The Amalfi Coast has been on my list of places to visit for many years. This has been especially true after seeing “Under the Tuscan Sun,” by the writer Francis Mayes. Diane lane, playing Francis, falls for the dashing Marcello in the picturesque seaside town of Positano. Who wouldn’t want to go to the seaside town on the side of a cliff? A few hours south of Rome, just outside of Naples, is the town of Vico Equense; situated above the bright blue sea. Our host met us at the train station, so we could follow her to our two … Continue reading The Amalfi Coast

In 2013 Europe was having an epic flood. After a weekend of a reported 10 inches of rain, we were fortunate to have held on to a car with a tire issue. Having rented the car in Paris, and receiving a nail in the tire in La Spezia, Italy, I drove on with this slow leak, having to put air in it every day. Yes, this was not the brightest idea, but the car rental wanted 800 euro to fix the issue since we were in a different country than where we started. The rain had stopped but so had … Continue reading A Helping Hand in Prague

Just a short ride along the Thames is Greenwich. Iconic sites of London could be seen from the nearly empty clipper this past Spring. The HMS Belfast from World War II, sits majestically waiting for all to see, against the background of Tower Bridge. The Tower of London sits along the Thames, holding treasures of the Queen, and secrets of the past. The bright green grass and blossoming flowers, with magpies courting between the trees, made for a picturesque scene, as I sat foot on the bank of the Old Royal Naval College. With a ticket in hand to see … Continue reading Greenwich in the Spring

The quiet of London is not what comes to mind when one thinks of this vibrant city. It was not entirely quiet at first, when I visited this Spring. The subway was still running, though would soon close forty stations. Restaurants still served food, but with shortened hours. The tourists were mostly gone, except for those who live in England and locals enjoying the city emptied of those from far away. The shows had all cancelled. We had booked two. Schools were still holding classes, and construction never ceased. The shops on Oxford street still clung to those who would … Continue reading The Quiet of London

Southwest of Switzerland, nestled in the French Alps, is a town of many attributes. My first task after leaving my bags behind at the hotel Icone-Annecy was to get some food. A small restaurant was melting cheese then pouring it over prosciutto on soft French bread. Yum! After browsing around the various items at the market along the street free of cars, I made my way down to the boats along the canal. The clouds provided different color schemes on the turquoise water of lake Annecy. A much older couple cut in front of me as I was purchasing a … Continue reading Annecy, France

Solothurn Switzerland sits along the river Aar, and beneath the Jura Mountains.  Once a walled city, dating back before Roman times, evidence of the past can be seen, from the Roman ruins of the old wall, to the medieval buildings and fountains. There are 26 catons making up Switzerland, with Solothurn being the 11th. In the town there are, “11 churches, 11 chapels, 11 fountains, and 11 towers.” My first visit there was in the Fall of 2017. I stayed in what was once a school house, along the river. It had been turned into a hostel. The building was gutted … Continue reading Solothurn, Switzerland

I set out for Interlaken in the morning after having a conversation with a very nice couple from Australia. This chance meeting has an interesting story behind it, that I will share at a later time, and has lent to many delightful correspondences over the last four years. The countryside of green pastures with cows lazily eating grass, showed me a picture that was different than the one I had envisioned Switzerland to be. The town of Interlaken sits between the turquoise waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken is a place for the adventurer, and as adventurous as … Continue reading Interlaken Swizterland

This was my thought as I swam in the pool at the B&B Coreaux Beach, overlooking Lake Geneva by the town of Vevey Switzerland. A friend mentioned his fond memories of Interlaken years ago, so when he suggested I add it to my trip in 2016, I did. Thank you Ken! This first stop in Vevey was nice. I had never seen mountains so high above a lake, and in the far distance a glimpse of the Alps could be seen. As I walked along Lake Geneva, a steamboat moved along the calm water, transporting tourists to a different time. … Continue reading Died and Gone to Heaven

My friend and her son were tending to one of her many beehives, in between the blackberry bushes one day, during my visit to her house in England several years ago.  I was looking from what I though was a good distance away, taking pictures while on hold with my cellular company, to resolve an issue with my phone. When all of a sudden I saw a bee, leave the comfort of his hive, to make a “beeline” toward me. I turned around to flee just as the man on the phone came back to hear me, not necessarily screaming, … Continue reading A Bee to Remember; Honey and All

The wind, usually a product of August, had made its way to Athens a couple of months early, according to our kind host at the Airbnb. Despite being a warm wind, it felt good in the hot sun. After dropping our bags into our room, a short distance away from Parliament Square, we made our way out into the heat to see the ruins. The Presidents band was marching in parade formation. A guard was seen dutifully minding his post and we fortunate enough to see the changing of the guard. We had a ticket to see the various ancient … Continue reading Athens and Porto Rafti Greece