Wrapping up the season...

Every summer it gets to be that time.... The time when summer wraps up its season, kids head back to school and everyone prepares for fall and winter. I had a fabulous visit to Delaware for the Labor Day weekend.... I enjoyed visiting with my family and friends, some of which I won't see again until next year after the World Voyage ends. I came home to Virginia today and will start preparing, in earnest, for the trips ahead. First up is the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. If you haven't been, put it on your bucket list. It is an event that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime and, if they are lucky, fly a hot air balloon while you are there... there is nothing like it. As soon as I get back from the Fiesta, I will be scurrying around doing my last minute packing. I have taken care of a lot of the big issues already so the packing should go fairly smoothly. I have done this so much that I have the process down pretty well. I regrettably, cancelled my ship's Overland tour to Machu Picchu today.... bummer. I talked with the Shore Excursion folks in Seattle and the amount of time we actually will spend up on the mountain seeing Machu Picchu is very limited so I cancelled. I have been there before so it isn't worth the thousands of dollars they charge for 2-3 hours of seeing what I think is one of the most magnificent sights around.... some other time perhaps. I do have a pretty special trip planned to Varanasi India... google it, should be a photographers dream.... so much culture and history there....