WanderlustandWhimSea

The sun was shining as we explored yet another vineyard and encountered sheep on our return trip. We haven’t made it past a vineyard yet that we didn’t feel obligated to buy wine! Perhaps it is the fact they greeted us at 1031 with a lovely glass of white wine to get the tour properly… Continue reading Sicily and an Encounter with Sheep!

My last visit to Malta was in 1994, not great memories as it was cold, dark, wet, with a poor hotel and transportation. Plus, I was in a general bad mood as it was my last trip as I departed living in Germany. I didn’t have a great attitude about my imminent departure.  The 2018… Continue reading A Return to Malta

So truth in blogging – the internet is a bit shaky on board the ship so I am back logged on my updates so will make hay when the WIFI is happy.  Kotor, Montenegro was another new experience which included a trip to a local fishing village and a trio of flautist who filled up… Continue reading Flautists in Montenegro

Those of you Game of Thrones fans will recognize the “Walk of Shame” when Cersi walks naked through the streets of Kings Landing.  In the first stop, of the 27 day cruise on Oceania, we did the Game of Thrones tour and saw many filming highlights.  Thankfully we didn’t cause any international drama by walking… Continue reading Walk of Shame

Took this picture on a boat tour of Venice, sometimes the picture just says it all.  I think it looks like a painting but I took this with my iPhone 6!

I know the more popular version is Under the Tuscan Sun but in Oct it has been a bit rainy and there have been more rainbows than sunshine.  We left Lucca for a farmhouse north of Sienna. The farmhouse was in a rather remote spot. Despite all available GPS and APP 2018 technology (Car GPS,… Continue reading Under the Tuscan Rainbow

I can attest that travel is definitely fatal to narrow mindedness. You can’t help but be opened up when exposed to just regular folks living their lives in ways quite different than yours. In the pictures, the older gentleman with the yellow bike and red umbrella was probably my favorite as he approached his day… Continue reading The People of Lucca

  I’ve always loved Graeter’s Raspberry Chocolate Chip but I’m a long way from a Graeter’s fix in Lucca, IT. I was hoping to find an Italian Count looking to share travel adventures, but so far I have only found gelato, and quite frankly that may be sufficient! Gelato is sort of an art form… Continue reading Holy Gelato!

      What an experience – Tuscan Cooking Class from Extra Virgin in Lucca. Our host Guiseppe greeted us in town and we began a tour of the best establishments for bread, olive oil, wine, fruit, vegetables with a few extra tips like pointing out the best pizza place in town.  We gathered our… Continue reading Tuscan Cooking Class

We had the perfect visit to a vineyard in Montecarlo, Italy about 15 KM outside of Lucca. Thanks to Ken’s Trip Advisor investigation, we landed on the perfect spot to learn about the Italian wine making process. It was a small vineyard that produces about 40K bottles a year, 60% White and 40% Red.  It… Continue reading The Vineyard at Montecarlo since 1362!