SENIORS CROSS THE MEXICAN BORDER AT TECATE



Seniors Visit Tecate

What do you think of when you see or hear the name Tecate?  Beer naturally, but there is much more than beer in Tecate, so together let’s check out this neat Mexican village. This senior always figured that Tecate was somewhere down in the middle of Mexico. Wrong. It’s next door to southern California and as a major port of entry between the two countries, it is said to be The Most Visited City in the World with more than two million visitors monthly.

Long Beer History

Beer in Mexico has a long history. While Mesoamerican cultures knew of fermented alcoholic beverages, including a corn beer, long before the Spanish conquest, European style beer brewed with barley was introduced with the Spanish soon after Hernan Cortes’ arrival in 1519. Production of this beer here was limited during the colonial period due to the lack of materials and severe restrictions and taxes placed on the product by Spanish authorities.

The Cuauhtemoc Brewery where Tecate is produced offers guided tours and is what put the city of Tecate on the map.  Tecate beer is one of the most popular beers in Mexico and California and is typically drunk pouring lime and salt on top of the red can rather than a bottle.

Tecate (El Corazón de Baja California) was founded in 1892 and has a population of around 65,000.  It is located on the border with Tecate, California, so there are two cities with the same name. What’s especially cool about the town is that it is a border town that does not have the look or feel of a border town, but rather resembles a small village in the central part of Mexico. There is a small port of entry between the sister cities that serves as a calmer alternative to the bustling port of Tijuana. I found this link to be helpful as it has a colorful map showing precisely where Tecate is located.

Seniors Drawn To The Spa

Rancho La Puerta, a wellness center and all inclusive spa is said to be Northern America’s first and longest running health spa. Rancho La Puerta is total class and offers an amazing array of fitness activities, luxury spa amenities, superb accommodations, and entertainment. Their 3,000-acre property offers world-class landscaped gardens, an organic farm, and mountainsides or meadows of great hiking and walking experiences. Close behind that attraction is the Museo Comunitario Kumiai that is dedicated to fostering greater understanding of the cultural, historical and natural heritage of Tecate.

Seniors who know the area call it a “charming village” that is bustling with Things to Do and See. Let’s not forget the wineries in Tecate. Northern Baja, and especially the area south of Tecate, are the center of Mexico’s wine production. Enjoy the great country of Mexico, just south of the border. jeb

SENIORS VISIT JAPAN



Seniors Enjoy Nagano

Senior travelers visit Nagano, the “roof of Japan”, a mountainous, landlocked prefecture in the center of Japan’s largest island, Honshu. Nagano City is located in central Honshu on the Tenryu River and gradually evolved as a temple town around Zenkō-ji, one of Japan’s most popular temples.

In 1998, the city hosted the Winter Olympic Games, and today some former olympic facilities can still be viewed. In the forested mountains northwest of the city center lies the Togakushi area, the legendary home of the Togakure Ninja School and two universities. Taking a 360 view around Nagano, senior visitors will note nine of the twelve highest mountains of Japan. Now we know why the winter olympic games were held there.

In Honshu seniors can climb the Japanese Alps, soak in an Onsen (spa) and take photos of snow monkeys. These fascinating creatures, the northernmost primates in the world aside from humans, can be viewed up close by any visitor to Japan. The Huffington Post had an article called “hot tubbing with snow monkeys”.

Nagano is a low-rise, spread out city, which enjoys cooler weather in Japan’s hot summers. And check out those scrumptious noodles. Nagano is known for its soba (buckwheat noodles) and you will find many soba restaurants in the area.

 Why Nagano, Seniors Ask?

Every year, thousands of pilgrims descend on Nagano to pay homage at Zenkō-ji, home of a legendary sixth-century image of Buddha. It’s a very handy base for trips into the surrounding mountains. Nagano is only 90 minutes from Tokyo station on the Shinkansen Bullet Train. I really enjoyed riding that train. An awesome experience. JapanVisitor.com provides a list of the main attractions in town and notes that 380,000 Japanese call it home.

