Gallery - See Our Travel Photos

A photo is worth a thousand words….

Lisbon - on the Tagus River

Lisbon's most important square: the Praça do Comércio was built on the site where the old Royal Palace used to exist before it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1755.

Lisbon Street - Known as Calçada Portuguesa, or “Portuguese Pavement” these mosaic sidewalks are a signature style that can be found wherever the Portuguese settled, but in Lisbon they are so ubiquitous they simply become part of the street scape.

Azuelos - Portuguese Tiles

Bacalau (Dried Cod) at a Lisbon market

Making Pastéis de bacalhau - salted cod fritters.

Lisbon Central Market

Pastel de nata - a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry dusted with cinnamon.

Pastel de Nata - YUM!

Lisbon cheese shop

Lisbon wine and fútbol.

View of Capri from Napoli

Castel dell'Ovo, a fortress of Norman origin, was named after an egg that the poet Virgil hid underground in the castle.

Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle) at night.

Fishing boats in Naples harbor

Napoli Shoreline

Porta Capuana, a Renaissance city gate in Naples

Porta Capuana, a Renaissance city gate in Naples

Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Neighborhood) in Naples

Galleria Umberto, a shopping gallery in Napoli

Napoli's obsession with Argentinian football legend, Diego Maradona is seen all over the city.

National Archaeological Museum of Naples

National Archaeological Museum of Naples

National Archaeological Museum of Naples

National Archaeological Museum of Naples

Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli

A fine dining experience in Naples (Seafront Pasta Bar)

Naples Street Food - Octopus Broth

Freselle, a hard, rough, dried, whole-grain bread found all over Naples

Preparing fressele on a food tour in Naples.

Pizza Margherita

Lots of Pizza!

Pompeii and Vesuvius

Pompeii and Vesuvius

Pompeii Temple walls

Pompeii

Pompeii

Pompeii - Small Theatre

Pompeii - city water source

Pompeii - Roman Baths

Pompeii amphorae

Pompeii (probably a political advertisment)

Pompeii home decor

Pompeii home decor

Pompeii home decor

Pompeii home decor

Pompeii home decor

Umbria hill towns.

The rolling hills by the Umbria Valley.

Il Ghiottone Umbro - a lovely bed & breakfast in the hills of Umbria owned and run by two chefs from Copenhagen.

Il Ghiottone Umbria

Il Ghiottone, Todi, Umbria

Il Ghiottone Umbro

Todi, Umbria

Todi, Umbria

Rolling hills of Umbria.

Assisi

Montefalco, Umbria

St Francis of Assisi

Tili Vineyards near Assisi

Bologna Portico

Bologna's Cathedral - Basilica di San Petronio (started in 1538, never finished)

Inside Bologna's Cathedral

Torre Lambertini (built in 1294)

Neptune!

Due Torre (Two Towers( or the Leaning Towers of Bologna

Old and New

Roman's in Bologna

Foodie Paradise

Tigelle for Breakfast

Bologna Classics - Tortellini en Brodo & Tagliatelle Bolognese

Lasagne Bolognese

Mortadella!

Making Pasta

Stand Up Coffee

The Grand Canal in Venice from the train station

Gondolas on Venice Canal

Venice Gondolas

One of the many bridges in Venice

Venice Canal

Symbol of Venice - a Winged Lion

Old Fish Market in Venice

Old Fish Market in Venice

Street Food in Venice

Milano Streetcar

Milano Street

Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Home of The Last Supper)

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, Milano

Castello Sforzesco, Milano

A Castle Experience, Milano

Duomo di Milano

Leonardo daVinci in Milano

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Furniture Repair Shop in Milano

Book Binding Shop in Milano

The Vertical Forest - a new format of architectural biodiversity which focuses on the relationship between humans and other living species.

The Vertical Forest, Milano

Modern Architecture, Milano

Modern Architecture, Milano

A Spritz in Milano

Como, Italia

Como, Italia

Como, Italia

Como, Italia

Lake Como

Lake Como

Lake Como (Villa Oleandra aka George Clooney's place)

Lake Como

Lake Como

Lake Como

Lake Como and The Alps

The Alps from Lake Como

Bellagio, Lake Como

Bellagio, Lake Como

Lake Como

Where Parmigiana Reggiano cheese is made (near Bologna in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy).

