Vatican City

Vatican City, the papal residence, is a country within a city within a country!  It is completely surrounded by the city of Rome, though it is considered an independent state.  Each year, millions of visitors come to Vatican City to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel and to hear messages from the Pope.

On our last trip to Rome, we visited St. Peter's Basilica (above) first thing in the morning.  As you can see, the square was practically empty.  It was quiet and peaceful and allowed us to soak up the beauty and wonder of this magnificent structure.  Many architects participated in designing St. Peter's, including Renaissance artist Michelangelo, whose Pieta sits just inside the front doors of the basilica.  The Pieta was the first major work Michelangelo completed, and was also the only work he signed.  You can also find Raphael's Transfiguration inside.  It is one of my favorite works by Raphael, who was a contemporary of Michelangelo.

We visited the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel on a different day, because you need to allow a LOT of time to walk throught the musem.  The Sistine Chapel is included as a section of the museum (you cannot go there directly).  The Vatican Museum is laid out unlike any other museum I've visited.  There is one path that you follow - it winds you all around the museum.  You travel in a long line and there is only one direction to walk.  When you get inside the Sistine Chapel, you are not allowed to take photographs or video, so you may want to plan to buy the beautiful keepsake book sold there.  My mom purchased one on our first visit, and I bought one for myself on our last trip there.    After Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling (a four year long project), he was commissioned to paint another fresco in the chapel, called  The Last Judgment, which is one of my all-time favorites pieces of artwork. 

If you journey to Rome, don't miss visiting St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum.  Both are definitely worth it.

The Roman Coliseum/Colloseum

“While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand;

When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall;

And when Rome falls - the World.”

 - Lord Byron

I read a news article recently that reminded me of this memorable quote from Lord Byron.  The Coliseum in Rome is inarguably one of the greatest architectural achievements from history.  It is said that they would fill the bottom of the arena with water in order to reenact great naval battles from Rome’s history.  As the superpower of Europe and Northern Africa, Rome had no shortage of supplies and slaves that were necessary put on great spectacles such as this one.  Hippopotamuses and crocodiles were even brought from Egypt to add to the excitement of the battles! 

Visitors to the Coliseum today are being given opportunities to see more of the Coliseum than have been previously allowed.  I HIGHLY recommend taking the tour offered.  The lines for tickets for the tour are much shorter than the regular ticket lines, and the tour guides are excellent.  I would budget at least 2 hours to see the Coliseum, take pictures, and visit the gift shop. 

topiaries

I love topiaries, probably because my parents took me to Disney World more than once, and the lovely topiary animals they have there are amazing!!!  When I became a homeowner and began gardening, I even investigated creating my own topiaries.  Needless to say, this is an incredibly long and intricate process - one I am not cut out for. 

One day in Costa Rica, while en route to Arenal Volcano, we passed through a town with an incredible topiary garden in front of the main church, San Rafael.  Of course, we had to stop and investigate!  This garden was truly a work of art.  It included a line of monstrous double arches (there must have been a dozen), topiary animals, and crazy faces carved into the sides of tall hedges. 

If you go to Costa Rica and plan on driving yourself around the country, make a point to go through Zacero and check out the beautiful topiary garden there.  You definitely don't want to miss it!

Alnwick Castle

posing in the inner courtyard

Remember when Harry Potter learned to fly on a broom?  He did so inside the grounds of a castle that's been in more than one movie, Alnwick Castle (pronounced Annick) in England.  Alnwick Castle is one of the most beautifully maintained medieval castles in existence. 

I had the privilege of visiting Alnwick Castle two years ago on a People to People trip.  It was a magical experience for our students.  There is a section called Knight's Quest where we got to dress up, play games, and learn about medieval times.  This was a fantastic way to start our day.  Then we took a tour of the castle, which I highly recommend to anyone visiting Alnwick.  The tours guides are excellent and work to make the tours both interesting and informative. 


in the lovely rose garden at Alnwick Garden

Next door to the castle is the Alnwick Garden, which you shouldn't miss!  The Alnwick Garden has beautiful water features and fountains, one of the world's largest tree houses, and a labryinth! 

