Old Town a Hit With Seniors

Approximately four million visitors, many of them seniors, visit Wichita, Kansas each year. One great reason is that there are more than 1,000 restaurants that pepper the city representing all types of cuisine from the exotic to the local downtown favorites.

Shopping choices abound with enticing shops, antique stores, and open-air shopping centers. Wichita is home to a great number of museums and attractions where senior visitors can explore art, hands-on exhibits, botanical gardens, the Old West, and Indian artifacts. Nighttime entertainment fills the air with theater performances, live music, dancing, and a dine-while-you-watch movie theater.

 Old Town Wichita is lined with brick streets, historic lampposts and a collection of old converted brick warehouses dating back to the mid 1800s. Built with brick and native limestone accents, these distinctive architectural features define the character of Old Town making it a vibrant and thriving community with over 100 businesses.

 Museums, Live Theater and Arts Draw Seniors

Wichita (pop. 630,000+) hosts a number of things to see and do. Just get this…in the metro area, there are 33 museums, 22 live theaters, 28 art galleries and 32 golf courses. Wichita museums are one of the best things for senior visitors to do in town.

From the exciting Wichita Zoo and the Botanica Gardens, senior visitors then choose to take in The Keeper of the Plains that was created in 1974 and placed at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers. The 44′, 5 ton stylized sculpture of an Indian Chief and the Keeper is surrounded by a “ring of fire.”

Cow Town To Air Capital

The city began as a trading post on the old Chisholm Trail in the 1860s, then was incorporated in 1870. It was formerly known as a “Cow Town.”  Wichita is the “Air Capital of the World” with Beechcraft, Cessna and Stearman Aircraft companies manufacturing quality aircraft.

In addition, Boeing, Learjet and Spirit AeroSytems operate factories in town that remain a major center of the U.S. aircraft industry.  That’s what I remember most about traveling through the city… the huge aircraft construction sites all along the highway.

As an industrial hub and the largest city in the state, Wichita is an area center of culture, media, and trade; an upscale city known for great wining and dining, shopping and sightseeing. See for yourself.  Enjoy it all.  jeb

Seniors Take In “Festival City”

Cedar City, Utah is an excellent choice for senior visitors when considering travel destinations. The local economy is based on tourism, agriculture and mining.

Its close proximity to a multitude of National Parks has earned this Utah City the reputation of “Gateway to the Parks” and called “Festival City.”

Fun things are are ongoing all year long.  The city earned its “festival” nickname as host of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, which received a Tony Award in 2000 for outstanding regional theater. It is widely recognized as one of the best professional theater events in the nation and attracts a wide following every year.

The Festival is a major draw with the city and close behind is the Cedar Breaks National Monument. Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater which sits at an elevation of over 10,000 feet, so no matter how hot it is in nearby Cedar City it is always cool at Cedar Breaks.

Throughout the summer months rangers host special hikes and interpretive discussions as well as a Wildflower Festival and Star Gazing Parties. Historic Downtown provides something for everyone, from an old fashion soda fountain to the historic Rock Church. Cedar City ( pop. 30,000+) sits on the edge of flat rangeland next to the heavily forested highland of the Markagunt Plateau.

Cool and Beautiful Attracts Seniors

At an elevation of 5,800 feet, it is significantly cooler than St. George to the south. Cedar City is a convenient base for exploring the Markagunt Plateau. In summer, the plateau offers active senior citizens good hiking, biking, horseback riding and fishing in beautiful natural settings.

Perhaps no where else on earth will you find such a unique and impressive concentration of towering red rock cliffs, hanging gardens and alpine landscapes as the Cedar City area. Dixie National Forest is close by featuring a two-million acre national forest with a host of natural wonders.

“The Dixie” as it is called, has deep canyons, fascinating rock formations, mountains, lakes and towering ponderosa pines, my wife’s favorite tree of all times. Sound neat?  All this attracts senior visitors and yet other first-timers come to experience the excellent mountain biking at Brian Head.

In the winter, Brian Head transforms into one of Utah’s great ski resorts, with excellent powder and runs. Southern Utah University adds an additional, exciting dimension to this vibrant community with an enrollment of 4,500 students and is home to the annual famous and highly popular Utah Shakespearean Festival.

