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Cinque Terre Italy

The Italian Riviera. That just sounds so glamorous. I imagined yachts and fancy hotels that might be more for show than relaxation. I’m also not a beach person, so when my husband Jim and I planned a trip to Italy for our 25th anniversary I was not thinking about the Italian Riviera or any rivieraContinue reading “Cinque Terre Italy”

My favorite hilltowns of Italy: Pienza

Pienza is a small hilltop village in the beautiful Val d’Orcia. The drive in is lovely as the winding road reveals a sight that may look familiar–it was the filming location of Franco Zeffirelli’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Pienza is located on the crest of a hill overlooking the Val d’Orcia. It was established in theContinue reading “My favorite hilltowns of Italy: Pienza”

Venice

Venice is hard to describe in words but I’ll do my best to do it justice. Venice is a place you have to experience. I like it when it’s the off-season and the crowds are more sparse. I like it on a misty day when the lagoon looks otherworldly and infinite. I like to getContinue reading “Venice”

April in Santorini

Close your eyes and visualize a Greek island–blue sea, fluffy white clouds, chalk-white houses with cobalt blue domes, a cool island breeze, beauty as far as the eye can see. This is no daydream, this is Santorini. Santorini is one of the hundreds of Greek islands in the Aegean sea. It’s a small island thatContinue reading “April in Santorini”

Getting our groove back, Saturnia 2022

Cascate del Mulino, near Saturnia Italy, April 2022 My friend Kina and I have known each other a really long time. We met in our early 20s at a really entertaining customer service job (think Superstore). We really got to know each other as we spent countless hours clocking in and out and listening toContinue reading “Getting our groove back, Saturnia 2022”

Italy Travel tips April 2022

I love Italy. It’s that simple. I love the people. I love the beauty around every corner. I love the food. I love the churches that look so plain from the outside, but once you walk inside, will blow you away. I think I can safely say that Florence is my favorite place in Italy.Continue reading “Italy Travel tips April 2022”

Split Croatia June 2021

I honestly didn’t think I’d like Split. I read a lot about it and had seen numerous descriptions about it’s very urban feel. As we were driving in it did indeed look like many cities I’ve seen in the U.S. with lots of traffic and not at all what I’d pick for a dream vacation.Continue reading “Split Croatia June 2021”

Market day in Provence

One of my favorite hill-towns in Provence is Lourmarin. Listed as “one of the most beautiful villages in France”, it’s nestled somewhere in Le Petit Luberon, which feels more like mountains than hills to a Texan. You’ll need to rent a car but the drive is beautiful and the winding roads lead you to aContinue reading “Market day in Provence”

A trip to Croatia: Dubrovnik, June 2021

A dear friend of mine for 40+ years re-married a few years ago. Her new husband is from Croatia. Over the years, she and I lost track of each other–getting married, raising kids, climbing the corporate ladder, juggling all the things that come with life in the suburbs of middle-America. It’s cliche but we justContinue reading “A trip to Croatia: Dubrovnik, June 2021”

On the road again

Hi, my name is Laurie and I’m from Dallas, Texas. Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you find it helpful or inspiring or somewhere in between. It’s a great outlet for me to share with you some of my love of travel. I spent many years of my life as a consultant, traveling mostlyContinue reading “On the road again”