When Tom Vella, owner of Rogue River Valley Creamery visited Roquefort, France in 1955, to learn the secrets of making blue vein cheese, he had no idea that he was sowing the seeds of today’s flourishing artisan creameries in Southern Oregon.

Clustered around sunny Medford, in Jackson County’s Rogue Valley, three artisan creameries are making some superb cheeses and chevres to accompany the marvelous merlots, cabs, syrahs, zinfandels, pinots, and chardonnays produced in the surrounding area.

Tom Vella had been making cheddars since 1935, but his Oregon Brand Blue Vein Cheese (later shortened to Oregon Blue) launched the platform that would make the Rogue Creamery renowned globally. At the time this was a bold move, and Tom’s Blue Vein was the first produced west of the Missouri River. His son, Ig, continued in the same vein, producing a zesty Gorgonzola, appropriately named Oregonzola, in 1988, using an Italian recipe, even using proprietary molds from Italy.

After purchasing the creamery in 2002, David Gremmels and Cary Bryant, have continued to offer the creamery’s two traditional blues, adding a third generation blue, the Crater Lake Blue. Named after one of the area’s most beautiful natural attractions, Crater Lake, because of the intensity and variety of blue shades in the lake’s deep waters, this rich, broadly profiled blue, has great depth and creaminess. A mixture of several strains of blue molds from France, Crater Lake Blue has added a new dimension to the company’s selection.

Now renamed Rogue Creamery, the former Rogue River Valley Creamery has become an institution for blue cheese lovers, winning 4 trophies and 30 medals and awards around the world, from London to New York.

Different and tasty artisan blues have been added over the years, and Rogue Creamery now boasts Caveman Blue, award winning Smokey Blue, and some creative hand-milled cheddars including Sharp, TouVelle, and Dry Jack, plus some herbal-infused cheddars with Rosemary and Lavender. Still operating out of its original concrete façade building, fronted by bushes and flowering shrubs, on a busy commercial strip, Rogue Creamery has managed to keep the personal touch on a creamery whose product has become virally popular.

Mookie Moss and Stu O’Neill have operated the 64-acre Siskiyou Crest Goat Dairy in nearby Jacksonville since 2007. They hand milk their herd of 50 goats, with 20 milking in any season. The two participate in a herd-share coop program and are dedicated to helping rural economies and community service. The high butterfat content of their goats encourages a nice variety of feta, fresh Chevre and aged cheddar cheeses.

Gabe and Robin Clouser, owners of Mama Terra Micro Creamery, located in the small Applegate Valley town of Williams; use Nubian goats for their cheeses for their high milk butterfat content. Producing fresh and aged farmstead cheeses, they manage the dairy using local organic hay and grains for feed, and are rated a grade A goat dairy.

In these creameries, Southern Oregon has set a uniformly high standard for cows and goat’s milk cheeses. A visit to these farms or storefronts is recommended and cheese aficionados will not be disappointed.

Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolates

Right next door to Rogue Creamery, Lillie Belle Farm’s award-winning artisan Chocolates are completely hand-made using time-honored European techniques, but with a true American twist.

With almost 2 acres of organic raspberries, strawberries, and marionberries, Lillie Belle Farms utilizes abundant crops to make delicious fruit filled bon bons and truffles. Almost all of their ingredients are organic, from the nuts, to the nibs to the sugar. Lillie Belle chocolatiers pride themselves on their organic ingredients.

Pennington Farms

In a renovated rustic barn on their 90-acre berry farm, the Pennington family all work together to produce a wonderful variety of berry jams and “old school” style baked goods, as well as their fresh berries in season.

The well-known Pennington Farms products include Jams, syrups, breads and pastries and are well known always sell-out at the farmer’s markets throughout the Valley. Jams are the Pennington’s biggest hits: Tayberry, Olallieberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Loganberry, Marionberry, Strawberry, Rhubarb, Wild Blackberry, Cascade Berry, and fig conserve.

The country of Wales may only be the size of Massachusetts, but just like its counterpart across the pond, every nook and cranny is full of history.  500-plus castles can be found in this part of the United Kingdom, in various degrees of disrepair and/or restoration, often seen on the hillsides as one speeds down the busy motorways.   I explored four unique castles, and came away amazed at the history and atmosphere of each venue.

