winifredcreamer

Summer in Dingle

Ireland is very green and lovely, and when the sun is out the views are spectacular. When I asked my daughter, Lillian, how she dealt with the changeable weather when she was here she said she always wore her rain jacket. That’s a must. We tried scheduling activities according to the weather report this firstContinue reading “Summer in Dingle”

Ireland!

We made the move to Ireland from Italy, landing in Dublin and staying overnight in Limerick. On Saturday morning, there is a weekly market called the Milk Market. It is a perfect size and holds a wide variety of goods. Vendors carry delicious salami (fennel, wild boar), and cheeses (Irish cheddar), bread, fruits and vegetables,Continue reading “Ireland!”

Good to know about Florence, and Arriverderci

Arriverderci means “until we see each other again.” We will return to Italy in September after cooling off for two months in Ireland. I’ve already commented on dealing with crowds (“Top Ten” post), so here are a few interim comments on Florence and our Italian travels in general. Arriverderci significa “hasta que nos veamos deContinue reading “Good to know about Florence, and Arriverderci”

Hill Towns of all Sizes

We visited three of the smaller hill towns: Monteriggioni, Montepulciano and San Gimignano. All of these have most of their ancient encircling walls intact, and a central area with narrow streets and relatively tall buildings that date from times when people felt safer living within the walls. Each town has its charms. Visitamos tres deContinue reading “Hill Towns of all Sizes”

Try Parma

I wasn’t thinking about visiting Parma, but Jonathan asked how we could pass up the place that is home to PARMAsan cheese, Eggplant PARMAgiano, and PARMA ham. We had to go. What we found is a city with impressive historic sights, a Duomo painted and frescoed from floor to (a very high) ceiling, great shoppingContinue reading “Try Parma”

Pisa, Festa di San Ranieri

We arrived in Pisa midday to see the sights. The Cathedral, Baptistry, Leaning Tower, and Camposanto were all established around the same time on what was then the edge of the city. Unlike churches in other cities they are set apart in their own grassy park, the Campo dei Miracoli, the Field of Miracles. TheContinue reading “Pisa, Festa di San Ranieri”

The “Top Ten” Problem

Call it the “Top Ten” problem. Visit any city in Italy (and other countries) and you will have to pre-book visits to major sights. If you don’t because you want to keep your plans flexible, you may not get in or it will be a scramble to get tickets to the major sights (the VaticanContinue reading “The “Top Ten” Problem”

The Uffizi Gallery–Custodian of the Renaissance

The Uffizi Gallery is one of those must-see places, whether you know much about it or not. I am not sure I could have told you when the Renaissance began or ended or what its art looked like before we visited, but now I have a clearer idea. This is largely because we had anContinue reading “The Uffizi Gallery–Custodian of the Renaissance”

The High Noon Birdwatching Society

Italy is not known for birdwatching, yet we’ve had a couple of excellent experiences lately. After visiting the archaeology museum in Chiusi, we had our picnic beside Lake Chiusi where we found a flock of Great Crested Grebes in their summer mating colors. We did not see any of the mating ritual they are knownContinue reading “The High Noon Birdwatching Society”

Some Tuscan Towns and Country

We have driven out from Florence to see more of Tuscany. The traditional landscape of dry yellow fields bordered by tall narrow cypresses is there, but so are rolling forested hills, rocky outcrops bearing hill towns and dry plains bordered by umbrella pines and the sea. Hemos salido de Florencia para ver más de laContinue reading “Some Tuscan Towns and Country”