August 29, 2024 The day began with a bus ride from Geneva across the French border through the glacier-fed Arve Valley. The greeen mountain peaks along with the sheer granite cliffs made for a incredible journey then the snowy peaks of Mont Blanc appeared and I was awestruck!! Soon we arrived in Chamonix home to …
Switzerland – Geneva Day 1
August 28, 2024 After a long day of travel including crying kids, chaotic boarding process and getting lost in Heathrow we finally made it to Geneva our first stop in Switzerland. Geneva is a global city, a financial centre (a 130 banks mostly private), and a worldwide centre for diplomacy due to the presence of …
Sicily – Mount Etna
June 13,2024 Our destination today is the magnificent Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highest Italian mountain south of the Alps, Mount Etna stretches to a height of more than 10,000 feet. It’s not only the tallest active volcano in Europe, it’s also one of the most active volcanoes in the world—with rich …
Sicily – Taormina
June 12, 2024 My morning walk took me north in hope of catching a view of Mount Etna but that was not to be because it was cloudy but I did walk though the public gardens and then got a bit wet walking back to the hotel. We headed out to explore Taormina, home to …
Sicily – Catania
June 11, 2024 My morning walk was the beginning of my exploration of Catania. It is a vibrant city perched on the edge of the Ionian Sea filled with lots of churches and beautiful buildings. After being in Ragusa it is a bit of a culture shock as most building are covered in graffiti and …
Sicily – Siracusa and Ortigia
June 10, 2024 One last walk up the steep hills of Ragusa to say goodbye to this charming town then we headed east to Siracusa. The air conditioning on the bus was not working and it was in the high 80’s so our trip was a bit uncomfortable!!! Known as the birthplace of the famed …
Sicily – Down on the Farm
June 9, 2024 I did two morning walks today since we were leaving later than normal and it was a beautiful morning. The second walk included the people garden which is a place that locals go to enjoy a coffer or a sandwich and be one with nature. On the way back to the hotel …
Sicily – Ragusa
June 7, 2024 Ragusa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with ancient roots was devastated by an earthquake in 1693, and the aftermath changed the city significantly. Wealthier members of the population decided to build their new town higher up a cliff, while the rest of the inhabitants rebuilt on the original site, at the bottom …
Sicily – Overland to Ragusa
June 7, 2024 Today I have a beautiful nature reserve for my morning walk! The view is spectacular, the birds are singing and the weather is cool. A nice break from the chaos of the city! After breakfast outside we boarded the coach for a short drive to the ruins of Villa Romana del Casale. …
Sicily – Overland to Piazza Armerina
June 6, 2024 Today we leave the west coast of Sicily and make the long journey inland toward Sicily’s center. To break up our drive, we’stoped at the UNESCO-protected site of the Valley of Temples, situated just outside the city of Agrigento. Agrigento was once the Greek city of Akragas, one of the most culturally …