If you imagine Italy as a fancy boot, the area at the heel of the boot is known locally as Puglia (Apulia in English.) The land, ripe for invasion, reflects those events, especially on the Adriatic coast, where you see the Greek influence. The buildings gleam with white-washed stucco. Color comes from various forms of … More Alluring Apulia
Gazing upon blue (or green) waterways is a delight. When booking a room by a lake, river, sea, or ocean, I search until a broad expanse of light sparkling off waves is present in the photos. Not enjoying heat or sand, it is the joy of a beach vacation. I have contemplated the Atlantic Ocean … More In Search of a Sea View
We recently spent a few days in Quebec City in the Canadian province of Quebec. Wanting a destination that would be cool in these waning days of summer and a few hours from home, this city beckoned. It was not a disappointment. Pronounced by the locals as “Keh-Beck “and usually referred without “city,” our hotel in … More Quaint Quebec
Warning: Little organization of information, random descriptions and reflections. We chose to end our time in Europe with a road trip to England. After turning in the rental car, we flew to Stansted, UK, picking up a new rental. Orienting to the left side of the road for driving, we made our way to Yorkshire … More Impressions of Yorkshire
Across the street and around a corner lies an area known as Piazza 25 Aprile. Previously, this site was part of a medieval neighborhood known as Borgo San Giovanni. On April 25, 1944, a British air unit aiming to bomb part of the railway system prematurely released the weapons projecting them on this neighborhood, killing … More Piazza 25 Aprile, Umbertide
One of the advantages of living in Italy is the proximity to other areas of discovery. We usually plan to visit one or two each time we are here. Our most recent excursion was to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. These places have vistas of great beauty, but they co-mingle with a large number of … More An Area Most Well-Known
One of the activities we look forward to is taking a quick road trip to an appealing destination. This week, Mike looked at a map and chose Monte Argentario, a small peninsula in Toscana (Tuscany). About two and a half hours west of us, the drive proved to be fascinating, going and coming. Who knew … More Ah… the Side Trips
For the first time, we are in Italy during the spring, particularly Easter. It fascinates me to learn about new cultures and customs. Dropping from the ceiling of one of our favorite places to eat were a number of chickens. While I thought it was to create a homey atmosphere, the server explained it was … More Buona Pasqua (Happy Easter)
About a year ago, a friend called, inviting us to join them on a cruise through the Galapagos Islands. We were stunned, first of all, by such generosity and secondly, in my ignorance, I didn’t realize one could enjoy the nature of this area. The Galapagos equals Charles Darwin and scientific research. These things do … More Galapagos, the gift of a lifetime
My observations, not necessarily a truth. In no particular order, Paris surprised me with how “slanted” it is. Sidewalks and even flooring were often uneven. And to access many points, steps are needed, so lots of walking up and down. Chocolate in Paris is premium. I had the best hot chocolate and chocolate milkshake I … More Debbie in Paris: Part Two