The Temple is Nagano’s must-see attraction and is one of Japan’s most-visited temples. The first image of Buddha was housed here at this temple which is also the largest thatched roof in all of Japan. Dating from the 7th century, Zenkoji houses the Ikko-Sanzon Amida Nyorai, according to legend, the first Buddhist image to arrive in Japan (from Korea in the 6th century).

Zenkō-ji’s immense popularity stems partly from its liberal welcoming of pilgrims, regardless of gender, creed or religious belief. Its chief officiants are both a priest and a priestess. The current building, a national treasure, dates from 1707. And wow, Five million pilgrims come to Zenkō-ji every seven years from early April to mid-May to view a copy of Zenkō-ji’s sacred Buddha image – the only time it can be seen.

The line of tourists visiting Nagano does not seem to end throughout the year. They visit scenic spots like Jo’estu Kogen National Park, which has Mt. Asama-yama and Mt. Yokote-yama, Minami Alps National Park, and Chubu Sangaku National Park and you can ski year round.

So talk with your travel agent and make plans to incorporate Nagano into your itinerary while you are in Japan.  You will find it fascinating and well worth a visit.  jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO OTTAWA



Seniors Make Plans For Winterlude

Seniors might want make plans very soon to head off to Ottawa for Winterlude, known as “Chilly Fun For Everyone.” So put on your hats, scarves and mittens, and celebrate the joys of winter in Canada’s Capital Region from January 31 to February 17, 2014.

Winterlude helps, because winter time in Ottawa drags slowly, kind of like cold molasses from a bottle. It’s long, it’s often miserably cold, grey skies are frequent, and darkness hogs most of the early morning and late afternoon hours. Yet, every year Ottawa warms up winter and extends the daytime activities by presenting Winterlude.

The festival features ice sculptures, a playground made of snow, a variety of performers and perhaps best of all, the Rideau Canal,  a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s longest skating rink… always full of skaters. Winterlude (Bal de Neige in French) is an annual festival in both Ottawa and Gatineau, Quebec that celebrates winter.

This event is one of Ottawa’s most important tourist attractions bringing in many visitors for the past three decades. From glittering ice carvings and majestic snow sculptures to the gigantic snow playground and explosive shows under the winter sky, Winterlude is a great way for seniors to celebrate and enjoy Canada’s Capital in winter.

Seniors Find Winter Fun

Every year fun-seekers take part in a host of Winterlude activities. More than a third of the visitors are from outside the Capital region. Winterlude was created in 1979 as a means of celebrating Canada’s unique northern climate and culture.

The Ice Hog Family, Winterlude’s lovable mascots, travel to Canada’s Capital Region every winter to celebrate Winterlude. The members of the family are Mama and Papa Ice Hog and their children, Noumi and Nouma. Every winter, Winterlude draws visitors from all over Canada and beyond the capital city to celebrate winter.

Skate the world’s longest ice rink, frolic in a huge snow park (Snowflake Kingdom) or behold the magic of ice sculpting. Canada’s capital city could hardly be lovelier. Perched upon Parliament Hill are Ottawa’s gothic government buildings, set against the slow-moving Ottawa River. Miles of late-Victorian brick houses dot neighborhoods.

Foodies will love unique culinary events created by some of the capital’s best local restaurants – wine and food pairings, chef demonstrations, walkabout winter feasts. It takes more than several feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures to dampen the festivities spirit.

You will want to view the many impressive ice sculptures that are created at Confederation Park that are always a highlight of the event. Ice carvers from around the world turned blocks of ice into stunning works of art and at night, colored lights reveal the magical beauty of the sculptures.

 Plan Ahead For 2014

You will want to get your reservations in soon and make plans to attend the event. Most Winterlude activities are free. And yes, earmuffs are in season in Ottawa for Winterlude.  jeb

Filed under : Canada

SUNDAY COFFEE WITH JEB



Seniors Enjoy Harvest Festival Time

Grab your coffee, senior friend, and let’s take a look at Harvest Festivals. An annual celebration that occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region, harvest festivals can be found at various times at different places. In many lands the Harvest Festival is a thanksgiving ceremony and celebrations take place after a bountiful harvest. Let’s look around the world where Harvest Festivals take place.

