When visiting Europe in 2026, we were in Munich just as Oktoberfest was wrapping up. As we walked around Marienplatz, I was amazed at the amount of shops that specialized in Oktoberfest gear. Sure, you could purchase a dirndl on Amazon….but if you are going to Munich you need to it right! I did not... Continue Reading →
We crossed into Italy with little fanfare….at a small border town where we barely even realized we had crossed over. After arriving at our hotel, we walked a short way to a restaurant and had some pizza (of course). We did not stay in Venice, but inland, in Mestre. The next day, we took the... Continue Reading →
Some random pics as I made my way down the hill from the Tourbillon Castle. The structure you see in a few of the photos is the Valere Basilica or Valere Castle. I do wish I would’ve had time to explore this castle, as well. It is a fortified Roman Catholic Church, meaning it was... Continue Reading →
Now for the uphill walk to the castle, once you have passed through Rue Des Chateau. Yes, you see cars in the first pic….they were having some kind of small military ceremony, so they had special permission to park there. The path leading up to the castle is an extremely rocky and narrow in some... Continue Reading →
European trip musings #12: I am a lover of tchotchkes, or souvenirs. My go-tos are mugs, magnets, tees, or keychains. However, when possible, I love finding a trinket that is only available in the location I’m in. I am happy to report that in our travels together, Charles has also adopted this way of remembering... Continue Reading →
European trip musings #10: Zermatt, Switzerland, is a combustion engine car free zone, in an effort to reduce air pollution that could obscure the view of the Matterhorn from the town. It also helps to preserve the town’s charming atmosphere. The road to Zermatt was closed in 1931, and by the 1980’s, generally only battery... Continue Reading →
As a huge fan of California, one of my favorite places is Big Sur. Mountains and the Pacific are soothing sights and sounds for me. A beautiful icon of the are is the Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the most iconic photographed bridges in California. This bridge sits just south of Carmel, in Monterey County,... Continue Reading →
European trip musings #8: We arrived at our hotel in Sion, Switzerland, after the afternoon we spent in Lucerne. We chose this area, as it wasn’t far from Zermatt, and it was also a good stopping point on our way to Italy. The Moxy is a Marriott property, and if there are any in the... Continue Reading →
European trip musings #7: As we left Lucerne, we stopped for a few moments to see an iconic monument. Confession: thanks to social media, I have discovered sights that I would like to see in different places…and the Lion of Lucerne was one of those sights. Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and created in 1820–21 by... Continue Reading →
European trip musings #6: Same day in Lucerne, Switzerland. One of the most visited sights in Lucerne is its foot bridges, in particular, the Chapel Bridge and the Spreuer Bridge. After seeing pics on social media of these bridges and the surrounding city, this was a must on my sightseeing list. Built in 1333 and... Continue Reading →
Golden Sunshine Curly Girl 