Cedar City is located very near major recreational areas to the east, including Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Zion Nation Park to the south. Las Vegas is about a 2 hour drive along I-15 to the southwest in Utah’s Iron County.

So when you are in Utah, drop by Cedar City. You will enjoy the ambiance and the plethora of things to see and do.  jeb

Seniors Nod To “The Best of the Border”

Del Rio is a city in Texas with a population of 35,000+. The Spanish established a small presidial complex near the site of present Ciudad Acuña, the Mexican sister city of Del Rio, and some Spaniards settled on what became the United States side of the Rio Grande.

Del Rio has more for seniors to do and see than any other city along the Rio Grande River. Del Rio is just a heartbeat from the crystal clear waters of Lake Amistad. Lake Amistad provides year-round, water-based recreation opportunities.

The deep, crystal clear waters of Lake Amistad beckon to fishermen, divers, sailors, swimmers, house boaters, water skiers and virtually every type of water sport enthusiast, as well as other recreational opportunities for picnicking, camping, and hunting.

The Amistad National Recreation Area is just west of Del Rio on U.S. 90.  Amistad, whose name comes from the Spanish word meaning friendship is best known for excellent water-based recreation, camping, hiking, rock art viewing and its rich cultural history.

Seniors Visit Winery, Parks and Cave Paintings

Del Rio also has an impressive Downtown Shopping District, the Val Verde Winery and several state parks, some of which are home to ancient Indian cave paintings. The area is rich in archeology and rock art, and contains a wide variety of plant and animal life.

Del Rio is home to the George Paul Memorial Bullriding, which is the oldest stand-alone bull riding event in the world. Del Rio offers unique shopping and dining experiences and the first Friday of each month senior visitors can enjoy the Art Walk sponsored by the HeART of Del Rio. There is a wide choice of accommodations so make your plans to Explore Del Rio for a week, a week-end or a day.

San Felipe del Rio was Del Rio’s “birth name” because the founding occurred on St. Phillip’s Day. Today Del Rio offers birders, boaters and fishermen plenty of options. However, Del Rio is also home to a number of top notch museums as well as the Val Verde Winery, the oldest continuously operating winery in Texas.

This winery was started in 1883 by Italian immigrants. The fourth generation is now running this family operation. The climate in southwest Texas is semiarid in moisture and subtropical in temperature. Humidity is more often high than low, with periodic morning fog due to Gulf of Mexico air masses moving northwest into the area.

The Del Rio area, in addition to cattle ranching, also has sheep, lambs and wool and mohair production from Angora goats. Del Rio is the home to Southwest Texas Junior College and Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College.

The Laughlin Air Force Base is located in Del Rio and is a major reason for its growth and population. Seniors, enjoy the city when you are in southwest Texas.  jeb

Seniors Enjoy Oldest Spa Town In Europe

Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has 275,000 inhabitants, plus approximately 19,000 United States citizens. The city is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe and its name translates to “meadow baths,” making reference to all the hot springs.

Wiesbaden is one of the most famous spas in all of Europe with its 26 hot springs. This senior loves hot springs.  How about you? Even the “old” Romans knew of the many hot springs and spent time there. Today Wiesbaden is widely regarded as the wellness capital of Europe.

There is much to see and do in Wiesbaden. Senior visitors will discover that the diversity is irresistible. Whether you feel like a festively elegant classic event, or high-spirited parties, social gatherings or sports events with renowned personalities, you are bound to find something to suit your taste in Wiesbaden. The town is 40km west of Frankfurt and across the Rhine River from Mainz.

 Seniors Discover Roman History

TripAdvisor notes that the city is tucked in a lovely valley between the Rhine River and the Taunus Mountains and has long been an important spa city, dating back to Roman times when it was called Aquae Mattiacorum. In the 19th century, Wiesbaden also became a popular gambling center.

For a soothing plunge, try the famous Kaiser Friedrich’s Therme in the city center. For senior visitors, a good place to start exploring Wiesbaden is the Schlossplatz, where you’ll find the Marktbrunnen ( Market Fountain, 1537), the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall, 1610) and, across the square, the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall, 1884-87).

