Italy Chronicles: Part 2 (Orvieto, Castiglione Del Lago, Siena, Monteriggioni, and San Gimignano)

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Janette

Orvieto was the first of many hilltop towns we would explore. From the outside, we could see the large walls surrounding the city. Using an elevator to reach the city we experienced the amazing views of the surrounding area below before walking to the center of the town.

Our guide (Begonia) explained the local history and took us around a building to the open square where the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, or Orvieto’s Duomo stood. It…was…stunning.

Churches were to be a large part of the Italian experience due to their heavy influence throughout history; we were never disappointed by any of these structures.

Before giving us time to explore individually, Begonia mentioned how good the local chocolates were, including one nicknamed “Pinocchio’s Nose.” It was made by a local café and chocolate shop, so naturally, I had to explore. The sweet in question was conical, wrapped in red foil, and filled with smooth chocolate with a hint of chili. I purchased enough for us all to try one and two other types. The silver-foiled chocolates were filled with pistachio chocolate cream, and the light pink foiled chocolates were filled with cinnamon chocolate filling. All were amazing and I was happy to trust Begonia’s recommendation.

After about two hours on the bus, we stopped at Castiglione del Lago. Visitors could walk to the top of a large staircase to view the lake below. This stop included time for lunch so we found a place called Café Latino to eat. Afterward, we enjoyed walking around the small neighborhood streets before heading to our next destination.

Siena was a pretty unique place. The city entrance had a large gate we needed to walk through and we learned that the city was originally composed of 17 small neighborhoods. Today the city has 12 neighborhoods, each continuing to use the animal mascot of bygone days. Images of these animals are featured on walls, on individual neighborhood flags, and in the form of a statue somewhere in each neighborhood. Ages ago the neighborhoods were enemies; today they are rivals who compete in an annual horse race which satisfies their struggle for power in the form of bragging rights. 

As we made our way into the square, we saw a large crowd and heard loud music. Our guide explained there was a big bike race, so we managed to make our way into the center of the square to take a few photos of the church’s façade, but we didn’t hang around due to the overly crowded area.

We did pop into many trinket shops selling beautiful painted ceramics. Siena is in Tuscany and we saw many forms of art featuring the iconic Tuscan landscapes that were simply beautiful.

It was another chilly day, so we grabbed a hot drink to warm up before getting the bus to our local hotel. The next morning, we drove a short distance to Monteriggioni, a small medieval town that was completely intact. Dating back to the early 1200s, this town was used as a military fortification and has a complete wall surrounding it. A modern catwalk was added to part of the wall and visitors can pay a few euros to walk the wall and appreciate the view of the little town and the surrounding area beyond.

Considering this town has one street, it was impossible to get lost. Dante Alighieri also favored the town and stayed in a small apartment to write some of his works.

We saw many beautiful crafts including handmade woven scarves, ponchos, and accessories. One of the owners even let us watch a short weaving demonstration while we shopped. This little oasis was definitely worth the visit.

Back on the bus, we drove through areas covered in perfectly lined rows of olive groves and vineyards. After an hour of gorgeous scenery, we arrived in San Gimignano. Known for its roast pork and the “most famous gelato in the world,” this area is called the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages.” The families making up the hillside town constantly competed with each other regarding who could build the tallest towers on their property, demonstrating their wealth and power.

Today it remains a well-preserved town for visitors to explore before experiencing the award-winning gelato. Before our trip, we heard that we should evaluate gelato based on the pistachio they served. If the pistachio gelato was bright green, that meant the shop did NOT use all-natural ingredients. The pistachio in this town was medium green and all the flavors were delicious, but I’m not certain I would call it the best or most famous, regardless of what award they won. Needless to say, our family did not mind doing this research every chance we had.

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Italy Chronicles: Part 1 (Rome and Vatican City)

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Janette

Setting out on a family vacation as adults was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. The last time we were all together having an adventure was nearly 25 years ago, so traveling to Europe was sure to be memorable…for many reasons. Our first set of travel dates were rescheduled from late Fall to late Winter, so we anticipated some possibly chillier weather in March compared to October, but everyone was happy to be traveling. With six family members in tow, and the seventh joining us separately, we began our two-week adventure to Italy.

