Grand Bay Beach Hotel Grand Baie

1st blogged trip (leg). On the way from Toano, VA (over by Willamsburg)... Stayed the night at Satsuma, AL, just above Mobile. Headed to Houston, TX for a Monday delivery. Will stay tonight at the Pilot in Baytown, about 1/2-hour away. I prefer larger stops with more amenities, but my company fuels at Pilots, and I can get a shower ...

Preparations for a vacation maybe different than preparing for a journey. This sojourn is different than a vacation for us. It began more than six months ago as an idea. Then after much discussion about possibilities and logistics the research began. We decided to devote several hours twice a week to the task of learning as much as possible about China, her history, language and culture ...

... the tent, well that ****** them off royally. About 15 minutes later it like a prison shower scene out of OZ. The varmints are trying to get into the tent, unzipping the door while I zip it shut. This goes on for about another half an hour and then the masked marauders get bored and take their show to the next campsite. As I close my eyes, I hear the distant shrieks and pots clanging together, another satisfied customer.

David was home and received the documents that would allow us to enter China. We anguished (rather I did) as to how much should be written on the Chinese Visa application. Should we write down all 30 (thirty) something places that would be visited? Should we mention Tibet? Should we write the words "retired film editor" on the application? So many questions, so few answers. There was much discussion along with anxiety as to what exactly was and is expected by ...

We woke up in Houston and got on the road, knowing we had just one more night before we'd be home. It actually was a difficult ride - the kids were restless, lots of bathroom breaks etc.... But we finally got to Mobile around 8 pm. We had promised the kids swimming - but there happened ...

Had breakfast at the hotel.Resisted the waffle for self control.
Transferred to another Hotel America Best Value Inn . It s nearer the the Bellingrath Gardens.
Drove to Theodore.where the Garden.is.
It is one of the famous gardens in America,
Guided tour of the ...

Drove to Fort Conde .It is an old French fort now with exhibits about the history of Mobile.
The TIC is also there.
Saw the picture and costumes about Mardi Gras .It originated in Mobile and not New Orleans.
Walk to the Museum of Mobile which is nearby.Saw the iron grill styles .
Also the history of Mobile was exhibited.Ship building is an industry in this city.
of Mobile.
Ride the ...

I got into Mobile and stayed with my Grandparents, who I hadn't seen in quite some time. This was very nice to be in a safe place where I could just relax and talk about things that had happened over time, and whatnot. As with San Antonio I didn't do too much other than to rest and visit with my family, and eat some good food. But this was a great stop nonetheless, and I look forward to visiting my roots in Mobile again.

... little island country. The airport in Mauritius is at the southern end of the island (the island being about one hour's drive from end to end), away from the capital and the major beaches. So we just stayed in that area one day, since we were exhausted when we arrived and just wanted to crash somewhere near the airport. When we emerged from out stupor and moved ourselves up to the northern parts of the island, we discovered all sorts of wonderful things... First ...

... so I posed on one for a photo. Then I drove back to the hotel to change. In the evening Suren and I drove into Port Louis to meet Clency for dinner. I had invited Munian and Mrs. Montezuma also but they didn't come. Our usual little restaurant on the port was closed, so we went to another more expensive on in the shopping center area. The food was very good, and it was helpful and pleasant for us to spend more time together.