Everyone has heard of Sicily, but Sardinia is often overlooked. Roughly the same size as Sicily, Sardinia is within sight of Corsica and is about as close to Africa as it is to mainland Italy. It has a vivid history, sitting at the crossroads between…
I’ve spent the last couple weeks writing about ancient Roman sites in the modern city of Rome, and then all about the Vatican. Now, I want to focus on Rome beyond those two subjects- the food, the other sites, and practical traveler information! So yes,…
Visiting the Vatican can be an exercise in frustration, or it can be an interesting, educational, or religious experience. Here are some tips to assist in making your trip pleasant, plus insight on a so-called ‘secret’ tour, in other words- how to actually visit the…
My bachelor’s degree is in History, focused on medieval Europe, but ancient Rome was a close runner up. I love the history of Rome! So, I write this with great glee as visiting these sites was like living history to me. This is certainly not…
Naples, Italy is famous for its pizza, and as the gateway to Pompeii, Sorrento and the rest of the Amalfi Coast. It’s home to the National Archaeological Museum, which contains many of the Pompeiian treasure. The city has also been called rough, dirty and dangerous.…
Pompeii is one of the most famous ancient landmarks, with it’s often overlooked sister, Herculaneum (Ercolano). In preparing for my visit, I assumed doing both in one day was too much, plus I wanted to climb Mt. Vesuvius. Well, my planned day turned into quite…
Arrivals and Departures Getting to Venice can be as mundane as taking a train or bus to a certain point. However, if you arrive at the airport, start your visit off in Venetian style, and take a water bus, or vaparetto. The water buses run…
Venice, Italy is a city known for its aura of mystery, romance and, cha-ching, it’s high prices. Yet, there is plenty to do without breaking the bank. Whether you’re dropping in before a cruise, or allotting several days, this list of inexpensive or free things…
Long layovers are a traveler’s blessing! I have experienced several, using various Scandinavian airlines. In this case, SAS provided an 18 hour layover in Copenhagen, on my flight from Rome to Chicago. Transportation We arrived at 11:45pm, with a departure the next day in late…
I look forward to weekend getaways as much as multi-week international trips, and have had the Saugatuck area on my radar for some time. Just about 2.5 hours from Chicago, it’s perfect for a quick escape. We planned our weekend around Holland’s Tulip Time Festival,…