A sense of déjà vu at Conwy Castle

The coastal city of Conwy, about 45 minutes drive from Manchester’s airport, proudly displays its old medieval walls, many of which can be walked on like that of the Great Wall of China.  And more conspicuous than the walls is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Conwy Castle.

It was built by Edward I from 1283-1289 at great expense (some £15,000 – equivalent to £15 million today) to help serve as one of his “Iron Ring” castles that helped to keep the English safe in Wales while fortifying his new empire there. The exterior and interior walls remain relatively intact, and I found them to be quite an experience walking through the various rooms from the king’s chamber, dining hall, kitchen, and prison.   I felt as if I were back in medieval times, especially when I went inside the castle chapel, where the soundtrack of Gregorian monks was playing in the midst of displays about Christianity’s role in that time.  I also was fascinated by the countless arrow slits carved into the walls, expecting a shooter to be taking aim.

Two fortified gateways and eight towers help make up the grandness of this place.  Four of them contain high towers where I got stunning views of the city, sea, and Conwy Mountain.   And as I walked up the spiralling staircases to get those views with only the help of ropes to keep me from falling, I could feel a sense of “home sweet home” in each part of the structure.

Stand where Prince Charles once stood at Caernarfon Castle

If you want to know just how hard life was for people long ago, just visit a medieval fortress like Caernarfon Castle  (pictured abobe) on a cold and rainy morning like I did.  As I walked through its long passageways and explored the interior rooms whose walls are still intact some 700 years after being built, the chill and drafts went through my layered clothing to my bones.   Much of the castle walls, both interior and exterior, remain intact from the time they were constructed between 1283-1330.

Charles I fashioned the polygonal and colored band walls (some twenty feet thick) after those of Constantinople to serve as the “capital” of North Wales, even creating a new town, destroying the old Welsh settlement.  Locals were conscripted as manpower, and were paid in silver pennies.

Despite all the expense, many of the plans for it never materialized.  Normally, the castle  had 20-40 people defending it in its early days.   What made the castle easier to defend were the ingenious way that three soldiers with bow and arrows could be stationed to shoot through what appeared on the inside of the castle to be three arrow slits, but in effect, those three arrows would come out through just one slit in the outer wall of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which survived demolition orders in the 17^th century.

Caernarfon was once a motte and bailey castle (castle on a mound surrounded by a courtyard).  This mound still resides within the courtyard as a dais made of Welsh slate, and was the scene of two Princes of Wales getting their official titles, that being Edward VIII in 1911 and then Prince Charles in 1969.  The northeast tower has an extensive exhibit of those two investitures, including Prince Charles’ BBC telecast.   Prince Charles walked through the Queen’s Gate to greet his subjects, something which I got to do, as a special balcony still remains for photo opps.

Those two investitures have roots of the aftermath of the English conquest.  Edward I helped to stymie some of the resentment by Welsh locals by presenting his firstborn son, Edward II, to them as a prince born in Wales who couldn’t speak any English.  Ironically, the little baby wasn’t given his Prince of Wales title there, but at the Parliament of Lincoln.

In the Eagle Tower, the king would reside when he was in Caernarfon, which was protected above by a cluster of high turrets that can be explored.   The King’s room itself was grand, and did contain a personal chapel and fireplace to help fend off the chill.   The Queen’s Tower also has remnants of nicer accommodations, and it’s here where many artefacts and exhibits on the history of Welsh armies are featured.

Two Awesome castles in Denbighshire 

While the Vale of Clwyd is at the bottom of some incredible footpaths with steep angles going up hundreds of feet in the Clwydian Hills that’ll challenge any hiker, the town of Ruthin (an hour’s drive from Manchester) has a castle with the same namesake Ruthin Castle  that’s located just above the base of the valley.  It sits on grounds once allegedly housing a fort where King Arthur kept a little “love nest” for one of his mistresses dating before the Norman conquest.   But its confirmed date for a standing edifice dates back to 1277, when Edward I secured it for his kingdom against the rebellious Welsh.

Though much of the castle walls remain intact despite the 11 weeks of shelling it withstood during the English Civil War in 1646 along with neglect, improvements were made during and since Queen Victoria’s reign, and which I found not only showed outdoors, but with the décor on the inside that tries to imitate the Victorian Era, especially with the as “trompe l’oeil” wallpaper jobs that can be found in the spacious rooms that contain all the modern conveniences medieval kings would deem as sorcery: big screen TVs, free internet access, and electronic heat control.

