I'm just trying to walk myself home.
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Perhaps you have been told at one time or another that the Irish people are friendly and warm. You might have also heard that Ireland is sometimes called the Land of A Thousand Welcomes (Cead Mile Failte). But before I actually went to Ireland, I didn’t understand that this phrase is not just a slogan. …
30 Hour Midweek Highland Getaway I can already tell that one of the most wonderful things about living in Scotland is going to be that it takes almost no time at all to get out into the country. Just a few miles outside of the city, the Scottish Highlands are already beckoning to us! While …
Our second week in Aberdeen has been full of cobblestones, pretty buildings, new discoveries and big adjustments. We’ve logged some miles seeing our new city, the center of which is a constant bustle of activity.
Visiting The Campanile in Venice, Italy When you’re walking in dream-like Venice, there is not a single moment in which you do not want to snap a photo. Every doorway and window. Each little bridge or canal. Venice is breathtaking at every turn. You have to force yourself out from behind your camera to take …
I have so many pictures from my trip to Europe with my daughter (which we affectionately refer to as Eurocruisazy) that it has been overwhelming to think about printing them. I didn’t think I could begin to choose, so when InstaThis contacted me about reviewing some Instagram prints, I jumped at the chance to choose …
A Visit to The Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy This post is part of a continuing series about a Mediterranean Cruise I took with my thirteen year old daughter in the fall of 2012. After wandering the city of Venice for several hours, we visited The Doge’s Palace. Overlooking the Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace was …
Venice, Italy: A Few First Impressions This post is part of a continuing series about a Mediterranean Cruise I took with my thirteen year old daughter in the fall of 2012. Today I am talking about Venice! You’ve seen Venice in movies, pictures and books all of your life, but still, there is nothing quite …
If you are planning a Mediterranean Cruise in the near future, you should know, The Port of Dubrovnik, Croatia is worth the price of your entire cruise. So make sure it’s on your ports of call when you book. Settled on the Adriatic Sea coast of Croatia, this little gem of a port …
I am continuing a series of posts about a Mediterranean Cruise I took with my thirteen year old daughter in the fall of 2012. Today I am talking about The Lovely Port of Olbia, Sardinia, Italy Olbia is on the northeastern side of the island of Sardinia. There are several lovely beaches there, or so …
I am continuing a series of posts about a Mediterranean Cruise I took with my thirteen year old daughter in the fall of 2012. Today I am talking about our One Glorious Day in Rome! (The Port of Citvitavecchia) First stop in Rome, The Colosseum. Pulling up to the Colosseum was one of those surreal …
The Cruise Port Livorno was the next stop on our Mediterranean Cruise. Livorno is on the western side of Italy and from the port, one can access Pisa, Florence or any number of hill towns in Tuscany. Our original plan was to take one of the excursions to Florence, but the one we chose was …
Perched atop cliffs, overlooking the Mediterranean sea was our favorite stop in Monaco, the Musée Océanographique. What is funny is that I probably would not have toured it if I hadn’t had Mary Polly with me. The Musée Océanographique dates from 1901 and was the brainchild of Prince Albert I. Jacques Cousteau was even the director …
In September of 2012, my daughter, Mary Polly and I went on a Mediterranean cruise on the ship, the Carnival Breeze. This post is about our first stop. Cruise Port: Monaco. We had attended our cruise director’s lecture on the highlights of the cruise port Monaco and he was not lying when he told us …
In September of 2012, my daughter, Mary Polly and I went on a Mediterranean Cruise. This post is all about the unbelievable boat that took us on this fabulous trip, the Carnival Breeze. We boarded this ship in Barcelona, Spain. Last year at this time, I had already booked our Mediterranean cruise on the Carnival …
Barcelona was the first stop on my trip with Mary Polly to Europe in September. We spent two nights there, exploring this beautiful city before boarding the Carnival Breeze for a 12 Night Mediterranean Cruise. Read all about our first day in Barcelona here. Our second day in Barcelona started with a quick stop …
Barcelona was the first stop on my trip with Mary Polly to Europe in September. We spent two nights exploring this beautiful city before boarding the Carnival Breeze for a 12 Night Mediterranean Cruise. Mary Polly and I arrived at the closed metal doors of Santa Maria Del Pi Cathedral in Barcelona in …
Venice was our last stop on our anniversary trip to Italy in 2004. It’s one of those places you see pictures of all your life, but you cannot even believe it is real when you get there.
It is decadent and glorious and everything you could imagine. Even in December.
December 9, 2004
Venice Italy
Where do I even begin?
Venice is absolutely breathtaking. The whole city is just oozing elegance. From the very first moments on Vaporetto #1, I have been in awe.
Like a great maze, there is a treasure around every corner, a beautiful church, shops full of every possible color of glass and marbled paper, bright and elaborate masks, bridges, market stalls and gondolas. I have waked around in a dazed dream-like state.
Yesterday we just walked and walked and walked. We had the most wonderful sandwiches and cicchetti (Italian tapas) which we ate on a bridge. We went to San Marco and just stood there in the square.
We went back today to tour the cathedral and we took our time because I was enamored with every detail. The whole inside of the building was covered in mosaics and the pieces are tiny! When I got up close to them I could not believe all the tiny little quarter inch tiles.
My favorite mosaic was the one of Jesus sitting on the throne ruling His kingdom. Our guidebook said that Jesus was commonly pictured like this (instead of on a cross) in Byzantine cultures. I bought a postcard of this mosaic to remember Jesus this way–Sovereign over all, his hands stretched out in front of him, welcoming. Not to worry. He’s handling all things.
Why do we take these milestone trips with our children? It was on our trip to Italy in 2004 that Taido and I dreamed up the idea of taking our children to Europe one at a time. We delighted in the thought of our little ones running through the cobblestone streets of San Gimignano, and …
What to Wear on a Mediterranean Cruise hello, Whitney here, posting for Alison today while she’s away on vacation. I took these pictures of her and Mary Polly as they were packing for their trip and thought they would be a perfect way to link up with Lindsey from the Pleated Poppy for WIWW. This …
A Day in San Gimignano, Italy Taido and I went to Italy for our 10th anniversary in 2004. We were married in December, so we chose to go during that month even though we were taking a chance on the weather. We did have some rainy, cold days, but the lack of crowds at all …