The tour we booked included an aggressive schedule, but the first portion of the trip eased us into the country and let us have a little more free time. We all enjoyed the opportunity to get some extra sleep and let our internal clocks adjust to the new time zone. Day two was our first time venturing out. Rain and clouds were a constant potential threat on the trip, but luckily for us, it only rained during our time on the bus as we drove passed many famous sites and points of interest. We were able to walk a little bit around the Colosseum to take pictures before being dropped at St. Peter’s Square.

We arranged for tickets to see the Vatican Museums, so we walked along the Vatican walls to the entrance. Inside was massive with many rooms to explore. We decided to make our way directly to the Sistine Chapel, which was at the opposite end of the museum complex, and enjoy what we could see along the way. There were no pictures permitted of the Chapel, but along the long corridors to and from that area were free game. It was amazing to see pieces in the museum collection from all over the world and all different periods.

Our guide recommended we grab a meal in the Trastevere neighborhood, so we walked down the street to the taxi stop and hailed a ride to that section of the city. The taxi ride was about 10 euros and offered us more views of the famous bridges and buildings nearby. After grabbing pizza for dinner, we went to Checco er Carettiere for coffee and pastry…the first of many cafes we would enjoy through our travels.

The next morning was a day on our own, so we made the most of our time by starting early. The guide from the day before said the best opportunity to see St. Peter’s Basilica is at 8:00am.

It is free to enter, but a long line is typically waiting to get in, except as soon as it opens each morning. We took the guide’s advice, arrived just before 8:00am, went through security, and walked in the front door. It felt as if we had the entire Basilica to ourselves as we walked around for over an hour taking loads of photos with no other pedestrians around.

We found the statue of St. Andrew and lined up to go down the stairs to the grottos to see the tombs of many popes buried there. Some were centuries old and had carvings that were beautifully preserved.

Upon leaving, we even stumbled across the Swiss Guards performing a changing of the guard ceremony. We enjoyed our lucky timing before we headed out of the area to explore further.

Grabbing another taxi, we headed across the river to the Pantheon at the center of the city. The small line moved quickly and we paid our 5 euros to enter and admire the feat of engineering and artistry.

By this point we burned many calories walking around and needed a good meal for lunch. Many cute restaurants lined the nearby streets, so we started to investigate. The first restaurant we checked into had a short wait, but right across the small street was a place called Hostaria de’ Pastini which was open and a waiter named Yahya welcomed us in. Our family of seven sat right in the front of the small restaurant and had the best dining experience imaginable. I had pasta with shaved truffles, and it was amazing! Yahya was energetic and enthusiastic about his job, chatted and joked with us, and even gave us complimentary glasses of Limoncello and cookies to end our meal. We all agreed that was one of the best meals we had ever experienced.

With full bellies, we set out for more points of interest. A 20-minute walk brought us to the Trevi Fountain. This area is always crowded, but we worked our way down to the front for some great pictures and enjoyed the sun shining on the water.

Another 15-minute walk took us to the Spanish Steps. Only a few of us walked up to the top for some pictures before we all decided a café stop was in order.

After some coffee and a sampling of various gelato flavors, we headed in two groups to the Piazza Navona. Some of us walked while the others took a cab.

On the walk, we stopped at Santa Maria Minerva, a nondescript church from the outside. However, upon entering, you notice the amazing blue ceilings that are unmistakable.

The Piazza Navona has three large fountains and a large church on one side. It’s an excellent place to walk around and enjoy the weather…if it is comfortable.

We walked around and killed some time until dinner when we met up with some family members temporarily living in Italy. After trying many local dishes, some dessert, and a few bottles of wine, we said our goodbyes and headed to our hotel to pack for the rest of our adventure outside Rome.

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Beginning Anew

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Janette

I know we are already well into January, but the holidays got away from me this year, and I always try to appreciate the year that has ended before moving forward. In the spirit of setting myself up for 2024, I took time to think about what new things I want to try, what things I want to avoid, and what I want to improve. If you are like me, you aren’t so worried about the hours in the day, you are more concerned with how much of your personal energy you can devote to things…this resource is limited!

