How far are you traveling this holiday season?

What a welcome sound! In the past ten years I think we have seen snow on the mountaintops twice, and once it hailed for a few minutes. When we wintered in Northern California the fog usually came in and covered the snow on our mountain, but there we could feel the chill. Here we have no fog and the sun almost always shines. So we are staying right here. Our Canadian friends used to go to Hawaii about this time every year, but after visiting us here, now they come to Arizona instead. Smart friends!

I feel cold in the winter time and love to travel to the tropics at this time of the year. I went to the Maldives just before Christmas in 2005. It was wonderful to relax on palm fringed beaches, swim in the gorgeous blue ocean and snorkel to see the beautiful coral. Just after Christmas in 2007 I flew off to Mexico as a way of getting to Belize cheaply. I had a superb time seeing Mayan ruins, watching wildlife like crocodiles, sharks, sting rays and manatees. Seeing snow makes me feel even more cold. Many years ago I went to Austria just after Christmas and saw the pretty city of Salzburg all covered under a white blanket of crisp snow. I think a Christmas in Australia is perfect with sunny weather to enjoy. Merry Christmas and happy travels!