The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, and most trips to Paris (at least first trips) include a visit to this famous spot located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (map). The building, originally a palace, is now home to some of the world’s most famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Aphrodite/Venus de Milo. The museum opened to the public in 1793, and since then the collections have grown to their current number of over 380,000. It’s not the largest art collection in the world, but most art historians agree that it is the finest. The main buildings of the Louvre look rather fortress-like with iron gates around it. The real treasure lie within the gates, much like it must have been when it was […]
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London Bridge in London & Lake Havasu
Do you remember singing this as a child: London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady. I sure do. But when I sang it, I had no idea what London Bridge was really all about or where it was – other than London, I mean.. So what’s the real scoop? London Bridge crosses over the River Thames connecting London and Southwark. This is city central, with lots of London hotels and attractions nearby, and is a busy spot in the city. Although London Bridge is often confused with the Tower Bridge, it is actually located between the Tower and the Cannon Street Railway Bridge. London Bridge has actually been a succession of bridges, with many incarnations occupying the same space and the same name. In the mid 1960’s, the then […]
Read MoreAn Italian Retrospective
It’s with mixed feelings that I’m back in Seattle after three and a half weeks in Italy. It’s always good to come back home, of course, but there is a part of me that was left behind, waiting patiently until I come back to claim it. The pace was both busy and leisurely, with a day or two of activity followed by a day or two of rest. Leisure days were spent by the pool, taking naps, drinking wine, eating pasta and lots of gelato. Activity days were full of exploring, sightseeing, discovering new things, and lots and lots of walking to counteract all that pasta, gelato, and wine. It was the perfect combination of Adventure Holidays and Walking holidays, with plenty of rest to get ready for it all. Here are some of the highlights of the trip: Climbing […]
Read MoreClimbing Mt. Etna: MJ vs. the Volcano
One of the things that I was excited to do in Sicily was climbing Mt. Etna. At approximately 10,922 feet high, this largest active volcano in Europe was visible from the back deck of our villa. Every morning I’d take a look at how beautiful it was, it’s very top visible in the earlier morning hours, and then watch as the clouds circled about it come mid-morning. The presence of Mt. Etna, along with its history – both true and legend, dominates the island of Sicily, Make no mistake about it, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This decade alone has seen two major eruptions, in 2001 and 2002, both of which caused damage to both the mountain and surrounding areas. The three of us were all interested in climbing Mt. Etna, and our choice […]
Read MoreBottoms Up: Grappa in Italy
Everywhere you turn in Italy you’ll find grappa, a clear alcoholic beverage sure to knock your socks off. Grappa is made from the grape residue left over from the crush of grapes during the winemaking process, and includes the grape skins, stems, seeds, and everything else. Like many food items in Italy, the beverage originally began as a way of reducing waste and using everything up. Today, however, grappa stands on its own. Like wine, the flavor of grappa will depend on the type of grapes, growing conditions, and terroir. But grappa isn’t wine. It;s a clear liquide, with an alcohol content ranging from 35-60%, and is thick in taste and feel like Brandy. In fact, you’ll often hear it referred to as Italian Brandy. Production is a strictly regulated process, and for a liquor to be called grappa it […]
Read MoreIt’s Sicily!
It took the better part of 24 hours, but I’m finally settled into my villa in Sicily. The day started with a 3:30 am car service pick up, which started the day’s travel with a flight to Chicago, then connecting to an overnight flight to Rome. The group met up at the Rome airport, thankfully everyone’s flight was pretty close to being on time, and we caught a quick commuter flight to the island of Sicily. The villa has exceeded expectations. It’s a beautiful 4-bedroom place, surrounded by lemon trees. There’s also two dining areas, two living room areas, a kitchen with a pizza oven, and a huge wrap around deck/patio. I’ve included a few photos, but these first 24-hours are pretty much for settling in and relaxing. We’ve gone to the supermarket, set in some provisions, and the rest […]
Read MoreHistorical London: Visit 4 UNESCO Sites
Thinking about a vacation in historical [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215612′ text=’London’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ffde2fe5-6a62-11e7-9b32-d3dbf8308ba0′] can evoke a frenzy of thoughts about this major continental city that is the UK’s financial center, seat of politics, and hub for fashion, entertainment, and the arts. But don’t forget that London is an old city, steeped in culture and tradition. In a city of hundreds (if not thousands) of wonderful historical sites, four have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. They’re worth a look-see! Tower of London: Located on the north bank of the Thames in central London, the Tower is actually a compound of multiple buildings – and a moat. It’s currently the oldest British governmental building but has an impressive history as a fortress, palace, prison, and place of execution and torture. Must see sites there today include the Crown Jewels, the […]
Read More10 Reasons to Visit Edinburgh for Your Next Vacation
Edinburgh, the capital city of [amazon_textlink asin=’1612389783′ text=’Scotland’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ca65b8ba-6a63-11e7-8485-e971cc4915d6′], is the second largest city in the country, making it a popular vacation spot for travelers from the U.K. and around the world. In fact, it’s the second most visited city in the UK for international travelers (no surprise that [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215612′ text=’London’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d9adec6b-6a63-11e7-8762-ad95567d7f04′] is first), and there are lots of reasons to visit Edinburgh. From the United States, you can reach Edinburgh direct from Newark (Continental) and Atlanta (Delta), along with many airlines that make connections. Another option is flying into Glasgow International Airport, about an hour away. Here 10 reasons to visit Edinburg for your next vacation. It’s a picturesque city. Located along the Firth of Forth (love that name!), Edinburgh sports a rugged coastline mixed with interesting architecture. There are plenty of […]
Read MoreIs a Vacation Rental Right for You
I’m not a traveler cut out for a location independent lifestyle. I love having a home to return to. A place to live and enjoy. My home is a wonderful place where I have creature comforts that allow me to live, dream, plan, and have fun. It’s a base of operations for the various parts of my life to come together to make me. . . me! It suits my personalities and needs, and at this point in my life, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve found that the desire to have a base of operations carries over into my travel style. While a traditional hotel might be great for a conference or a quick stay, more and more I’m leaning toward a home approach – somewhere with a little more room, privacy, and sufficient amenities that I […]
Read MoreUnited Kingdom is More than England
The couple sitting at the table next to me were engaged in a lively conversation and I couldn’t help but notice their delightful British accent. As travelers often do, we struck up a conversation, asking one another where we were from and how we were enjoying our travels. The couple indicated that they were from the UK, indicating a city that I was not familiar with. Following our discussion, and back in my hotel room, I realized that while I intellectually understood the UK to encompass England, Wales, Scotland, and part of Ireland, in reality when I heard UK I emotionally translated it to mean England. Adding to the potential confusion are the numerous Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, for example) and the commonwealth countries (like Canada, my neighbor to the north) which are connected to the British Monarchy, but […]
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