Photos – Journeys with Eileen Diane

Gorgeous Summer Day, Bainbridge Island, WA ~ Photos

August 1, 2019July 31, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

Take the short ferry ride from Seattle. Experience “island time” with lovely walks along the Waterfront Trail and nearby parks. Relish the slower pace.

Explore the unique shops, restaurants, coffee houses (check out Pegasus) and the very popular Mora Iced Creamery. My favorite restaurants include Restaurant Marche (terrific French cuisine) and Doc’s Marina Grill. Both have outdoor seating which is marvelous on a beautiful sunny day.

Bainbridge Island is perfect for a quick getaway from Seattle as a walk-on ferry passenger. Or you can drive onto the ferry, spend a day or weekend exploring Bainbridge Island and continue westward to the Viking town of Poulsbo and from there continue to the Olympic Peninsula.

On each visit, I always find a unique place to explore. My next blog post will be about an enchanting shop that a friend and I discovered for the first time.

Savor your journeys, near or far, real or imagined.

Bloedel Reserve ~ Bainbridge Island, Washington

A Favorite Bookstore ~ Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island, WA

Armchair Traveler ~ Foreign Currency Evokes Memories

July 25, 2019July 24, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

I have a large bowl where over the years I have put currency from some of my travels. It’s fun to spread out the coins and bills as a great way to remember past trips and special moments.

Looking at the Austrian currency, I fondly remember a trip to Vienna with a friend. It was one of my first trips to Europe. We took a local bus to Schonbrunn Palace and as we did not want to wait for the English speaking tour, we joined the German speaking tour. We looked about at paintings or artwork when everyone else did and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though we did not speak a word of German.

Schonbrunn is a gorgeous palace with beautiful gardens. We loved the pastries (sacher torte a specialty) and Viennese coffee at Demels and other pastru shops. Vienna has many other memories including walking about the beautiful city and meeting friendly Austrians at the Giant Ferris wheel in the evenings. It was great fun and a marvelous introduction to Europe.

The currency from Hungary reminds me of my journey there in the early 1980’s while it was still part of the USSR. As I was on a tour, there was no time to wander about by myself. I remember so much gray (it was a November), but also having great fun at a disco, marvelous food and Tokay Wine and Budapest being a beautiful city.

Coins from Denmark remind me of Tivoli Gardens, a magical amusement part in Copenhagen. The city has many beautiful parks, especially Kings Garden. I took a mini tour to Legoland (great fun). And I can taste the fabulous open sandwiches, great desserts and fondly recall the friendly people.

In addition to looking at your photos or reading about your favorite places, it’s enjoyable to look at mementos of your travels. Ask friends about their mementos – share your love of travel with others. Even if you cannot travel to a place you dream of, keep dreaming. It will become a part of you.

Be an armchair traveler … learn all about your favorite places. Study their language, cuisine and culture. You might learn more than tourists who travel abroad but never become travelers.

Most important, have fun and be creative as you “journey” to a favorite spot … even if for now, it is a dream.

Savor your journeys… real and imagined.

Photos ~ Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine ~ Pacific Palisades, CA

July 16, 2019July 15, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

One of my favorite places to visit in the LA area is the Lake Shrine. Located on Sunset Blvd, near the Pacific Ocean, it is a world apart. The quiet is a marvelous contrast to most of the LA area. It is a splendid place to walk about, sit and meditate amidst its serene beauty and explore the Visitor Center, gift shop and museum.

A friend told me several years ago that this was a favorite place of Elvis Presley and he made frequent visits to this beautiful sanctuary.

Savor your journeys and discover your own oasis.

The Journey of a Lifetime

July 7, 2019July 7, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

Should someone ask you if you have been on or are planning your “journey of a lifetime”

Smile broadly and proclaim, “YES, I AM ON IT”

Your journey of a lifetime is not checking off places or things to do on a “bucket list”
Rather, it is every moment of YOUR life, from birth to passing on …
Always remember that it is YOUR journey… do what makes you happy, gives you fulfillment.. fall madly in love, travel the world or not, dream, walk sandy beaches, dine & laugh with friends, be a hermit, read, write, teach, dance to music others do not hear, gaze at the stars in wonder, encourage others on their journey …
Be in awe of the universe …
Create your destiny …
Each of us is on a different journey with different experiences …
Savor each moment of YOUR journey of a lifetime

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning. – J. Krishnamurti

IOP 45

Leaving Orcas

near Cannon Beach

near dusk …

Travel ~ Favorite Quotes & Photos

July 1, 2019June 30, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased. John Steinbeck

I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it. Rosalia de Castro

A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us. John Steinbeck

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo da Vinci

Travel is a new experience that can transport you out of your everyday routine to create memories with the ones you love. Brian Chesky

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. T. S. Eliot

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine

I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. Hilaire Belloc

Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter. John Muir

Savor your journeys ….

