I took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions and gained tremendous depth and insight into Southern Italy and Sicily. I’ve written about much of it, but there were some additionally special moments on that trip. OAT also offers another trip , Southern Italy and Sicily that includes some of theContinue reading “Exploring Southern Italy and Sicily”
Category Archives: Western Europe
Enjoying the Taste of Tuscany at Home
When I was on the Overseas Adventure Travel trip, Tuscany and Umbria: Italy’s Rustic Heartland, I experienced more food and wine delights then I ever have on any other trip. Or rather, delights that were explained and enumerated, not simply enjoyed at mealtimes. Our trip to the Pruneti olive oil facility in the Chianti regionContinue reading “Enjoying the Taste of Tuscany at Home”
Enjoying the Floral Surprises of Spello, Italy
When I was on the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Tuscany and Umbria; Italy’s Rustic Heartland, we stayed in Spoleto while on the Umbria portion of the trip. We had an optional evening of folk music in the nearby town of Spello, but the flowers that graced that walled in city was music to my eyes.Continue reading “Enjoying the Floral Surprises of Spello, Italy”
Discovering Michelangelo’s Marble in Carrera
When I took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Tuscany and Umbria: Italy’s Rustic Heartland, I expected many things the region is famous for, all of which I experienced. But it is the unexpected discoveries that remain with a traveler, and which turn an excellent trip into an outstanding one. So it was in Carrera, anContinue reading “Discovering Michelangelo’s Marble in Carrera”
Enjoying Parmesan Cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, and Prosciutto in Parma
On the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Tuscany and Umbria: Italy’s Rustic Heartland, we were treated to many fabulous food experiences, including learning how some of their great food is made in Parma. While on the pre-trip prior to the main trip, we learned and saw first-hand how Parmesan cheese and their additionally famous Balsamic Vinegar areContinue reading “Enjoying Parmesan Cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, and Prosciutto in Parma”
Listening to Tuscany’s Most Famous Musical Sons
Tuscany. Land of food and wine. Balsamic vinegar. And world class composers, conductors, and singers. The musical aspect of Tuscany was a sheer delight for this former musician, when I took the Overseas Adventure Travel trip to Italy, Tuscany and Umbria: Italy’s Rustic Heartland. The native sons we learned about from Tuscany were Luciano Pavarotti,Continue reading “Listening to Tuscany’s Most Famous Musical Sons”
Discovering Italy’s Capitol of Chocolate in Umbria
I took the trip Tuscany and Umbria: Italy’s Rustic Heartland with Overseas Adventure Travel. It was undeniably a foodie tour which highlighted the geographical beauty of the region, the culture, and without a doubt, the food. After we left the beauty of Tuscany, we drove through lush vegetation as the regions changed from Tuscany toContinue reading “Discovering Italy’s Capitol of Chocolate in Umbria”
Understanding Stolpersteine Across Europe
When I was in Europe recently with Overseas Adventure Travel, I took the Central Europe trip Jewels of the Bohemia. On that trip, I finally saw the memorial stones to those lost in the Holocaust that I had heard so much about over the years. They have a German name, stolperstein, or stolpersteine for theContinue reading “Understanding Stolpersteine Across Europe”
Reflecting on Volcanoes, Pomegranates, and Moorish Heads in Sicily
During my recent trip with Overseas Adventure Travel called Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, I came away with many great learning experiences. But three of them which were unexpected were seeing and experiencing such a magnificent volcano, the cultural influence of pomegranates and pinecones, and the story behind the all-pervasive Moorish Heads. Mt EtnaContinue reading “Reflecting on Volcanoes, Pomegranates, and Moorish Heads in Sicily”
Learning and Discovery in Sicily’s Last Arab Casbah
One of the most intriguing parts of the Sicily trip I rook with Overseas Adventure Travel called Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, was the time we spent in the old Tunisian Casbah in the fishing port of Mazara del Vallo on the West coast of Sicily. Our day wandering the Casbah and enjoying theContinue reading “Learning and Discovery in Sicily’s Last Arab Casbah”
Learning in Italy about the Sweetness of Doing Nothing
In Italy there is the concept of dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing. The Italians claim to be masters at it. I enjoyed some of it on my own during rainy days in Matera in Southern Italy and other times in Sicily. I much prefer the Italian description rather than the AmericanContinue reading “Learning in Italy about the Sweetness of Doing Nothing”
Olive Oil Production in Southern Italy and Pure Italian Joy
I learned a lot when I was in the Puglia region of Southern Italy as part of the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions. The pre-trip to the main Sicily trip is in the “heel” of Italy, and includes exploring the ancient city of Matera, and the more modern city ofContinue reading “Olive Oil Production in Southern Italy and Pure Italian Joy”
Visiting Sicily’s World War Two Landing Museum
On the Overseas Adventure Travel trip Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, one real highlight for me was visiting the World War Two Landing Museum. This museum documents the invasion of Sicily by allied troops in 1943, an event that was a turning point for Sicily in the war and marked the beginning of theContinue reading “Visiting Sicily’s World War Two Landing Museum”
Exploring Sicily and Traveling thru Time
Time travel. That is what Sicily was with Overseas Adventure Travel, on their trip Sicily: Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions. For me, it had been exactly two years of no international travel due to the pandemic, so this added to my sense of time. In Italy it would have felt like traveling back in timeContinue reading “Exploring Sicily and Traveling thru Time”
Enjoy Three of Europe’s Most Beautiful Destinations
Dubrovnik’s Adriatic Coast Dubrovnik, Croatia has a coastline along the Adriatic which is part of the Mediterranean. It is part of the former Yugoslavia, but there are many vestiges of a Venetian influence, when Venice was not part of Italy. And geographically it’s just across the Adriatic from Italy. So it is no surprise that thisContinue reading “Enjoy Three of Europe’s Most Beautiful Destinations”
Travel the World with Passion 