The end of this past work week was busy, as your Global Traveler editorial team worked hard to meet our Friday deadline for the first 2022 issue. I think you’ll find it a very upbeat and interesting (as always) issue. I found myself encouraged even more to book a big trip or cruise after reading the Cruises article about all the protocols cruise lines have in place to assure safe travels and Becca Hensley’s feature about the current boom in luxury travel bookings. We’ve also added three new regular columns for travelers with a wide range of interests and needs. It also left me feeling a bit nostalgic, as the Tours article and our cover feature Porto, Portugal, a lovely city I visited on my last international trip pre-COVID and one I would happily see again. Yes, my feet are itching to travel!

After all that time spent at my desk, by the time we wrapped up yesterday afternoon I was more than ready to indulge my feet in a closer-to-home ramble. While most of the rest of the country has been dealing with ferocious winter weather this past week, my region has seen chilly, foggy mornings followed by gloriously sunny afternoons with temperatures in the 50s. Although we badly need to return to the cold and wet conditions we experienced in December and early January to help alleviate our years-long drought, everyone around here appreciates the bright blue skies and beautiful sunsets blessing us lately. So it was that as soon as our last file was closed, I pulled on my walking shoes and headed out the door.

The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, providing a warm, golden light that I love. There was just a touch of chill to the air, emphasizing its freshness and calling attention to the stunning blue overhead. As I walked through the neighborhoods on my way to a local park, snowy Mt. McLoughlin (9,495 feet), about 40 miles away as the crow flies, played peek-a-boo between the trees and over the roofs of houses.

When I reached the park, I made a few loops around the wide oval of its main path, circling the large playing field at its center and passing the playground, picnic tables, tennis courts and seasonally closed spray park. From a low hill on the east side of the park, I enjoyed the view of the Table Rocks just to the north and the coastal mountains to the west, the sun gradually sinking towards them. Across the way stood the Oregon Fallen War Heroes Memorial,  and I decided to stop and pay my respects on my final circuit of the park.

The memorial honors Oregon servicemen and -women wounded and fallen in all U.S. wars from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Flags of each of the services circle the U.S. and Oregon state flags and a statue of eagles in flight.  Around this central plaza are separate memorials for each military branch with the names of Purple Heart recipients and the fallen engraved there.

  They reminded me that, in addition to the natural beauty of a day like this, I was thankful for all the sacrifices made by so many so that I could benefit from all this country provides.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor