Penny Zibula
Legally blind since birth, and now totally blind, my travel experiences have been somewhat unique. A keen awareness of sounds, smells, and tastes have been my backdrop for learning about cultures, history, and people. My guide dogs have given me the confidence to travel safely and independently in many countries. They have also been the catalyst for situations that would never have occurred without their sweet presence.
I hope that you will be entertained and inspired as I share my travel experiences that continue to enrich my life. Perhaps your curiosity about people, places, and cultures will excite you to the point where you will say, “I want to have that experience, too.”
From The Blog. . .
“O” is for Ocean Cruising:
If you love travel, but hate dealing with the details, ocean cruising is for you (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) It was easy for me to fall in love with ocean cruising. My first solo travel adventure was a two-week Mediterranean cruise in 1975. Despite the many amazing travel experiences I’ve had the privilege of enjoying since, that first sojourn into the wonderful world of travel still...
“O” is for Ocean Cruising:
If you love travel, but hate dealing with the details, ocean cruising is for you (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) It was easy for me to fall in love with ocean cruising. My first solo travel adventure was a two-week Mediterranean cruise in 1975. Despite the many amazing travel experiences I’ve had the privilege of enjoying since, that first sojourn into the wonderful world of travel still holds a special place in my heart. The ship was the Delphi, a Greek vessel that by todays standards would be considered a tent in the woods. There were no elevators, and I clearly remember nearly killing myself on a metal spiral staircase wearing platform shoes. No room service meant you had to...
“N” is for Negev:
All Israeli Ingenuity Needed to Perform Magic was a Desert (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) For most, the word “desert” conjures up visions of endless miles of rolling sand dunes where only cactuses grow. But, although Israel’s Negev is classified as a desert, its landscape continues to evolve into anything but the stereotypical expanse of burning barren wasteland. In fact, it presents an...
“N” is for Negev:
All Israeli Ingenuity Needed to Perform Magic was a Desert (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) For most, the word “desert” conjures up visions of endless miles of rolling sand dunes where only cactuses grow. But, although Israel’s Negev is classified as a desert, its landscape continues to evolve into anything but the stereotypical expanse of burning barren wasteland. In fact, it presents an...
“M” Is for Milan:
Northern Italy’s Answer to Venice and Paris Rolled into One Unforgettable City (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) It was late afternoon on March 4, 2020, and Simon, Splendid, and I had just landed in Milan. Little did we know that the next four days would be the dividing line between the travel life we had come to love and a world turned upside down. I wrote a short section on what we did in this...
“M” Is for Milan:
Northern Italy’s Answer to Venice and Paris Rolled into One Unforgettable City (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) It was late afternoon on March 4, 2020, and Simon, Splendid, and I had just landed in Milan. Little did we know that the next four days would be the dividing line between the travel life we had come to love and a world turned upside down. I wrote a short section on what we did in this...
How the Covid Grinch Stole 2020 and Other Tales from the Twilight Zone:
A year of regrouping, relocating, and refocusing It wasn’t the best year or even the worst, but 2020 was definitely the strangest I can remember. It was challenging to say the least. A deadly pandemic, nationwide riots, despicable politicians, and a long-distance move tested our resilience and patience. On the other hand, the love of our family and friends, our optimism, and the ability to roll with the punches got us through. The year began benignly enough. In late January, Simon, Splendid...
How the Covid Grinch Stole 2020 and Other Tales from the Twilight Zone:
A year of regrouping, relocating, and refocusing It wasn’t the best year or even the worst, but 2020 was definitely the strangest I can remember. It was challenging to say the least. A deadly pandemic, nationwide riots, despicable politicians, and a long-distance move tested our resilience and patience. On the other hand, the love of our family and friends, our optimism, and the ability to roll with the punches got us through. The year began benignly enough. In late January, Simon, Splendid...
“M” is for Moving:
Taking a Break from Blogging to Relocate. This post is overdue, and it was supposed to be entitled “M” is for Milan. Now, my tale of this remarkable Italian goddess of a city will have to wait until the New Year. We are in the process of moving from New Bern, North Carolina to Greenville, South Carolina. I’ll share more details in my year-end post. The short version of the story is we will be closer to our sons, we will be less isolated, we will have more access to services and excellent...
