Italy
Portofino, Italy May 4, 2024
Another gorgeous spring day in Italy – sunny and high 60s! We took the train from Sestri Levante to Santa Margherita Ligure and then the ferry to Portofino. There was a sailing regatta, so a lot of ships were in the harbor and their crews were all over town. We walked back to Santa Margherita … Continue reading
Cinque Terre, Italy May 3, 2024
We took the train from Sestri Levante to Monterosso al Mare, the closest Cinque Terre village, and ate lunch, then the ferry and train to Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza. I thought we might walk the trail between two of the towns, but it looked like more of a hike than a simple walk. The towns … Continue reading
Sestri Levante, Italy May 1, 2024
I chose Sestri Levante as our base for exploring the Italian Riviera. It has great beaches on the Mediterranean, oceanfront hotels and restaurants, and lots of gelato. The weather is beautiful – sunny and 70 – but it’s fairly quiet since it’s still spring. You can tell the shops, restaurants, and beach clubs are getting … Continue reading
Cefalu, Sicily November 17, 2018
We’re spending our last night in Sicily in the seaside village of Cefalu. It’s Friday night and the town is very busy with people strolling, shopping, and socializing. I’ve seen many gorgeous pictures of Cefalu and our photos turned out just as good!
Ragusa, Sicily November 15, 2018
We drove from Ortigia to the hill towns of Noto, Modica, and Ragusa today. The villages were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their cultural customs and traditions. They are full of baroque architecture, cobblestone streets, and amazing local food including chocolate. We are staying in Ragusa Ibla at San Giorgio Palace. Our room is … Continue reading
Ortigia, Sicily November 13, 2018
We flew from Malta to Sicily today and are spending two days on the island of Ortigia in Syracusa. We’re staying at Palazzo Gilistro, which is within walking distance of everything on the island. Since it is low season, the kind owner let us choose our room and we have a beautiful suite with two … Continue reading
September 6, 2011 Venice, Italy
Our ship, Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas, is departing on a Mediterranean cruise from Venice. We have a few nights in Venice before the ship leaves. It can be pretty expensive to stay in Venice – it’s an island so many people stay in a suburb and take a ferry or train to the … Continue reading
September 5, 2011 Splendour of the Seas
We are sailing on a 12 night Mediterranean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas. The ship is sailing from Venice to Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, and Croatia.
Travel Insurance
It seems my clients are divided into separate camps when it comes to trip insurance. They either ask me about it before I even mention it, they consider it carefully, or decline firmly when I offer. However, I want clients to realize that they’ve made an investment and it should be protected. I have to admit, at first glance travel … Continue reading
June 11, 2007 Random thoughts about Italy
Everyone smokes. It’s the national pasttime or something. Rome is stunning, but Romans don’t seem to care. Litter and graffiti are everywhere. Italians LOVE ham! Smoked ham, boiled ham, baked ham, raw ham, cooked ham – you get the picture. Fashion seems to be hit or miss. Drivers are crazy and squeeze through the narrowest of roads. … Continue reading