Headed down to the cape in Florida.
Savored some sunsets…
Enjoyed the coast…
Bought a new pink hat…
…and introduced Ella to the beach:
She loved the cool sand and the wind in her face - especially the wind! Ella is now officially a beach pup. : )
photos by pam hollingsworth
Until last year, I had never been to the US capital. It was a place I’d always wanted to visit, but somehow never had the chance.
And now that I’ve seen it, I know that I love it. The people, the bustle, the food, the museums, the news crews – this city has a lot of excitement packed in.
There’s lots of marble everywhere…
And neoclassical architecture…
There are the famous monuments visible in the heart of the city…
Downtown, the area is filled with tourists, souvenirs, activists, and food:
I had a great time in DC! Have you been? What’s your favorite memory about a trip to the capital? : )
I got to spend one Saturday in Florence, Italy – a city steeped in the history of art, music, politics, and Italian culture.
In the pedestrian streets around Florence’s famous art galleries, every square foot is filled with musicians and souvenir reproductions of famous paintings for sale….
Walking through the city, there are pops of color and ornate architectural details all around you. You’re embraced by the legacy of inspiration that once surrounded da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Donatello, and so many other artists….
There’s something surreal to the changes of colors in the city throughout the day. In the early, misty morning, Florence’s famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchi, was cool and indistinct….
…but by the warmer afternoon, the shops and walls along the bridge had changed into their famous palette of warm yellows, greens, and oranges….
Florence had a very Italian feel, and it was awe-inspiring to be in the birthplace of so many famous works of art. : )
I shared a few photos from our hike through Cinque Terre, Italy here. The seaside, the views – it’s lovely. : )
We started out early in the day by grabbing some fruit at one of the small streetside markets….
Our hike wound along the coast of the Mediterranean through 5 towns, some vineyards, and natural cliffs. In the middle of one orchard, we came across an Italian man selling fresh lemonade to hikers….
For lunch, we stopped in the harbor of one of the towns with some grab-and-go pizza….
Throughout the hike, we overheard people talking in all different languages – Italian, English, German, French, and more. It was an interesting mélange of people from all different places – all come to enjoy the Italian coast….
Everyone we passed would say “excuse me” in a different language. Scusi, permesso, entschuldigung, pardon…
Cinque Terre is famous for its beautiful scenery and seaside hikes, but its mixture of different visitors makes for a really unique atmosphere, too. : )
In April, I got to spend my spring break – 11 days – in Italy. The trip was rich with history, culture, and especially food. : )
We spent most of our time in Rome, but made this day trip out to Cinque Terre for some beautiful hiking along the Italian coast.
This hiking area is full of sweeping views, crisp and salty Mediterranean air, seaside life…
The main hiking trail also takes you through 5 small coastal Italian towns, where you find your way through small, winding, complex Italian alleys….
Interesting architecture and inspiring personal touches accent the walls and streets throughout each of the towns…
Tomorrow, I’ll be posting about some of the food we came across as well as the atmosphere of our hike! See you then. : )
A couple of weeks ago, I took a day trip out from Prague to Karlštejn. The small town is just a short train ride away through some of the Czech countryside, and the vibe is so different from the bustle of the capital.
The views around Karlštrejn are so scenic and calm….
Along one of the main streets of town, everyone has a driveway like this:
That main street connects to a moderate hiking path up a hill that leads to Karlštejn’s famous 14th century Gothic castle….
I really enjoyed the walk up to the top of the hill with its picturesque views!
At the castle, I took a 2 hour English tour explaining the history of the place and the old royal families, but no photos were allowed inside. The whole place is full of historic relics, royal portraits, twisting paths and staircases.
Back down in the village after the tour, people were out enjoying the breezy weather. The whole town has a relaxed and unhurried feeling, perfect for a short day trip.
I loved getting a chance to see some of the Czech countryside and the old castle. : )
Late afternoon and early evening are my favorite times of day to be around the Vltava River here in Prague.
In good weather, people always come out for paddle-boat sightseeing….
And the light slanting in at this time of day is beautiful, giving all the riverside architecture a timeless look…
…as well as adding extra sparkle to Prague’s gilded accents…
And the sparkle of the water as the sun sets is the finishing touch to the great atmosphere.
What’s your favorite time of day? : )
I had a couple of days off work this week, and I spent the extra free time wandering the streets of Prague. I love taking in the city by exploring and meandering. : )
Today, I started my walk near the Vltava River….
The restaurants along this part of the riverside have a great view of the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.
Later, I tried this traditional Czech/Slovak bread. It’s a good, quick snack – perfect for my walk. I loooved the taste of cinnamon.
Then I walked up and down these streets, near the castle…
…where I came across this bakeshop selling goodies through the window!
Where did you walk today? : )
I am so honored to be Freshly Pressed! Thank you to WordPress and to you blog readers – so exciting! I love reading all your comments – so uplifting to hear your memories of Budapest, your plans to visit. This city has made such an impact on us all. : )
A few final words about my Hungary visit – I was so struck by the inspirational architecture around every corner! Every street looks different, every building has its own personality.
From shingled roofs and old, colorful buildings…
…to bright, vivid paint…
…and beautiful patterns…
…or even purple accents and highlights…
… and the soaring marble of St. Stephen’s Basilica.
The interplay of colors and attention to architectural detail – both inside and outside the buildings – is fabulous. I could walk up and down the same street 10 times and notice something new with every pass. : )
I posted some photos from the Pest side of the Danube River in Budapest, and now here’s some more from the Buda side!
The first thing I saw when I crossed the river: it reads, “confidence in the ancient virtue,” the royal slogan of Franz Josef I, head of the Austro-Hungarian Empire….
The narrow, uphill streets on this side of the river catch gorgeous shafts of light in the evening….
At the top of the hill, in the Castle District, there are clusters of 19th century buildings…
…along with Hungary’s famous Fishermen’s Bastion, an expansive neo-Gothic terrace with great views of the city and the river. Here’s one of its 7 towers….
And just south of the Fishermen’s Bastion is the Royal Palace/Buda Castle:
Buda, with its small, winding streets and Castle District, has a medieval feel, while Pest is flatter, urban, and more spread out. I loved crossing back and forth across this wide river between the two very different sides of Budapest. : )