To help me approach the year with intention, I started a Wellness Journal to set goals and track successes. It’s so easy to forget the little accomplishments that occur throughout the year, so this tool will help keep me motivated when the year ebbs and flows at various intervals.

Without fail, there will be times when something doesn’t go my way, and I get into a funk. Using a journal like this can help identify things that I will be looking forward to doing in 2024, which is necessary for my mental health.

Whatever your method, I hope you set goals, find things you’re excited about experiencing this year, and remember all that you accomplish month by month. Here’s to a great year!

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Auld Lang Syne Again

Posted on January 21, 2024 by Janette

The end of 2023 did not pan out as expected. A Fall family trip was postponed, a case of COVID-19 caused a Thanksgiving cancelation, and I had a terrible head cold that lasted over two weeks in December. But, in the spirit of Auld Lang Syne, it’s essential to look at the year we are leaving behind before embracing the year we must begin.

March 2023 (Capella Graduation)

After completing a Master’s degree in Education at the end of 2022, I was glad to attend a nearby ceremony in North Carolina a few months later. These events are held nationwide twice a year, so I was happy one was within reach. My husband and I made a long weekend out of the trip and saw some points of interest along the way.

April 2023 (Germany)

After meeting a wonderful German couple on a vacation in South America a few years ago, my husband and I finally met up with our long-distance friends. COVID-19 foiled their plans to meet us in the U.S., so this trip was extra special. We had a fantastic time and cannot wait to host them when the time is right.

Summer 2023 (New Hobbies)

My husband and I both found inspiration in new hobbies this year. We still like the typical activities like watching movies and catching up on our list of books to read, but we both embarked on creative journies that we can do independently, which I think is very important.

December 2023 (Neil deGrasse Tyson)

After missing out on our Fall family trip, my husband and I purchased tickets to see Dr. Tyson at a local theatre. The tickets were expensive, but that was the one item we splurged on, considering we went very simple for Christmas. We had never seen Dr. Tyson live before, and he did not disappoint! Entertaining and informative, as always.

Thinking back on these highlights brought back some great memories, and I can’t believe some of these experiences are almost a year old already. It is easy to forget about all we accomplished during the year and how many great events occurred. The past 12 months have been filled with work challenges, trips, accomplishments, new beginnings, and laughs. As we enter into a new year, I remain thankful for all the previous year has brought me, and I am hopeful about what is to come.

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A Summer of Growth

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Janette

Hurricanes and tropical storms aside, this summer has been a great year for blooming. Everything from tomatoes to tulips had a great season with bountiful yields.

Luckily, we planted some new items in our yard that seem to be very happy. Rural areas contend with the weather and the multitude of animals that seem to think everything pretty you plant was put there for their enjoyment. This year, we specifically shopped for various deer-resistant perennial plants, and I was very happy with the choices!

The Pop Star Blue Balloon Flowers are doing quite well. Although these flowers appear more purple than blue, they are quite interesting. Blooming in the early summer, these pods do look light blue just before they pop open. One plant produces many pods and it is beautiful to see.

Silver Mound is not only silvery green but fluffy and soft. This little starter plant blew up! I did not read the tag stating it grows to 10-14 inches tall. This flopped over a bit as I put it in a planter pot instead of the ground. Either way, it’s still beautiful!

Gold Dust Aucuba is a fairly large plant that grows 4-6 feet high and wide when mature. In an area with so many different green plants, adding these dappled leaves is a nice splash of color. The tag said this was an evergreen…so we’ll see what happens over the fall and winter!

Stonecrop was so interesting we had to buy one. The leaves are thick and waxy, just like a succulent. As we head into fall, pink foliage and flowers are supposed to appear, adding more color to the yard! This plant is growing steadily and will reach 12 inches tall once mature.

Fingers crossed that all the plants survive as the tags say they should. I hope everyone has had a summer of growth in one way or another.

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Foliage from my travels

Posted on August 6, 2023 by Janette

Looking back on my travels, I can easily remember where I traveled by looking at pictures of plants. Many places I have explored have palm trees or other tropical elements making it hard to tell one location from another. But there are several places that I can remember exploring with unique plants or foliage I have encountered for the first time. Here are a few:

Santiago, Chile. Unique evergreens and bright purple trees.

Tanzania. Flowers (or weeds) in Arusha and coffee cherries at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Colorful clumps.

