Posts Tagged ‘Europe’
Visiting 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 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…
Read MoreReason #5,354 to love Rome – Pope Joan
I live close to this little shrine and I love that people always leave flowers here. In summer, winter, rain or shine… and a couple of times, even in snow! … people come to this little portico to leave their floral offerings. My children like to pass by and count how many flowers have been…
Read MoreEating potatoes in Vilnius, Lithuania
Every year in December my birthday rolls around. Some of my friends and colleagues grumble about adding another candle on the cake, but some years back, I discovered a foolproof way to enjoy myself as the years pile on. I absolutely love to travel. I plan it. I look forward to it. I have fun…
Read MoreSnow Day in Rome!
Today – Monday, 6 February 2012 – is actually only the second official Snow Day in history for Roman schoolchildren. The first was way back on Friday, 3 February 2012. Yes, Roman children had the unusual pleasure of listening to the Mayor of Rome declare a long weekend due to snow. Snow rarely falls on…
Read MoreMatera Women’s Fiction Festival
This past September, I signed up for my first writer’s conference. It was the easiest decision to make once I discovered the destination – the beautiful city of Matera, in Italy’s southern region of Basilicata. I had been to Matera over a decade ago, with my Italian husband who looked at me oddly when I…
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