There are special events happening all the time, so be sure and visit the Alnwick Castle website when planning your visit.  Alnwick Castle is open April - October each year.  The nearest city with an airport is Newcastle, which is a 45 minute drive away. 

The Garden Tomb

In 1999, my family took a Christmas trip to the Holy Land.  One of the most memorable experiences of that trip was attending a Christmas Day church service at The Garden Tomb.  The Garden Tomb is located near Skull Hill (Golgotha) and is believed by many to be the tomb Christ was laid in after His crucifixion.  Along with persons from at least 15 other countries, we worshipped together and heard a short Christmas message.  It was a beautiful morning and we all felt blessed to be there.

The lovely people that run The Garden Tomb do so in order to share the love of Christ with visitors and do not focus on His death but instead His resurrection and the eternal life He offers his followers.  What a wonderful opportunity to witness to so many people!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. John 11:25-26

Vacay Playlists

If you're headed out of town, make a playlist before you go!  Listening to it will keep your momentum high for the trip!  Here are a few of my favorites:

sun & surf
Kokomo by The Beach Boys
Half Moon Bay by Train
Rhythm of Love by Plain White T's
Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti & Spearhead
Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters
Lucky by Jason Mraz, feat. Colbie Caillat
California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas
Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

euro tour

Beautiful Day by U2

The Ballad of John & Yoko by The Beatles

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers

London Calling by The Clash

Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees

Back in the U.S.S.R. by The Beatles

Waterloo by ABBA

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones

aussie land
Waltzing Matilda
Old Man Emu
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
True Blue
Home Among the Gum Trees
Land Down Under

Flying with Bags

Anytime you plan to travel by air, it is important that you refer to your airline's website to make sure you are up to date on any new policies.  American Airlines in particular frequently changes its policy on luggage.  Unfortunately,there are no across-the-board regulations for international travel. 

For example, right now, if you are traveling to Brazil, you can check two bags for free, but if you're headed to Europe, you can only check one for free.  You may be thinking, I went to Europe last year and was allowed two checked bags!  These policies are literally changing all the time.  Thus, check the website before you travel! 

Something that I recently learned the hard way: airlines are not liable for any damage done to the outside of your luggage, i.e. the wheels, handles, etc.  So . . .  do not spend tons of money on fancy luggage!  The Today Show did an investigation into what happens to our luggage in between the time we hand it over to the TSA handlers and pick it up on the baggage carousel.  Check out this video to see the intricacies of baggage handling.

So what's the moral of this blog? 

Check airline policies before you travel and don't check any luggage that you would be heartbroken over if it was torn to shreds.

Packing Cubes

Last summer when I was travelling in Australia on a People to People trip, my friend and fellow leader Nina introduced me to packing cubes.  I adore any and all items that make packing easier, so I investigated packing cubes a little further, and I purchased two sets on Amazon, both containing three packing cubes. 

Packing cubes are lightweight, non-structured nylon containers with mesh tops (they make viewing what you've packed super easy).  When in use, they stand about 3 inches tall.  I use the eBags packing cubes in the large and medium sizes.  The large size fits perfectly into a carry-on size suitcase. 

I like to roll my clothing in order to minimize wrinkling, and these cubes really help keep my clothes wrinkle-free!  I was amazed at how many items fit into the cubes the first time I used them!  They are great for keeping things organized and easy to locate.

As many travellers know, dirty clothes take up more room than clean clothes.  The cubes are great for packing dirty clothing because they can be tossed into the washing machine as well, thus eliminating the need for an additional dirty clothes bag!

In case you were wondering, I purchased the eBags cubes in the Raspberry color.  Very nice.  :)

Reading on the Road

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. 
~P.J. O'Rourke


I am an avid reader and one of the reasons I love travelling so much is because it allows me time to read.  I tend to devour 5+ books when I travel, depending on how much wait time I have.  I can't sleep on the plane, train, or in the car, but I can read in all of those places and usually do!  Last year I purchased an iPad, and I love to bring my books on it!  Also, the Overdrive app allows users to check out eBooks from their public library for free - you can't beat it!


