Torrey Pines Natural Reserve, California

Having lived on the coast of California, I was determined to watch the sunset each night in San Clemente.  I would walk down  to the…

La Jolla, California, the Jewel of the West Coast

After a long day of hiking in Poway, my friends and I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in La Jolla, an exclusive,…

Point Reyes National Seashore: The Lighthouse

During a previous stay in San Francisco, I tried to reach the Point Reyes National Seashore to watch the sunset, but I had failed.  Not…

Finding Solitude at Joshua Tree National Park, California

My last visit to Joshua Tree National Park was last November, a perfect time of the year for a hike.  The weather had begun to…

The Piazzas, Museums and Fountains of Rome

Using my Omnia Roma Pass for the second day, I boarded the Hop On Hop Off bus to visit some of the highlights of the Roman…

The Roman Forum: The Sacred Road of Julius Caesar

Strolling along the smooth, round stones of the Via Sacra, I am reminded that “all roads lead to Rome”. To imagine that I was standing…

Revealing the Treasures and History of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

It was a magical moment when I approached the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as the bells began to toll.  Looking up towards the tall…

The Eiffel Tower: The Most Visited Attraction in the World

We had just finished dinner at Café de Flore located on Boulevard St-Germain, not far from the Eiffel Tower.  David and I decided to take…

Napoleon Builds an Arc in Paris, France

We walked around the circle at the base of the Arc de Triomphe, surrounded by the chaos of traffic and the sound of automobile horns.…

Royalty at its Finest at Windsor Castle

Our tour bus arrived in the regal town of Windsor and parked near the train station before we stumbled out into the winter chill.  Located…