In addition to the wedding festivities, my first stop was the Obama Presidential Center. Even without a ticket, there was still plenty to see. Every art installations, every design feature was approved by the Obamas. A sampling of donors included: Spielberg, Oprah, Tom Hanks, Bezos, Chesky, Gates, Paul Mc Cartney, Springsteen, Eddie Vedder.

Approaching the plaza, there is a life sized bronze sculpture depicting Barack and Michelle Obama inauguration walk. There is a line of fans wanting to take a picture with them.

The lobby displayed art installations alongside an original life sized painting of Obamas life and public service together.

The Sky Room, dedicated to Nelson Mandela, offered sweeping views of Chicago’s South Side and the lakefront. Downstairs, the presidential library featured favorite books by Barack & Michelle Obama. There are 2 cafes one featuring their favorite foods. Outdoors in the plaza there is a community vegetable garden, massive playground and The Court aka basketball courts for youth.

Join the Obama Foundation and you can get a ticket easier than on line. Ticket in hand, you visit the museum, a fashion exhibit from Michelle, replica of the oval office and a chronology of accomplishments during Obama’s presidency.

Yesterday left Chicago 1 day early from Union Station as the heat wave expected to reach high 90s. Arrival to Emeryville is already late by 1.5 hours, typical of American railroad but I don’t care cause I’m enjoying the ride so far. 

My 1st class sleeper has ample space, the crew are friendly, delicious & varied meals and I’m reminded of exotic lands when I hear the train horn. I’m lulled to sleep with the back & forth motion.

Illinois and Iowa grow acres of corn, known as the Corn belt of US. AI says Corn popular because of the years of prairie land resulting in fertile soil, flat terrain making it easy to plow by horses later tractors, plenty of rain, easy access to the Mississippi & Illinois rivers and not only sold as grain but also feed pigs & cattle. Houses or farms, even campers are miles away from each other. I’m happy to see solar panels dotted throughout the area. 

Deteriorated old brick grain warehouses, depots, and factories along the tracks are reminders of a bygone era when grains were transported by railroad.

In Illinois passed many towns that were part of the Underground Railroad which not an actual railroad but used railroad language as code. Blacks like Harriet Tubman helped enslaved African Americans escape from slave states in the South to free states in the North. Illinois was a free state but they were not friendly to Blacks. Today, many homes, churches, and barns in the Midwest are remembered as part of this path to freedom.

Comfortably slept through Nebraska—miles of prairie, endless silos with wheat, and cattle packed into feedlots as far as the eye could see. Ride the train through America’s heartland long enough, and vegetarianism starts to sound like a solid plan.

Today, looking forward to the Zephyr’s most breathtaking stretch, winding through the Colorado River then Utah, Nevada, California.

Splurging on a $200 Zodiac whale-watching tour in the bay off Reykjavik was worth every penny. We spotted whales, dolphins, and puffins furiously flying over the ocean but the highlight was an extraordinary sight: a whale feeding just below the surface, a moment that will stay with me long after the trip.

On our final day, we rented electric scooters and zipped across the city, stopping at a secondhand store and an ice cream shop beloved by the locals.

Back in the city center, we treated ourselves to vegan hamburgers and fries at the food hall before setting out on one last stroll up the Rainbow Road. We lingered in front of favorite storefronts, made a final visit to the Sands Hotel, and purchased Icelandic wool for future knitting projects and gift.

Of course, no visit to Iceland would be complete without devouring the famous hot dog that Anthony Bourdain helped make legendary among Icelandic travelers.

Overall, I loved the adventures, excursions, and abundant wildlife that made Iceland such a memorable destination. The whale watching, puffin colony, reindeer farm, feeding carrots to horses & baby lambs on side of road & dramatic landscapes were the highlights of the trip. On the other hand, I found many of the towns, hotels, and the often cold, drizzly weather rather dismal. While the people were friendly enough, few seemed to linger outdoors, and I often found myself strolling through the towns alone in the mist and rain.

Of course, others in our group felt quite differently. They relished the quiet, isolated villages, the unhurried pace of life, and the charm of the quaint hotels. What felt lonely to me felt peaceful and restorative to them. Travel is like that—each person experiences the same place through a different lens. For me, Iceland’s greatest treasures were its wild beauty, remarkable wildlife, and unforgettable adventures rather than its towns and city life.

A short drive to Sky Lagoon is well worth the trip. Popular and often busy, it is also stunningly beautiful and exceptionally well organized. Staff carefully monitor the thermal baths, creating a safe and relaxing atmosphere. The experience follows a six-step ritual: a tranquil sauna with sweeping fjord views, a refreshing cool mist, an invigorating body scrub, a steam room nestled within volcanic stone walls, and, finally, a refreshing taste of Icelandic gooseberry juice. The combination of natural beauty, thoughtful design, and soothing treatments makes Sky Lagoon a memorable Icelandic spa experience.

We visited a reindeer farm where orphaned and young reindeer calves were being raised. Reindeer are highly social animals and prefer the company of a herd. Some wander among cattle or join flocks of sheep for companionship, much to the farmers’ frustration, who often have to shoo them away. They are social but not affectionate as their fur is so delicate it falls off upon touch.

Unlike in many northern regions, reindeer serve little practical purpose in Iceland today. With no natural predators on the island, their population is managed through a regulated hunting season held at specific times of the year. Despite this, they remain an iconic part of Iceland’s landscape and culture.

Before arriving in Icelands northern capital, we stopped at Stuolagil Canyon and Godafoss waterfall.

The northern capital of Iceland was a surprisingly vibrant town, complete with a university, inviting playgrounds, and a beautiful botanical garden. The compact downtown area was filled with charming shops, colorful buildings, and cafés that made wandering its streets a pleasure. Along the harbor, whale-watching boats departed throughout the day, offering visitors the chance to see whales in the waters of the fjord. Despite its remote location, the town felt lively, welcoming, and full of character.

After driving 4 hours along Iceland’s Route 1, hugging the coastline and winding past fjords, we arrived at a historic farmhouse—only to set off again in search of a puffin colony.

The journey took us over a treacherous mountain pass cloaked in thick fog, with snow stretching along both sides of the road. As we descended toward the coast, anticipation grew. We parked the car, climbed a series of stairs, and suddenly found ourselves surrounded by puffins everywhere.

Their bright orange feet flashed against the green cliffs as they waddled about. Some took flight, circling over the sea before returning to the burrows they had carefully dug into the hillside. Others busied themselves building nests, while many stood quietly preening their feathers.

All of this unfolded against a spectacular backdrop of dramatic sea cliffs, crashing waves, and mist-shrouded mountains—a scene so beautiful it seemed almost unreal.