Sirmione is on a peninsula - jutting into the southern end of Lake Garda - known for it's castle and spas. We wanted to check it out, and knowing it would get busy on the weekend decided to go early...
Blog posts from International Travel
Italy 2023: lakeside walk to Garda
From Bardolino it is about a 40 minute walk to Garda. In the morning there is lots of shade, and since it was Saturday the path was busy with dog walkers, bicyclists, etc. Besides the amazing views...
Italy 2023: wine tasting in Veneto and Lombardy
During our planning, we became quite interested in the wine regions around Verona, and we were not disappointed in our visits. There are multiple appellations within 30-60 minutes driving, and each...
Italy: Bardolino food & drink
Thursday Dinner at La Piccola Osteria. I tried the macaroni picante (spicy) with Gorgonzola cheese, delicious! Leandra got the beef cappacio with a pile of cheese on top! We split a 500 ml carafe of...
Italy 2023: Bardolino sights
Bardolino was a lovely town to base ourselves as it is quite walkable, has lovely views of the lake, and isn't too noisy at night. Walking around town you hear a lot of German, as it is (apparently)...
Italy 2023: Venice sights
We had three nights in Venice, which let us explore several districts primarily on foot. Monday After dropping our bags at the apartment we went for our first unencumbered walk around the city. Not...
Italy 2023: Venice food & drink
Monday El Sbarlefo - With our first round of wine, a grechetto for me (lighter white with mineral and nice acidity) and a primitivo for Leandra, we also ordered some fried cheese bites. Leandra had...
Italy 2023: Milan
On this trip to Milan we flew into the smaller, but much closer, Linate airport, which let us take the city 73 bus to the Duomo area. After dropping our bags at the hotel we walked around, trying to...
Italy 2023: Where we stayed
Milan: STRAFhotel&bar Pros: Prime Location - great location right next to the Duomo, so right in the heart of the historical center. Good sleep - the shutters really kept out the light and...
Italy 2023: Introduction & flights
On our overnight layover in October (coming back from Poland) I happened to see a good deal on premium economy tickets to various cities in Europe for Spring 2023. After quite a bit of hunting we...
2022 Year in Review
Previous years-in-review – 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 2022 marked a busier travel year, including a return to international travel. 5 countries...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: London Christmas lights
London has many famous shopping districts, and each sets up unique light displays. On this trip we checked out quite a few in central London including the following. Regent Street Carnaby was great,...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: London sights
Nov 30 After an overnight flight to London we needed to stay awake until the afternoon, so we decided to visit some favorites for a few hours. The V&A museum always has new pieces on display,...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: London food & drink
Wednesday At the suggestion of Leandra's cousin Courtney, we tried Coppa for dinner as it was an easy 15 minute walk from their flat. I ordered the bucatini carbonara while Leandra went for the...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille sights
Sunday The main train station, Lille Europe, had some nice indoor and outdoor art. I went back out after lunch to explore the fort area but couldn't see much. Instead, I headed back to the center,...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille Christmas sights
Most of the Christmas decorations were centered around the Grand Place, with a Ferris wheel and a tree (with most of the lights working) as the central draw. As you moved further from the center,...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille food & drink
Sunday After dropping our bags off at the apartment, our first destination was the Marché de Wazemmes which closes at 3p on Sundays, and wouldn't be open on Monday. It took about a 15 min walk from...
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Bruges sights
It was quite chilly while we were in Bruges, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the canals, street art, and seasonal Christmas decorations around town. We started our first night walking north...
Our Itinerary
2026 Trips
Parrish, FL (Jan)
Medellin, Colombia (Feb)
Wilmington, NC (Apr)
Madrid, Spain (May)
Asturias, Spain (May)
Galicia, Spain (June)
London, UK (July)
Cotswolds, UK (July)
Long Island, NY (July)
Ireland (Aug)
Vietnam (Nov)
Laos (Nov)
Cambodia (Dec)
Singapore (Dec)
2025 Trips
Tampa Bay, FL (Jan)
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Feb)
Villa la Angostura, Argentina (Feb)
Bariloche, Argentina (Feb)
Iguazu Falls (Feb)
Miami, FL (Feb)
Richmond, VA (Mar)
Boston, MA (Apr)
Kathmandu, Nepal (May)
Bhutan (May)
Doha, Qatar (May)
Bristol + London, UK (Jul)
Long Island, NY (Jul)
Slovenia (Sep)
Treviso, Italy (Sep)
Bologna, Italy (Sep)
day trips from Bologna (Oct)
Turin, Italy (Oct)
Greensboro, NC (Nov)