Author Archive: Wayne and Judy Bayliff
The Sea Surrenders Great Wealth On Display In Bodrum, Turkey
Bodrum is an ancient port city in southern Turkey along the coast of the azure Aegean Sea. We had the pleasure of touring this interesting old city, which includes a medieval castle and an underwater museum. They are just two of the many attractions we found to tell you about. But first, a captivating history. …
Notes to Self: On Becoming Lighthouse Innkeepers
There are certain jobs that people dream about. A frequent fancy in a troubled world is being a lighthouse innkeeper where one can enjoy the peace and serenity of the ocean and abundant sea life. We wanted to see if the lifestyle of a lighthouse innkeeper might be in our future. We arranged for a visit …
Take the Kids to See the Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park
If you fancy yourself a nature lover, there’s a habitat for elephant seals along the California coast that you won’t want to miss. Visit between December and March During the December to March mating season, there are docent led nature walks at Año Nuevo State Park where you can learn all about the habits and habitats of …
How to Plan a Storybook “Christmas in Connecticut”
We originally researched and published this article in 2012, and it has proven to be a winter holiday favorite among our readers ever since. We believe there is magic in the air in the small towns of Connecticut at Christmas time. See if you agree. Here is our story: In 1945, Hollywood coined the phrase …
Holiday Gift Guide 2017
Judy and I have posted holiday gift recommendations in various publications for the past several years. We usually receive a number of service and product samples each year, test them, and bring forth our buying recommendations in our annual Holiday Gift Guide. Out of eleven tests this year, we feel comfortable recommending the following seven unique gift …
Ghosts Along the Danube in Budapest, Hungary
When we travel the world we come face to face with history, some grand, and some that we would wish away if we could. This article is about the great stain on European history referred to as the Holocaust. There are many recorded stories about Holocaust horrors, and you may not be familiar with this …
In Search of the Blarney Stone
“The Blarney Stone,” is also known as “The Stone of Eloquence,” and it is both a legend and fact. If you have wondered about the location of this fabled icon, the answer is to be found atop the 12-foot thick walls of the bleak and eerie ruins of the magnificent Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland. …
Don’t Miss the Luau at the Royal Hawaiian
Aha’aina – is a Royal Celebration. We were anxious to experience this renowned oceanfront luau on Waikiki Beach with its spectacular views, excellent food, and top-notch entertainment. We were not disappointed. During our luau celebration at the famous “Pink Palace,” we were treated to a few minutes of Hawaii’s famous liquid-sunshine. It did not dampen …
Cruise to the Incomparable City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain
A cruise to Spain on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam showed us there are many contemporary reasons to consider the ancient city of Valencia as a top-notch vacation destination. Since the time of El Cid – over the last thousand years or so – Valencia has seen Christian and Muslim conquerors come and go. Its history also includes being the …
The Ideal First Cruise for Seniors
On our last cruise we were delighted to meet a number of first-time cruisers in their seventies and eighties. When they heard we were travel photojournalists, they were more than willing to offer opinions and comments that helped form the foundation for this article, which we dedicate to them. The perfect first cruise We had …
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