Italy
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6 Breathtaking Hiking Trails in the Dolomites
Living within viewing distance of the Dolomites has undoubtedly left a permanent mark on my heart. I wake up every morning and drive my husband to work hoping that the sky is clear enough to get even a glimpse of them as the sun is rising and hitting the peaks, giving them a pink hue. Every mountain range we visit compares in no way shape or form to the Dolomites. They are unique, breathtaking, and will always provide unlimited adventures. Hiking in the Dolomites has become my peaceful outlet, where I seek mental clearness, and where I feel comfortable. I have been left speechless by its beauty and at the…
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Moving Overseas with a Dog: Presley’s Journey from North Carolina to Italy
When my fairytale started, we decided up front not to move my dog, Presley, overseas – for a number of reasons – none which seem significant in the scheme of things now. One of the reasons includes the fact that I had been on many flights where a dog cried the whole time. It was traumatic and seemed torturous to do that to an animal. I was also naïve about how dog-friendly Italy is and ignorant of the fact that I needed my little man in my life. Before Stephen came along, it was just me and Presley, for 2.5 years through relationships and breakups, schoolwork, late nights, and my…
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Whitewater Kayaking in Italy
When I think of kayaking, I think of a nice, slow ride down the river. It brings back great memories with my family and friends in North Carolina. But since living in Italy, we’ve had a hard time finding any information on where to go river kayaking (also known to some as whitewater kayaking). When I first googled kayaking in Italy, all that turned up was information about kayaking through the canals of Venice, along the Amalfi coast, around the island of Sardinia (which we did and you can read about here), or on lakes like Garda. But, I wanted more information on where to go to put my kayak…
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A Review of Italy’s Recently Opened “Bike Path” on Lake Garda
When an article appeared online about a bike path opening up along Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), I was all for taking the following Sunday to head up there and enjoy a nice day by the lake. The article, which I won’t name specifically for obvious reasons, considers this bike path one of the most spectacular in Europe. It goes on to say that it’s a 2 km stretch (although I wasn’t sure that could be correct), took 2 years and 7 million € to complete. That’s a lot of time and a lot of money. It’s gotta be worth it, right?! Well, let’s find out! On Sunday, we loaded…
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Naples, Italy: First Impressions
Let me preface this post by providing you with a little background knowledge of my travels that I have to compare to Naples, Italy. Within the United States, I have been to too many places to name, so for now, I’ll name the relevant ones – Chicago, New York City, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Washington DC. In Europe, however, our experiences have been with mainly eco-friendly countries – Norway, Switzerland, Austria, just to name a few. When we visit a new country we seek out the mountains, lakes, and smaller villages. But, I’m a Paris fanatic, a lover of Rome, and I find Venice fascinating. Basically, I tell you all of…
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A Life-Altering Climb
FYI: writing this post has not been easy. I have written about it. Deleted it. Written it. Deleted it. Too many times to count. I struggle between sharing it and keeping it to myself. We have told no one about this, yet. Nothing but good and supportive comments have ever come out of my writing and truthfulness, so here it goes. At dinner that night, I sat across from my husband with tears in my eyes, and I asked him, “how do I ever explain this to someone? How do I put into words this experience in a way that anyone could ever understand? How do we tell our friends…
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Lessons From a First Time Mountain Climber | Via Ferrata Style
Full disclosure: I am not an expert. As the title says, it was my FIRST time on a via ferrata in the Dolomites. All things I recommend below come with this caution and warning. Please consult your physician prior to performing any of these activities (or whatever the correct wording is here). I am able to write about these events and recommend them to others because I survived… so there you have it! I’ve never had a fear of heights. I grew up loving to go fast, ride every roller coaster, and go as high up as possible thanks to my dad. That was the one thing we loved to…
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The First Time My Mom Came to Italy
For one whole week, I had the opportunity to play the only child. I had my Mom all to myself. No distractions, no work, no other siblings to draw her attention away…and while that may seem selfish, it has never happened in my life before – that I can remember that is. I grew up in such a big family, with 4 of us kids, that we always shared parents, attention, toys, experiences, friends, etc etc. One thing that we don’t have in common though, is living abroad. And when my Mom came to visit me for the first time, it was just me and her for a whole week!…
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Hiking in Trentino, Italy: Lakes, Waterfalls & Gorges
I recently organized my first group hike for some friends and me, and it was so much fun! I planned it as a short day trip, leaving at 8:00 am and returning by 6:00 pm. This would make a great day/weekend trip for those living in or visiting the Vicenza / Lake Garda / Province of Trentino area! Lago di Tenno The first stop of the day was at a serene lake – Lago di Tenno – located above Lago di Garda. It was a 2-hour drive from Vicenza through lakeside towns and tight switchback roads (8,70€ in autostrada tolls). We found a parking lot right by the lake that had…
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Florence, Italy: All the Must See’s from The Duomo to the Statue of David
Florence, Italy is ranked among the world’s most beautiful cities, and is well known for its history, art, culture, fashion, and wealth. Spend just one day strolling the cobblestone streets flanked by the many beautiful churches, synagogues, and temples, and you’ll agree! Between the famous statue of David by Michelangelo and the domed cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, often referred to as The Duomo, these two sights alone in the heart of Firenze are enough to take your breath away. If you’re headed to Italy, Florence is one of those places you’ll want to add to your list! It is conveniently located between Venice and Rome, making it a…
