Aosta is the capital of the Valle d’Aosta region, in northwestern Italy. It is also the gateway to the Via Francigena in Italy. The Romans founded the town in 25 BC at a crucial point where the main roads heading …
A Tragic Story About Thrombosis – Are You Aware?
I had no idea what thrombosis was until I met Ken. Now that I think of it, I’m not sure how I first connected with him but… that’s insignificant now. Today, Gary and I consider Ken and his daughters, Victoria, …
Proper Etiquette When Visiting Italy: Turn Into a Fabulous Tourist
What do I mean when I say proper etiquette? What in the world am I talking about? Every country loves its tourists. They depend on your visit and your hard-earned cash spent in their country. It’s worldwide. But, you know …
Bacio: The Italian Kiss, Sounds of a Romantic Language
In Italian, the word bacio means “kiss.” This is a very common word that is used in many different contexts – all the way from platonic to romantic. Italian is known as one of the most romantic languages in the …
The Island of Elba: Our First Adventure to Tuscany’s Treasure
I wasn’t sure what to expect when disembarking the ferry on Isola d’Elba in June. What I am sure about is Napoleon would never recognize it today. Definitely more congested than when the emperor was exiled to the island in …
Da Vinci’s Last Supper: Masterpiece in Milan-Our Incredible Visit
The Last Supper was top on our list to visit when we first arrived in Milan back in 2010. What we didn’t realize is that it was closed the only day we could visit. Rookie mistake. What we… and perhaps …
Amazing Portugal | Our Awesome Trip & Tips
Our recent trip to Portugal was amazing! We planned a ten-day trip recently to visit three areas of this country. As the saying goes… best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry… and so… we changed it during our …
Behind the Scenes in Venice
Venice First of all, when you go behind the scenes in Venice, you can never get lost. That is what is the most fun about Venice just walking the tiny streets and trying to get lost. It’s almost impossible because …
Airbnb vs Vrbo: What Really is the Difference?
Getting ready to travel but do you book with Airbnb vs Vrbo? Or should you consider a hotel site as your host? This happens to be one of the top questions we are asked time and time again. So it’s …
Easy Day Trips From 5 Major Cities in Italy
We often get asked about easy day trips from Lucca and other major cities throughout Italy. When Shari, a faithful, long-time subscriber of this blog suggested this for a post, we thought we’d do it. I will always recommend that …
Jet Lag: How to Avoid and Conquer
Is the term “jet lag” real? You bet it is! Of course, it depends on which way you are traveling. It’s easier for Europeans to travel to the USA than the other way around. Reason being? The 6-9 hour time …
Italian Bathrooms | What You Need to Know
How are Italian bathrooms different than the ones you will find in the States? There are several differences, and in today’s post, we will explore a good deal of the differences and even discuss a bit of protocol. General Information …