We have been traveling throughout Italy and parts of France over the past 20 years. As I am also a photographer, I thought it would be fun to publish some of my pictures along with some fun commentary.
We love traveling and I love photography. It is a dangerous combination. I could talk about Italy for hours so if you have any questions, please leave a comment and I would love to talk your ear off.… Read more
After seeing the fantastic and fiery Rammstein show in Chicago of 2022, we wanted to see them again. We were going to be in Italy for over a month anyway which fortuitously coincided with their 2023 Europe Tour.
The anticipation was palpable as we stood outside the Stadio Euganeo in Padova, Italy, surrounded by fellow music enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. We could hardly believe that the moment had finally arrived. We were about to experience one of the most iconic and electrifying live performances in the world—Rammstein’s “Europe Stadium Tour 2023.”… Read more
With its rich history and captivating beauty, Isola de Garda offers an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking tranquility and elegance. From its intriguing past to its serene present, Isola de Garda invites you to embark on a journey of discovery, where nature, culture, and relaxation harmoniously coexist. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isola_di_Garda
We booked a trip to the island from our home base in Desenzano Del Garda. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desenzano_del_Garda
It took us about 45 minutes by boat to arrive and then had a 2 hour tour which included wine and olive oil tastings.… Read more
The name “Cinque Terre” derives from the Italian term for “Five Lands,” representing the five enchanting coastal towns nestled within the region: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. A few years ago, during our stay in Milan, we embarked on an exhilarating day trip to Cinque Terre, which included delightful hiking adventures. The beauty we witnessed was so captivating that we find ourselves yearning to return and savor the experience for a few more days.… Read more
Mestre is part of the municipality of Venice but a 15 minute bus ride across the causeway on the mainland. We love Venice but in my opinion, a little goes a long way. https://tastefulopinions.com/2022/08/venice/
Mestre is much less touristy, less hustle and bustle, has better food, cost of living is more reasonable, and one can actually relax and enjoy a different experience of Italy.… Read more
Forte Marghera was built in the early 1800 in the lagoon near Venice where large artillery vehicles were not able to drive. It was built as a barracks for the Italian army. Here is a very interesting link if you are interested in reading more. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forte_Marghera
One of the reasons for planning this day trip was to see the cats. In addition to the cats, it is a very interesting historical site with lots of interesting buildings and artifacts.… Read more
Our daytrip from Mestre to the Prosecco region. As you can see, there isn’t much of a station here in Susegana 🙂 It is a wonderful area to visit for sure. Our driver Oriana was great and knew her stuff. She took us around the area and visited a few local producers. Would recommend her for sure. https://www.orianancc.it/
What can I say, a picture is worth a thousand words. This area was like a little slice of heaven.… Read more
I have a love / hate relationship with Venice. First of all, do I recommend that you see Venice at least once in your life? Absolutely! In fact, I have been to Venice many times over the years and hope to again soon.
I remember stepping out of the train station in Venice over 20 years ago. The surreal feelings and experience I had seeing the canals and architecture for the first time will stay with me forever.… Read more
Trieste is a port town in northeast Italy located between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia. It is the largest city in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. There is a lot of military presence around town as it is a deep water port and maritime gateway for Italy. We didn’t really plan this weekend trip well as it was kind of spontaneous. We were pleasantly surprised with the amazing beauty and wonderful fresh seafood that we discovered.… Read more
After arriving at the Bolzano Italy train station, we started walking downtown toward our hotel. We were very hungry and started looking for a place to eat. It was hard not to be distracted with all the cool street vendors. We immediately noticed that there was a very strong Austrian / German influence. Most employees in stores and restaurants actually spoke German by default.
It was close to 2:00 PM and most stores and restaurants were closed so we finally found a bar / restaurant that was still open.… Read more
As part of our weekend trip to Bolzano, we decided to try out the famous cable car that ascends from the edge of Bolzano. We opted to buy the full ticket package which included a ride up, a train ticket once we got to the top, and finally the trip back down the mountain. At the time of writing, this was 15 Euro per person, a bargain in my opinion.… Read more