When traveling throughout Sicily, most advise to pay a visit to Palermo. Near Palermo, the town of Monreale perches itself up at a high standing, figuratively and literally. What makes Monreale far from the real is the town’s Cathedral. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much. Go ahead and judge this book by its cover. You will be wrong once you pass through its doors. Founded in 1174, the Monreale Cathedral bears Norman, Arab, and Byzantine art and architecture, making this place of worship unlike any other. The Monreale Cathedral left me with three enveloping experiences that Continue Reading
Spring in the Boboli Gardens of Florence Through the Camera’s Eye
Barbie pink roses cover remarkably green bushes. It may be a fairytale, but the handful of tourists with fanny packs pull me out of this dream, but only for a moment. Spring has arrived in Florence, but you wouldn’t know it in the historic center with little patches of greenery to be found. The store windows may be the only indication that it is time to change that winter wardrobe of coats and scarves to floral dresses and sandals. One of my favorite moments with spring came in the Boboli Gardens in Florence. The Boboli Gardens sit perched above historic Florence, Italy. From Continue Reading
The Young Woman and The Sea
I should be a mountain loving, skier being from Colorado. Instead, I am deathly afraid of the sport and despise cold weather and sweaters. My last ski episode ended with me watching my whole family at the bottom of the mountain just looking up at me, waiting for this slow downhill skier. There may or may not have been tears streaming down my cheeks. I knew I was too old to have my Dad carry me down the mountain like he used to back when I was 8. Well, I might have been more like 13. My connection to my state is strong. I can appreciate the Rocky Mountains without the need for two narrow Continue Reading
A Travel Tribute to the Paths of Least and Most Resistance
When we travel, we are usually trying to get to a destination, one we plan on reaching or one that is spontaneous. Regardless, we travel by way of plane, train, car, boat, or foot to get there. After that flight or train ride, you seek out the landmarks, the attractions. You fumble to find that piece of paper with the addresses of restaurants, bars, or shops friends have recommended. You are looking for streets, paths, avenues, boulevards, drives, or any road to give that direction to a place. Throughout my travels I have found those paths to be more of destinations. Those streets that lead Continue Reading
My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets
The travel chain letter has reached my virtual hands. In case you do not know about this project, Tripbase asked travel writers to reveal their three best-kept travel secrets. I was so graciously passed the torch by Top Backpacking Destinations to share with readers my 3 travel secrets. It seems like a great oxymoron to reveal those secrets in a public posting. The funny thing about almost every place around the world is that someone has looked upon it at some point. We are never the only ones, well maybe in parts of Antarctica or in South American jungles, but that is what is so appealing Continue Reading
My Travel Fears All Meet in a Sicilian Canyon
I am standing at the edge of a 20-foot cliff. I know. Twenty feet down is not so hardcore. Some high dives at country clubs are more elevated, but I am scared. The cliff curves down somewhat into a deep pool of water, or so I’m told. My entire group with me has already made the jump. I got myself up here. I must see my way back down. I am in the middle of what many call the Grand Canyon of Sicily. Rather, I am at the bottom of Cava Grande in southeastern Sicily. Cava Grande may be the ultimate hikers’ paradise in Sicily. A 300-meter hike down can take well over an hour. The limestone carved Continue Reading
Where are you going? Crossing a Red Headed Stranger on Lago Maggiore’s Islands
I have met my match on an island in Italy. It sounds like a dream, but my match is not. The island however is. This match that I speak of totes the same hair color as myself. He is around two feet tall, but he lives in perhaps one of the most beautiful, blooming places on earth. Today, I am wandering the islands that make up Lago Maggiore in Italy. Tourists, for the most part, stop in Lago di Como for George Clooney and company all have mini palaces along its shores. The closest glimpse to their fabulous lives is by boat, but at a distance. However, Lago Maggiore is different. It is just as Continue Reading