Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Days 41 through 50 of 100 Days of Blue Water (Part 5)๐Ÿ’ฆ The Mediterranean to the Gulf of Mexico

Searching for Blue Mind from Blue Water

Beyond My Home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

On A Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship
Day 41: Delos Island, Greece, Near Mykonos, July 5
The Aegean Sea, Part of the Mediterranean
Day 42 of 100 Blue: Another View of the Aegean Sea 
That's Me after the Climb Up to Kritinia Castle, Rhodes!
Day 43 of 100 Blue Water Photos: July 7, 2025
From the Santorini, Greece Cable Car—That’s the True Blue!
Day 44 of Blue Water: Leaving Crete, Greece
Marveling at the Blue of the Mediterranean
Day 45 of the #100daysofblue Challenge: Blue Water
View from My Favorite Women's Public Restroom on the Ship
Day 46 of Blue: Docked in Piraeus, Greece, July 10, 2025
Breakfast at the Wake Restaurant Before Disembarking
Day 47 of Blue: Fountain in Athens, Greece, July 11
From the Top of the Red Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus
Day 48 of 100 Blue: Peaceful Memories Video
Mediterranean Cruising on the Resilient Lady
Day 49 of Blue Water: South Miami Beach
A Two-Day Stop in Florida on the Way to Mexico
Day 50 of 100: Blue Water of Going Home to Mexico
Flying Over the Gulf of Mexico from Miami to Mexico City!

If you would like to view the first forty days of Blue Water photos, including many memories of past adventures with Jon, here are the links:

Part 1: Days 1 through 10 of Blue ๐Ÿ’ฆ 100 Days of Blue Begins: Where I Find My Blue Mind. Memories of Happy Times with Jon.

Part 2: ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐— ๐˜† ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒŠ (Days 11 to 20) More Happy Memories with Jon

Part 3: Days 21 through 30 ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ๐จ๐Ÿ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ Happy Memories with Jon Continue

Part 4: Days 31 through 40 ๐ŸŒŠ New Memories of Traveling AlonePuerto Vallarta to Athens to Turkey

Blue Mind is the mildly meditative state people fall into when they are near, in, under, or on water. It is peace. It is the feeling of calmness and relaxation that comes from being in or near the water, and it has a positive impact on our mental health.

100 Days of Blue is a campaign inspired by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, encouraging people to spend time near, in, on, or under water for its positive impact on well-being. To carry on his legacy, many people are posting one blue water photo or video a day for 100 days, often with the hashtag #100daysofblue.

๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™

Some friends and readers have asked why I’m traveling alone now. Where is Jon? We have always done everything together, it seems.

But not always. Fifteen years ago, Jon and I separated during a manic time. Jon was diagnosed with bipolar type II disorder soon afterward, and treatment was successful. It was painful, but we were able to revive our relationship.

As part of my healing, I wrote a book called Just Another Manic Moment: A Novel, about the challenges of living with a person who has bipolar disorder. It’s dรฉjร  vu for me. I’ve lived it once, and now Jon’s mania has returned. He has moved to a small town and started a new life. Yes, I worry about a 75-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease and bipolar disorder living alone in a motorhome far from healthcare facilities. Still, he’s happy building and repairing things, and doing his own traveling for now. I am learning to let him go and focus on self-care.

If you know someone who might benefit from reading this book, please consider sharing it with them. I have reduced the price of the eBook for a limited time beginning August 4, 2025, to $0.99 on Amazon.com and £0.99 in the United Kingdom. Always FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Please help me by leaving a review on Amazon—a writer’s biggest challenge.๐Ÿ˜Š

In Sickness and In Health Book #1

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

BLUE WATER Part 4: Days 31 through 40๐Ÿ’ฆ Traveling Alone #100daysofblue

 100 Days of Blue Continues

New Memories of Traveling Alone
Searching for Blue Mind from Blue Water
The blue mind effect is a mildly meditative state, a feeling of peace associated with water. Water can produce physical and mental health benefits by being near, in, under, or on it, especially if it’s blue water.

100 Days of Blue is a campaign inspired by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, encouraging people to spend time near, in, on, or under water for its positive impact on well-being. To carry on his legacy, many people are posting one blue water photo or video a day for 100 days, often with the hashtag #100daysofblue. I have included ten of my Blue Water photos here, covering Days 31 through 40 of the 100 Days of Blue.
Day 31 of Blue: Sunset Behind the 
Rooftop Pool as the Rain Approaches 

So many soothing shades of blue at sunset. Even the gray-blue above was soothing and provided a dose of Blue Mind.

Day 32 of Blue: No Wine in the Fridge!

