Melk, Salzburg, and Passau.

Must-see Movie: Cyber-Seniors

Walking into the theater at the Movies for Grownups Film Festival, I expected Cyber-Seniors to be a dry, informative info-nugget on how the Internet could enhance the lives of the older set. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Honestly, I’ve never been to a theater where the crowd was howling with this level of laughter…. CONTINUE READING >>

We were guests of AARP Members Advantage at the AARP Life@50+ Expo‘s Movies for Grownups Film Festival. As always, all opinions are our own.

Cyber-Seniors

As a huge movie buff, one of my favorite reasons to attend AARP‘s Life@50+ is the Movies for Grownups Film Festival.

This year we attended the screening of Cyber-Seniors, a heartwarming — and surprisingly funny — documentary about the extraordinary journey of a group of senior citizens as they discover the world of the Internet through the guidance of teenage mentors.

Walking into the theater, I expected Cyber-Seniors to be a dry, informative info-nugget on how the Internet could enhance the lives of the older set. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Honestly, I’ve never been to a theater where the crowd was howling with this level of laughter.

Maybe because it was so unexpected (I hope I’m not spoiling the surprise here), but the interaction between the old folks and the young whippersnappers is just priceless:

After the screening, I was honored to sit down with the documentary’s producer, Brenda Rusnik, to get the inside scoop:

Go see this movie, you’ll walk out with a brightened outlook on the world and the people that populate it.

Veronica, GypsyNester.com

For more information about Cyber-Seniors, click here.

Click here to see how you can save at the movies with your AARP card!

We were guests of AARP Members Advantage at the AARP Life@50+ Expo‘s Movies for Grownups Film Festival. As always, all opinions are our own.

YOUR TURN: Are you excited to see Cyber-Seniors?

Finding our Founding Fathers on Amtrak!

Our rip-roarin’ ride through America’s Founding Cities by train! Check us out… See our full adventure here! or enlarge video >>

Our rip-roarin’ ride through America’s Founding Cities by train! Check us out!

See all about our journey through Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC here!

Click to see all of our Amtrak adventures!

Want more trains? We love ’em too! Here’s ALL of our train adventures from around the world!

Visit our GypsyNester YouTube Channel!

Baldi Hot Springs Resort in Costa Rica

We considered ourselves to be among the fortunate as we headed to lounge in the heated water that springs forth from the mountain at the Baldi Hot Springs Resort… CONTINUE READING >>

Big thanks to Viator for providing this wonderful adventure! As always, all opinions are our own.

The east side of Volcán Arenal has been spared the rivers of molten rock and explosions that the west side has, earning the name La Fortuna, The Fortunate.

We considered ourselves to be among the fortunate, as we headed that way to lounge in the heated water that springs forth from the mountain at the Baldi Hot Springs Resort.

Our visions of a hot pond in the middle of the rainforest was blown out of the water as soon as we arrived.

Baldi has twenty-five separate spring-fed pools, each getting warmer as they rise up the mountain/ volcanoside.

See more about this beautiful area of Costa Rica!

A path between pools at Baldi Hot Springs Resort in La Fortuna, Costa Rica — Beautifully landscaped: A path between pools.

Each pool has a unique personality with waterfalls, bridges and even full-service bars right in the naturally-heated water.

There are waterslides for kids and thrill seekers, and a full service spa for the more sublime, but we were more than content to simply soak our cares away.

See more about this beautiful area of Costa Rica!

Helicopter landing pad at Baldi Hot Springs Resort in La Fortuna, Costa Rica — Need pampering stat? Baldi has a helipad!

The Aqua Spa at Baldi Hot Springs Resort in La Fortuna, Costa Rica — The entrance to the Aqua Spa.

After several tranquil hours making our way down from one pool to the next, we enjoyed a spread of Italian and local dishes at the resort’s buffet at the base of Arenal.

Perhaps the most relaxed dinner we’ve ever enjoyed!

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Big thanks to Viator for providing this wonderful adventure! As always, all opinions are our own. To see more about this tour, click here.

See all of our adventures in Costa Rica!

The Isthmus of Why We Speak English

Sandwiched between our explorations of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Halifax we discovered an often overlooked, and historically important, stretch of Atlantic Canada.

Travel with us through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and discover The Bay of Fundy, with the highest tides in the world, learn how folks got around before cars, overdose on blueberries, and find out how the Scots made it to the New World… CONTINUE READING >>

Thanks to Road Scholar for providing this lifelong learning adventure through the Canadian Maritimes! As always, all opinions are our own.

Sandwiched between our explorations of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Halifax we discovered an often overlooked stretch of Atlantic Canada.

The area around the Isthmus of Chignecto, which connects New Brunswick with Nova Scotia, is instrumental in the history of North America and certainly deserved a closer look.

Battle(s) Royale

The strategic strip provided a land route for early French colonials, joining Louisbourg to Quebec, making it a center point of battles for control over eastern Canada between British and French forces.

After King George’s War ended in 1748 with no resolution to the balance of power in North America, France began building Fort Beauséjour in what is now New Brunswick to protect their holdings.