Book Recommendations


Gone by Michael Grant
Intensity by Dean Koontz
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Private by James Patterson
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Quiet Game by Greg Iles

To Drive or Not to Drive

Rome . . . not if you value your life!
Germany . . . go for it!
Grand Cayman . . . only if driving on the wrong side of the road doesn't freak you out!

There can be great benefits to having access to a car when travelling outside the U.S. In larger cities that have great public transportation systems like Paris, Rome, and NYC, you probably wouldn't want to rent a car. However, if you are going to be driving to a variety of places, this is something you may want to consider.

MapQuest.com is a great tool to help you plan your routes. It's always a good idea to take maps and instructions with you, in case roads are closed and you have to go to Plan B. It's also a good idea to research the rules and regulations of driving in the country you travel to, as well as the rental car guidelines.

Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of my absolute favorite places to visit!  The name is a bit misleading though; it is actually a castle and collection of many towers.  The first tower was built by William the Conqueror, first king of England.  Since 1078, it has been used as a royal residence, prison, and menagerie.  Queen Anne Boleyn was beheaded on Tower Green after being held as a prisoner at the Tower. 

Today the Tower of London serves as a tourist attraction that should not be missed!  You can purchase tickets online at a discount as well as read about special attractions.  The Crown Jewels are housed at the Tower, and there's always a long queue, or line, to see them, so make sure you get there early.  The Yeoman Warder tours and prisoners exhibition are also worth taking the time to experience.

With all the things to do and see at the Tower of London, plan to stay for the majority of the day.  The Yeoman Warders can be found all around the Tower and are available for both pictures and questions.  Definitely decide ahead of time what you want to experience and make the most of your visit!

La Comida de Costa Rica

At Machu Picchu, a delicious Peruvian restaurant in San Jose.

The fresh fruits and vegetables in Costa Rica are delectable!  I particularly enjoyed the mango, pineapple, and watermelon.  As a large exporter of bananas, Costa Ricans also make delicious fried plantains! 

The coffee in Costa Rica is some of the best in the world.  There are a variety of tours you can take to visit coffee plantations and sample different roasts.  Fresh bags of coffee beans are usually available to purchase at the end of each tour.  My family likes to bring back bags of coffee as souvenirs and gifts for our family and friends.

I can't write about the food in CR without mentioning Gallo Pinto, a rice and black beans dish that you will find yourself eating at breakfast, lunch, and dinner!  This tasty dish is a staple in Costa Rican homes and restaurants, and I ate it numberous times during the week I was there.  I enjoyed it so much, I am planning an attempt to make it myself!

Whenever you travel, always give yourself an opportunity to taste local cuisine, you won't regret it.

oh whitewater, keep on rolling

If you're planning a trip to Costa Rica, one of the excursions that is definitely worth taking time for is a whitewater rafting trip down the Pacuare River.  Our family has been twice and both times used Rios Tropicales for this adventure.  Rios Tropicales is an excellent group that has been leading rafting tours for the past 20+ years!  The rapid levels on the Pacuare are 3's and 4's from December to April but get bigger during the rainy season in the fall. 

When taking a whitewater rafting trip, you want to wear comfortable, durable shoes that can get soaked!  I have a pair of Keens that I love - you can throw them in the washer and dryer when you get home. 

If you're interested in taking a camera with you on the trip, you should invest in one that is waterproof, because everything will get wet.  Sony has recently come out with a very good waterproof camera, but it is pretty expensive.  Most rafting companies send a photographer on the trip, and he/she takes photos of each raft crossing all of the major rapids.  Then they compile CD's of photos each individual raft and sell them for around $40.  The shots are excellent and well-worth the money.

The most important thing to remember when tackling the whitewater is . . . have fun and enjoy the ride!  Oh, and always obey your guide's instructions; you don't want the photos to show you falling out of the raft!