 And don’t miss the Schlossplatz (Palace Square) and the impressive Kurhaus Wiesbaden event and conference center, both within a few blocks.  Pop inside the Kurhaus to see some incredibly ornate spaces, including the main hall, with its marble floor, granite columns, Greco-Roman–style statuary and sparkling dome mosaics, plus a casino.

 Things to see and do overflow in town. The Kurhaus Wiesbaden with its magnificent ballrooms, is frequently the venue for traditional cultural events. Open-air concerts and ballet performances in and around the Kurhaus set highlights in Wiesbaden’s cultural scene. Whether senior travelers come for the saunas or the restaurants, the atmosphere or the shopping, you will find everything to be at the height of luxury.

Seniors Stroll The City Center

Once you are in the city center it’s enjoyable to just stroll. The main pedestrian area is similar to an open-air mall, but more relaxed. In 2013 the “Nerobergbahn”, one of the city´s most popular leisure-time destinations, celebrated its 125th anniversary. The easiest way to get up the Neroberg is to take the historic funicular railway,  it is like a journey into the past. Inaugurated in 1888 the train is powered by water ballast.

 Enjoy every moment in Wiesbaden and be sure to enjoy one of the many hot water spas.  jeb

Italy’s Piedmont Region Invites Gourmets

Piedmont Region is a large mountainous region in the northwest corner of Italy, ringed on three sides by the Alps, and contains one of the country’s most famous lakes. A remarkably varied region, Piedmont has plenty to offer seniors on vacation in Italy.

Piedmont is one of Italy’s wealthiest regions, known for its fine wines and food. Many of the dishes in Piedmont’s swankiest restaurants derive from the tables of the Piedmontese aristocracy, in particular the Savoy dukes and kings.

This is the region which gave birth to the Slow Food Movement. Slow Food means living an unhurried life, taking time to enjoy, and Slow Food Italy, the oldest national association, boasts the most developed forms.

 Peaks, Glaciers and One Elegant Old City Invites Seniors

The Region has the highest peaks and largest glaciers in Italy and Piedmonte Region is crossed by the largest river in Italy called the Po. The core of Piedmont is the Po River Valley, which lies open to the east and consists of some of the best farm lands in Italy. Most residents of the region reside in the plains of Piemonte or Langhe which means “strips of land”.

Piedmont has one of Europe’s most elegant old cities, Torino (Turin), a monument to cafe society. Turin houses one of the most venerated relics in the Catholic Church – the legendary Shroud of Turin.

There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Piedmont – the residences of the Royal House of Savoy in and around Turin, and the Sacri Monti, nine 16th-17th century chapels and other religious buildings.

The mountains in Piedmont attract skiers and snow lovers by the thousands, and the beautiful Lago Maggiore is among the most touristed parts of northern Italy.

Seniors Taste White Truffles and Wild Mushrooms

Centuries-old villas have been converted into hotels, and the dining scene, which now includes a number of Michelin-starred establishments, is thriving. Attention senior gourmets and oenophiles: much of Italy’s best wines are found in the Piedmonte Region and is a food lover’s paradise.

Over 160 different cheeses, white truffles, wild mushrooms and wine festivals make it a mecca for gourmands from every corner of the universe. Senior visitors come to sip its wines, nibble on its cheeses, savor its many famous meat dishes, and last but far from least, they come to pay whatever price they must to taste those delicious white truffles.

In the more elevated parts of Piedmont, forest products and fruit are produced and cattle are raised. In the fertile valley of the upper Po River wheat, corn, rice, grapes, honey, and chestnuts are grown. Occupying a large area that borders on France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the ancient dominion of the Savoys.

Consider touring an authentic medieval castle… the region has some of the country’s most dramatic fortresses. Piedmont is one of the few regions left where the “real Italy” is still going strong . So come and experience it all for yourself.  jeb

These Iowans Know Iowa City

Both the senior Beckers were born and raised in Iowa. One in Monmouth (moi) and one in New Hartford (elle), both small towns. We stand proud of the fact that we spent our childhood years in Iowa… a great state to raise a family.

