Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Palma de Mallorca, Spain by Margot Justes















This was my first visit to Palma de Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands of Spain. It boasts a beautiful Catalan style Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria, or simply known as La Seu.  Started in the early 13th century, and finally finished in the early 17th century, it is a massive structure.

Then a visit to the austere Bellver Castle that was a delight to visit, situated 403 ft above sea level, with gorgeous bay views of the city below. It is once again Gothic in style, built in the early 14th century. A rare circular castle that first housed the Mallorca  Kings, and now is a huge and central tourist draw.  

The tour included an overview of the city, along with a visit to the bull ring-a sport I find particularly barbaric-and skipped the inside visit, opted for a delicious coffee instead, but the building was quite beautiful.

Then it was to Son Amar, a 16th century Mallorca manor house, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see a flamenco show.  I thought it would be a show geared towards tourists, but it turned out to be a professional dance group, and quite excellent. I love flamenco dancing, and the passionate music. Sadly, the imposing manor house was not open to tours, and a portion of it has been turned into a night club.

Pictures were not allowed during the show, but we were allowed to take them before the show started. They served us yummy Sangria and tapas, while we watched the graceful movements on stage.

Palma is also well known for the Mallorca pearls, and everywhere one turned there were  boutiques selling them. They are not formed in oysters, but are man-made, manufactured under strict condition, using glass balls, a lengthy and exact process, they are shiny, and quite beautiful. There are lower quality pearls available, some made with plastic, less attention to detail, and using similar names, it’s difficult for the average shopper to tell the difference, as always buyer beware. 

Happy travels, wherever they may take you.

Cheers,
Margot  Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
www.mjustes.com



Friday, February 24, 2017

It’s Tax Time! Are You a Hobbyist or a Business?

When most of us strike out to be a successful writer we think of all things writing such as:

-          Traditional vs. Indie publishing
-          Do we need agent
-          How to engage readers
-          Finishing the Damn Book
-          …and more

What we don’t typically thing about are the tax consequences of that journey to becoming a successful writer.

One of the first things to determine, especially in the beginning, is whether you are conducting your writing as a hobbyist or a business.  If you limit yourself to just writing and don’t incur any expenses and/or earn any money in your writing journey then the question is somewhat mute, although, if you are incurring expenses do keep a written record of them so that you can consider them later, potentially as startup costs.

To be considered a business, you have to have – and be able to demonstrate – a serious intent to make a profit.  This is detailed in the Form 1040 Schedule C and related instructions found at the two links below:


If you don’t care whether or not you make any money with your writing but just happen to, along the way, receive money for your efforts then you fall into the category of being a hobbyist and the way you reflect your income and expenses is explained in IRS Publication 529:


But be careful!  You can’t pretend to be a hobbyist just to avoid certain taxes such as the Self-Employment taxes and this is spelled at the following IRS link:



So, if you want to know if your writing journey is a business or a hobby, use the link above to see if you pass or fail the test of being a hobbyist, and definitely read the Schedule C and related instructions.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Sea Days by Margot Justes



A day at sea was next, and it was most welcome, I have a pedometer with me, and since my arrival in Rome, I have logged anywhere from 5 to 9 miles a day, that is a lot for my weary old bones. While at sea I go to the jogging deck-weather permitting, sometimes not-I walk 3 miles, and then another 1 to 2 just walking around the ship, and sometimes a stroll in the evening.

The food is rather tasty, and plentiful. They even had big, ripe fresh figs, along with passion fruit, two of my favorite fruits, and passion fruit is not yet readily available at home, however Costco carries decent fresh figs in the summer.

This sea day included rain in the early morning, then the sun came out, there was a gentle breeze, and calm waters, I couldn’t ask for more. Temperatures in the 60’s made it a perfect morning for a walk along the jogging track. Just me, surrounded by clear waters and few passengers, since it was an early morning. 

I start with a glass of water, coffee and a walk, followed by more coffee and a book, and then breakfast with of course more coffee. The sea days are not structured for me, I pick and choose what I’m going to do that day, and it almost always includes a bit of writing.

Life on board ship while at sea is filled with planned entertainment, games, lessons of all sorts, lectures, food is served everywhere you turn, and there are the pools and Jacuzzis, and gym, and of course shopping, and the casino is open for those who enjoy it. It is continuous entertainment, or peaceful contemplation-the choice is yours.

The library has a selection of the best sellers, and some classics, but the library is not quiet, on this ship it is a little cavern on an upper deck, but it is open to the Centrum below-the center-a large lively area, extravagantly decorated party center, where music and dancing takes place, cooking lessons and art auctions, to name just a few. It is a lively place.

I rarely spend any time in the library, since I bring my Kindle with me, and prefer the peace and quiet of the cabin-the veranda is perfectly suited to reading, and occasionally napping. Did I mention coffee is available continuously? It is

Happy travels, wherever they may take you.

Cheers,
Margot  Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
www.mjustes.com

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Messina, Italy by Margot Justes















We docked early in Messina, my favorite arrival time, the sun is not yet up, the lights sparkle from above the sea, and reflect in the water, it is rather a romantic scene.