It takes about 550 litres of milk to produce each wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Making Parmigiano Reggiano starts with heating the milk in copper vats.

Cheesy granules sink to the bottom of the cauldron forming a single mass.

After about fifty minutes the cheese-maker removes the cheese mass.

Cut into two parts and wrapped in the typical linen cloth

The cheese is then placed in a mould which will give it its final shape.

Cheese molds

adding a weight to the cheese

After a few days, the wheels are immersed in a saturated solution of water and salt.

Parmigiano Reggiano matures for a minimum of 12 months.

Experts carry out a “quality inspection” by tapping each wheel with a hammer to detect any defects inside the cheese that may compromise quality. The wheels that pass the test are are marked with the hot-iron brand thus becoming Parmigiano Reggiano.

Tasting Parmigiana Reggiano!

Emilia Romagna region of Italy where Prosciutto di Parma is made. The pigs are fed a diet of cereal grains mixed with whey from the production of Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Next, the leg gets sea-salt rubdowns, hangs lazily in the breeze, and hides out in a cellar—for at least 400 days.

Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovoerected by Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great as his palace chapel between 533–549 AD.

Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica of San Vitale - Emperor Justinian and his court.

Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo - the sixth-century Byzantine empress Theodora (wife of the emperor Justinian).

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Torino, Italy

Piazza della Consolata, Torino

Santuario della Madonna Consolata, Torino

Lunch Menu in Torino

Lunch in Torino

Torino cafe owner providing music for our lunch.

Caffè al Bicerin has been serving Bicerin (a coffee and chocolate drink) since the 18th century.

Chocolate!

Langhe are of the Piemonte

Langhe Vineyard

Langhe Orchard

Monteforte d'Alba, Langhe

Monteforte d'Alba, Langhe

La Morra, Langhe

No shortage of places to taste wine!

Montforte d'Alba, Langhe

Tasting Barolo in Montefore d'Alba

A Family Affair

Winemaking at CA del Baio

Let the tasting begin!

So much to learn!

Carne cruda di Fassona

Plin ai 3 Arrosti L Burro con Tartufo Nero

Tagliolini al Pesto con Paprika Dolce

La Morra, Langhe Hill Town

Lyon, France - A city on two rivers. The two powerful rivers of Le Rhône and La Saône meet in the centre of Lyon, France.

Lyon - along the Saône River.

Le Rhône - The Rhone River in Lyon.

Wandering the Ainay area within the Presqu'ile district in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon.

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon (Lyon Cathedral), a Roman Catholic church located on Place Saint-Jean in central Lyon, is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. Begun in 1180 on the ruins of a 6th-century church, it was completed in 1476.

Another church in Lyon.

The Basilica of Saint-Martin d'Ainay is a quintessential example of Romanesque architecture in the Presqu'île district in the historic centre of Lyon.

So much good cheese!

A boulangerie on every street!

Pastries, anyone?

A boucherie in Lyon.

Looking in the window of a boucherie...thinking about dinner!

Buying steak knives in Lyon.

Wine and cheese tasking with a Sommelier in Lyon.

Cafe culture in Lyon.

Marseille at Night

A windy day on a pedestrian bridge across the Saône.

Meditating on the Saône in Lyon.

São Bento railway station in Porto.

São Bento railway station in Porto.

Inside São Bento railway station in Porto.

São Bento railway station in Porto.

Inside São Bento railway station in Porto.

Inside São Bento railway station in Porto.

Igreja do Carmo. The side facade covered in tiles tells the story of the church foundation in the 17th century.

View of Porto across the Duoro River from Villa Nova de Gaia.

Lots of hills to climb in Porto.

Tasting port wine in Porto.

Tasting port wine in Porto.

Duoro River Valley

Along the Duoro River.

Francesinha is called a “Heart Attack on a Plate”. It packs wet-cured ham, linguiça (a Portuguese sausage), steak or roast beef, inside two slices of thick bread and everything is covered with melted cheese and a special tomato and beer sauce. It can be served with a fried egg on top and french fries so that none of that delicious sauce goes to waste.

