Mont Saint-Michel in France is an impressive moutside MSMonastery that at high tide is completely surrounded by water. At low tide its salt marshes provide a popular grazing site for sheep. The difference between high and low tides can be as much as 46 feet. First developed in the 8th century, the monastery is now a UNESCO … More Travel Tips: Mont Saint-Michel, France
This month my featured author is Maggie King, who lives in Richmond, Va. and is a fellow member of Sisters-in-Crime and James River Writers. A graduate of Elizabeth Seton College and Rochester Institute of Technology, Maggie worked as a software developer, retail sales manager and customer service supervisor before turning her skills to writing mysteries. Her style can … More Turning to Mysteries: Murder at the Moonshine Inn by Maggie King
General Electric (ticker GE) is getting kicked out of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) as of June 26, 2018. This is not a surprise to anyone who has been following the stock over the past several years. At its recent price of just under $13, GE is down almost 80% from the high $60 … More Why GE Got Kicked Out of the DJIA
Manaus, Brazil, called the “Paris of the Tropics,” was the richest city in South America in the late 1800s due to the rubber trade. To celebrate its affluence, the city constructed a magnificent opera house known as Teatro Amazonas, which contained marble, crystal, tiles, and paintings imported from all over Europe. The rubber trade collapsed … More Manaus: Paris of the Tropics
The Crossing Places by British writer Elly Griffiths is the first book in her Ruth Galloway mystery series. Ruth is a 39-year-old professor of forensic archeology who lives alone with her cats in a remote area of England called the Saltmarsh, which was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants. Ruth loves sequins and bling but always … More Turning to Mysteries: The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
In my April newsletter, I described the Trivial Pursuit game that we played (unsuccessfully) during our recent three-week Brazilian cruise. The winning team got the big prize, and the remaining nine teams entered the playoff round to see who would come in second. Our ten-person team was in dead-last position. Each team could bet anything … More Win By Not Losing
The largest cashew tree in the world is located in Natal, Brazil. The tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, covers almost three acres, and produces 60,000 fruits a year. A chain link fence surrounds the tree to protect it from damage. The principal trunk (tronco principal) is pictured below, along with shots … More The Largest Cashew Tree in the World
Into the Water by best-selling author Paula Hawkins is not an easy read. Each of the first chapters is told from the point of view of a new character, and I found myself flipping back to the beginning as I read through the book, trying to remember who everyone was. Plus, the book keeps jumping back … More Turning to Mysteries: Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Last month I went on a three-week cruise to Brazil and the Amazon. One of the popular onboard activities was Trivial Pursuit. Our ten-person team was comprised of one couple from England, one from Scotland and the six of us who were traveling together. We six all lived in the same city and had similar educational … More What Trivial Pursuit Taught Me About Investing
I just got back from a three-week Brazilian cruise, starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina and then traveling north along the Brazilian coast to the Amazonian city of Manaus. Along the way we stopped at Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Salvador de Bahia, Ilhabela, Natal, Fortaleza and Santare̒m. It was a terrific trip! I’ll give some … More Travel Tips: Brazil
