The Wonder of Wandering

27/12/2023

Our view from an overlook in Assisi, Italy. Although it's wonderful being back with family and friends, a piece of my heart is still wandering these hills. ❤

16/12/2023

Lecce, Italy . . . a beautiful Baroque city in Italy's Puglia region. I thoroughly enjoyed pounding the pavement in this town. The streets seemed endless and so intriguing. And, of course, I do miss those warmer temperatures.

14/12/2023

As we think about heading home, I find myself looking back through the photos I've taken during our time in Italy and reminiscing a bit. The photo below is from Pompeii which was a truly remarkable place. I am grateful to have seen and experienced this amazing site . . . it is one of the many great memories I will have from this trip.

12/12/2023

Another view of the Duomo in Florence . . . this one from the outdoor cafe on the top floor on The Uffizi Gallery.

11/12/2023

A view of the Arno and Ponte Vecchio from the top floor of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. With all the beautiful happy colors, it looks like "Sunshine on a Cloudy Day".

10/12/2023

There is so much to see in Florence - cathedrals, museums, historic architecture, markets . . . and on and on.. . it's just not possible to see everything. Yet, as with so many places that we visit, I find that the streets are still the most compelling places to see. I guess I'm just an old street person at heart.😊 Enjoy a little stroll through Florence.

09/12/2023

As a region, Tuscany steals the headlines when it comes to its beauty and charm, and for good reason! Yet we found the towns in Umbria: Assisi, Spello, and Perugia to be equally as enchanting and compelling. Make certain to visit Umbria if you're in the area. You will not be disappointed.

07/12/2023

I climbed Giotto's Bell Tower in Florence yesterday. It's part of the Duomo complex and considered the most beautiful bell tower in Italy. I was pleased to get this view of the dome from the tower . . . not one that you see very often. And I am grateful for the assist from the sun, who had already dipped behind the tower and helped me get a very clear photo. In case you haven't noticed, I think I may have a mild obsession with photographing the Duomo from different viewpoints. 😊

05/12/2023

Brrr . . . this was easily the coldest day of our trip. We were in Spello - a gorgeous hill town in Umbria, and the temperature was in the 30's. As I was taking this photo of Carla, it was actually beginning to snow. But weather is just weather . . . it was a beautiful day in a beautiful town, and I had the pleasure of being with a beautiful woman. Who cares about the weather.😊 ❤

04/12/2023

I took this shot of the Duomo from the top of the Arnolfo tower - above the Palazzo Vecchio. It is my favorite view of Florence, and certainly of the Cathedral.

A fun story about the building of the Cathedral (which began in 1293) . . . the church was intended to include a huge dome over its center, although no technology existed at the time to create a dome with such wide a base. They started building the Cathedral anyway, but left the area under the dome exposed for 43 years, waiting for someone to figure out how to build it. In 1418, the city announced an architectural design competition and the winner was Filippo Brunelleschi - an architect and engineer, and one of the pioneers of early Renaissance architecture in Italy. He came up with a revolutionary idea: to build two domes, one on top of the other, using a special herringbone brick pattern and a horizontal stone chain in order to reduce stress and allow the weight to be evenly distributed.

Legend has it that Brunelleschi actually won the competition without showing any plans. He just used an egg. He told the commission that he would reveal his plans if any of them could make the egg stand on the table. After none of them could do it, he smashed the egg in two parts and put one half-shell on the top of the other, allowing the egg to stand upright, showcasing his double-dome theory.

01/12/2023

Lovely Perugia, even more beautiful at night. The streets at night are so nicely lit. It's especially true when you add in a little holiday glow. Enjoy!

30/11/2023

We love walking the streets of Medieval towns and cities . . . it's like stepping back in time. And we especially enjoyed Perugia, Italy - a medieval city that nicely blends its Renaissance, Middle Ages, and Etruscan influences. Perugia is the capital of Umbria and its largest city. It was founded by the Etruscans around the 7th century B.C. and still has its wonderful imposing Etruscan main gate. Most of the main churches in the historic center date back to the Middle Ages and to the Renaissance.

29/11/2023

We look like little snow bunnies all bundled up, as old man winter has finally arrived here in Italy. This photo was taken a couple of days ago in the charming Umbrian hill town of Spello, where it actually did snow a bit during our visit. I guess if you're going to pack winter clothes . . . it's nice to wear them. 😊

27/11/2023

Just a couple of kids enjoying Assisi, Italy. Behind us is The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi - a Unesco World Heritage site that contains the tomb of St. Francis. This site hosts works by Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti - some of which are pictured in the second image inside the Basilica.

27/11/2023

Today was very gray and cold here in Assisi, but the visibility was still good so I went up the bell tower then hiked to the castle, which is the highest point in Assisi. The views were amazing. Sometimes we just need to take the long view. Perspective is everything.

26/11/2023

We are in Assisi, Italy . . . and as you'll see from the photos, it's beautiful. The sunset photo is of The Basilica of Saint Francis... the sun was setting quickly as I took this shot and it cast this very surreal glow onto the Basilica and grounds. The photo came out looking kind of painterly. Anyhow . . . we are here tomorrow as well, and are looking forward to checking out some of the main historic sites - pretty much all of which are about Saint Francis and Saint Clare . . . the hometown kids. More to come tomorrow. Enjoy.

25/11/2023

Today we visited Spello - one of the hill towns in the lovely Umbria region in Italy. Both Carla and I agreed that it is one of the most charming and captivating towns we have ever seen. When we arrived it was raining - then the sun came out - then it got quite windy - then it snowed a bit - but throughout it all this beautiful little hill town kept shining. Here are a few pics from our day - more to come tomorrow. Enjoy your day!