Portuguese Hot Dog (Cachorros). In Porto, hotdogs are not what you think. Cachorros (translation is “puppies”) are made with a thin sausage brushed with butter and cooked on a sort of panini grill, then placed on a thin French roll, cheese is added, and then another generous brush of butter before grilling again, with more butter. Just before serving, they are brushed with a another secret spicy sauce and cut into small pieces.

Old Port of Marseille

Old Port of Marseille

Marseille-Saint-Charles train station.

Sculpture at the Marseille-Saint-Charles station.

The Château d'Eau consists of an imposing neoclassical façade with majestic columns and sculptures representing allegorical representations of water, agriculture and trade. It is a symbol of the importance of water supply and prosperity for the city of Marseille.

Street art in Marseille.

Market time in Marseille.

Making msemen, which is a lot like a savory crepe with an added punch, perhaps from red chili pepper. So good!

Bread at the street market in Marseille.

Street Market in Marseille.

Street Market in Marseille.

Take-away treats from the Street Market in Marseille.

More than 40 types of salt at an amazing foodie shop in Marseille.

Goodnight Marseille.

Plaza de la Virgen (around the corner from our apartment)

Neptune Fountain at Plaza de la Virgen

Neptune and Christmas Lights

Plaza de la Virgen at Christmas

Torres de Serranos (Serranos Towers - built 1392-1398 (just down the street from our apartment)

Torres de Serranos

Torres de Quart (Quart Towers) - built 1441-1493

Torres de Quart

La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) built 1470's

Gargoyle on the Silk Exchange building

Museu Nacional de Ceràmica house in the Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas

The Turia

A bridge over the Turia

Bridge over the Turia

Bridge over the Turia

Bridge over the Turia

Sant Juame Cafe - our favorite place to hang out and have a Negroni!

Street Corner in the Cabanyal neighborhood (near the sea)

El Carmen neighborhood in Ciutat Vella (Old City) that was within the original city walls of the 14th century.

El Carmen

Cafe de la Bourse (great French restaurant) with a view of the Ceramics Museum.

A favorite Italian restaurant in Ciutat Vella's la Seu neighborhood (close to the cathedral).

Gate to the old Jewish Quarter of the El Carmen neighborhood.

Mercat Centrale (Central Market) where we do our grocery shopping.

Beloved Banyan trees in Valencia.

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences

Exhibit in the Valencia Silk Museum

Exhibit in the Valencia Silk Museum

Exhibit in the Valencia Silk Museum

La Mediterránea, Valencia

La Mediterránea, Valencia

La Mediterránea, Valencia

With the arrival of summer, clóchinas began appearing in the markets and on restaurant menus all over Valencia. These very special mussels are unique to Valencia and only available May through September.

La Mediterránea, Valencia

La Pilareta - a favorite tapas bar serving Valencia's famous clóchinas (mussels) and homemade Vermut (Vermouth).

Valencia is the birthplace of paella.

Michael & Charlotte in Valencia, September 2022

Michael & Charlotte, September 2022

Mark & Shannon in Valencia, March 2023

Paella! Mark & Shannon visiting Valencia in March 2023.

Buñuelos, chocloate, y Horchata! YUM!

Making buñuelos.

A robot server at "Margarita" - a favorire Peruvian taco place in Valencia.

Enjoying vino blanco and cerveza in Plaza de la Virgen.

A favorite Lebanese kebab eatery.

Watching one of many marches and protests along Calle de Serrano from our balcony.

Getting lots of help at a fabric shop.

Dancing in the street!

Good friends, Heather and Jim, making pasta at our place after our trip to Italy.

Our first "permanent" rental in Valencia. Plaza Músico López Chávarri, numbero 5 in El Carmen.

Our first "permanent" rental in Valencia. Plaza Músico López Chávarri, numbero 5 in El Carmen.

The first fish...

Brandenburg Gate

Berliner Dom (Cathedral)

Berliner Dom (Cathedral)

Reichstag Building

Berlin Mitte (City Center) - Slaying a Dragon

Berlin Mitte (City Center)

Berlin Mitte (City Center)

Berlin Mitte (City Center)

Neue Wache - Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Victims of War and Dictatorship.

Bebelplatz Square and Berlin Royal Library - site of May 1933 book burning.

