Sojourner - Traveling with the “Canman”

Bluegrass in Arona, Italy.  The blend of this music  with Italian accents is uniquely wonderful. Osteria degli Acrobati is an amazing gem of a ristoranti. The owner Tanny loves American music and it is a great place to just hang out. He is kind enough to let me play my guitar on the patio sometimes. He likes to dress up, so sometimes, Elvis is in the building. And Claire, his cameriera is meravigliosa!

The Columbia River Gorge is so beautiful! Ramona Falls near Mt Hood is one of the best places we have ever camped.  I had forgotten how incredibly beautiful the northwest is. I'm am going to return more often during the sunnier months.

Summiting to the top of a volcano thru the soft snow. Wow! The 10 hour hike is probably the most arduous physical challenge I have done even though much lower than my 15,000' plus hike to Machu Picchu or the 14,276' summit of Antero to date. But what a kick! So grateful to be able to still make these kinds of trips.  And I got to do it with my son and my best friend from high school who I hadn't seen in 18 years!   https://photos.app.goo.gl/z6dqMnTAnqmsGt477

Met up with some great fun loving folks in Nagoya and they introduced me to a truly cool music/bar club scene.   In Japan, you can go into a club and play with the musicians there or other patrons- just for the cost of a beer!  Played "Proud Mary" and "Hotel California" with Rachel who has a wonderful voice and some muscians who don't speak English but know how to play! A path to world peace? And the "crowd" our friends and a few strangers went WILD!

Hanami picnic in Nagoya  Japan.  Thousands of people celebrating, no litter even though there is not a single trashcan.

Looking down at the old city

Skiing in Italian Alps.  Mom and pop ski resort where I met Dominic -"Volpe" Vopati, once a big soccer star.

Okinawa is a great place to learn to scuba! In some ways scuba is similar to flying in formation. On the third day we went out to the Zumami Islands on a boat. Toyo was my instructor.  He left a software job in Tokyo to follow his bliss and run his own shop.  I admire him. Google, Deep Emotion scuba if you want to have an authentic native experience. Think I have found my next passion after flying!  Scuba Fotos 

Matterhorn (aka Cervino in Italian) from Swiss side near Zermatt.  Just a beautiful 2 hour drive from Arona where I stay thru tunnels. I much prefer the way Italians and Swiss preserve their scenery with tunnels. Mozzafiato (Breathtaking) More photos  

Living the dream of playing in a band.  GC Live is a fantastic club in Nagoya  Japan.  $15 gets you 2 drinks and the chance to jam with other musicians at all levels.  Very cool!