On this Mardi Gras, celebrating Venice’s Carnival

Venice Carnival / Kimberly Sullivan

I’ve just returned from visiting Venice during Carnival season … and since today we’re already celebrating Mardi gras (thanks to a super-early Easter this year), I’d better post about Carnival before the more serious Lenten season begins… It has been years – decades, really – since I visited Venice during the Carnival season, but I’m…

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Visiting Via Tasso’s Nazi Prison Museum in Rome

Via Tasso Nazi Prison Museum, Rome/ Kimberly Sullivan

Recently, I visited for the first time Rome’s Museo Storico della Liberazione (Liberation Historical Museum). During WWII, the Germans occupied Rome between September 1943 and June 1944. During that time, the SS headquarters on Via Tasso served as a prison, interrogation facilities and the place where prisoners were tortured and killed. During that time, being…

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Malaga’s Ancient Roman Theatre

Malaga Roman Theatre / Kimberly Sullivan

It’s always pleasant to travel around and find traces of “my” city of Rome. This happened again on my visit to Malaga, Spain, where I visited the Ancient Roman theatre. The Roman theatre is (dramatically) located below the Alcazaba hill and Moorish fortress. It was originally built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, and was…

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Wine, lace and beauty in the Marche’s Offida

Every winter, my son and I pass through the Italian region of the Marche so he can take part in indoor races in seaside Ancona. These trips give us a great chance to explore all the picturesque towns in that region. One of those picture-perfect towns that’s long been on my list is the hill…

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Cagliari’s Ancient Roman Theatre

Cagliari Ancient Roman Theatre, Italy / Kimberly Sullivan

I’ve been writing posts about my recent visit to Cagliari, the capital of the Italian island of Sardegna. There were lots of interesting places to visit in this city, including the ruins of an Ancient Roman amphitheater. This can be found between the neighborhoods of Castello and Stampace. We walked out here on a particularly…

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Cagliari’s picturesque Castello district

Castello district, Cagliari, Sardegna / Kimberly Sullivan

I’ve been to the Italian island of Sardegna a few times, but only visited its capital city of Cagliari for the first time this past September. Cagliari has very distinct neighborhoods, including Il Castello, about 100 meters above the rest of this sea level coastal city. When I was flying into Cagliari, a clear view…

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European destinations to visit for the Christmas light season

Milan, Christmas/ Kimberly Sullivan

It’s that time of year again … short days made brighter by stunning Christmas lights. Since Christmas celebrations in Europe continue through to 6 January, you’re still in time to enjoy those cheery holiday lights. Here’s a roundup of some European cities and towns to consider visiting to enjoy those holiday lights – and much…

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Malaga – all decked out for the holidays

Malaga, Spain Christmas decorations / Kimberly Sullivan

The first weekend of December, I was for the first time in Malaga, Spain – in the country’s beautiful Andalucia region. It was great to see the city decked out with Christmas decorations on all its streets, palm trees and orange trees, adding a festive spirit to the nightly movida. Although I have traveled a…

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Up and down the hills of Todi

Todi, Umbria, Italy / Kimberly Sullivan

I’ve already written about the wonderful view from the San Fortunato bell tower , and I’ll have future posts on the beautiful squares and churches of this pretty Umbrian hill town. But today, I want to talk about all the hills a tourist has to climb to visit these picturesque hill towns …. and to…

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