daydream of idyllic places and landscapes and that place fits the vision.

I am also fascinated my the historic significance, a very historic moment.

the Vatican...heheh, they didn't talk about THAT...

and the people know how to have fun. One of the best places on earth to live in the summer for sure. If you love the ocean that is and if your still young at heart.

I always wondered why it was called the Emerald Isle. I soon found out because it had been snowing and the grass was still green under the snow. I went to Ireland because the ancestors on both sides of my family were Irish and I wanted to see my roots. It is a great country and the people were warm and wonderful. I am not a beer drinker, but when I do drink it, I prefer Guinness Stout. So I also wanted to go to an Irish pub in Dublin and get Guinness on tap.

life and family. I am not a beer or wine drinker but I would love to sit in a pub. I did go to a Irish pub in Washington DC once with my husband. Wow what a great time everyone was having.

Sicily, a beautiful place which just astonished me.

I wish my friends still lived there. They showed me around when I visited back in 06.

dad's father was from Sicily..

But I have wandered through northern Italy and loved it. Especially Verona. Che bella citta!

Naples is a dirty compared to the northern parts but I had a much better time in the southern part. Of course my relatives live in the southern part. I also have relatives living in Parma. But I will tell you the train system when last I travelled was terrible. Although I love travelling by train.

I found the trains more amenable in Belgium last October. An easy and fun way to zip around. I really want to try the trains in Spain. There's a superfast one from Madrid to Valencia...some day trip, that!

I would love to hav e gone to Spain or Ireland. Gosh so many places. But my travelling days are over.

and culture. So I am whittling down my "bucket list," in anticipation of the day when my traveling will be over, too...London is calling me and I'll be going there in late May...

really enjoyed it. Now we both are getting up in age. I don't have the stamania as when I was young and my husband has hip problems and back problems. We just can't take the long rides any more. I wish we had trains here I sure would get on it. It is sad. My husband is retired from the military and we could take (Or at least at one time you could and I am not sure if you can still do it now), a space available flight and it would only cost $25 ea person. Back then we didn't have the time and now we can't make it. LOL. You go and have as much fun as you can while you can still do it. The best places to go are where there isn't tourist. If you are smart go down the side streets and taste the local establishment where the locals go. Food is cheaper and better and you can find stuff cheaper if you decide to buy things. We use to do that in our travels. Shop were the locals go. If you go where the tourists go don't spend your money there.

in the late 50s! I remember London but somewhat dimly (except that I tripped and fell on the steps of St. Paul's). So this is my sentimental journey back, all these years later.

At this point, I'm a pretty savvy traveler, but I try to keep a very open mind. I hang out mostly in museums, tho...that's where the "gold" is, IMHO!

beautiful.

Perhaps training out of Paris (I'll take any excuse to get to Paris again!) to nearby cathedrals...oh, my! You are so right! The cathedrals are magical and they have such wonderful stories in them!

Same thing with the castles in France. Makes my head spin...

church of a famous musician. Oh sh*t I forget his name. But it was a simple chapel. Same way in Italy. OMG some of the most beautiful churchs in the world along with the art work. I'd think you and I would have had a ball travelling along with my husband.

some case...see the Louvre for further evidence!)

BTW, you reminded me, have you been to the little Tuscan town of Lucca? What a charming place! Puccini was born there and you can go and see his house...lovely place...walled town...took a train out of Florence there...

beautiful.

I also loved Milan's cathedral, altho I was a bit sick at the time. I remember I was happy to be in the cool ambience of the cathedral just to settle my gut a bit...

....northwest of Lucca.....


http://www.maplandia.com/italy/toscana/lucca/fibbialla/

I know I would love it so much.

One day, one day...

Cruises, staying at resorts with the same kinds of people you are trying to get away from, all that controlled stupidity and people actually think they have fun - ack, please.

OMG it is so much fun. The life is so different. We get up in the morning go shopping for buy our food for the day. Then we come home and fix the food. We eat our main course around 1:00 which is usually a pasta dish and fish or meat. Dinner is usually lite and we also have fruit. Wine for those who like to have a glass of wine. Then we usually sit around the table and talk and talk and sometimes we play games. That is usually in the summer time. Some times we are withiingn walking distance from the ocean and we go spear fishing and bring back our catch and our aunt cooks it. All of the families get together downstairs in the villa and we sing songs and play games. It is so nice to see the little kids to adults sitting around. My uncle is a musician and usually his friends would come down with their families and everyone comes around and we sing and dance. Those were the good old days when I was a kid.

You are so lucky to have such great memories.

to visit us here in the states. He said we americans don't appreciate what we have here in our own country.

what's that saying, a hundred miles in Europe is a long way and a hundred years in the US is a long time.

seem to appreciate our history. He was saying we have a big beautiful country and we should explore it more.

The trappings ARE beautiful. I agree with every negative thing you can justifiably say about the RC Church, but it has also given the world a lot of beauty.

There is something I never liked about him. He leaves with dirty hands.

that the pope elected many of these cardinals that are going to be voting for a new pope. They all scratch each others back. I don't trust any of them.

I love Italy, Rome being at its heart maybe.