Little time was spent in Messina, long enough to see the church and the main square, watch the rush hour traffic, and taker my life in my hands, at least it felt like that every time I crossed the street. It is a busy working city, people are in a constant hurry, and the manic traffic seems to match that urgency.

I visited Cathedral Square, and saw the biggest astronomical clock in the world, at least that is what the guide book said, and it is massive, the Orion Fountain built in 1547 in the center of the piazza, and the gorgeous massive doors built in the 15th/16th century that appear to stand guard at the entrance to the cathedral. 

Most of my time was spent in Taormina, and I’m so glad I booked this excursion. It took us an hour to get there, and it was well worth it. The views are stunning, and the same charm, and exuberance I found in Amalfi exists in Taormina. Our tour guide said it was impossible to get lost, and she was right.  There is only one long main street, and that is where it all happens. Even I couldn’t get lost, and that is saying a lot.

The place was packed with tourists, and the main street had the usual cafes, shops, but woven along with the tourist trinkets are boutiques, designer shops, and normal every day places for the locals. The architecture is varied, and even includes a Greek Theatre, the acoustics at the theatre are incredible, and a view of Mt. Aetna completes the perfect setting.

The entrance to the city proper is through an arch. Along this main long course, there are many narrow side streets, and one of them is so slim that only one person can go up the stairs at a time.

According to our guide, the reason for the tiny street is so that if invading soldiers were to come down the person waiting for them at the bottom could pick them up one by one. Sort of a military advantage-have no idea if that is true, but the story resonated with the group. The architecture is varied because Sicily has been conquered or invaded 14 times during its long history.

Happy travels, wherever they may take you.

Cheers,
Margot  Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
www.mjustes.com



Monday, February 6, 2017

Salerno and Amalfi by Margot Justes













A great way to start a morning is with a good breakfast, and the one served on board ship was truly amazing. Everything one could wish for, and more, from the bread station-my weakness-to the eggs, sausages, omelets, fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, fresh vegetables, potatoes, even black pudding-blood sausage-my favorite, to bangers, cheeses, cold cuts, and everything in between, one does not go hungry while on board. They even served passion fruit, another favorite and fresh figs. But I digress...

The 1st port of call was Salerno, Italy. I booked a long excursion that would take me to Sorrento, and one of my favorite places in Italy, Amalfi, but then I have many favorite places in magical Italy. I’ve taken a boat along the Amalfi coast before, this time I opted for ground transportation, with Mt. Vesuvius in the background, and the Bay of Naples below, the drive was nerve wracking and breathtaking all at once.

 Many big buses, for the many tourists, along with small, and not so small cars packed the narrow road, all vying for the same spot on the tight and curvy road, and every time we went around a corner-and there were many of them- the bus driver would honk his horn to warn others he was coming, sometimes two buses were trying to occupy the same tiny spot, a rather impossible task, and someone had to go in reverse, and a wait would ensue, in the meantime the traffic would built up, and no room to turn back because there were cars piled in back of bus, and so we waited.

Once we came a bit too close to another bus, and the other bus had to back-up sideways and scraped the wall of a cliff so that we could continue on the rim of the road, since we couldn’t back-up. We watched in awe at the intricate maneuvers, and then applauded our driver once the turn was made. The views are breathtaking literally and figuratively, because the bus is right on the edge of the precipice, and there is no way other than continue on the narrow road, or plunge down the sheer cliffs.

Sorrento is delightful, known for their cuisine, and charming streets. We stopped in a wood carving shop, and I fell in love with inlaid wood, so many beautiful pieces, and so little space in my suitcase, but I did manage to buy a few small pieces for family. Now I want to go back with an empty suitcase. It you’re ever in Sorrento do visit A. Gargiulo & Jannuzzi www.gargiulo-jannuzzi.it and it’s in the center of Piazza Tasso, the perfect tourist draw.

Then on to Amalfi packed with tourists as well, if I ever thought that October was past the prime tourist season, the prices and number of tourists visiting Italy dispelled that notion rather quickly, as in Rome, both Sorrento and Amalfi were packed with people. Like Sorrento, Amalfi is a tourist town, and the many souvenir shops selling local specialties, like Limoncello-the sugary, lemony liqueur that is famous in the region, to lemony cookies, chocolate and candies, all lemony and all delicious.

There are the typical tourist trinkets, and of course restaurants, and cafes, lined along the narrow, cobbled and charming streets. The setting and ambiance are sheer perfection, and there is a remarkable church with striking architecture, sea views aplenty-it is truly a wonder, and right below the stairs of the Arab-Norman Sant’Andrea Cathedral with the Byzantine facade which is a must see, then when you’re for a break, right below the stairs of the cathedral is a cafe that serves delicious coffee and pastries. It is less expensive if you stand at the counter and drink your coffee, but the ambiance of sitting outside, enjoying the view, and people watching is worth the extra change.

Happy travels, wherever they may take you.

Cheers,
Margot Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
www.mjustes.com