French Cathedral on Gendarmenmarkt Square in Berlin-Mitte

Berlin State Opera

Holocaust Memorial

Holocaust Memorial

Holocaust Memorial

Stolpersteine (“stumbling stones”), the plaques that commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime. There are now more than 70,000 such memorial blocks laid in more than 1,200 cities and towns across Europe and Russia. Each commemorates a victim outside their last-known freely chosen residence.

Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall

East German car - the Trabant (26 horsepower, 26 liter gas tank, in production for 26 years, 13 years to get one!)

Hotel Oderberger - Prenzlauer Berg

Oberbaum Bridge across the Spree River

Band des Bundes (the “Federal Ribbon") – government buildings that form a bridge over the river Spree connecting East and West.

Band des Bundes

View along the river Spree

Molecule Man sculpture on the Spree River

Berlin Train Station

Manning the lock along the river in Spreewald.

Spreewald (Spree Forest), designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, includes a 1,500 kilometers long, intricate network of rivers.

Gherkins and beer on a punt boat!

Potsdam - one of many palaces.

Potsdam Gardens

Potsdam - another palace.

Beer Garden Gathering

Las Palmas Cathedral next to the Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana.

Las Palmas Cathedral next to the Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana.

Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana in Las Palmas.

Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana, Las Palmas.

Plaza Mayor of Santa Ana, Las Palmas.

Casa de Colón (Christopher Columbus stayed here), Las Palmas.

Casa de Colón (Christopher Columbus stayed here), Las Palmas.

Casa de Colón (Christopher Columbus stayed here), Las Palmas.

Las Palmas

Las Palmas

Las Palmas

Las Palmas groceries

Las Palmas fish dinner

Las Palmas café

Las Palmas café

Las Palmas - Menu del Día

Las Palmas

Las Canteras Beach - January 2024

Las Palmas shoreline at Las Canteras Beach

Las Canteras Beach - January 2024

Las Canteras Beach

Las Canteras Beach - January 2024

Wine tasting adventure!

Wine cellar

The winemaker

Winemaker & friends

Bandama Caldera

The Maspalomas Beach and Sand Dunes are situated in the south of Gran Canaria and constitute a protected Nature Reserve space. January 2024

Bandama Caldera area

Guayadeque Ravine

Guayadeque is a hidden gem of nature and folklore on the island of Gran Canaria. This extensive 15-kilometer-long ravine located in the southeast of the island fascinates visitors with its wild landscape, steep slopes covered with native vegetation and sinuous course.

Guayadeque is a hidden gem of nature and folklore on the island of Gran Canaria.

Barranco de Guayadeque - lodging and restaurant (Restaurant Tagoror)

Barranco de Guayadeque - Restaurant Tagoror

Tamadaba Natural Park

Agüimes, located in the mountains southeast of Las Palmas, first settled by Castilian defeaters in 1491.

Agüimes, located in the mountains southeast of Las Palmas, first settled by Castilian defeaters in 1491.

Hanging out in Agüimes

Agüimes - The statue of the Gathering in La Alameda is dedicated to young people who met in that place in the square in front of the church in the 1920s to study literature.

Agüimes - The El Carnaval statue is a celebration of the carnival.

Agüimes Camel

San Sebastian Church in Agüimes Old Town

Puerto de las Nieves, a fishing village on the north-western coast of Gran Canaria.

Puerto de las Nieves, a fishing village on the north-western coast of Gran Canaria.

Puerto de las Nieves, a fishing village on the north-western coast of Gran Canaria.

Buses lined up bring participants to the Drag Queen event - is a feature of the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

King's Parade - Jan 6, 2024

Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia (Barcelona)

Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia (Barcelona)

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Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia (Barcelona)

Barcelona Gothic Quarter

Barcelona Gothic Quarter

Barcelona Gothic Quarter

Barcelona Gothic Quarter

Barcelona Gaudi Building

Barcelona Gothic Quarter - Farm to Table Sandwiches

Barcelona Gothic Quarter - Cereal Store

Tio de Nadal (which is Catalan for ‘Christmas log’) is a character. Also known as Tio Caga (pooping log), this tree trunk poops out presents for children during Christmas.

El Caganer (Pooping Christmas Man) is often found squatting somewhere in the holy Nativity Scene. Pooping is seen as good luck because it fertilizes the soil.

La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona Walking Food Tour - Trotters!

Barcelona Walking Food Tour - Tripe Stew