Ahhhh...beer. As Benjamin Franklin so majestically stated oh so long ago, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." To celebrate this divine beverage, Atlantic City hosted its 6th annual Beerfest this weekend. The event has garnered support from the bigger players in the industry, like Anheuser Busch, but the real thrill is sampling the numerous American microbreweries that proudly display their craft in one of the state's largest collections and for five childhood friends the terms could not be simpler...sample away! The festivities started Saturday afternoon. Everyone tied up all the loose ends of our ever increasingly busy lives and by noon we were on our way. While I cannot remember the last time "the gang" was all together at the same time, we didn't seem to miss a ... read more

Ahh... Amalfi. And we thought driving into Sorrento was scary. Imaging hugging a winding mountain road with hairpin turns and cliffside drop-offs straight down to the sea below. We’re grateful to the generations of men who labored to build the rock walls which guard the edge of the roadway. We quickly learned that every half inch counts and folded in our side-view mirrors after a close encounter with an oncoming bus. The coast itself is beautiful. Breathtaking limestone cliffs, lush Mediterranean foliage, and the sporadic Saracen guard towers sprinkled in between offer an unparalleled sight. The coastal town of Amalfi starts at the base of the cliffside. Our arrival time was perfect. We got to sample some of daily life in Amalfi as we walked uphill into the town. We were able to pay our respects ... read more

Attempt, if you dare, the drive into Sorrento. We felt like we were on a bombing run in the Death Star trench, with tie-fighters (aka high-speed mopeds) whizzing past us on all sides. The directions we had were very basic: take “this” highway to “this” exit and follow the signs to Sorrento. So we did... until we arrived at the first intersection. We checked for the sign toward Sorrento, but unfortunately, it was mixed in with 19 other signs all pointing in different directions. So, we went right and followed the coastal road. By the grace of God we made it. We were very happy to call Sorrento our home base for several days. Our hotel was nestled in the hills above the city, offering a great view and easy access to the town center. The ... read more

In the immortal words of Ozzie Osbourne, “Alllll Aboooard.” As we waited in the station, we played out various scenarios in our heads: perhaps another Wilm experience (see post on The University Hostel)? some fellow English-speaking tourists? a young French madamemoiselle for Mike to practice his French on, and a friend for Joe? As we ran through these possibilities, one scenario we had not envisioned slowly came into view as the train entered the station. Kids. There were lots of them - perhaps hundreds, perhaps thousands - and they were everywhere. The train hadn’t even rolled to a stop yet and one could witness the huddled masses pressing their hands and faces against the windows, like a gaggle of 650 urchins waiting for the candy store to open on Christmas. Fortunately for us (and ‘fortunate’ is ... read more

Leaving behind the Mistral winds (those strong, ever-present, cold winds from the north which easily pierce any protective layers of clothing) for the gentle, warm breezes of the Mediterranean coast, we set out for Nice and Monaco. Sylvie (our hostess) thought our plan to be a bit on the “crazy” side, and looking back on the adventure, it was a bit hectic, but all worthwhile for the experience of Monaco and French Riviera. Our journey was made possible by the ever-fuel efficient and ever-compact Peugeot. We set out on the French highways, whose toll system makes the NJ Turnpike seem like a small charitable donation by comparison. However the road was smooth, well-signed (with a few exceptions) and offered a panoramic view of the Provencal countryside. There’s no grander entrance to Nice than seeing it from ... read more