Category: Travel & Adventures

The US friend I mentioned in the introduction to my Travel Page was here for her annual visit to Italy, and we took our traditional short trip. This time it was to London (with a quick peek at Oxford, too). One of the things we did was visit Kew Gardens and have high tea. I…

After walking around Oxford, we finished the day in the King’s Arms, known locally as the KM. Another high-energy atmosphere, happy people, great vibe. I dearly miss my university years. Wadham College now owns the building, and Young & Co.’s Brewery operates the King’s Arms. Founded in Wandsworth, London in 1831, the Brewery, known simply…

Falling in Love with London I took a short trip to London a couple of weeks ago and fell in love. (Well, my true, only city love is San Francisco, but Seattle is a close second, and now so is London!) The exchange rate was dismal for the dollar. If your money is the pound…

The Turf Tavern a Very Old Pub During our London trip, we took the train to Oxford and had lunch at The Turf. The Turf Tavern began as a malt house in the 13th century beside Oxford’s medieval city wall. The building still shows features from earlier centuries, including its timber beams and low ceilings.…

Jesi, Ancona in the Marche region of Italy My first visit to Italy in 2019 was filled with many interactions and local fun. The country was new and exciting; the people were very friendly, and I chatted with everyone. Walking down a quiet cobblestone road in a castle in Jesi (Marche, Italy), we passed two…

Montefalco, Italy Walking through a castle, as one does in Italy, enjoying the shops and the people in Montefalco, Italy, a town in the Umbria region of Italy, we came across the Church of Sant’Agostino, a small Gothic-style church built in the 13th century. It was completed in 1275 and dedicated to Saint Augustine, Bishop…

Italy wasn’t a travel destination for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful country, and I like the idea of traveling far and wide, but I’m a homebody. My travel dreams were limited to a few trips focused on nature and animals, such as whale-watching in Alaska and encounters with elephants in Asia or…