Travel
A mega campus & Big 10 Football at Ohio State University
I’ve already written about my visit this past summer to Ohio’s capital of Columbus. In previous posts I’ve written about German Village, the Scioto Rover walk and the Short North District. Not far beyond Short North lies the sprawling campus of Ohio State University, so we had to stop off to see it, even though…
Read MoreBarbarians (and kids) at the gate
The Aurelian Walls of Ancient Rome are still in remarkably good condition in today’s Rome. It isn’t called the Eternal City for nothing. Built between 270- 275 AD under Emperor Aurelius, the Aurelian Walls eventually reached 19 kilometers of defensive walls guarded by Roman soldiers who were vigilalant in ensuring the Barbarians were not capable…
Read MoreBack for more olive ascolane (& finally sunshine) in Ascoli Piceno
I’ve already written about the quest my son and I fulfilled, journeying to a deserted, rainy, lockdown-mode Ascoli Piceno in search of the local specialty: olive ascolane (stuffed olives). Luckily, a second race took us once again to the Marche, and this time we were able to stop by on a sunny day free from…
Read MoreA taste of (artistic & culinary) Austria at New York’s Neue Galerie
I spent a year living in Vienna, and have been to visit countless times, so it’s no surprise that I would seek out New York’s Neue Galerie museum for a little taste (both artistic & culinary) of Mitteleuropa in the Big Apple. This Upper East Side museum, with its collection of Austrian and German art,…
Read MoreSweeping port views from Ancona’s San Ciriaco Cathedral
If you’re in the Adriatic port city of Ancona, you can’t miss the San Ciriaco Cathedral, perched at a stunning outpost on the Guasco Hill. It is clearly visible from its position at the edge of town, and sports sweeping views over the bustling port traffic and the Gulf beyond. It’s a hearty hike up…
Read MoreHanging out in Columbus’ trendy Short North district
Last week I wrote about Columbus, Ohio’s pleasant Scioto River walkway, This week, I would like to focus on the trendy neighborhood of Short North, where we were staying during our visit. Once again, a quiet COVID environment gave us a much different view of what would usually be a more colorful and active area.…
Read MoreAlong the Scioto River walk in Columbus, Ohio
I was in Columbus, Ohio with my older son this past summer during some scorching days. Despite the high temperatures, we spent lots of time walking around and exploring this city, as well we could during fairly widespread COVID closures. One place we visited frequently was the Scioto Mile, the pleasant walkway along the Scioto…
Read MorePerfect views over invading knights in medieval Òsimo
I’ve been writing about a lot of impressive towns boasting spectacular medieval architecture in Italy’s Marche region. The medieval hilltop town of Òsimo is one such town that merits a visit when you next find yourself in the region. This is an easy one to reach – just a few kilometers from the regional capital…
Read MoreIn search of olive ascolane in the Marche’s Ascoli-Piceno
In normal times, finding Ascoli-Piceno’s culinary specialty in its historic center is no real challenge. But these are not ordinary times. My son loves olive ascolane – olives stuffed with meat and deep fried. This is a common appetizer at restaurants throughout Italy, although, all too often, they are simply the frozen variety. In the…
Read MoreVisiting the Holy House of the Virgin Mary – minus the pilgrims – in the Marche’s Loreto
The beautiful hilltown of Loreto, in Italy’s Marche region, is said to attract about four million pilgrims a year. But when my son and I visited on a rainy January day this year, most of the shops were shuttered, and we had the town and its spectacular basilica almost entirely to ourselves. We were returning…
Read More