Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Down Home” on the Amalfi Coast

Posted on June 17, 2013 by katemahar

Vietri sul Mare is known as the first (or the last) of the picturesque towns dotting the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. It’s also one that isn’t as heavily frequented by tourists as destinations like Positano, Sorrento and the town … Continue reading →

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Let’s play Name That Landmark!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by katemahar

I don’t know about you, but ever since I switched from film to a digital camera (yes, I am THAT OLD!), I come home from trips with so many damned pictures, it’s ridiculous. A good percentage of them are either … Continue reading →

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Loving Frank’s Taliesin West

Posted on June 10, 2013 by katemahar

It doesn’t take long to drive from Phoenix and its well-manicured suburbs and find yourself in the vast, dry Sonoran Desert. And one of the fascinating places to discover outside the city is the architectural marvel, Taliesin West, built by … Continue reading →

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Coffee break in Middleburg

Posted on June 8, 2013 by katemahar

As you know, I’m a great proponent of river cruises. The first one I took was Avalon’s “Tulip Time” cruise in early April several years ago. I fell in love with the sites, people, history, food – truly every memorable … Continue reading →

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Reasons to return to Rome, Part Four: Keyhole in the Green Door

Posted on June 6, 2013 by katemahar

One of the lesser known attractions in Rome involves the simple act of looking through the keyhole of an old green door. The door is located on a site that was originally a palace, then a Benedictine monastery, and then … Continue reading →

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Reasons to return to Rome, Part Three: Explore Trastevere

Posted on May 31, 2013 by katemahar

Though I knew it existed, I imagined the Trastevere as a kind of remote Roman suburb. I knew it was across the Tiber River, and it looked like it wasn’t that close to the major sites and activities you’d normally … Continue reading →

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Reasons to return to Rome, Part Two: Cook like a Roman!

Posted on May 23, 2013 by katemahar

A different and tasty approach to exploring Rome is to sign up for a cooking class or food-tasting tour. That’s exactly what my friend Fran, her daughter Mallory and I did during our visit to Rome last October. After researching … Continue reading →

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Reasons to return to Rome, Part One: Campo de’ Fiori

Posted on May 18, 2013 by katemahar

When Americans travel to Europe, it’s tempting to say we’ve “done” Paris, or Amsterdam, or Florence, or wherever we’ve spent a couple days seeing the sites. You jump on the Hop On-Hop Off bus and race to see the Mona … Continue reading →

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Hiking exposed: just a walk in the park

Posted on December 29, 2012 by katemahar

I just want to let everyone know that I went hiking this week. Yes. Me. Hiking. I thought I had never been hiking before, not being an outdoorsy sort of girl. Lo and behold, I discovered that the athletic types … Continue reading →

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Mysterious and creepy Palermo

Posted on November 9, 2012 by katemahar

Something you should know if you’re considering booking a trip on Costa Cruise lines is that the vast majority of your shipmates will be European, and mostly Italian at that. On my cruise on the Costa Serena last month I … Continue reading →

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