From a Kiss the Pig contest in Dallas to an heirloom tomato tasting at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia, harvest festivals gather crowds across the country in celebration of local agriculture. Another link called 2Camels.com will fill seniors in on various celebrations that you might like to attend. They have a ton of info on 15 harvest festivals in articles, snippets, videos, photo galleries and links to festival websites. It’s a fun site.

 Seniors At Home And Elsewhere

Many of the best harvest events also play roles as food festivals. For instance, the famous Munich Oktoberfest was originally an agricultural show which combined celebrating the end of a long farm season with drinking home-brewed beer and feasting on traditional Bavarian foods. Just look at it now!

You will find that the best autumn festivals around the world celebrate a wide variety of traditions and themes. Judy Haynes notes that Harvest Festivals have been held as long as people have been sowing and gathering food.

The Moon Festival is celebrated in China and certain other countries in Asia. It is also called the Harvest Moon Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years.

All Over the World

Indonesia Rice Festival Cow Racing

For as long as people have been planting and gathering food, I suspect there has been some form of Harvest Festival or, at the very least, a really great dinner when the harvest was done.  Kind of like Iowa farmers when the corn and oats were in the bin.

The Algonkian Indian tribes at the time of the pilgrims held six harvest/thanksgiving festivals during the year. At the end of the rice harvest, farmers in the West Sumatra race their cows while surfing behind on a wooden plank. Kwanzaa, which means “First Fruits,” is based on ancient African harvest festivals and celebrates ideals such as family life and unity.

The Mid-Autumn Festival or Chinese Moon Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The Festival of Malaysia is celebrated each May to give thanks to the rice gods. Chu Suk is a Korean Festival that takes place during the harvest season.

Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in India and people prepare for Pongal with spring cleaning and the burning of trash. Not a bad idea huh? If you want to take the time, input “harvest festivals” into Google and read on. There is lots to learn.  jeb

 

 

 

Filed under : Editors Choice

SENIORS VISIT NY’S BOTANICAL GARDEN



Seniors Enjoy The Beautiful Garden

One of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world, The New York Botanical Garden is a museum of plants and a National Historic Landmark with acres of gorgeous grounds, 47 gardens and plant collections such as daylilies, herbs, native plants, perennials, alpine plants, roses, annuals, magnolias, and tulips, as well as thousands of shrubs and trees. A veritable senior delight.

It spans some 250 acres of Bronx Park and is home to some of the world’s leading plant laboratories. It offers major exhibitions and flower shows throughout the year, drawing over 800,000 visitors annually. Historically, the Lorillard Family owned most of the land which later became The New York Botanical Garden.

My PhD botanist brother Steve, now deceased, would have loved the Garden with its more than a million plants on 250 acres. The Botanical Garden is a place for study and research as well as enchantment and exploration, like the Royal Botanical Kew Gardens in London where Steve spent a couple of years classifying the Queen’s royal plants.

Seniors Discover It’s Big and It’s Old

 The Garden pursues its mission through its role as a museum of living plant collections arranged in gardens and landscapes across its National Historic Landmark site and through its comprehensive education programs in horticulture and plant science as well as through the wide-ranging research programs of the International Plant Science Center.

Being a Master Gardener myself, I enjoyed the Pinterest site on the Garden that provides lots of “eye candy” for botanist fans like me. Founded in 1891 and now a National Historic Landmark it continues to conserve a wide variety of plants. Seasonal flower shows, a world-renowned scientific research program, innovative children’s gardens, gardening and horticultural classes, and so much more make The New York Botanical Garden a leader in displaying, studying, and educating the public about the world of plants.

So seniors, get away from the hustle and bustle of city life by taking refuge in a peaceful NY garden. Experience the beauty of nature when you visit New york botanical gardens and enjoy the flowers, trees and exotic plants on display there. NY arboretums are a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. A World Of Plants is currently on display for your enjoyment, so plan to visit the New York Botanical Garden when you are in the Big Apple. jeb

SENIORS VISIT SCOTLAND



Seniors Check Out the River Clyde

The River Clyde is a famous river in Scotland, the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in the country. Historically it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire. In this blog senior citizens are going to find a plethora of interesting names, just remember that we are in Scotland.

