Belfast made a lasting impression on me. From the moment I set foot in the city, I wondered what took me so long to finally make it to this vibrant and friendly city. A week wasn’t nearly enough time to do Belfast right. I found Belfast to be perfect for […]
Architecture
12 posts
In my travels to Italy over the years, I had pondered Naples. But even with numerous trips to nearby Rome and the Amalfi Coast, time after time I reluctantly decided to pass Naples by. I had read articles and heard personal anecdotes that Naples was dangerous and crime pervasive. So, […]
I first descended into Nero’s underground world of the Domus Aurea on my first trip to Rome in 2002. Also referred to as Nero’s Golden House for its once abundant gold leaf, I was awestruck by this ancient architectural masterpiece. I didn’t realize then just how lucky I was to […]
Last weekend I headed to Clarksburg spurred on by my recent interest in checking out more off-the-beaten path wine country surrounding the Bay Area. I've been finding some interesting wines that have renewed my interest in the California winemakers who have decidedly moved away from the traditional oaky-buttery days of yore. […]
The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento has been on my must-visit list forever, but somehow the opportunity to visit had eluded me. But with the recent opening of the Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Moderne, I made a point of going before the exhibition closes on April 26. As we headed […]
The English Market was at the top of my list to check out on my visit to Cork City. As someone obsessed with food, markets are always a priority. So map in hand, I wended my way through Cork’s tangle of small angled streets searching for the elusive entrance. […]
Cork City to Cobh During my recent five day visit to charming Cork City, I popped over to the historic harbor town of Cobh. Normally, it’s a quick 20 minute train ride from Cork City to Cobh, but on this day there was rail construction and buses were shuttling travelers from […]
I was drawn to the Adare Manor for its elegant Afternoon Tea that appeared as if it would be picture perfect. Situated in the small and charming Limerick countryside, the town of Adare is renowned for its funky thatch-roofed houses. It was a short scenic drive from our wonderful stay at The Old Convent in County Tipperary, […]
We had been drawn to this part of Ireland by Castles…and a former Convent. After we bravely picked up our rental car at Shannon Airport, we made our way from the miniscule town of Bunratty toward County Tipperary. Traffic on the roads was light and we quickly grew accustomed to […]
Spoiler Alert – I loved Cork City. It was urban, but down to earth. Sophisticated, but unpretentious. Cork felt European with a tinge of edginess – and, in a way, a little reminiscent of my hometown Boston. Falling in Love with Cork City on Day One Arrival into Cork City’s small […]
I wanted to escape Dublin's swarm of tourists and open air buses that converge on the city center's around Temple Bar and Trinity College. I decided to give the local neighborhood of Smithfield a whirl. Just north of the Liffey River and east of Temple Bar, Smithfield is conveniently located […]
Architecture is a priority for me when traveling, so I was eager to check out the recently redeveloped, ultra modern Docklands around the Dublin's Grand Canal. I headed east on foot from my Christchurch 'hood, and quickly skirted through the throngs of tourists and buses at Trinity College. Vintage brick warehouses dramatically transitioned to […]