All posts filed under: Travel Series

Travel: Italian Beaches

Hello everyone! Hope your weekend was as good as it can be under the circumstances. I know I tried my best to stay on the upside, even while the downside was eating away at me. I walked across town on Saturday, and did much pondering and decision making over the current events shaping up or dismantling all that we have known and many things we never knew about but should. Sunday, I spent the day writing, and editing and figuring out all the wonderful topics and things I want to share this week with you all right here. Starting with this list of Italian beaches I want to experience, when travelling is safely altered to align with today’s environment. Until then, I’ll just be dreaming and adding to my travel bucket list. {featured images and source full credit}

Travel: European Beautiful Villages To Plan To See

Last night I had trouble sleeping, especially when my mind was racing over a health related conversations I had with my mother, among the many other day-to-day. So I tried to take off the edge by focusing on some of my travels through Europe and eventually fell asleep with thoughts of Salzburg, and the Sound of Music tour I took in early 90’s. A friend asked if we are allowed to travel later this year, would I consider it. And my answer was yes and this is  the first trip I’d put together – a glimpse of five small European villages.   Where would you go from this list of European Villages {featured images full credit and source}

Travel: Today’s Topics of Interest

The world is changing faster than we are able to cope with it, or know how best to adapt or even get involved to make differences that are mindful of everyone around. So we struggle and ponder and take time so that we may find a solid way to become the better version of ourselves and do our part in making this world a safe, and sound place for every single human being, particularly our children. Featured image source and full credit. Article contest full credit by clicking on photos

Travel: Some Facts Worth Learning About

Hello again!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend with family or friends. But took time to honor those in the military/veterans as we do in the U.S. over Memorial weekend. While we  wait for news about how and when we can travel, I figured I’d share with you something we did when I worked in a travel agency: Learn about interesting facts from around the world to share with our clients. Although, my days at a brick-and-mortar travel service is long gone; my desire to keep on learning has stayed on. Featured image and article full credit here

Travel: Virtual Tours of National Parks

I’ve not written much about travel – although aching to. But, I wanted to be mindful of the struggles some of us have wanderlusting. But these virtual tours are the best the industry has come up with to keep us going and so I decided to share – for those who happen to be missing a visit to your favorite national park. Happy Friday! If not – make it happy {featured image source and full credit}

Weekend Updates and Monday Happy Finds

I hate the fact I didn’t realize it was Palm Sunday yesterday – a celebration I take very seriously. The only way I discovered that it was, was when I went upstairs to visit with my mother – who was seated on her favorite armchair, hands pressed together, praying while mass was streaming on the television screen. I actually wanted to cry seeing her, with eyes closed, praying the way she does and especially now even more. Have I told you all recently just how much I respect the elderly and their traditions and values and approach to all things life is throwing their/our way? Anyway, after the crying, I came back to my studio downstairs and watched the heavy downpour from my window for about an hour and it was probably the most soothing thing I’ve done from the indoors. Normally I find my comfort with all the walks I embark on throughout the city. Staring out of the window, I realized how beautiful human beings are…really…truly. Something that’s gone unnoticed forever it seems …

A Burst Of Hope and Our Collective Love For Italy

I felt a burst of hope yesterday when, after standing in line for 40 minutes to enter the grocery store, I saw stacked cases of my favorite water. I thought it was a mirage, but I walked up and managed to secure  my two-per-cart cases of water feeling as if I were on top of the world. Baby steps. Don’t give up hope, we are going to get through this. Lately, or let’s just say, every year around this time, I experience much wanderlust-particularly anywhere in Italy. Funny thing is, I keep sharing photos of Italy with my loved ones courtesy of Instagram to up their moods, or maybe mine – with a note saying remember this? or can’t wait to travel with you here or  how about that restaurant in Venice?  What is it about Italy-time and time again, that I feel the need to include this fascinating destination to my annual travel plans. Except this year, it will just have to be an imaginary tour of what these editors have detailed here. Here’s …

Travel: Cotswolds On My Mind

Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to be driven around in England – you know – on the other side of the road, which I would never attempt – to travel through some of the most beautiful backroads to see  not only parts of the country that are frequented by tourists, but also the side not many travelers explore – unless of course they drive. The Cotswold became my favorite that year, and I knew it would be a destination I would include in my 2020 June travel plans – until of course… But you know what – even though we can’t travel right now, I still want to share this article which lists the prettiest Cotswolds Villages – wish I could locate a set of illustrations of the same villages  I bought 20 years ago at a street art fair, but sadly I think I may have sold them at a garage sale when I moved a few years later.

Travel: Some Fun Facts to Ponder Over While Social Distancing

Couple of weeks back, I visited the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park. I haven’t been for over a decade. I have to say I was enlightened over again about our planet, the birds and the bees (literally), and the universe and the bodies of water around the world. These sort of reminders had me turning to the History channel more often these days to learn more about the fascinating. So I started to think last night, when I finally came to terms that I need to postpone all travels I had planned for the year to perhaps as far into the future as next year. But since I love travel, and some of you are the same, I figured to readjust my travel series to fun facts rather behind every travel. The reason for social distancing – if you aren’t taking it seriously

Boutique Hotel Picks – Chalet Hotels – Europe

We haven’t really experienced winter in the bay area – in that, the sun with warm temperatures have been steady since the middle of January. I know you think that is awesome, but I don’t. Because once again we are going to experience drought related issues – mostly the awful California fires. So, naturally I look to most places with a bit of snow or signs of anything winter, after all it is winter until the middle of March and spending a week in a chalet is something that’s bin on my bucket list since my trip to Colorado ten years ago. Yes, we have Tahoe, but I am talking about the cozy experience of a chalet somewhere in Europe –   Have you stayed in a chalet? And where – Do you recommend the destination? {featured image source}