I explored what was left of the medieval fortifications by walking around the old walls, and was greeted by some of the 16 peacocks who live there and wail away while the sun is up.  I peeked through the old cooking area, one of the places where apparitions have been spotted, including the “grey lady.”  I went to her creepy gravesite, where she was buried after being executed for killing the lover of her husband, one of the commanders of Edward I.   Unfortunately (or not), I didn’t see any ghosts.

About a 20 minute drive to the north of Ruthin in Denbigh is Denbigh Castle  completed in 1295 for one of the commanders of Charles I, Henry de Lacy.  I found it fascinating to walk around and take in stunning countryside views.  Much of the outer exterior walls exist, including the Grate Gate House (main entrance), kitchen and chamber areas.  I was able to walk on top of some battlements.   A five to ten minute walk took me outside the castle to the Goblin Tower, where some of the castle’s water supply existed, and in which de Lacy’s son fell to his death in, and purportedly haunts it.

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Roy A. Barnes attended a press trip sponsored by Visit Wales  but what he wrote were his own impressions without any scrutiny or vetting by the sponsor.  He writes from southeastern Wyoming, and is long time contributor to the Traveler and Traveler Blog.

As environmentally concerned golfers, my husband Layne and I often worry about the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers on the golf courses we play, not only for the integrity of the environment but also for the possible effect on our own health as we walk those green fairways and breath in chemically-laced air.

Historically, golf courses have not been seen as paragons of environmental virtue but that may be changing. According to Audubon International, golf courses can provide an ideal setting for wildlife sanctuaries if properly designed and managed. Non-playable areas comprise some 70 percent of most golf courses; that’s a lot of paradise left unpaved. These spaces offer opportunities for wild animal “corridors” and allow native vegetation to flourish. By practicing erosion control, water conservation and water quality management, employing careful and minimal use of chemicals and maintaining wildlife habitats, golf courses can be a positive, rather than a negative, addition to a community’s environment.

To encourage the development of courses that are built and managed with such safeguards in place, Audubon International in 1991 in cooperation with the USGA established the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, an education and certification program that helps golf courses enhance the natural areas and protect wildlife even as they educate golfers about the importance of such practices. Being designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary is a singular honor that is only awarded to those courses that adhere to the program’s high standards.

As expats living in Costa Rica, Layne and I recently had the good fortune of playing just such a course and we highly recommend it, not only for its stewardship of nature but also for the excellence and fun of the course itself. Hacienda Pinilla is a gorgeous 4500-acre beach resort and residential community that boasts a 7300-yard, par 72 golf course set amidst the tropical dry forest and dazzling Pacific coastline of the northwestern province of Guanacaste, just south of the tourist town of Tamarindo. Designed in 2000 by respected course designer Mike Young, Hacienda Pinilla offers friendly wide fairways and smooth true greens, making for an enjoyable round of golf even for the novice player like me.

Maintaining the luxurious green look expected by most golfers requires a lot of water but Hacienda Pinilla takes a different approach. Guanacaste province is the driest part of Costa Rica and the Hacienda Pinilla landscape reflected that, even though we were just a few weeks out of the rainy season. By using TifEagle Bermuda grass greens, cut very close, the ball rolls true and fast despite the dry appearance of the greens and fairways. Even so the surrounding terrain is lush untouched grassland and impressive Matapalo trees, with the eerie calls of howler monkeys in the distance. The broad fairways are not soft and cushiony like heavily watered courses, but still have sufficient turf to hold the ball smartly for a good lie and a small divot. Of course, other times of the year Guanacaste can get abundant rainfall but because the course was constructed with drainage in mind and Costa Rica’s soil sheds water like a turtle, there are virtually zero days when the course can’t be played. The entire course is visually stunning but the dramatic oceanside holes are beautiful and melodious with waves crashing onto the shore just a nine-iron shot away.

Of course, there is a broader ecological focus at Hacienda Pinilla than just environmentally friendly golf. The resort has received a number of awards for their efforts toward having a “green” footprint. The elegant La Posada Hotel where we stayed has received a Sustainable Tourism Certification, acquiring three out of five possible “leaves” or levels, by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute (ICT) for their recycling initiatives and educational efforts regarding conserving energy, reusing towels and not smoking in buildings. Recycling is encouraged throughout the resort, with color-coded resin bags (which disintegrate when buried for three months) in each hotel room to segregate glass, plastic, organic waste and conventional waste products. The magnificent three miles of beaches for guests and residents have been designated as “Ecological Blue Flag” beaches by Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), meaning they are clean and clear and safe for swimming. Seawater analysis is done every two months and trash is picked up from the beaches every two weeks, guaranteeing a pristine shoreline for visitors.

