I am a list maker. I can’t get through my day-to-day life without them, experiencing an exquisite thrill as I check off each to-do. I am making progress. Therefore despite the fact that there is no time to do nothing, beauty abounds, and the culture encourages the art of enjoying the moment, I am somewhat … More Learning to Relax
Coming to Italy while always special is now a regular part of our traveling. This is the first winter trip for both of us and it is the first time we have spent alone in our new home in Umbria. Unlike the summer, the “Green Heart of Italy” is wet, dark, and cold in winter. … More Umbrian Winter
The temperatures are in the nineties. Sunshine fills the crevices in the piazza and it is difficult to remember that four of our five weeks in Europe were cold, windy, and most of rainy. June of 2013 brought record flooding to areas of Austria, Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. We spent our first day … More Historic Rains
I took a risk with this part of the vacation and exchanged a timeshare week for one in Keszthenly, Hungary. The “resort” was advertised to be close to Lake Balaton so I assumed (which is not a good way to process information) that was a lakeside resort. It was also advertised as a one-bedroom unit … More Our Hungarian Adventure
Visions of summer vacations have flowed through my mind for most of the last semester this year due to an unusual amount of stress that accompanied the school year. I couldn’t wait to sleep in, see some sights, and then read. Well…. it hasn’t happened in just that way. Our first week was spent in … More Riesling Country
Tuscany like much of Italy is dotted with small, old towns. Some date back to the times of the ancient Romans. In many, you will find the Centro Storico, enclosed by stonewalls. Entering the portal of these areas will take you back in time. Museums hold artifacts and famous artwork. Little shops with local crafts can … More Tuscan Towns
Tucked atop a mountain in central-eastern Italy is the tiny republic of San Marino. Considered to be the oldest republic in the world with a constitution dating back to 1243. The people of San Marino chose not to become part of a unified Italy in 1861 and Giuseppe Garibaldi honored their wishes. A winding road … More Upward to San Marino
Umbria is a very beautiful province adjacent to Tuscany. Its hilltop towns rival any in Italy. My favorite is Perugia. You can walk the perimeter of the old city and view the vast green and terra cotta vistas. Having previously toured Perugia, we stopped only for lunch on our way to Deruta. A one-line excerpt … More Under the Umbrian Sun
After more than a half dozen trips to Italy, it was with great anticipation that I planned a family trip to Tuscany. Renting a three-bedroom villa, I imagined my son, daughter, their spouses, and my grandchild enjoying trekking through small mountainous towns and viewing the cultures that began in medieval times. I learned a huge … More Vacationing With Family
Skelling Michael is a large rock island off the coast of southern Ireland by County Kerry. It can only be reached by boat that traverses very rough waters. If the weather is right you may be allowed to cross those waters and enjoy a two-hour stay on the rock. Its most important features are an old … More The “Highlight” of the Trip According to My Mom