Travel
Reason #5,356 to love Rome – The Palatine Hill in springtime
I have lived in Rome for – gulp – thirteen years, yet I still never tire of walking around and exploring my adopted city. Rome is a big, outdoor museum that has something spectacular to offer visitors – and Romans –seemingly around every corner. I live near the Palatine Hill and I walk by it…
Read MoreWish I were here now – Tremiti Islands, Puglia
I love the beautiful Tremiti islands (Isole Tremiti) that lay 22 kilometers off the Gargano peninsula of Puglia, in the Adriatic Sea. One of the (many) things I love about Italy is that its beach destinations are cultural destinations as well. The Tremiti islands are no exception – offering history, nature, sunshine and sparkling blue…
Read MoreWhere time stands still in Perast, Montenegro
I think that tiny Montenegro is a wonderful holiday destination. Once part of Yugoslavia, then Serbia-Montenegro, this Balkan country gained independence with a referendum in 2006. Although the entire country is less than 14,000 square kilometers, with a population of just over 600,000 people, its borders contain incredibly diverse landscapes: stunning coastline and an unspoiled,…
Read MorePostcard-perfect views in Santa Margherita and Portofino
I’ve already written about the interesting port city of Genova and the places of interest to visit there. The nice thing about Genova is that it’s also a great base for exploring the picturesque Ligurian seaside towns, such as Santa Margherita and Portofino. On a recent trip to Genova, we took the train from Genova’s…
Read MoreVisiting Christopher Columbus’ hometown – Genova
I’ve lived in Italy for years and have travelled widely in this beautiful country, but I’d never been to Genova, in northern Italy’s Liguria region. I used to live not too far away, in Milan. I’ve driven by it on the highways, but never stopped by to visit the city. Looking back, maybe driving by…
Read MoreReason #5,355 to love Rome – Cemetery of Artists and Poets
It might make one in love with death, to be buried in so sweet a place. These words, written by the English poet John Keats, refer to his final resting place, officially known as the Non-Catholic Cemetery for Foreigners in Testaccio, Rome. The cemetery, rarely referred to by its official name, is more commonly called…
Read MoreFollowing in Jane Austen’s footsteps in Bath
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that all Jane Austen fans will eventually find their way to Bath Yes, embarrassingly enough, I am one of the “Janeites”: a lover of all things Jane Austen who has read and re-read her six novels and watched countless adaptations of her works by the BBC and others.…
Read MoreA room with a view
Okay, I know it. I’m an unabashed Wanderlust-afflicted-dreamer. I can’t help it. When I travel, I always find myself wondering what it would be like to live in the place I’m visiting. I enthuse about charming little cottages, ivy-covered buildings, white-washed homes along the sea. Mostly, I seek out – in the tradition of E.M.…
Read MoreSkiing in Ovindoli, Abruzzo
I love living in cities. Maybe it’s just part of growing older – ahem – more mature, but now I find that to continue to enjoy living in cities, I need to escape them occasionally. And I’m not sure if there’s a better escape than a skiing get-away. Italy has lots of great skiing destinations…
Read MoreA timeless tradition – Vienna’s Lipizzaner horses
Many, many years ago, I had the good luck to live just under one year in one of my favorite cities – Vienna. Before that time and since, I’ve been on numerous visits to Austria’s capital city. Walking around Vienna’s charming pedestrian streets and admiring its Jugenstil architecture never fails to put a smile on…
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