Philippa and I arrived into Malpensa, the Milan Airport, on a Saturday afternoon.  Passport control went quickly and within an hour of landing, we were on…
Stockholm
Arriving into Stockholm by ferry is a serene experience.  The verdant shoreline gradually becomes more urban. The periodic colorful wooden homes transition to small communities. In…
Sámis and Swedes
Finlandâs capital, Helsinki, is a short ferry ride away from Tallinn. The ferry is a giant shopping arcade with several restaurants, a grocery store, bars…
Estonia
There is a beautiful short hike just past the border of Latvia. The bog is protected by raised walkways. It was alive with color and new…
Latvia
The journey into Latvia went through dense forests. Nearly half the country is forested. A popular pastime is foraging for mushrooms and wild berries. After…
The Baltics – Lithuania
Hill of Crosses
Tokyo
The great KantÅ plain, the largest swath of flat arable land on the Japanese archipelago, is home to Tokyo. A cacophony of concrete and glass…
Sacred Mountains of Honshu
My trip to Japan started with a brief respite in Tokyo before heading north to explore the Sacred Mountains and experience the local Ryokans and…
Glorious Food
Naples is the home of pizza. A Napoli pizza is a tasty but simple affair. A soft yeasted dough is spread with a tangy sauce…
Vesuvius, Pompeii & Naples
Vesuvius sits 5.5 miles east southeast of Naples and about 5 miles north west of Pompeii. The last time Vesuvius erupted was 1944. Today, 4 million…