River Clyde, flowing through the center of Glasgow, is Scotland’s most important river (firth, or estuary), and discharges into the Atlantic on the western coast. The Upper Clyde is a clear fishing stream rising in the moorlands of the Southern Uplands and flowing northward through the Clyde Valley, bordered by river terraces for about 30 miles to the neighborhood of Biggar, where it abruptly changes course.

The river flows northwest to the Firth of Clyde, an estuary of the North Channel and most importantly is navigable to Glasgow for oceangoing vessels. The Clyde is approximately 100 miles long and the banks of the river are home to the fabled Weetimorusbeastie of Harry Potter fame and to a cluster of Imps (a creature originating from Germanic myth).

Seniors Enthralled With Picturesque Countryside

The River flows from Dumbarton Castle via Lyle Hill, Greenock, Cloch lighthouse Gourock, Wemyss Bay and finally onto Largs. Clyde shipbuilding came to the fore during the early 20th century, with massive output during the First and Second World Wars and in particular was targeted by the Luftwaffe and sustained heavy damage. Now the Clyde is experiencing massive regeneration, finding a new identity as a recreational, residential and business area.

While on the river, senior visitors will discover Glasgow, Scotland’s city of style, where you will find world-class attractions, museums and galleries, stunning architecture, works by renowned designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and ladies, one of the best city center shopping experiences in the entire UK.

You may have heard the stories about Glasgow being a rough city with the shipyards and the football hooligans, but it’s far from the truth. The River Clyde has always played an important role in the history of Glasgow. It is often heard, “Glasgow made the Clyde and the Clyde made Glasgow.”

 Beyond the city, senior travelers will discover lush countrysides and a wealth of fascinating history as one follows along the path of the river. The Clyde Valley is best known locally for its garden nurseries and sometimes quaint tea shops. The main town is Lanark, 27 miles from Glasgow.

The river is a valuable community resource both as a place famous for leisure activities and as a transport route. For you horse fanciers this is where the Clydesdales came from and thus the name. For you senior anglers, bring along a pole or two and try your luck, the river is famous for its catches.

Enjoy the River Clyde, Glasgow and all of Scotland… it will a memorable trip.  jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO WESTERN COLORADO



Seniors Find “River City”

On a map seniors will find Grand Junction, Colorado, known as “River City” just off of Route 70 west of Denver and not far from the Utah border.  The name “Grand” refers to the historical Grand River, which was renamed the upper Colorado River in 1921, and the word “Junction” is from the joining of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Hence, Grand Junction has been given the nickname “River City”.

Senior visitors will find that it is in Colorado Wine Country. I did not know that Colorado grew grapes, did you? I just learned that The Grand Valley American Viticultural Area, is home to 75% of Colorado’s vineyards and 26% of its wineries and home to many of Colorado’s best wines.

Just over 60,000 call Grand Junction home and the area includes attractions like the Colorado National Monument, the Grand Mesa and Colorado’s Wine Country. When traveling to Aspen, senior travelers are so close to Grand Junction that it’s well worth a visit.

On the western edge of the Rockies, Grand Junction is the largest city on Colorado’s Western Slope. A center of the western Colorado uranium boom in the 1950s and the oil-shale boom in the late 1970s, today Grand Junction is a fast-growing trade center serving practically all of western Colorado and eastern Utah.

Seniors Discover a Flat Topped Mountain

The Grand Mesa is a lesser known Colorado gem near Grand Junction. It is thought to be the largest flat topped mountain at 350,000 acres with over 300 lakes.  On top of the Mesa is the Grand Mesa National Forest, allowing recreational access to thousands of acres of public land.

