Author: smwance

Geeky suburban professional, movie buff, sometime traveler, attempted artist, amateur foodie and wine enthusiast who enjoys sharing stories about the little and not-so-little jaunts he takes when not buried in work or broke. He's often guilty of thinking he's cooler than he actually is, and most agree that his death will be from making a sarcastic remark at a painfully inopportune moment.

Disney World – Introduction (October 2022)

I never considered myself a resort person. Let me clarify that – and I’ll try to be brief (on this point). Whether a cruise ship or destination, never having gone through the “resort experience,” I can’t and won’t judge. Maybe it’s stereotyping a bit, but when I think of resorts, I see visions of being … Continue reading Disney World – Introduction (October 2022) →

Disney World – Day 1 (October 2022)

Her First Plane Ride When it comes to weather, October can be really hard to predict in the Mid-Atlantic Region. In previous years, the AC would be running until almost Halloween, and others it goes from “warm days and cool nights” to Winter before Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This particular October was starting out … Continue reading Disney World – Day 1 (October 2022) →

Disney World – Day 3 (October 2022)

The previous day was definitely good for her, because Farrah didn’t exactly sit up and announce the morning like she usually does. A nice thing about Disney – one way or another, your children will be tired at the end of the day. Thoroughly worn out from the previous night, we all slept in and … Continue reading Disney World – Day 3 (October 2022) →

Disney World – Days 4 and 5 (October 2022)

It’s a Booze World After All Despite the name of this blog, I’m not a heavy drinker…though I wouldn’t call myself a teetotaler either. Back in the day, I was known for enjoying a few drinks with friends on a Friday or Saturday night out or savoring a good bottle of wine or two on … Continue reading Disney World – Days 4 and 5 (October 2022) →

European Tour – Introduction (June/July 1990)

Since I began this blog, I’ve wanted to write down before senility ensues capture for posterity my first international trip – a tour of northwestern Europe back in June and July 1990.(1) My off-and-on labors for this story (i.e., remembering important events/details, outlining notes, writing and revising content, finding and scanning pictures/negatives, researching locations and … Continue reading European Tour – Introduction (June/July 1990) →

European Tour – Ireland (June/July 1990)

Warm Plane, Cold Welcome It is said that travel broadens the mind. While there’s plenty to learn from exploring foreign lands, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people, the act of travel itself provides its own valuable and pragmatic life lessons, as well. Globe-trotting involves everything from acting like a headless chicken running around to … Continue reading European Tour – Ireland (June/July 1990) →

European Tour – Netherlands/Belgium (July 1990)

Claustrophobia on the High Seas The ferry sailed north up the English Channel and around the peninsula of North Holland. My time on boats and ships was almost non-existent very limited, so I never lived in tight quarters before, and this seemed a little apropos while heading for a small country. We were split up … Continue reading European Tour – Netherlands/Belgium (July 1990) →