Thank goodness, I have an upstairs source with a beautiful sunset view. It's so much prettier than my camera can capture. The blue water of the pool, illuminated by the lights, is stunning against the gray-blue ocean as the sun sets. Now the thunder, lightning, and rain have started. There's a rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ!


Video: Enjoying the Rainstorm
In Puerto Vallarta 

I should be packing, but this was more enjoyable. ⛈️ Enjoy my video above.

My Vacation Begins

Day 33 of Blue Water 
A Little Dose of Blue Mind, the Blue Water Effect 
From a Walk On South Miami Beach 

Day 34 of Blue Water 
Piraeus, Greece June 28, 2025

I walked to this highly rated beach in Piraeus, Greece. Google Maps said it was only 1.1 miles. I must have taken a wrong turn and gone around this pretty marina instead of bypassing it. How was I to know?! Those street signs are all Greek to me. And Maps wasn't working on my phone without Wi-Fi.

After 7000 steps (over three miles) in 94-degree heat, up and down hills, I couldn't find a single open pub or cafe to cool off and enjoy the view. I wasn't going down to that beach because I knew I was in no condition to climb back up.

My Uber app wasn't working, and there wasn't a taxi to be found. Heat exhaustion was now a concern, so I ducked into a deli that was closing and asked if they could call a taxi for me.

The three men shook their heads and said it would be difficult because taxis are all busy during tourist season. While I enjoyed the air conditioning and a chair, one man spent ten minutes outside flagging taxis. When he was finally successful, I thanked him and tried to give him a tip, but he shook his head and let me know how much the taxi ride should cost — 10 euros. And that's exactly what the nice taxi driver charged me. No Blue Mind from viewing the ocean, but I met some friendly Greek people who spoke enough English to help me.

Day 35 of Blue: From the Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship
Departing the Piraeus Port in Greece June 29, 2025

Day 36 of Blue: Sailing through the Dardanelle Strait

Message from Virgin Voyages: Don’t Miss the Dardanelles!

Day 37 of Blue Water: Istanbul from the Cruise Ship

Day 38 of Blue Water from My Balcony Hammock
 Resting After All That Walking in Istanbul July 2, 2025

Day 39 of Blue Water While Cruising
Getting a Dose of Vitamin Sea July 3, 2025

Day 40 of Blue The Joy of Floating
A Beach Club in Kusadasi, Turkey July 4, 2025

After two days of cultural tours, I spent the last day in Turkey relaxing at a beach club. It was a very hot day, so cooling off in the ocean was a refreshing experience.

The Kusadasi city sign and the fort on the island were the view I saw when I opened the curtains that morning. I never sensed the ship docking as I slept.

Then, I watched a third large cruise ship coming in. The view from the captain's cam on the room's TV is always interesting. I watched hundreds of tourists streaming off the ship for early cultural tours. Virgin Voyages is extremely organized, maintaining a calm atmosphere. I appreciate that as I search for healing here in the Mediterranean. I hadn't planned to do this cruise alone.๐Ÿ’™

Please see more of my Blue Water photos at these links:

Part 1: Days 1 through 10 of Blue at 100 Days of Blue Begins: Where I Find My Blue Mind.

Part 2: ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐— ๐˜† ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒŠ (Part 2: Days 11 to 20) 

Part 3: Part 3: Days 21 through 30 ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž

I started posting photos on May 26, 2025, and will update them daily, mรกs o menos, for 100 days. Check back occasionally to see more Blue photos.

Have you read my novels? If so, the terms "Blue Mind" and "Blue Water Effect" will be familiar. These medical fiction books revolve around various mental illnesses and the quest for diagnosis and treatment. I recommend starting with Just Another Manic Moment: A Novel (In Sickness and In Health #1).

The value of living near blue water is a significant aspect of my stories and my life. My goal is to pass this knowledge to others.

Enjoy the adventure!

Terry

Thursday, June 5, 2025

๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ž๐ฌ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐–๐ก๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐ˆ ๐…๐ข๐ง๐ ๐Œ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž ๐Œ๐ข๐ง๐ (Part 2-Days 11 through 20)

 And What Is Blue Mind?

More Memories of Happy Times with Jon

Day 11 of Blue: Getting Ready to Snorkel in the Caribbean Sea

Blue Mind is the mildly meditative state people fall into when they are near, in, under, or on water. It is peace. It is the feeling of calmness and relaxation that comes from being in or near the water, and it has a positive impact on our mental health.
Dr. Wallace J Nichols, a marine biologist, popularized the phrase with his book Blue Mind.

There are so many variations of blue. The blue-green of the Caribbean Sea is quite different from the blue of the Pacific Ocean, yet both are calming.