In addition to rental lodging for vacationers, Hacienda Pinilla also offers real estate opportunities for those who decide to make their home in this beautiful locale. The options are luxurious but predictably pricey, whether buying a lot to build on or choosing a custom built home in one of the residential sections of the resort. Still, the developer’s commitment to environmental concerns can be seen in all aspects of construction, from having a “green” architect on board to help design an ecologically friendly home, to leaving some 50 percent of the land undisturbed, to a prohibition on cutting down existing trees in order to build. In fact, they plant so many trees each year — some 80,000, according to the sales manager — they consider the overall project to be almost carbon-neutral.

Add to this the fact that all profits go back into the community through support of local schools, scholarships for young people to continue their education or to study in the U.S. and employment of local Ticos. Indeed, the only Gringo working for Hacienda Pinilla is the golf pro! Clearly, many benefits flow into the local community from Hacienda Pinilla’s thoughtful stewardship of the pristine land they have acquired.

To preserve and protect the great gifts that Nature has placed here in this small corner of the world — the amazingly diverse flora and fauna, the oceans abundant with life, the rain forests’ misty magic — Costa Rica must ensure environmental sustainability and ecologically sound development. Hacienda Pinilla is a good example of a well-planned, environmentally sensitive resort that is doing its part to help ensure that future for Costa Rica.

If You Go:

• Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
• For reservations at Hotel La Posada, call 1-888-9-PINILLA

Special Feature by Bob Kelley

Sipping ice cold butterbeer inside the boisterous Three Broomsticks, Ed St. Amour pondered his dilemma:  Which was the better investment: Dumbledore’s wand or fashionable (especially at Halloween) Gryffindor class robes?

A pre-teen mulling over how to spend his weekly allowance?  No, actually St. Amour is a 50-something human resources manager from Atlanta trying to decide on the better bargain for his hard earned dollars.

From the moment the first of J.K.Rowling’s series hit the bookstands, the adventurous story of the youthful wizard and his quest to vanquish He Who Must Not Be Named has transcended generations, appealing to Muggles of all ages.  (For the unitiated, Muggles are non-magical folks like you and me.)  Quicker than you can say wingardium leviosa, parents preferring to read the books before allowing their children to do so were soon hooked themselves.

Word of mouth spread the news to childless adults who love a good read. The books were entertaining and rekindled wonderful lifelong lessons in friendship, loyalty, bravery and, above all, the choices one makes and the consequences of those choices.

For young and adult fans, Pottermania reached its zenith with the opening in 2010 of Universal’s $265 million Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWHP).  The 20-acre park within a theme park is credited with boosting Universal Orlando’s attendance 36 percent (more than one million visitors) in its first three months. Visitors who journey to the WWHP are rewarded with state-of- the-art attractions, a restaurant and shops that bring the wonder and magic of the heavily-detailed Potter books and movies to life.  As a testament to its popularity, within six months of opening the attraction sold its one millionth mug of butterbeer, the drink of choice for Harry and his friends.

St. Amour’s first visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, FL had unabashedly brought his personal Pottermania full circle. “Once I started the first book, I was hooked,” says St. Amour.  “The overall appeal of the author’s imagination and her ability to hold your attention made me keep reading each subsequent book.”

St. Amour has remained a true fan of every book in the series and each of the eight movies.  “I have read each book several times and seen all of the movies MANY times,” he adds. “ It just seemed a natural next step to visit the venue that would bring the images of the books and movies to life.

“What I like most is how the Potter saga progressed in complexity relative to the age and experience of the characters.  Each book in the series managed to include some humor even as the story became progressively darker.  Every book also followed a natural progression and it was easy to stay with the story over such a long period of time.”

