When was the last time you ate SPAM?

Spam! No, not the annoying stuff you get in your email. I'm talking about Spam - the canned meat that sustained the troops in WWII and, to this day, is celebrated in Hawaii, and eaten all over the world.

Did you know there is a Spam Museum in Minnesota? 

My brother Richard, me and Chan with "Spammy"

Today, we ventured down I-35W to Austin - an hour and a half south of the Twin Cities. My Phoenix brother was visiting his wife's relatives in Des Moines, Iowa, so we decided to meetup at a halfway point and suggested the Spam Museum. 

How much fun. You're treated to Spam samples as you wander through the space, which takes you through the history of this canned delight and how this Minnesota product has become world famous. Did you know that Hawaii even has a Spam festival  - over 7 million cans of the stuff are sold in the islands every year. But the facination with Spam has actually spread all over the world, and the Hormel company has come up with so many different versions to suit these tastes.

After our visit we stopped at Kenny's Oak Grill, for what else but Spam!

Other fun museums we have visited: 

Potato Museum, Blackfoot, Idaho

                                                                     Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota

Get out there! Mingle! Have fun!

Whether it's joining an impromtu dance at the beach, saying "yes" when locals want their photo taken with you, or asking if you can participate in an event, getting out of your comfort zone will really enhance your travel experience.

We recently returned from a month-long stay in Cascais Portugal. Wow, what a privilege to spend so much time in one place. Nearly everyday we walked to the beach area just to see what was happening and, of course, eat! We happened on a dance party, which my husband quickly joined in.... if there's dancing, you know he'll be out there movin' and groovin'. How fun, not only for him, but he put a smile on a lot of faces.... sadly, most people are age seem to prefer to sit on the sidelines. Not us! 

I have no idea who these people are, but they wanted their photo taken with us! I have grown accustomed to this request, especially in Asia. Why people want a photo is beyond me, but I always say "yes."

Dham is unique to Himachal Pradesh, India. It is a way to serve hundreds of people quickly and efficiently. You can experience Dham, which consists of several lentil curries and rice, at weddings and other family events. Whenever possible, I try to get myself invited to these event. But in India, really you don't have to wait for an invitation. All are welcome.