Somewhere in Indonesia. Red leaves in a jungle-like setting.

Costa Rica. Vibrant, firey flowers and plants that were larger than life.

Nature is amazing and I continue looking for unique elements in any location. The fun part is finding things that are so very different from where I live.

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Fonthill Castle

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Janette

In the early 1900s, Henry Mercer acquired about 70 acres of land in Doylestown, Bucks County, PA.  Adding onto a small farmhouse, Mercer constructed a reinforced concrete castle home that welcomes guests today.

Funded by a wealthy Aunt, Mercer was well-educated, traveled extensively, and had many interests.  Essentially becoming a jack of all trades, Mercer graduated with liberal arts and law degrees, worked for museums, opened a tile and pottery shop, published books on various topics, and became an amateur archaeologist.  Mercer secured cuneiform tablets inside the castle into one of his rooms with translations of their subject matter.  Fascinated with how everyday people lived a common life thousands of years ago, the tablets are receipts of bartering goods and services.  Mercer also had an impressive collection of books that he cataloged in his two-level library, accessible via a secret staircase.

Throughout the entire castle, tiles decorate every surface depicting scenes from around the world.  His tiles were also used on the Pennsylvania State Capitol building floor in Harrisburg, PA.  Influenced by other cultures, his tiles feature varied colors, textures, styles, and images.

The Springhouse is a small structure just to the side of the castle.  As the name depicts, this structure covers a natural spring that was used to keep perishable food cool before refrigeration.  This spring also led to the castle’s name as “font” meant fountain or spring, and “hill” refers to the hill where the castle sits. 

The area surrounding Fonthill Castle is also beautiful.  Take the time to walk the grounds, see all the other noteworthy locations you’ll find on the map, and visit the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works afterward.  You can purchase beautiful tiles from the giftshop or have some original designs recreated for you. 

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Austria, a quick stop

Posted on July 1, 2023 by Janette

Going to Germany to see our friends was exciting enough, but on one of our excursions, they surprised us with a day trip to Austria.  Southern Germany is close to a few different countries so dipping our toes into another one wasn’t that difficult.  Still, it was a surprise for people who enjoy tracking where they have traveled on a large world map!

The first thing we did was grab our tickets to the Highline 179 Bridge.  Opening in 2014, this bridge won a Guinness World Record for being the longest Tibet-style footbridge, coming in at 1,318.9 feet.  Visitors can walk across the bridge, suspended above the highway, between Fort Claudia and Ehrenberg Castle.  A steep incline takes visitors to the platform to admire the view and cross the bridge if you are not afraid of heights and (on that day) forceful wind that was bitterly cold.

After having fun on the bridge, we toured Ehrenberg.  This castle structure sits in ruins, with original portions dating back to the 1200s.  The signs explain that visitors can tour at their own risk due to crumbling portions. We did see construction efforts on certain parts, so it seems like restoration efforts have begun, but everything is still open and somewhat unsafe.

This was a great day trip from Southern Germany. Even though it was unseasonably cold, I was excited to visit my 18th country!

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The Village of a Million People: Munich, Germany

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Janette

Before traveling to southern Germany to visit friends, I purposely did NOT research the area, which is the opposite of my typical travel prep.  Unsure of exactly what I would see with friends, I let everything happen organically.  Besides learning the tipping practices, basic locations on maps, and having our hotel in Munich booked, we traveled to the Village of a Million People without expectations.

Exiting the S-Bahn at Marienplatz was like any other subway stop I have been to…except when we climbed the steps to the surface and looked around.  Marienplatz is a central area of the city.  The plaza is awe-inspiring due to its size, intricate architecture, and beauty. 

The Old Town Hall and New Town Hall greet visitors to the square.  This entire area is open to foot traffic, including side streets radiating out in each direction, so visitors can meander easily around the area. 

If you have the time, catch the glockenspiel show from the tower at 11:00am, 12:00pm, and 5:00pm.  The glockenspiel depicts two stories: the top level tells the story of a wedding, and the bottom tells the story of barrel makers dancing after the plague epidemic.

Visitors can buy tickets to ride the elevator to the tower for a spectacular city view for a few euros.  From this vantage, it was easy to see the other large, iconic buildings in the area and plan a walking route.