Entering Universal’s vast multi-themed park, visitors of all ages quickly wind their way through Seuss Landing and The Lost Continent to arrive at the entrance to Hogsmeade and the WWHP.  Passing under the village archway, guests cross into a storybook Olde English realm that is part historic and a lot creative. Iconic locations found in the books and movies are there:

• Hogwarts Express Engine 5972 puffing away in Hogsmeade Station to the delight of youngsters and adults, all waiting to pose for pictures with the engineer.
• The Three Broomsticks pub welcomes those who have worked up a hearty appetite with reasonably priced English dishes such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.
• Colorful Honeydukes Candy Shop’s cramped aisles are filled with stunning Potter treats that dazzle one’s taste buds such as chocolate frogs and multi-colored Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.
•  Just down the street, at Zonko’s Joke Shop, visitors fiddle with extendable ears, experiment with sneakoscopes and deftly grasp fragile golden snitches!

In the Hog’s Head Pub, an animated boar’s head mounted on the wall puffs his jowls at visitors who have bellied up to the bar. Over at Ollivander’s Wand Shop, surrounded by thousands of multi-colored dusty wand boxes, wannabe wizards, true to form, actually have the wand choose them instead of the other way around. The extraordinary attention to detail even features Moaning Myrtle suddenly wailing over the sound system in the bathrooms…enough to startle the hardiest Potter fan making a “pit stop.”

Without waiting in line, guests can watch an outdoor concert of the magical Frog Choir croaking through their version of “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” and watch with delight musical and athletic pep rallies featuring Triwizard competitors:  the demure blue-cloaked females from Beauxbatons and fierce athletes from Durmstrang.

The crowning jewel of the WWHP is Hogwarts Castle perched 200 feet above the village where it looks like it has been hewn from solid rock thousands of years old.  Adults and youngsters wait patiently in line to tour the castle; meet holographic visions of Harry, Ron and Hermione (who enter the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom hidden behind the Invisibility Cloak); and visit Dumbledor’s office before being whisked off on the innovative Forbidden Journey ride.

This state-of-the-art ride gives a sense of 360-degree movement combining live-action with robotic technology and filmmaking.  Stepping off a moving walkway into the ride’s old-fashioned bench-like chair, Hermione gives riders a sprinkling of Floo powder…magical dust needed to fly.  In an instant, Potterphiles are twisting and turning their way along a virtual route following Harry through archways, zigging and zagging around Hogwarts’ towering pointed turrets, dodging giant spiders and dragons and diving effortlessly into the darker regions of the Forbidden Forest.  After meeting some of Harry’s menacing foes, the exhilarating ride draws to a close as riders fly over, under around and through the Hogwarts Quidditch field and stadium as teammates in a lively match led by Harry astride his broomstick.  It is not uncommon to see people exit the ride and immediately get in queue to ride it again.

Spending the day at WWHP, some of the most fun comes in people-watching.   Wandering through the shops in adult packs, grown men and women, some dressed like witches or warlocks, show just how “into” Harry Potter they really are.  They laugh knowingly as they stand in front of the Owl Post and watch a Howler (screaming letter) ranting in the window.  At the door to Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop, a robed clerk holds a snapping Monster Book of Monsters, teasing visitors with its deep growls.   While a few of the rides, like the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster, are decidedly aimed to the younger set, the majority of the WWHP attractions and shops are geared to youngsters “of all ages.”

And all of this is the result of an unknown writer’s love of writing and her vivid imagination.

Interest in Harry Potter spans three generations in Kay Barutha’s family.  The Greer, S.C., purchasing agent and grandmother has read all of the books and seen all of the movies.   “My brother encouraged me to read the first book and after that it was just a given that I read each new book,” Barutha recalled.  “The basic appeal is Rowling’s totally unique approach to uncharted waters in a realm of mystery and intrigue.”

Barutha has seen firsthand that the Harry Potter books inspire reading and discussion between children and adults.  Her son, Sean Terrell and his wife, Kim, in Upton, Mass., have also embraced the series and enjoy simultaneously reading and explaining the books to their 7-year-old daughter, Chloe.  “I have read the first three books,” Chloe proudly boasts, “and I watch each movie after I read the whole book.”

Why do the Potter tales hold such an appeal for adults as well as children?  Loaded with history and mythology plus a hint of fantasy, the series makes for thoughtful and entertaining reading.  Rowling’s ability to weave together pieces of magical lore and history can both intrigue and speak to grown-ups.  Older readers can relate to her skillful use of literary influences ranging from British folklore and mythology to such classics as the Iliad, Macbeth, Treasure Island, The Wizard of Oz, the Bible and even hints of Jane Austin’s Emma and Roald Dahl’s Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to name a few.  Grown-ups, all too often jaded by the complexities of everyday life, rejoice in recapturing the fanciful imagination of their youth via Harry, his pals, and their exploits.