Jim (moi) spent a summer at the Univ. of Iowa taking graduate courses in French and Jeannine (elle) was a Speech Therapist. We cherish our time living in Iowa City with our two small children.

Iowa City, in Johnson County, with a population of 70,000, is the fifth-largest city in the state. Offering big-city amenities with small-town hospitality, Iowa City seems to have  it all. Nestled in the heart of the Midwest in east central Iowa, it has long served as a locus for culture, education, variety and fun.

Seniors Find Iowa City’s Story Downtown

Iowa City’s Downtown District provides a memorable experience for senior visitors. Downtown is a story in of itself, a place steeped in local flavor and history, alive with participatory art and music, a living room to the University of Iowa, a home to literary giants, and an extraordinary community experience.

It is home to unique shops and restaurants with art galleries and performance venues dotting the landscape.

The University of Iowa campus, intertwined with Downtown, showcases the Old Capitol Museum, the Pentacrest Museums, the Museum of Natural History and other fine cultural attractions. Seniors can enjoy a variety of art and cultural options throughout the year.

The University’s Writer’s Workshop is internationally acclaimed, having fostered the creative talents of Ray Bradbury, Flannery O’Connor, Jane Smiley, and Kurt Vonnegut. Iowa City is recognized as one of only five UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world. The University also includes one of the largest university-owned teaching hospitals in the nation.

Parks And Trails

 There are 41 public parks in the city and for you dedicated hikers, the six-mile Iowa River Corridor (IRC) Trail is Iowa City’s longest and most heavily used trail. The IRC Trail provides access to several parks, the University of Iowa campus, downtown Iowa City and the Iowa River.

It connects to many intersecting streets and sidewalks, and on its north end provides access to its next-door neighbor Coralville.

The Coralville Reservoir, just 3½ miles north of Iowa City, offers a multitude of recreational opportunities. The area is laced with attractive hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing trails. The Amana Colonies are just a 20-minute drive west of the city. The seven colonies offer the best in German home-style food and traditional crafts.

The small town of Kalona lies southwest of Iowa City, offering senior visitors a glimpse into the culture of the Amish population that calls the area home. West Branch is located just east of Iowa City and is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, America’s 31st president and home to his Presidential Library.

Iowa City can fill an itinerary with lots of memorable things to see and do. jeb

Seniors Find Mauritius In The Indian Ocean

Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of the African continent. Senior friends, grab your coffee and enjoy a visit to Mauritius.

History abounds. The first Portuguese explorers found no indigenous people living on the island in 1507. The Dutch settled on the island in 1638 and abandoned it in 1710. Five years later, the island became a French colony and was renamed Isle de France.

If you know where Madagascar is, look just off to the east and there is the island. Port Louis, the modern capital of this 38-mile by 29-mile island, is a bustling port with a revitalized waterfront and a busy market.

 Today it’s a stable democracy with regular free elections. The country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa’s highest per capita incomes with its 1.3 million inhabitants.

The main agricultural products are sugar, sugar derivatives, tea, tobacco, vegetables, fruits, flowers and fishing. Seniors discover Mauritius to be a paradise for deep sea fishing. Past visitors called the country “an island of emotion“.

A Great Senior Destination

Mauritius is one of Africa’s great destinations. Located in the middle of the turquoise Indian Ocean, Mauritius is inhabited by a multi-racial, peaceful people, has great golf courses, offers myriad water sports, mountain trekking, hunting, birdwatching, luxurious resorts, an old colonial capital, great food, three- and four-star hotels, one of the world’s best botanical gardens, good nightlife, beautiful beach bars, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, one of the oldest horse racing tracks in the world and wonderful  sightseeing.

 When an island is surrounded by perfect white sand beaches, themselves surrounded by the stunning blue Indian Ocean, and the center of the island contains mountains and breathtaking scenery, plus almost year-round sunshine, it’s difficult to be miserable.

Blue Bay, Baie du Tamarin, Cap Malheureux, Belle Mare and Flic-en Flac are some of the most well-known beaches in Mauritius. And for you senior gourmets, the cuisine of Mauritius is a blend of Creole, Chinese, European and Indian. It’s common for a combination of cuisines to form part of the same meal.

