Category Archives: To Italy We Go…

We started out travel day with getting sandwiches from a wonderful salami cafe. I got Porchetta with a spicy pepper sauce. As you can see I am thoroughly enjoying it! We have a full travel day today. It was to be two legs with a night in Milan but out flights were changed so weContinueContinue reading “Friday /Saturday Travel”

Florence is beautiful. We started the day at 9:00 am climbing the stairs of the duomo; 400+ that got smaller and more narrow as we climbed. The trip up was a cardio challenge but well worth it. Once you start their if very limited rest until the top because of the number of people behindContinueContinue reading “Thursday Fireza”

Early morning train to leave Vernazza, a train change to Pisa. We have a short 25 minute walk to have a photo opt of the Leaning Tower then back on the train to Florence. Our stop in Pisa was very interesting. It wasn’t on my bucket list but was very beautiful. The grounds and surroundingContinueContinue reading “Wednesday- Vernazza-Firenze”

We have visited all five villages so I opted to stay in Vernazza today while the others revisited the other towns. I visited the traveling market. Every Tuesday in Vernazza the streets fill with cheese, produce, clothes, kitchen ware and flower vendors. This gives the locals variety in the shopping needs. Then I explored theContinueContinue reading “Last Day in Vernazza”

Our apartment is right above a wonderful little cafe and bakery called This was my breakfast today; Blood orange juice, a Doppio, and a heavily apple pastry. The owner, chef is very passionate and shares his knowledge of his foods willingly. Then off to a hike straight up the mountaintop about 2 miles. This isContinueContinue reading “Monday-Corniglia”

I am a little sad today because i have never been away from all of my family on Easter. It helped a bit that their was no festivities except for Church service. The sun is out and we are walking to Monorossa, the most northern village, today. They have opened the path so we areContinueContinue reading “Easter”

It was a full day in Cinque Terre! Rain….a little sun….lots of walking. We started out by jumping on the train and forgetting to validate our train ticket, which can result in a fine. We jumped off at Cornigula, the next village south, hoping to validate and jump back on. Of course we didn’t makeContinueContinue reading “Big Day…..Saturday”

Oh my….site crashed uploading. Will get back to it later.

so much and so little has changed in ten years since I have been here. There are many new businesses; four gelato shops instead on one! Great little wine bars and boutique beers. My hazelnut gelato was beyond words! Luckily they close early or I would have had two!! One of the reasons I loveContinueContinue reading “Cinque Terre Has My Heart”

It was a very long day of travel with our plane change. It has been 44 years, when I took Josh and Heather to Guam to be with Randy, that I have traveled this long. We took the train into London and walked 6+ miles through the park to Buckingham Palace. That was a niceContinueContinue reading “L-o-n-g Travel Day”

wow…it has been a crazy 24 hours. Hotel over charging, six hour change in our outbound which means a 7 hour layover in London. Flight change leaving Italy one day earlier than expected with hotel reservations that cannot be cancelled. Hours on phone for Brenda (flights) and me hotel and credit card. Bags packed andContinueContinue reading “We are off….”

Yesterday I made the last train reservations for Italy, checked in with our apartment hosts, and now it is just sit back and enjoy the ride! I am so excited to be back in Europe. I am feeling an angst to get my traveling in!!!

We have been planning for months and tomorrow we will be a week from leaving for our quick jaunt to Italy.  Brenda is getting her packing pared down to 35 pounds, running volleyball tournaments in P.E., finalizing health projects with her students, and checking off some of her things from her checklist.   I amContinueContinue reading “A week away….”

I have been planning this new trip for some time now.  It is bittersweet, because I started the plan for a trip with my adventurous granddaughter, Eva.  Unfortunately, college, work, and other life hacks got in our way this time, so I decided to just go it alone.  It has been three years since IContinueContinue reading “time is ticking…..”