Fort Beauséjour in New Brunswick, Canada — Fort Beauséjour

By 1755, the two powers were back at it and the British conquered the fort, effectively cutting New France in half. After renaming it Fort Cumberland, they began deporting all of the French-speaking settlers of the area in the first expulsion of the Acadians.

But that was only the beginning of what came to be known as the French and Indian War.

The perennial enemies fought across vast swaths of the continent, as well as in Europe, for nearly ten years.

Eventually England and her colonies prevailed, becoming the dominant power in North America. In the process, a young Major George Washington established himself as a leader and the rest, as they say, is history.

Tiding Things Over

The isthmus forms the north shore of The Bay of Fundy, so after our history lesson we made a stop to check out the highest tides in the world.

It is common for a high tide at Fundy to rise an incredible forty-five feet or more.

The long, funnel-like shape of the bay opening to the Atlantic creates the giant tidal fluctuations. In a span of just minutes we watched the water rise several feet — it was like watching a bathtub fill up.

See our entire journey through the Canadian Maritimes

Getting Carried Away in Sackville

In the nearby town of Sackville, we passed by the last octagonal house in New Brunswick on our way to the Campbell Carriage Factory.

Dating back to 1855, the site represents one of last surviving pre-industrial businesses in Canada. The main factory building, which became a museum in 2003, is typical of a small nineteenth century shop.

The brief tour gave us a start-to-finish look at the construction of horse-drawn carriages and sleighs.

Everything from the making of the wheels to the final paint job was done on site. By branching out into farm equipment, and even caskets, the factory managed to survive the advent of the automobile and continued business until 1949.

See more about Campbell Carriage Factory Museum

Blueberry Overload

Crossing the isthmus out of New Brunswick, we made our way into Nova Scotia for a look at, and hopefully a sample of, some of the area’s produce.

First up, berries! At Blueberry Acres we found ourselves in the middle of two hundred acres of high bush blueberries, and got an introduction to the enterprise of commercial berries.

While checking out the rows of bushes we about jumped out of our skins when a canon fired in the middle of the field.

We weren’t the only ones jumping, a good sized flock of birds sprung up as well. After a few more rounds went off, we had to ask what was up with the bombardment.

The artillery was not the French and English taking up arms against each other again (whew!), but part of a never-ending battle to keep birds from eating all the profits.

Other weapons include piping in predatory bird sounds (a walk through the bushes sounds like a jungle excursion!) and statues of swooping eagles placed in strategic locations.

Between the Bushes Restaurant is also a part of the complex, situated smack in the middle of the farm, and blueberries are incorporated into many dishes.

We started off with pure, sweet blueberry juice, and then moved on to their signature blueberry barbeque chicken.

Somehow, even with a blueberry dessert, we felt not an inkling of berry overload.

See our entire journey through the Canadian Maritimes

Quit yer Wining!

We went from fruit of the bush to fruit of the vine at the Gaspereau Vineyards. Eight different grape varietals grow on thirty-five acres of hillside that provides the perfect sun and drainage for ideal growing.

After tasting a couple of their offerings, we agreed that ideal growing makes ideal wine.

For a change of pace, and something quintessentially Canadian, we had to try their maple wine. Interesting, unique, but… maybe it would go better with a pancake supper.

Enter the Scots!

Returning to our historic explorations, we stopped in Pictou to see the Hector Heritage Quay.

Nova Scotia means New Scotland in Latin, and Hector is famous for being the ship that brought the first significant group of Scottish settlers in 1773.

The quay, or dock, commemorates the event with a museum that chronicles the Scots fleeing the Highland Clearances in Scotland and making the arduous journey across the Atlantic to start new lives.

A perfect replica of the ship, made from the original blueprints, highlights the exhibit.

We started with a look through the displays about the ship and stalwart settlers that made the crossing.

Passenger lists and scores of tartans representing the clans of the families line the walls of the museum, allowing many Nova Scotians to trace their roots.

We found the plaid for the Stewart clan, Veronica’s maiden name, so perhaps a relative was on board?

After a brief film, we went aboard The Hector and got a small sample of just how crowded two hundred people would be on a one hundred foot ship.

In the holds there was only room for one bunk per family, so everyone had to take turns sleeping. Because of a horrific storm, the trip that should have lasted six or seven weeks ended up taking eleven, and eighteen passengers died at sea.

Funniest historical sign ever! In Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada — Love this sign! A bit catty for a historical marker, eh?

Unlike those brave souls centuries ago, we could hop off whenever we wanted, so we disembarked for a walk around the town.

First we checked out the crafts fair at New Caledonian Curling Club, which happens to be the third oldest curling club in Canada.

Then we followed signs marking the historic buildings around town.

Our favorite had to be the old post office, built in 1895, which claims to be “the only building in the world with a window in it’s (sic) chimney.”

Perhaps they wrote that claim before the days of Google, because a quick search revealed that they have some competition for the title.

However, one fact is indisputable.

Why would anyone want one?

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Delve Deeper:
Check out the Campbell Carriage Museum
What else is in Nova Scotia you ask?
Explore more of beautiful New Brunswick
See our entire adventure in The Canadian Maritimes

See all of our adventures in Canada

Thanks to Road Scholar for providing this lifelong learning adventure through Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick! As always, all opinions are our own.

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