“M” is for Moving:
Taking a Break from Blogging to Relocate. This post is overdue, and it was supposed to be entitled “M” is for Milan. Now, my tale of this remarkable Italian goddess of a city will have to wait until the New Year. We are in the process of moving from New Bern, North Carolina to Greenville, South Carolina. I’ll share more details in my year-end post. The short version of the story is we will be closer to our sons, we will be less isolated, we will have more access to services and excellent...
“L” is for Lucca
A Small, but Brilliant, Tuscan Jewel (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) If you are in Florence and headed for Carrara to see the marble quarries, you will pass right by the walled city of Lucca. That is how we found ourselves making a brief visit to this delightful town in 2003. But because we had done no prior research and since we were on a tight schedule, we spent about an hour wandering around the...
“L” is for Lucca
A Small, but Brilliant, Tuscan Jewel (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) If you are in Florence and headed for Carrara to see the marble quarries, you will pass right by the walled city of Lucca. That is how we found ourselves making a brief visit to this delightful town in 2003. But because we had done no prior research and since we were on a tight schedule, we spent about an hour wandering around the...
“K” if for Krakow – Part 2:
Where Turbulent History, a Fire-Breathing Dragon, and Perfect Pierogi Converge Exploring the Jewel that Is Krakow For centuries, the Jews of Krakow enjoyed a peaceful existence where their culture and community thrived. Then the Nazis nearly erased Judaism from Krakow’s landscape. In the first part of this story, we explored Kazimierz and the site of the Krakow Ghetto. But Krakow, whose entire old town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, is a city that holds many wondrous...
“K” if for Krakow – Part 2:
Where Turbulent History, a Fire-Breathing Dragon, and Perfect Pierogi Converge Exploring the Jewel that Is Krakow For centuries, the Jews of Krakow enjoyed a peaceful existence where their culture and community thrived. Then the Nazis nearly erased Judaism from Krakow’s landscape. In the first part of this story, we explored Kazimierz and the site of the Krakow Ghetto. But Krakow, whose entire old town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, is a city that holds many wondrous...
“K” is for Krakow:
Where Turbulent History, a Fire-Breathing Dragon, and Perfect Pierogi Converge Part I: The Jews of Krakow (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) My memories of Krakow never fails to arouse in me an intensity that refuses to fade with time. Much of her complex history is tragic and bloodstained. Nevertheless, the courage, resourcefulness, and talent of her people insured she would prevail. Today, Krakow is...
“K” is for Krakow:
Where Turbulent History, a Fire-Breathing Dragon, and Perfect Pierogi Converge Part I: The Jews of Krakow (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) My memories of Krakow never fails to arouse in me an intensity that refuses to fade with time. Much of her complex history is tragic and bloodstained. Nevertheless, the courage, resourcefulness, and talent of her people insured she would prevail. Today, Krakow is...
“J” Is for Jerusalem:
The Beating Heart of Israel (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) Jerusalem is one of the most volatile, yet revered, cities in the world, It has haunted me over the decades. It is where I was born; the place where I spent the summer after college graduation; and, the city where cherished family members still live. This timeless city calls me back to indulge my curiosity about its tumultuous and glorious...
“J” Is for Jerusalem:
The Beating Heart of Israel (The next installment in the series,, “The ABCs of Future Travel”, designed to inspire you to start planning your next trip.) Jerusalem is one of the most volatile, yet revered, cities in the world, It has haunted me over the decades. It is where I was born; the place where I spent the summer after college graduation; and, the city where cherished family members still live. This timeless city calls me back to indulge my curiosity about its tumultuous and glorious...
“I” is for Israel
Although Israel occupies a mere 8,000 square miles the history and traditions of this melting pot of cultures and religions spans well over 2000 years. Be prepared to explore this magnificent country and then wish you had budgeted time to see even more.
“I” is for Israel
Although Israel occupies a mere 8,000 square miles the history and traditions of this melting pot of cultures and religions spans well over 2000 years. Be prepared to explore this magnificent country and then wish you had budgeted time to see even more.