robinlnu

Excited anticipation for my upcoming trip. In 2008 my sister and I took our Mom on a cruise in the Mediterranean taking off from Venice, Italy and going down the coast visiting Greece and Croatia. One day during our cruise we had over four hours visiting the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Croatia. I fell in love with the town and with the well kept buildings that had their red tiled roofs repaired after their recent war in 1991. The people I met were all so happy that we had come to visit them and went out of their way to make us feel at home. My sister and I walked around the old wall which encompassed the entire Old Town of Dubrovnik and is approximately 2kms in distance. The day was sunny and warm with the ... read more

Thursday, June 4, 2009 ~ Our flights do not leave Rome until around noon and so we're able to leisurely get to the airport. Our breakfast is across the street at The Yellow Bar and we enjoy a full English breakfast, as Jeff says, a heart attack waiting to happen. It does taste good though to eat eggs and bacon and all that stuff we had not been eating throughout Italy, plus I do love a grilled tomato for breakfast. Perhaps I should adopt that into my breakfasts at home. Back upstairs to finish packing our bags and work our way to the airport. I tell Jeff that in recalling how far away the train stop was situated within the Termini Rail Station that we should just go slow and catch the later train as time ... read more

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 ~ Today’s plan was to all meet up at the Rialto Farmer’s Market in the morning so that we could each purchase our ingredients for what we were preparing for this night’s dinner at the apartment. Jeff and I left early as we were both ready to go and it was too nice to just sit inside when we could be outside, in Venice. On the way over he and I both notice that a lot of the shops are open today and the sun was shining and everything looked all glittery and the energy was “happy”. We walked past one of many jewelry shops and I stopped as I wanted to purchase something for Sarah. I found her a couple of inexpensive rings and then also found a bracelet and earrings ... read more

Since I had been to Venice only seven months prior I start to talk about what they can expect when we get to Venice. How there are no vehicles at all within the City, and how you use either your feet or the Vaporettos to get around wherever you want to go. We arrive in Venice and go to the ticket sales kiosk and buy passes to use the Vaporettos. The No. 1 Vaporetto arrives and we all get on. Jeff and I get off at San Stae as that’s where we will meet Enrico’s Cousin to take us to our rented apartment. As we step off the vaporetto I scan the faces at the water bus stop and see a smiling face and immediately know that’s who we are to meet, Mrs. Paola, who is ... read more

Day Five Hike - May 29, Friday; from Preci to Norcia, Hotel Grotta Azzurra Our guide states: From Preci a splendid route ascends steadily to meet an ancient path winding through trees to the majestic Abbazia di San Eutizio, once one of the cradles of the Benedictine monastic order. From here, a medieval trail leads across the flank of Monte Macchialunga, through the village of Campi, and along the valley to another pass. The path finally descends via a couple of ancient villages to Norcia, the birthplace of Saint Benedict, 6th century founder of European monasticism. After breakfast we all met downstairs in the Lobby. We had made arrangements to be driven 5 kms. up the road to shorten the day's hike. The woman at the front desk said she'd drive us up to another Abbey ... read more