And for you senior birders, Casela is a bird sanctuary located in the district of Riviere Noire. Stretching for more than 25 hectares, it has as many as 140 species of birds coming from all the five continents.

And get this…The official language in Mauritius is English. Lonely Planet finds the island to be loaded with historic sights, cultural diversity, geographic variation and almost limitless activities to distract visitors from the daily grind of beach and pool.

They further note that perhaps its single biggest asset is the relaxed charm of its warm and welcoming people. And for such a small island, TripAdvisor notes 107 things to take in.  So…put the island in your “travel bucket list”. Senior travelers will find it very inviting.  jeb

Seniors Enjoy The “City of Firsts”

This senior has always loved that name…”Kokomo.”  The settler tradition says Kokomo was named for Kokomoko or Ma-Ko-K0-Mo (meaning “black walnut”), shortened to Kokomo.

David Foster, known as the “Father of Kokomo,” claimed that he named the town Kokomo after the “ornriest Indian on earth” because Kokomo was “the ornriest town on earth.”

Kokomo is the county seat of Howard County, Indiana and the population runs just over 60,000. Kokomo has twice been recognized by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns for the Community Achievement Award. “Stop Light City”  is the name given by truckers driving through Kokomo, infamous for its many traffic stop signals.

Senior visitors to Kokomo will enjoy the Kokomo Automotive Museum, Seiberling Mansion, Kokomo Opalescent Glass Factory, Elwood Haynes Museum, Kokomo Art Center, IU Kokomo Art Gallery, Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center, Greentown Glass Museum, great dining, lodging and shopping.

The Howard County Historical Society is a major attraction in Kokomo. It occupies the Seiberling Mansion, the Elliot House, and their carriage houses. The Seiberling Mansion, originally the residence of one of Kokomo’s richest citizens, Monroe Seiberling, has been on the National Register for Historic Places since 1972.

 Seniors Find a City of Innovations

Substantial growth came after the discovery of large natural gas reserves, which produced a boom in the mid 1880s. Among the businesses which the boom attracted was the fledgling automobile industry.

A significant number of technical and engineering innovations were developed in Kokomo, particularly in automobile production. Much of the town was destroyed on April 11, 1965, by an F4 tornado that was part of the Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak.

Senior visitors will find plenty of fun things to see and do in Kokomo. It is known as the “City of Firsts” thanks to its world-renowned automotive heritage and history of technological inventions.

Kokomo is home to Elwood Haynes, who along with the Apperson Brothers, built America’s first gasoline-powered car in 1894. Some of the other ‘firsts’ in Kokomo are the first stainless steel flatware, the first push button car radio, and the first canned tomato juice.

Kokomo’s historic downtown offers a wide variety of interesting attractions, which include family friendly parks, the Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence walking and biking trail, intercity bikeways, farmers’ market, and summertime open-air concerts in Foster Park.

There are art and glass studios, unique restaurants, and places of historical interest, many within a short walk of the center of town. The local institutions for higher education include a regional campus that is part of Indiana University and Ivy Tech State College.

Off the beaten track and away from the hustle and bustle of cities, Kokomo is an excellent choice for a vacation spot,  a serene place to get away from it all. You will surely enjoy the friendly folks and all the Indiana hospitality.  jeb

Senior Seek The Exotic In Moorea

Called “The Magical Island”, Moorea soars magically out of the ocean in an explosion of green velvet – what you would imagine a South Seas island to be. Upon arrival to Moorea Island (pronounced MOE-oh-ray-ah) in the heart of French Polynesia, senior travelers will immediately be awestruck by it’s natural beauty.

If you are visiting French Polynesia on a budget, Moorea is the place to be. Moorea is like Tahiti but less expensive and less touristy. It’s mostly rural and farming is big. There are chickens everywhere with roosters crowing at 6 am.

I recall on one of my mission trips that we were told we would be staying in the “Chicken Hilton.”  We discovered why at 6 am. The gorgeous white sand beaches, island and wonderful mountains of Moorea make it a highly sought after destination.