Red Mind is a term coined by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, and it refers to the state of anxiety, over-stimulation, and over-connectivity that is often associated with modern life. It's the opposite of Blue Mind, which is the state of mild meditation and tranquility that is induced by being in or near water.”
Day 12 of Blue: A Blue-Gray June Day at Daiquiri Dick's
In Old Town Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Even on a Blue-Gray Day, the Pacific Ocean’s

Motion and Sound are Soothing (Video Above)

Day 14 of Blue: A Restful Seating Area Near 
La Palapa Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta

Day 15 of 100 Blue Photos: Terry Paddleboarding

That's me paddleboarding on my knees in 2019 during a Marietas Island cruise. I might have had a margarita and couldn't stand up at that moment.๐Ÿ˜…But I was still getting a dose of Blue Mind. See more of our Marietas Island cruise photos HERE.

Day 17 of 100 Blue Photos: Santa Maria del Oro Lake

The Blue Mind experience was especially pleasant while we kayaked with Bella, our dachshund, in 2017. I'm enjoying reminiscing about my old blog posts, which feature places I've been with Jon.

Day 18 of 100 Blue Water Photos:
Our View From La Ramada Restaurant

On Stone Island, Mazatlan in April 2024. We were having lunch
With friends, Ernie and Alexis. A wonderful memory.
Day 19 of Blue Water Photos: March 6, 2018

Sayulita Ocean View from a Friend’s Home

Day 20 of 100 Blue Water Photos
Parasail on Los Muertos Beach, January 31, 2025

Have you gazed at the gorgeous blue ocean from up high while parasailing? It is surreal. And peaceful. I've done it once in Cabo San Lucas and another time in Mazatlan. One of these blue-sky days, I'll do it in Puerto Vallarta.๐Ÿ’ฆ

Check back every few days to see more calming Blue photos. Blue Mind is a state of positive mental health. I look for opportunities every day. 
Please see Part 1, Days 1 through 10 of Blue at 100 Days of Blue Begins: Where I Find My Blue Mind.

Healthy Living in Mexico #4
Cover Photo by Terry L Turrell

Sunday, March 30, 2025

๐—ช๐—ฒ'๐—ฟ๐—ฒ NOT ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด the ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฑ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿต-๐—™๐—ผ๐—ผ๐˜ ๐— ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ at this time-Sorry! (Edited 7/26/25)

  Imported from the US
Fully Legalized Title and Mexican-Plated

Is Currently Off the Market

 Please Check Back Later 

(Traduce al espaรฑol con el menรบ
desplegable de la derecha๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฝ)
Shown With Two Slides Extended and Wheel Covers Off

Jon Opening the Motorhome Entry Door
Curbside View of Our 29-Foot Minnie Winnie
6 New Tires from Les Schwab in California
And All New Brakes and Bearings at Les Schwab
Floorplan: Sleeps Up to 8 People
New Skylight Installed and Caulked Over the Shower
Dinette, Kitchen, Large Refrigerator, Gas Oven, New MW
New Queen Mattress with Custom Upholstered Headboard
Bedroom Closet and Drawers Before
Carpet and Bedspread Replaced
New Vinyl Plank Flooring in Bedroom
Bathroom Cabinets & Towel Bar Over Toilet
Bathroom Separate From Shower
Wheel Covers On and In-Line Booster Water Pump

People ask us why we are selling our 2005 29-foot Class C Motorhome, a Winnebago Minnie Winnie, after all the work we put into it!

After two years of enjoying and improving our RV, we plan to travel by train more in Mexico. You may remember how exciting our Copper Canyon Adventures El Chepe tour was. Next, we’re headed to the Maya Train.

Below are more of Minnie Winnie's specs. If you are interested in purchasing it, please message me for more information or to make an appointment to see it in the comments below or through Messenger.

Price: $26,900 or 550,000MX 
Reduced to $25,900 US or 499,000 MXN

Fully Legalized Title and Mexican-Plated by Pat’s Plates. Renew the registration online yearly.

Odometer: 58,600 miles

Ford E450 6.8 Super Duty V10 Gas Engine

Two New High-ampereage Deep-cycle 6-Volt Trojan House Batteries

4000-Watt Onan Gas Generator with New Carburetor

Beds in addition to Queen in the Back Bedroom:

   Queen bed over the cab. The custom mattress folds in half for space.

   Dinette converts into a bed.

   The sofa pulls out into a bed. 2 Memory Foam toppers for comfort.

More improvements than shown in photos!

Located in a beachfront RV park in Lo de Marcos, Nayarit.