Travel
Long, lovely walks around Durham, England
I had a fabulous time on my first visit to Durham, England last September for the Historical Novel Society Conference. What a lovely, historical city. It was so much fun to explore, and perfect for lovely walks in that balmy, early September weather. I’ve already written about the spectacular Durham Cathedral and the (exhausting) climb…
Read MoreEnjoying the Amalfi Coast – from our car
We were in Salerno, a town in Campania, just below the Amalfi coast during the long May 1st weekend. My younger son had a track race there and we enjoyed exploring the seaside town. Since my son had never been to the Amalfi coast, he asked if we could have a”quick stop off” to see…
Read MorePadova’s stunning Piazza delle erbe & Piazza della frutta
My son’s track meets take me to some pretty spectacular locations. The indoor season in Italy is only in two Italian cities that have full indoor facilities: Ancona and Padova. I hadn’t been to the Venetian city of Padova in quite a few years, so I was thrilled when my son decided to do a…
Read MoreViews from on high – atop Prague’s Old Town Clock Tower
I was back in Prague, Czech Republic earlier this month. I lived here in this fairy tale city many years ago, and enjoy returning when I can. On this visit, quite a few years had gone by since my previous visit. The weather was a bit hit-and-miss during our stay here (par for the course…
Read MoreThe hairy deer of Columbus, Ohio
If you’ve visited Columbus, Ohio, chances are you’ve noticed the deer sculpture as you were crossing the Scioto River downtown. This playful buck was created by artist Terry Allen. It was installed in 2015 when the entire riverwalk and park underwent a major renovation, and it’s become a popular place to snap a photo and…
Read MoreLazy beach days and dramatic sunsets in Florida’s panhandle
This past summer, my family and I were taking a cross-country trip in the US, and we wanted a few days of down time, with our older son joining us. And our (landlocked) son wanted some beach time. So, we decided on a few days in Florida’s panhandle. It was a great choice. We spent…
Read MoreStopping of at the Marche’s Macerata
We visited Macerata on a beautiful January day, after having mistaken picturesque, nearby Recanati for Macerata. Macerata is a hill town town in the Marche region’s interior. Its population is a little over 40,000. Perched 315 meters from sea level, this town is about 30 km from the Adriatic coast. Mentions of Macerata date back…
Read MoreFlorence’s majestic Piazza della Signoria
Florence’s Piazza della Signoria has been the heart of Florence’s political and urban life for centuries, and any tourist should ensure their walk in the city takes them to this busltling square. Building on the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s Town Hall, was completed in 1332. The belltower used to warn Florentines of fires, invaders – or…
Read MoreFlorence’s picturesque Ponte Vecchio
I had a wonderful day visiting Florence when my older son was back home for the Christmas holidays. With the high speed train, it’s only a short journey from Rome, and we lucked out with a January day of bright blue skies and remarkably warm sun. We had a great day walking for miles and…
Read MoreTouring Galveston’s Bishop’s Palace
Last week I wrote about our holiday in fabulous Galveston island, Texas. Since we were biking all over the island, we were passing thense impressive turn of the century show homes each day. The Bishop’s Palace had the most convenient opening hours, without need for an appointment, so this worked well for our schedule. …
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