Travel
Rush hour traffic jam…in Wyoming
This summer I was out in the western United States, enjoying the beauty of Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Part of the fun of these vacations is unplugging entirely from the hectic pace of daily life, and-in my case-the chaos of the city in which I live, Rome. Nothing says “Slow down”…
Read MoreLake views, grand hotels, and jazz in Montreux, Switzerland
I’ve already written about how I was able to explore around Lake Geneva this past summer while dropping off and picking up my son from camp in beautiful Leysin, Switzerland . One of the places I visited with my son was beautiful, lakeside Montreux. Montreux is wonderfully picturesque, with its stately grand hotels and idyllic…
Read MoreTake me out to the ball game…in Washington, D.C.
What’s an American mom raising soccer-crazed boys in Italy to do? I grew up loving baseball, always thrilled when my dad took me to see the Red Sox play when I was a kid growing up in Boston. I religiously filled in my scorecard, followed the cheers, thrilled when a home run sailed high over the…
Read MoreReason #5376 to love Rome: Volpetti delicatessen
If you’re visiting Rome and doing it right, there is no reason you should be feeling hungry between meals. Nevertheless, to be fully versed in Rome’s food culture, no visit to the Eternal City is complete without a stop at Volpetti, on Via Marmorata in the Testaccio neighborhood. Be sure to stop in and have…
Read MoreThree A-list towns in Provence: Avignon, Arles, and Aix
Provence’s interior has so many lovely hill towns, and stunning nature, that visitors are forgiven for not wanting to jeopardize a tranquil holiday with the hustle and bustle of larger towns. Yet the following three towns make the A-list of any planned visit to Provence – there’s simply no excuse not to visit Avignon, Arles, and…
Read MoreGallipoli : The “beautiful city”
Gallipoli is a lovely town in the region of Puglia – the heel of the Italian boot – and is just along the Ionian Sea. This part of Puglia is known as the Salento, an absolute must-see region and one of my favorite southern Italian destinations. Salento is best known for its beautiful, unspoiled beaches and…
Read MoreMountain bliss in Leysin, Switzerland
I clearly have Switzerland on my mind this summer. That’s because I’ve been up bringing my older son to French camp and picking him up, and I’ve had time to explore the pretty region around Lake Geneva. And this is the idyllic mountaintop community where he’s been spending his time – Leysin. In the winter,…
Read MoreLooking for a Rome day trip? Medieval Sermoneta
This wonderfully preserved medieval town, south of Rome in the region of Lazio, is an enjoyable daytrip from Italy’s capital. Tiny Sermoneta is truly a pleasure to visit, and feels light years away from the chaos of Rome. Wander the winding, cobblestone streets and enjoy the panoramic views over the valley. On clear days, you…
Read MoreSpectacular views over Geneva from the cathedral belltower
As I’ve written in earlier posts about Geneva, this Swiss city has an enviable position along the beautiful Lake Geneva. If you catch a clear, sunny day (not always a given in Geneva), head to the St Pierre Cathedral and climb up the bell tower’s narrow steps for gorgeous views over the city, the mountains beyond,…
Read MoreWander the medieval streets of Vico del Gargano, Italy
I’ve already posted on a fabulous holiday to the Gargano peninsula in southern Italy – in the region of Puglia. We stayed in picturesque Vieste, took a boat trip to the stunning Tremiti Islands, and explored all the beautiful swimming coves on the peninsula. While there, we also visited some of the other pretty towns…
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