On our recent trip to Italy, we had the good fortune of touring several towns on a tour through Tuscany with Walks of Italy. Upon our return, Shelli penned the following article, which was published 11/15/2017 at My Itchy Travel Feet. Here is an excerpt: “Learning about secret tunnels in the heart of Florence . […]
Archive | European Travel
Italy: Learning to Cook Slowly in Umbria
Several years ago, Shelli and I became acquainted with Walks of Italy, one of the premier tour companies available today. We have toured with them many times throughout Europe, and have always found them to be professional, knowledgeable, and fun. Last year, Loredana from Walks introduced us to the Pineli family, and Fontanaro Organic Farms, in […]
Umbria: A Family Escape in the Heart of Italy
Umbria: A Family Escape in the Heart of Italy If you’ve ever wanted to discover the heart and soul of Italy outside of its splendid cities, a family escape in Umbria is for you. Like its more famous neighbor, Tuscany, this agricultural region of central Italy is also dotted with Etruscan ruins, iconic hillside villages, […]
A Beautiful Photographic Tuscany Tour with Walks of Italy
Shelli and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Paris and the Umbria and Tuscany areas of Italy. We slow cooked at Il Fontanaro, and had a wonderful Tuscany Tour with Walks of Italy. Mark Twain said: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely…” We […]
Amsterdam – Venice to the North
The fresh, cool sea breezes on our faces . . . the tinkling bell sounds warning pedestrians of oncoming bicycles . . . the buttery smell of waffles baking in the open-air markets. Welcome to Amsterdam – Venice to the North, one of the most diverse cities in the world. Amsterdam was our final destination […]
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
What do drinking games, dancing young people, and Pope Francis have in common? The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy. When we visit Rome our go to hotel is the Mecenata Palace Hotel which is located atop Esquiline Hill. The hotel is directly across the street from the Basilica, and our requested room […]
The Jungfrau Region and Hotel Edelweiss, a Swiss Adventure
Arresting mountains, an abundance of activities, and a wide range of hotel offerings make the Jungfrau Region of the Swiss Alps a must do for the world traveler. Here one can capture the vision of soaring Swiss Alps, the smell of fresh air and the enchanting sounds of cowbells and alphorns. Hotel Edelweiss is located in […]
The Highlight of Venice – Our Tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Venice is one unique city. Busy canals filled with gondolas and water taxis. The Byzantine design adds mystique to this affluent and prestigious community. St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice is, by far, one of the most revered buildings in the city. This elegant structure symbolizes Venetian wealth, prestige, and power, and continues to be a […]
Cruising Historic Castles – Middle Rhine River
Cruising historic castles, vibrant scenery, comfortable lodging and mind-blowing excursions, all included as you float the Middle Rhine River through Germany. For the novice and seasoned traveler, we recommend the Historic Castles of the Middle Rhine River. A holiday you will remember. The video highlighted here, was captured on the Rhine Getaway which voyages between […]
9 Beautiful Bridges of the World
Throughout the ages man has run into barriers and overcome them. Whether we walk, ride a bike, drive a car, bus, or motorcycle, water is a barrier that impedes our progress. Jesus may have walked on it, and Moses spread it, but most of us need a way to cross over it. I can’t tell […]
Hire a Vatican Tour Guide – Totally Worth It
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy. However, if you want to do more than just scratch the surface, take a few thousand pictures, and be completely overwhelmed at the sight of so many famous masterpieces, consider scheduling a guided Vatican Tour. WHY HIRE […]
Our Stay at the Hotel Edelweiss, Wengen, Switzerland
From our vantage point in Wengen, the Jungfrau Range is a lot to take in. It’s a dramatic backdrop, especially today. The billowy white clouds float effortlessly in the bright blue sky, allowing an occasional glimpse of the tops of some of Switzerland’s highest and most rugged peaks. The Classic Swiss Village of Wengen Wengen […]
Climbing the Dome in Florence Italy!
Ever since I watched one of Rick Steve’s programs on Italy and he talked about climbing the dome in Florence, Italy, I decided it was something that I wanted to do. Before his program, I didn’t even know that it was something that people could do. While in Florence, I got the chance. Florence has the […]
Pope Visits Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica viewed from Mecenata Palace Hotel
Rome, Italy is best seen from a base camp located in an interesting area of the city. Our favorite hotel offers just that. With its convenient location five blocks from Roma Termini railway station, the Mecenate Palace Hotel at Via Carlo Alberto, 3, is the place we like to headquarter. This year we found that […]
5 Not-so-Subtle Differences between Americans and Italians
I’ve always heard that travel expands our horizons. I believe that’s true. Travel makes us appreciate what we have. It allows us to learn about traditions and lifestyles different from our own. We get to see spectacular landscapes, historical landmarks, and inspiring architectures that we’ve only read about. But, as soon as you get off […]
Getting “High” in Switzerland: Traveling the Alps
Everyone should have the opportunity to visit Switzerland at least once while traveling the Alps! It’s sure to be one of the best experiences of a lifetime! My family and I had our first opportunity to hike, climb, explore, and take in the spectacular beauty of the Swiss Alps. This was one of the places I’ve […]
Our Magical Rhine River Cruise
Recently, I had the privilege of guest posting on one of my favorite travel websites, Explore River Cruises. In my article, titled, “Places to See on a Rhine River Cruise,” I described our experience of cruising down the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For us, it was the most interesting, scenic, […]
Found this on Twitter and loved the picture and the quote – Enjoy!
“Paris is always a good idea.” -Audrey Hepburn #tripquotes pic.twitter.com/E7GnirQgaT — TripAdvisor (@TripAdvisor) June 24, 2014
Duolingo: an Easy Way to Learn a Foreign Language
Duolingo is one of the coolest ways that I’ve found to learn a foreign language! There are loads of foreign language choices and it takes very little time out of your busy day. Plus, it’s completely FREE to join! You have to sign up to join, and you can do that using your email, Google, […]
Amsterdam, one Amazing City
Amsterdam, capital city of the Netherlands, is one of our favorite places. It mixes ultra-modern buildings with historic architecture. It is culturally diverse, yet fiercely unique. The Dutch are known for being environmentally aware and for their progressive work ethic, yet traditionalism is obvious in clothing styles, transportation, and cuisine. Even during the harsh winter […]