Procida’s prison in paradise: after 150 years of jailing mafiosi, fascists, and worse
Procida is my favorite island in Italy and the hulking prison overlooking the beautiful isle only adds to the charm — and mystery.
General Travel
Fregene: Rome’s one-time glittery beach escape still a slice of paradise for us
FREGENE, Italy — The scene is always the same. We park Marina’s car on a quiet, narrow side street and walk down the short driveway to Il Capanno dei Pescatori, the little beach-side restaurant that sells us lanais chairs for only 7 euros. A young cabana boy plops them down on an empty beach, pulling […]
Covid-19 and travel: Ten important safety tips during and after this pandemic ends
(Editor’s note: Covid-19 isn’t going away soon and even when it does, you should be careful while traveling. My guest blogger, Emma Willson, has written 10 important tips on how to be cautious in this coronavirus world. Emma is a Californian who has visited 16 countries in North America, South America and Europe and has […]
Raphael exhibition a great tour of a grand artist as Italy opens back up to the world
Three things you probably didn’t know about Raffaello Sanzio, known outside Italy as Raphael and part of the trifecta of Italian Renaissance painters: He scored his first commission at 17 and one of his first was painting an altarpiece for a family funeral chapel that housed the bones of some of the 130 men slaughtered […]
Traveling in Italy: Trip to Puglia reminds me of why I live here but caution flags rise
Traveling in Italy is only a dream for Americans. For us living here, it’s a wonderful reality. However, a trip to Puglia shows caution from the coronavirus remains.
Italy restaurants: My 5 favorites after eight years living in this gastronomic paradise
Narrowing list of best restaurants in Italy to a top five is a difficult but tasty task. Here are mine.
Stay away, Americans! EU says you and your coronavirus are not wanted here in Europe
EU won’t allow the U.S. among its 14 countries permitted to visit.
Madain Saleh: Saudi Arabia’s 2,000-year-old UNESCO Heritage Site and sister city of Petra
Madain Saleh is the crown jewel of a Saudi Arabia that is trying to make its first inroads in mass tourism. It’s Petra’s sister city without the crowds.
Black Lives Matter movement hits Rome and African Americans here join the chorus
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Black Lives Matter rally comes to Rome, shedding a light on problem that is not confined to the U.S.
Jeddah: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea jewel opening its gate even wider for the world
Jeddah is Arabia’s cosmopolitan capital on the sea (This is the second of a three-part series on travels through Saudi Arabia.) JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — The plane begins to fill and I wonder if this domestic Saudi airline has a dress code. I look around the Flyadeal jet and realize I’m about the only person […]
Saudi Arabia: The kingdom finally opens its doors to tourists and I stepped through
Saudi Arabia is shining a light toward a bright future while trying darken its controversial past.
Heceta Lighthouse B&B a true guiding light for romance on spectacular Oregon Coast
YACHATS, Ore. — As a native Oregonian, I always find myself drawn to Oregon lighthouses, kind of like an inland sailor. It isn’t a need for safe passage to land, as so many boat captains have sought on our rough seas for 120-plus years. It’s more of an assurance of where I’m at, where I’m […]