Senior visitors will find the Grand Junction downtown area is nestled in the heart of the Grand Valley, and home to dozens of shops, music venues, restaurants, galleries and area services. You can enjoy strolling along the tree-lined streets complete with many outdoor sculptures, bubbling fountains and a wide array of historic buildings.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cross Orchards Historic Site re-creates a historic agricultural community of the early 20th century on its 24 ½-acre site. A workers’ bunkhouse, blacksmith shop, country store, and an extensive collection of vintage farming and road-building equipment are among the exhibits.

The Museum of Western Colorado, also in Grand Junction, is the largest multi-disciplinary museum between Salt Lake City and Denver. Over the past forty years it has grown to include three major museum facilities, three active outdoor paleontology sites, an educational center and a respected research library.

Senior bikers, bring your bike. The Grand Junction area has turned into a major mountain biking destination, with many bikers coming from the Front Range of Colorado, the Salt Lake City area, and even as far away as California to enjoy the area’s abundant single-track trails. Maybe take some time and bike Kokopelli’s Trail that ends in Moab, Utah.

Grand Junction awaits your visit.   jeb

SENIORS RETURN TO ITALY



Seniors Get Their Fill In Bologna

 Bologna…many senior citizens, as soon as they hear the name, put two and two together and figure out that this is the home of bolognese sauce, although this is just one small attraction of this quite amazing place. Bologna often ranks as one of the top cities in Italy, in terms of quality of life,  5th in 2006, and 12th in 2007, out of 103 Italian cities.

Bologna is the seventh most populated city in Italy with nearly 400,000 inhabitants. Bologna is home to prestigious cultural, economic and political institutions as well as one of the most impressive trade fair districts in Europe. An important cultural and artistic center, its monuments and architectural examples (medieval towers, antique buildings, churches, the layout of its historical center) as well as works of art are the result of a first class architectural and artistic history.

While senior tourists flock to Venice, Florence and Rome, Bologna remains relatively quiet in comparison. This medieval university town is charming, historic and fun to explore… and senior visitors will find Bologna’s local cuisine is light-years away from the American deli meat bearing the city’s name.

In addition TripAdvisor treats senior travelers with helpful information on the city. Visit the site for hotels (114), things to see and do (176 of them), vacation rentals, maps, photos and more. My wife and I would have great difficulty in selecting from among the 154 B&Bs, but that’s where we would decisively end up.

Seniors Admire Red Roofs And Narrow Streets

Here are a ton of photos of beautiful (bologna Italy). I have recently discovered that when you highlight a photo (click it on) that over on the right hand side it will read Visit Page. There’s no better view on Bologna than from Asinelli Tower. Climbing to a height of 97 meters, you’ll see maze a of red roofs stretching across the horizon and narrow streets intertwining through the city centre. According to Italians, Bologna is second only to Venice for its beauty. If you’ve been to Venice, now go visit Bologna.

The University of Bologna is the oldest university in the world, founded in 1088. Therefore, Bologna is the home of tens of thousands of students, who make it a lively place to be without falling into the category of rowdy.

And like the students, eat and eat well. Any cheese that you try, from the parmigiano (the city of Parma is only a few miles away) to the pecorino or the ricotta, may be the best you will ever eat, and the quality of cold meats and sausages is off the charts.

For you senior gourmets, Bologna is famous for its cuisine (la cucina Bolognese). Let me invite you to eat sun up to sun down in Italy’s culinary capital. I’ve fallen for Lonely Planet’s new look of See, DO, Shop and more. So pick up that little Italian phrase book and take in Bologna.  You’ll find everything there first-class.  jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO NEVADA



Seniors Take in Las Vegas

While my wife does not particularly enjoy Las Vegas this senior does.  I have always loved those glowing lights, the action along the strip and the many hotels and casinos. For her there is simply “too much of everything.”

Shimmering from the desert haze of Nevada like a latter-day El Dorado, Las Vegas is probably the most dynamic, spectacular city on earth. At the start of the twentieth century, it didn’t even exist; now it’s home to two million people, and boasts nineteen of the world’s twenty-five largest hotels, whose flamboyant, no-expense-spared casinos lure in thirty-seven million tourists each year.

