Month: October 2011

The Adventure’s Not Over Yet!  (We have tickets to see Tom Waits!!!)  {Reposted from my original 2008 trip journal and reflections in 2009} Goin’ Down South – When Mike (the friend who turned me on to Waits in the first place) first emailed me about the Tom Waits “Glitter and ...

{Reposted from my original 2008 trip journal and reflections in 2009} While in Rome I purchased three extra cards for my digital camera. The one was a 4 GB Sandisk that turned out to be invaluable and got me through the rest of the trip. The others were two Sandisk ...

(Audra’s intro) We were shopping in Exton when she brought it up again. The group vacation. “So, my church choir is looking to take another tour to Europe and…,” This is usually where I start to tune out. (Sorry, Kristy.) My best friend is far better traveled than I am, ...

Renting a Car – I personally would not rent a car in Europe again. It was interesting once, and a bit like a built in thrill ride, but it is not an experience I’d repeat. Even though I did not take the driver’s seat, I still had to battle car ...

Almost all of the guidebooks and websites warned about less than ideal conditions in Naples. Pickpockets, kidnappings, shootings and general lawlessness seemed the most encountered terms in most write-ups. News footage on CNN of burning trash piles just a few days before our trip did not instill confidence. There were ...

Mariella at Hidden Treasures of Italy did a great job with our trip overall. Every one of our hotels either met or exceeded our expectations. We had clean, working bathrooms everywhere and the people were always willing to help. The cooking class that Mariella found for us was amazing (more ...

Hidden Treasures of Italy was our travel agency. (See separate review) Magellan’s – Online travel supply outlet that has a great tool for figuring out what electrical adapters and converters you need based on your destination. Take my word for it, avoid the confusion of Amazon.com and other sites with everyone’s ...

{Reposted from my original 2008 trip journal and reflections in 2009} A minor skin condition on my right index finger turned into a major travel hassle. I went from place to place looking for something to cure. The last thing I wanted was a life-threatening infection in a foreign land. ...

{Reposted from my original 2008 trip journal and reflections in 2009} Nothing is free – I came away from Italy with a reinforcement of the idea that “nothing is free.” It’s not that much of a revelation when gas is so expensive and the US economy is having a ripple effect ...

2008 Itinerary & Highlights (Flight from Philly direct to Rome US Airways) June 12-13-14-15, Rome (Leaving 6/16) HOTEL MODIGLIANI Via Della Purificazione 42, 00187 Rome Near the Spanish Steps and Via Veneto Highlights: Cappuccino, Coliseum, Vatican, Ostia Antica, Forum June 16-17, Capri (leaving 6/18) VILLA KRUPP Viale Matteotti 12, 80073 Capri ( N A ...

So we made it to Dublin after several other dubious musical experiences, and one day made our way to St. Stephen’s Park. Beautiful gardens, people feeding swans and ducks in quaint ponds… a guy with a beer in his pocket. Pretty laid back. So I pull out my guitar to ...

{Reposted from my original 2008 trip journal and reflections in 2009} Preface (below) Itinerary & Highlights Observations Eczema in a Strange Land Resources That We Used Travel Agency Review What We’d Do Differently Do YOU have a sugardaddy? Naples Northern Sardinia Southern Sardinia Music Journals: Baby Taylor – Rome – Capri – Positano/Ravello – Sardinia Postscript: Walmart Culture Shock Italy to Knoxville – Glitter & ...