Why go to Perugia You should visit Perugia for it’s beauty, it’s markets, it’s chocolate, festivals, jazz and history that would make for a perfect movie script. Perugia is full of cobbled alleys, stairways with aqueduct archways, piazzas, gothic churches and has magnificent views across the countryside from the Etruscan wall that surrounds it. Perugia is home the University of …
Perugia – Baci Chocolate
OK. You can’t talk about Perugia without talking chocolate. Baci chocolate is known world-wide and Perugia has been named in the top 5 destinations for chocolate lovers like me (and probably for you too). Thank you Luisa Thanks you Luisa Spagnoli, who in 1922, created the Baci Perugino recipe that has only 8 ingredients. But they are a secret. We …
Perugia – San Lorenzo Cathedral the guardian of the Holy Ring
Scratch a little deeper… The Holy Ring San Lorenzo Cathedral in Perugia is the keeper of the Holy Ring (or Sacred Ring) of the virgin Madonna. It is is reputed that the Holy Ring was given to her by Joseph on their wedding day. The holy relic is kept in a safe in the San Lorenzo cathedral 8 meters above …
Packing for Four Weeks in Italy and Spain
I’m heading off to Italy and Spain in October (Autumn) for four weeks. I try to pack the same amount of clothing for every trip whether it is for four weeks or three months. In winter I add one more jumper and a coat. As a guide I like to limit myself to three bottoms, six tops, three pair …
Orvieto – where Umbria meets Tuscany
Orvieto Orvieto sits on top of spectacular vertical cliffs of volcanic tuff that seems to erupt from the most striking green landscape. Miles of emerald green trees, farm land and vineyards worthy of any postcard. Sit awhile. Soak in the view. Umbria is known as the ‘Green Heart of Italy’. It’s easy to see why. Etruscans, Romans, Popes, secret passageways! …
Chefchaouen – Powder blue with a splash of turquoise
Unique Chefchaouen Chefchaouen is one of the most unusual cities I have ever visited. I have read that Chefchaouen is regularly listed as one of the top 10 must see cities in the world and I agree. The streets, the houses, public buildings, lampposts and garbage bins are washed in powder blue paint with a splash of turquoise highlighting windows …
The oldest church Rome?
The Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere The jewel in the Trastevere crown, is the oldest church in Rome the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. The first of many churches I will visit on my journey. Churches, Christianity and of course, history is at the heart and soul of Italy. If you aren’t curious about this trio, if you …
The Pantheon – intriguing and incomprehensible
Pantheon – my favorite building on the plant I have no idea why, but the Pantheon is my favorite building on the planet. Perhaps it is because the architecture is visually mesmerizing and it shear genius of the construction is incomprehensible. As if that wasn’t enough, the Pantheon sits in beautiful Piazza Della Rotonda that is full of Italian restaurants, …
Part 1 – Break Free – 3 Months in Europe!
Break Free… I have been career driven for years. I’ve climbed ladders, kicked goals, over achieved, thrived on promotions, workplace praise and awards for a ‘job well done’ . I needed to break free from my everyday pantomime. Mergers, mindlessness and patch wars had arrived at my government department and turmoil reigned from the top of the ladder to the …
Part 2 – A mindful journey to confidence
Have a travel objective. “As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life” Buddha. A famous American Buddhist lama, Surya Das put it simply, we scurry through life, we dwell in memories of the past and plans for the future but rarely are we fully present in this very …
Part 3 – My Travel Mantra
Visit Slowly, Sit Quietly, Reflect and See Travel can be exhilarating. Surprising and liberating. A set of words would not automatically direct my journey. I knew I had to embrace the sentiment of my travel objective and think about what a spiritual and courageous journey might look like and feel like. I started to work on a travel mantra. I wanted …
Part 4 – Planning Your Itinerary in a Mindful way
Planning your itinerary Stay true to your objective and your new mantra My travel objective is: “A mindful and courageous journey to confidence” My mantra is to: “Visit slowly, sit quietly, reflect and see” Now I need an itinerary to deliver my objective in the way I have chosen to approach my travel. Traditionally there has been two ways to approach …
Moulay Idriss a deeply religious town
A peaceful holy town The Adventure of Arriving Our Intrepid tour experience included traveling by taxi (old old old diesel Mercedes cars) to Moulay Idriss Zerhoune. I love this type of experience and is one of the reasons why I enjoy tours like this Intrepid tour. There is no way I would have hopped into an old beat up Mercedes …
Morocco – Amazing Fes
Fes was everything I read about and more. Fes is an ancient city that seems to come right out of a movie, it has a palace that no one has seen inside of, a medina with over 9400 streets and dead-ends, 350 mosques, souks (markets) selling everything and anything, owners of donkeys steering products through the markets (Mulak Mulak – …
G Adventures Amalfi Coast – small group tour
I am so glad I signed up for the G Adventures small group tour to the Amalfi Coast. The tour lasted 7 days and was based in Furore for 5 nights after kicking off in Naples and finishing in Naples. There were just 10 people on the tour which was small enough for us to get to know each other …
Venice. Intriguing, mysterious, romantic. Perfect.
ahh…Venice Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There is no other like it. A city of intrigue, mystery, class and romance. It is also a city where divorce may occur if you don’t have a navigation strategy! See my navigation strategy below! The Grand Canal The Grand Canal is the main canal of Venice where you …
Sorrento accommodation in the old town.
Sorrento Flats, Corso Italia 176, Sorrento Sorrento Flats are located right in the centre of the old town. I really enjoyed my stay here in the brightly coloured rooms. Mine was pink – not really my colour but soothing none the less! There were also green and blue suites, make sure you ask for the colour you want. Historic Sorrento …
Venice Accommodation – Easy to find (important in Venice!)
Hotel Fontana in Venice What a find. I will always stay here when I visit Venice! Hotel Fontana is great value for money accommodation in expensive Venice and is close to everything and most importantly is easy to find – a blessing in Venice as those who have been there can appreciate. This is a family run hotel that offers …
Florence Accommodation Close to Everything
Guidici Halldis Appartment – Via del Castello d’Altafronte 2 Florence Loved staying in this apartment in Florence! It is close to absolutely every attraction you will want to see in this beautiful city. It’s walking distance to everything. The apartment is light and airy and well maintained. The bedroom is in a loft over the living room. It’s a really nice …
Italy – Rapallo on the Italian Riviera
Beautiful Rapallo Ah the Riviera di Levante. Rapallo on the Italian Riviera is where the rich and famous go for their summer holidays and where I go in winter because it is affordable! Camogli, Recco, Santa Margherita and Portofino are Rapallo’s glamorous cousins and they make up a string of old-fashioned seaside resorts. I picked Rapallo as my base to …
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