One such iconic building is Frauenkirche Munich or the Munich Cathedral.  This striking building is hard to miss, with its twin towers topped with green domes.  If you go inside, don’t forget to read the story about the “devil’s footprint” that you see in the entryway.

Moving a bit farther out from the plaza, I wanted to tour the Residence Museum.  This structure seemed endless.  Serving as the residence and seat of government to the Wittelsbach rulers until 1918, this palace holds a treasury, a theatre, and other areas that guests can now tour. 

I purchased a ticket that covered the main palace plus the treasury.  Who could pass up looking at the family’s vast collection of precious metal, glass, ivory, enamel, and stones? 

I had an amazing time but seriously underestimated the time this would take.  All throughout the palace, guests had listening devices programmed with their language of choice, and numbered markers in the rooms allowed visitors to hear the parts they wished to learn more about.  After a while, we also saw “shortcuts” through the building, which was nice as you could get lost in the main palace alone!  Plus, if you wanted (or needed) to exit at a certain time, this allowed you to find your way back to the main lobby.

A day and a half in Munich was not enough time.  I love walking outside on a nice day, meandering around the small streets, and going into souvenir shops and bakeries at will.  But, with so much to see down every street, I could have used at least another 1-2 days to explore.  I guess that means we need to go back one day!

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Castles, castles, castles!

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Janette

On our recent trip to Southern Germany, I was blown away by the number and age of various nearby castles.  There are a few that I knew would be in the area as they are commonly photographed, but I was impressed with the amount of history in this area.

The Hohenzollern Palace of Sigmaringen was the first castle we toured.  As with many types of museums, we received listening devices in our respective languages and enjoyed a tour at our own pace.  The tour took nearly an hour and showcased about 20 rooms.

The front entrance was almost tucked away.  The entire structure is huge and set in a quaint village, but finding the entrance took some guidance.

Once inside, there was much to see.  Beautiful staircases guide you around the corridors bringing you to elaborate rooms showcasing amazing artwork.

Including nearly 3,000 rare exhibits, this palace contains one of the largest private weapons and armor collections in Europe.  Guests can experience almost 700 years of history by looking through the arms displays, which have been drawing crowds for the past 300 years. 

This area is completely walkable, so once we parked the car in a parking area, we were on foot the rest of the time.  After touring the castle, we stopped at a nearby café to recharge and people-watch in the quaint town.  Then we headed across a bridge to a park where visitors could view of the entire castle structure.  Our day to visit was a bit rainy, so the time outside was more limited, but the views were amazing, and we could have stayed there all day on a warmer, dryer visit.

I can only imagine how imposing this place would have looked hundreds of years ago.  It’s still impressive, jutting out from the rock underneath, but it has been built up with many structures and businesses near the base.  The pond and waterway nearby offer visitors a great view of ducks and swans as joggers pass by or families take their little ones for a stroll.  The tour offered us a glimpse into this castle, but I can only imagine how grand the entire building was at the height of its function.

Later in our trip, we took a ride to a famous area that everyone seems to identify as Southern Germany.  Neuschwanstein Castle is an iconic structure that is quite notably photographed.

Additionally, just down the road is Hohenschwangau Castle, which is bright yellow.  We didn’t go into either castle, but hiked around and enjoyed the view.  Getting to Neuschwanstein was especially challenging.  There is a nice paved road that visitors can walk up, but it is a long way uphill.  The view along the way is gorgeous, and after you reach the top, visitors can cross a small bridge to get the iconic photos you see in magazines:

Another castle we toured was the Meersburg Castle.  Located in Meersburg (of course), this location is right on the edge of Lake Constance and a beautiful setting for a fortress.  This is a smaller structure than others we have seen, but the location is amazing.

Inside, the rooms were smaller, and cold, with few furnishings, but I feel this would have been exactly how it felt centuries ago.  I would imagine that cool air coming off the lake would have kept the inside feeling chilly all year round.  You could see many wooden artifacts that have been damaged through time, but it is amazing to see the original pieces.

I had no idea there were so many castles to see, as we were only in one general region of Germany.  If I ever get the chance to go back, I know there are many more amazing historical structures to tour!

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