Moorea is Polynesia’s second-most popular tourist attraction after Tahiti. Located a mere 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of the island of Tahiti, Moorea is a triangular shaped island encircled by a lagoon of translucent green, fringed by an azure blue Polynesian sea.

Seniors Drawn By The Beauty

Covering an area of 51 square miles, Moorea and Tahiti are the major islands in the windward group of the Society Islands. Believed to have inspired the mythical Bali Hai from James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific, Moorea is one of the most scenically striking islands in French Polynesia.

Despite her immaculate beauty, she is far from unapproachable. Possessing a relaxed vibe and welcoming spirit, Moorea is warm and inviting. Eight voluminous mountain peaks rise from its translucent lagoon, creating a distinctive and rugged silhouette visible from the western coast of Tahiti.

Maintaining a delicate balance between the traditional Polynesian way of life and western influences, this island offers tourists a true Polynesian style vacation. Soaring mountains meet pristine lagoons with the entire island covered in a rich and lush green foliage of tropical plants and trees.

 Seniors Meet The Original

What is so unique about this island’s landscape is that it forms a near perfect equilateral triangle with the two beautiful bays of Baie de Cook and Baie d’Opunohu. What makes Moorea so special is that it still retains much of its original local flavors.

Home to some of the best beaches in French Polynesia, the interior regions of this island are covered by a large and dense population of mape or giant chestnut trees.

A gorgeous reef surrounds Moorea, while on land huge peaks soar up to over 899 meters into the sky. Offering some truly extraordinary views, a hike up these peaks is an incredible experience.

 It doesn’t matter if it’s your first visit or your fiftieth – Moorea’s beauty is mind-blowing. So seniors, it time to put Moorea on your travel bucket list… it’s on ours. Hope to see you there. jeb

Seniors Enjoy Another Capital City

I just read all the temperatures for the major cities in the US today in my WSJ. There was Albany, NY and I decided it’s time for seniors to visit Albany, the state capitol in Albany County, New York.

The City of Albany, located on the banks of the Hudson River in the heart of the Capital District, is proud to be New York State’s Capital City.  The county is a unique blend of urban excitement and rural relations and is said to be an  ideal place to live, work and raise a family.

Albany (or ‘Smallbany’ to jaded locals), population right at 100,000, has always been a city that proudly celebrated its heritage. Albany, first known as Fort Orange was settled by the Dutch in the early 1600s after being discovered by Henry Hudson.

Albany is a great destination for senior visitors, offering valuable resources for higher education and sustainable living, vibrant and active urban centers and desirable neighborhoods. The City’s deep-rooted history and heritage is reflected in its spectacular natural setting along the waterfront, as well as in the architecture of its historic buildings.

Seniors View Impressive State Capitol Building

Beginning with its impressive state capital, Albany offers 66 things to see and do for first timers to the city. The Capitol Building took four decades to build, from 1867 to 1899, and is considered a magnificent example of 19th-century architecture.

The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is a unique architectural masterpiece which houses 11,000 New York employees in a complex of ten buildings. The City of Albany, NY Office of Special Events plans, produces and co-sponsors an array of fairs, festivals, and concerts promoting art, entertainment and cultural interest for all ages.

The ‘Tri-City Area’ as it is called encompasses Albany, Troy and Schenectady.  I’ve always had trouble spelling that last one. The New York State Museum documents the state’s political, cultural and natural history and City Hall is worth a visit for its grand 19th-century architecture.

Seniors Tour Historic District

The historic district is where my wife and I would start our visit to Albany.  It is unique with its 160 buildings… a mix of tall commercial buildings on the main streets and small houses on the side. Most were built between 1880 and 1930, the district’s period of significance, with some dating to the 1810s.

The Capital City is lively and energetic, balancing its historic and legislative roots with a vibrant metropolitan atmosphere. Senior visitors will always find something to do whether it is outdoor recreation, cultural activities, shopping, or academic pursuits.

Also known as the anchor of the Tech Valley of New York, Albany is conveniently located amid some of the Northeast’s largest and most economically promising cities (New York City, Boston and Montreal, to name a few). Frommers can put your trip all together for you with a plethora of advice of things to see and do. Enjoy your visit. jeb