Paris in the Fall

Fontainebleau Chateau

The Louvre Museum

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Venice

Rome

Central Park

Entering Central Park

Central Park

Looking south to Palos Verdes Peninsula

Chamonix, France

Ocean Grove, NJ

Denali National Park, Alaska

Glacier National Park, MT

Great Smoky Natl Park, TN

Katmandu, Nepal

Japan

Oregon Coast

Recap ~ Road Trip Western Washington ~ Mt Rushmore

June 28, 2019June 24, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

Interstate 90 from Western Washington to Rapid City, South Dakota
- East bound, stop in Missoula and Billings
- West bound, stop in Billings, Missoula, Coeur d’Alene
- Total road trip mileage: 2,713 miles
Mountain passes on I-90 include
- Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, Cascade Range, 3,105 feet
- Fourth of July Summit, Idaho, Coeur d’Alene Mountains, 3,173 feet
- Lookout Pass, Idaho-Montana border, Bitterroot Range, 4,710 feet
- Homestake Pass, Montana, Continental Divide, 6,375 feet
- Bozeman Pass, Montana, 5,760 feet
Montana is truly “Big Sky” country; gorgeous area; friendly people. Highlights include:
- Missoula ~ great place to explore (good restaurants, parks & book stores)
- Billings ~ neat area; Gateway to Yellowstone (have to plan another road-trip)
- Little Big Horn Battlefield and National Monument ~ a must visit
Mt Rushmore and the surrounding area are definitely worth the drive
- Mt Rushmore ~ spectacular, awe-inspiring
- The Badlands ~ fascinating and mysterious
- South Dakota Air & Space Museum ~ a must see museum
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho ~ a favorite spot which I love to re-visit
- Beautiful scenery, good restaurants and my favorite book store
I planned to travel prior to Memorial weekend to avoid summer traffic
- Encountered snow in Wyoming
- Be flexible with your travel plans
  - Leave time to explore and perhaps re-arrange itinerary
- Have fun and savor your journeys

State Flags

Air Force 1, flying over Mt Rushmore

US Air Force Thunderbirds at Mt Rushmore

Afternoon break

Delicious Pork Chops, Champs, Soda bread

A Moscow Mule

Marvelous Bailey’s Mousse

on Centennial Trail

Riverstone Park

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho ~ Photos

June 24, 2019June 19, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

The last stop on my road trip to/from western Washington ~ Mt Rushmore is a favorite spot Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Nestled in the mountains of northern Idaho, it’s a neat town to explore. Walk along Centennial Trail, browse the cute shops downtown, visit local parks and take a boat ride on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene. Have dinner on the lake, enjoying a gorgeous sunset.

Savor your journeys.

Walking on Centennial Trail

The lake, walking along Centennial Trail

On Centennial Trail, near downtown

on Centennial Trail

Centennial Trail

Centennial Trail, near Riverstone Park

Riverstone Park

Johnson Mill River Park

Johnson Mill River Park

Near Le Peep Cafe

View from Le Peep Cafe

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho ~ Photos — from a previous visit — Enjoy the photos!

Favorite Restaurants ~ Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Mt Rushmore

June 21, 2019June 13, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

When on a road trip, I prefer to dine close by my hotel, i.e., walking distance. I lucked out as there were several very good restaurants on my recent road trip from Western Washington to Mt Rushmore close to where I was staying. I would definitely go back to each of them.

The Stone of Accord, Missoula Montana

An Irish Pub serving fabulous comfort food (including pork chops, meatloaf, fish n chips), soups, salads, desserts (including Guinness Chocolate Cake, Irish White Chocolate Cheesecake). The staff have terrific customer service skills. I highly recommend the Peppercorn Pork Chops (served with delicious champs (best mashed potatoes, with scallions!) and vegetables) and the cheesecake is superb. As expected, there is a terrific bar menu, including Moscow Mule or an Irish Mule. Check out their menu on-line for ideas.

http://thestoneofaccord.com/

A Moscow Mule

Delicious Pork Chops, Champs, Soda bread

Montana’s Rib and Chop House, Billings Montana

Terrific place for either a quiet dinner or the sports bar area. I chose the latter and enjoyed a fabulous meal (champagne plus a delicious Caesar salad, salmon & baked potato). Great customer service skills. It is a chain (other locations are shown on their web site) and I would highly recommend.

https://ribandchophouse.com/

Terrific Caesar salad with anchovies

A Vodka Mule

Delicious Salmon & baked potato

Anthony’s at Coeur D’Alene, Idaho

I’ve eaten at Anthony’s prior to this trip and always enjoyed it. This time I ate in the bar area and loved it. The drinks and food are very good, terrific customer service and the view is lovely (overlooking a pond in Riverstone Park). The salmon was excellent as was the marvelous dessert (a Baily’s Mousse). Plus, there were some uninvited guests: ducks had somehow managed to enter. The staff immediately escorted them out and put up a stuffed animal which is supposed to keep the ducks at bay. We all had a hearty laugh and enjoyed the show.

https://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/detail/anthonys-at-coeur-dalene

Savor your journeys!

Anthony’s Coeur d’Alene

Uninvited guests

Checking out the surroundings

where to go?

Time to leave

staff showing ducks how to get back to the pond

Fabulous salmon dinner

Marvelous Bailey’s Mousse

Supposed to scare the ducks

Addendum: The Well~Read Moose Bookshop, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

June 17, 2019June 12, 2019Journeys with EileenDiane

The last stop on my road trip (Western Washington to Mt Rushmore) was a favorite spot: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I’ve visited several times and each time I enjoy re-visiting favorite places plus discovering new spots to explore.

I visited my favorite bookstore several times. What a great way to start the day: sipping a delicious latte while browsing their marvelous selection of books, cards, coasters, socks, stuffed animals, etc. I always find a book that is intriguing and which I know I will enjoy.

The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Visiting this bookstore is like seeing a dear friend after a year’s absence.

A special treat is returning in the afternoon to enjoy a glass of Prosecco while deciding which books to purchase. Could not resist several books and I look forward to my next visit.

Savor your journeys.