24/11/2023

Lucca is one of Tuscany’s main towns and one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Italy. Its 16th-century walls have remained completely intact. Here are a few photos from yesterday’s visit to this beautiful town.

22/11/2023

There are lots of churches in Florence, so, for a change of pace, here's a synagogue known as The "Great Synagogue of Florence". I love its architecture . . . it's a little bit Moorish meets Byzantine, with a dash of Renaissance thrown in. And while it's located on the outskirts of the city and is quite small compared to the Duomo, it's one of the largest synagogues in South-central Europe.

22/11/2023

With powerhouses like Rome, Florence, and Venice in Italy, it's easy to overlook Bologna. But, after spending 17 days in this beautiful and delightful city . . . it's now one of my favorite places, not just in Italy, but in all of Europe. I write more about this in today's blog, below.

I've also posted a video / slideshow as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuVqZHSB6HA

Bologna is a destination that invites you to uncover its hidden beauty, one colorful building at a time.

21/11/2023

Florence at night . . . 'tis the season.

20/11/2023

Street art in Florence. The Frida drawing in chalk is on a busy street. The bright and colorful David is on a door on a back street. I love wandering the smaller side streets and being treated to a little treasure. It's all about the joy of wandering . . . and in case you're wondering, the colors on the very colorful rendition of The David were that bright and saturated at the scene.

19/11/2023

My travel mate . . . who is of course, so much more.❤️ One photo was from last night as Carla and I enjoyed an evening beverage at the Mercato Centrale in Florence. The other is at the Arno river with the Ponte Vecchio in the background.

18/11/2023

Today I have been the quintessential tourist. Not only did I take photos of the two most iconic images in Florence, but here I am posting them on Facebook. The photos include the replica of Michelangelo's David and The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (otherwise known as the Duomo). I've tried to restrain myself, but I find the Duomo so compelling - as if it begs me to reach for my iPhone camera. I do think I caught a not-as-popular perspective of the Cathedral from the Arnolfo tower - atop the Palazzo Vecchio. It is my favorite view of Florence, and certainly the Cathedral. Enjoy.

17/11/2023

Moments before diving into that hearty plate of pasta... It looks so much bigger than in the photo than it actually was, yet It was still a hearty portion of pasta with Bolognese sauce - the best I've had anywhere. Like many of you, I certainly have my food preferences, but I try not to bring them with me when we travel. I want to digest whatever the signature foods are of a city, town, or region . . . even if I may not absolutely love them, or they contain foods I don't typically eat. I have found that if you truly want to have a cultural immersion (which I do), then eating what the locals eat is a big step in that direction. Traveling helps me put into perspective the idea that what truly matters is not so much what goes into you (although I do eat quite healthfully) as much as what comes forth from you (kindness, compassion, and empathy). There you have it - my traveling wisdom for the day. 😊❤️

16/11/2023

Today we visited Siena - the largest hill town in Tuscany. It was cold, damp, even rainy at times, but Siena still shined . . . it's a beautiful medieval town that easily transports you back in time. Below are a few images from the day. I climbed the 500+ steps up the bell tower in the main square to get the panoramic scenes that drone shots can get with a lot less work. But, my little giddy-up sticks did not fail me. 😊

15/11/2023

Ravenna, Italy is a bit off the beaten path and away from the throngs of tourists. But what it offers is the breathtakingly beautiful mosaics that showcase the beauty and historical significance of Byzantine art. Read about Ravenna in today's blog post below.

Ravenna, Italy is renowned for its stunning Byzantine mosaics that adorn its ancient churches and showcase the beauty of Byzantine art.

15/11/2023

Florence, Italy: A stroll along the river today enjoying the beauty and charm of this magnificent city. What's not to love! 😊❤️

14/11/2023

Firenze (Florence), Italy . . . a few photos of its iconic sites from our first day. What an amazing city . . . and it's so nice to feel that way about a place you've been to before. It will be our home for the next 5 weeks!

13/11/2023

Our last day in Bologna - a city that has won our hearts with her vibrancy, delicious food, unique architecture, magnificent color, and so much more. it's been a wonderful 2 weeks! Tomorrow, on to Florence - our home base for the next 5 weeks . . . ❤️😊

12/11/2023

Yesterday, Carla and I hiked up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca - which is located at the end of the longest portico in the world at 3796 meters (2.4 miles) and has 666 arches. Here are a couple of images from our trek up there....

11/11/2023

The Basilica di San Marco (St Mark's Cathedral) - in the principal public square of Venice. It's typically a really great place to avoid as it is often overrun with tourists. Yet . . . it was hard to pass up this photo opportunity of the cathedral with such fascinating architecture.

10/11/2023

As Jim Morrison and The Doors sang - L.A. Woman . . . City of Night, City of night. Venice is beautiful day or night, rain or shine. She's magical. 😊❤️

10/11/2023

We love Bologna. It is a magnificent city full of beauty, vibrancy, and loads of charm. We find that walking her streets is delightful. Bologna is known for its miles and miles of porticoes - they are the defining feature of the city and what makes it truly special. Read more about them in our blog today and check out the photos. Enjoy.

Bologna is known for its cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and most importantly - its miles and miles of porticoes.

10/08/2023

In mid-June, Carla and I returned from spending 2 months in Greece. But before Greece, we spent a month in Portugal, and I’ve just completed 3 new videos from our time there. You can check them out on our blog (below). Thanks in advance for your viewing time (the videos are very short - 2 ½ minutes each). I hope you enjoy them. ❤️

We’ve just added 3 new videos to our website from our travels in Portugal that feature the towns of Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, and Óbidos.