“My favorite character is Snape,” says Stephanie (Klosik) Stevenson, a 40-year-old television producer for an Atlanta Hispanic network.  “With all of his insecurities and shyness growing up, I think he’s the misunderstood kid most of us knew, or even felt like, when we were young.”

Stephanie feels her five-year-old son, Gavin, is still a bit too young to start reading Harry Potter.  “Once he reaches the right age,” she notes, “I definitely plan to introduce the series to him.  I believe there are many life lessons laced throughout the books regarding friendship, loyalty, family and trust.”

For Debby Camp, a professional author living in Tulsa, Okla., much joy has been derived over the past decade watching the characters grow and evolve, in the books and on the screen.  “I love the way Rowling has built this magical world and the intricate plotting used throughout the series,” Camp says.  A veteran writer of numerous romance novels for publishing houses such as Silhouette© and Harlequin©, Camp has more than just a passing interest in Rowling’s writing style and structure.  Just shy of 59, she feels the series ended appropriately but is hopeful that Rowling has other tales to tell.

Sara Sinek, Senior Director, Corporate Communications at Scholastic Inc. recently expressed her own thoughts on the cross-over appeal of the Potter books.  “She (Rowling) created characters and a plot that appeals to all ages, from 8-80, and to people from all over the world,” Sinek said. “We continue to see the series energizing new readers to start their Hogwarts journey.  Harry Potter is now a modern-classic and it is almost a rite of passage for every eight or nine-year-old child, and for every adult to read it and/or share it with a child in their life.  Since Harry Potter, we have seen more cross-over in adults reading children’s books that Scholastic publishes and distributes.”

Figures from a Kids & Family Reading Report support Sinek’s claims.  Approximately 43 per cent of parents read Harry Potter for “self or to child,” according to the report, and 78 per cent of parents who have read Harry Potter say they “really enjoy sharing it with their child.”  Additionally, 89 per cent of parents who have read Harry Potter think the series will end up being read by future generations.

“Scholastic is the U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter books and published only one cover for each book using Mary GrandPre’s fabulous artwork that appealed to readers of all ages,” Sinek added. “ Bloomsbury, the U.K. publisher, created different covers for adults and children.”

Harry and his friends have gone varsity, too.  In recent years, various colleges have been offering science-based Harry Potter classes such as Frostburg State’s  physics professor George R. Plitnik’s “The Science of Harry Potter:  How Magic Rally Works,” that concludes with a final project of a written and oral presentation on a scientific topic with a Harry Potter theme.  At Penn State University, similar programs have been developed for children’s summer camps.

The written series has ended and the final movie is now in general circulation . . . and audiences continue to savor the adventures of Harry, Ron, Hermione and their friends.  Why? Adult readers are, some suggest, merely reverting to the child they were when they enjoyed Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.  Rowling’s words are “magic” for our time and speak to a generation that lives for the most part in a hectic urban jungle, not the more serene, yet exciting world of Hogwarts and nearby Hogsmeade.   The series, it would seem, is one of the best examples of escapism at its best and brightest.

Which brings us back to Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, where Mr. St. Amour has finally reached a decision:  Dumbledore’s wand.  As his day in the wizarding world draws to a close, he heads off to watch the latest Harry Potter movie at one of Universal’s theaters.

Later, with nighttime settling over Harry’s world, he takes one last stroll down the streets of Hogsmeade past the whimsical shops, acknowledging familiar Potter characters with a nod of his head.  Illuminated by the soft glow of street lamps, St. Amour quietly relishes a final moment of personal magic with an uninhibited wave of his new wand.

Expecto Patronum!

It’s sort of a tradition here at Tourist Travel. An article to warm the heart, not to mention an excellent way to spend a little bit of your holiday time. So sit back and enjoy……

Christmas in San Francisco

New fallen snow blanketed the countryside. The sounds of passing cars along the road were muted in the still, peaceful air. Hills and valleys, in their blanket of snow, rolled softly into the distance, bathed in the mellow light of a nearly full moon. A woody smell of burning pine and warm hearths teased at my nostrils as I turned up the lane toward the house, snow crunching beneath my boots……

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!