Las Vegas has been stockpiling superlatives since the 1950s, but never rests on its laurels for a moment. As senior travelers probably already know, Vegas is labeled” The City That Never Sleeps” along with the infamous “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.”  In Spanish “las vegas” means “The Meadows.” Evidently at one time it was located among some meadows.   At night Las Vegas transfigures itself with all those lights.

 Senior High rollers and Senior Low-key Loungers

Whether you’re a high roller or a low-key lounger, Vegas has something to suit every senior taste. Sample fare from top chefs and cornucopian buffets at great prices. Try your luck at one of the world’s premier casinos, or take in a spectacular show.

I won six thousand on a slot two years ago. A penny machine that is, so that’s $60.  I sure enjoy telling others that I won 6,000 in Vegas. Just wandering The Strip is enough to get your heart pumping with the myriad of lights, everyone but my wife’s, that is. Walking is probably the best way to really enjoy the Vegas Strip. Remember, however, that the Strip is a little over 4 miles long, so plan accordingly and enjoy every step.

There is a lot for senior visitors to see and do. Once you’ve had enough of the razzle-dazzle, wave hello to the toothy sea life at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, watch the fountains at Bellagio, wonderfully timed to music choreography  and ride the Gondolas at the Venetian. The Gondola rides are a great change of pace from all of the walking, gambling and eating you’ll do and probably one of the most affordable activities in Vegas.

And food, wow! Go to Google and input Las Vegas Buffets. The the prices aren’t bad either. When you  fly into McCarran International Airport, you’ll discover that you are almost on the Strip already and not far from your hotel and all the action. If all your activity is limited to the Las Vegas Strip, then taking a walk along the Vegas strip is ideal.  jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO NICARAGUA



Seniors,  Let’s Meet in Granada

I don’t often hear from anyone in Nicaragua however I just had an e-mail asking me to add their school website to my learn Spanish abroad website. The school is in Granada, so I wanted to check out that city for us senior travelers.  Granada, a city in western Nicaragua with an estimated population of 110,000, is Nicaragua’s fifth most populous city.

Granada is historically one of Nicaragua’s most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and structure. During the colonial period Granada became fabulously rich, its wealth built upon exploitation: sited only 20km from the Pacific, the city was a transit point for shipments of gold and other minerals mined throughout the Spanish empire.

 For Seniors Who Enjoy Colonial Architecture

The city of Granada is one of the most important and most visited destinations in Nicaragua. The colonial architecture of its old center, its many museums, galleries, hotels, restaurants, bars and its cosmopolitan ambiance make this city a destination itself.

Nicaragua sits between Honduras and Costa Rica in Central America and is generally considered to be the safest country. As in any city it’s always worth taking common sense precautions. Granada has long been a center of commerce, including timber, gold and silver. Granada’s economy continues to grow, becoming the national tourism hub.

Secluded from the modern world by the miles of wilderness characteristic of Nicaragua, Granada slumbered peacefully through the Sandinista civil war in a backdrop of rich agricultural land, dry forests, and tropical rain forests and volcanoes.

For Seniors Who Enjoy Lakes and Volcanos

Nicaragua is known as “Country of Lakes and Volcanos”. LAGO DE NICARAGUA, which at more than 3,000 square miles, is too large to see across, gives the city of Granada a uniquely seafront feel. Drawn by year-round warm weather, colonial-era architecture and the freshwater Lake Nicaragua, seniors travelers from around the world flock to Granada. Senior eco-tourists will love visiting the dormant Mombacho volcano, sailing on the lake and zip-lining through the trees.

Nicaragua is also called “The Earth of Volcanoes” and counts more than 63 active and inactive volcanoes, one of many reasons why this country is unique and perfect for nature and adventure-lovers. Granada is one of Central America’s undisputed gems: a charming colonial city brimming with culture and beautiful architecture and sitting pretty on the picturesque shores of Lake Nicaragua.

Granada, formerly the capital of  Nicaragua, is undoubtedly still the country’s tourism capital. Granada gets under your skin… a multicolored historic city that is large enough to ensure that senior visitors  won’t get bored but small enough that you can still get a good feel by walking around.

So now Granada is on my travel bucket list. jeb

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