May 24, 2013

Photo Feature: Romeo and Juliet Balcony

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Nothing says romance like Romeo and Juliet.  A trip to Italy, specifically, Verona — home to star crossed lovers, would be an incredibly romantic choice. However, most of us would be more likely to take a little more affordable romantic getaway.  And it’s not too difficult to decrease the cost while increasing the romance by [...]

Photo Feature: Roman Ruins in Jordan

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Of course, one finds Roman ruins in Rome, but they are also prevalent in Jordan, Syria, Israel and other Middle Eastern destinations.  Planning a vacation to include some of these ruins is fun, fascinating and educational for tourists of all ages.  In Rome, for example, ancient ruins are in the city proper. Buildings have been [...]

Affordable Ideas for Romantic Travel

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Hoping for a hot getaway with your boo? While it’s fine to splurge on a luxury vacation if you want to, the truth is grabbing some quality time away from the hustle and bustle might cost far less than you think. Here are a few suggestions for romantic travel that don’t cost a mint. Cabin [...]

Photo Feature: Venetian Vaporetto

THPF 08 Rome & Venice 131 from Art Explosion

This vaporetto, or Venetian water bus, is one popular way to see Venice, Italy on a budget. It’s also a great place to practice your travel photography skills on an afternoon ride back to the train station. There are many beautiful sights to see and fun things to do in Venice, including St. Mark’s cathedral, [...]

Photo from the Road: Typical Venetian Entryway

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This doorway exemplifies the typical architecture one can expect to see when touring Venice, Italy. Similar photo ops are possible along the various alleyways and canals throughout the city.

How to See Venice, Italy on a Budget

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History, architecture and some of the most impressive artwork in the world draw visitors to Venice, Italy by the millions. A popular life-list destination, the city is considered prohibitively expensive by many travelers. However, it is possible to pinch a few pennies during your visit. Transportation: There’s no driving in Venice, so getting around the [...]

Photo from the Road: Sirmione Street Scene

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This simple street scene was photographed on the islet of Sirmione, along the shores of Italy’s Lake Garda. It’s a popular destination for tourists to take a boat ride, go for a swim, tour ancient Roman ruins and catch a romantic Italian dinner.

Photo from the Road: Pisa Picnic Area

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The piazza in Pisa, Italy is one of the most beautiful in the world, and a popular place for tourists to picnic while taking in a little sightseeing. There are other things to see in Pisa as well, as the city has been around for generations.

Italy’s Lake Garda Offers Windsurfing, Archaeology and More

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Slightly south of Bolzano and about a half hour west of Verona is the Italian wind-surfing destination of Lake Garda.

How to Plan a Perfect Day in Pisa

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Historically a maritime rival with the likes of Venice and Genova, Pisa, Italy gets its current fame from a failed, but phenomenally beautiful architectural project. The leaning tower of Pisa is certainly the attraction that draws most foreigners to this Italian city, but there is definitely more here to explore.

Top Tips for Enjoying the Venice Carnival

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There are few cultural festivals more elaborately celebrated than the Venice carnival in Italy. People from all over the world travel to this annual event. Some to participate in the costumed revelry, others to sight see and troll for photo opportunities. The city is picturesque enough in its own right. Add in the gilded masks, [...]

11 Things to Do in Beautiful Bolzano, Italy

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Of all the places my husband and I visited when we lived in Europe, one that has always remained foremost in my memory is Bolzano, Italy. Having always intended to write an article about the area, I recently dug out my file folder of brochures and notes and sat down to complete the task.

Follow the Rules

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Whenever a group of more than two people is traveling together, the potential for missteps increase exponentially. You all should know the ‘rules’ of where you’re going and follow them.  I went to Italy in 2000 in a group of 6 to see family we’d never met.  The sons of the family worked for Roman [...]

Colosseum

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I went to Italy in 2000, a great year to be in Rome.  The Sistine Chapel had just been restored; much of the sculpture in public had been given a facelift; the city was alive.  So, What made the biggest impression on me?  Besides the Sistine Chapel, that is… The Colosseum.  The movie Gladiator was [...]

Photo from the Road: Venetian Alley Scene

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Alleys in Venice are smaller versions of the Grand Canal, small waterways through which gondolas, merchandise and grocery delivery boats navigate in order to reach the shops and homes of the city.

100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go

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Susan Van Allen’s Italian travel book 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is part travel guide, part “inside peek”.

Photo from the Road: Lazise on Lake Garda

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We lived on Lago di Garda in northern Italy for over a year before discovering the quaint little town of Lazise.

Photo from the Road: Grand Canal Snapshot

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This particular afternoon snapshot taken along Venice’s Grand Canal is particularly illustrative of how things really appear in this amazing city, which is one of my favorites world-wide.

Photo from the Road: Costumed Reveler on Venice Dock

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Love costume shots? Enjoy Italy? If so, this photo is likely one you’ll enjoy.

Mom and Dad Theriault’s Visit With Us to See the Leaning Tower of Pisa

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Photo Credits: TrekHound.Com Myscha’s Mom and Dad took a trip with us to Pisa while they were visiting us in Desanzano, Italy. Here are some highlights from the day.

From David and Rachel LeCoq’s Visit With Us in Italy, 2001

Photo Credits: TrekHound.Com This post was written some time ago, when this blog was just to keep track of our journeys and see if this online writing thing turned into something we wanted to continue doing.  So please forgive the homespun feel of the piece. Not my most elaborate travel article. For those of you who want [...]