Simply Stunning Sorrento

May 27-30, 2011

Sorrento is the gateway to the Amalfi coast and a truly lovely resort town. It was the perfect setting for Rick and I to celebrate our 38^th anniversary. In addition to exploring Sorrento, we also toured Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and the lovely and chaotic island of Capri.

Upon our arrival in Sorrento we went immediately to Piazza Tasso, the square that divides the old town from the new, and walked along the Via San Cesareo which has loads of shops selling and producing various products made from the giant lemons grown in this part of Italy. After admiring the beautiful and colorful pottery brightly decorated with lemons we sampled cookies, candy, and all types of lemony treats….the limoncello is irresistible!!! And if all that is not enough, there is always gelato!

Bright and early the next morning we went to Pompeii, the port town that was once home to more than 20,000 before the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This is the “granddaddy” of all ruins and we have seen tons of ruins in our travels but nothing compares to Pompeii. Many of the buildings are preserved as nearly complete structures so visitors do not need to rely on diagrams and descriptions to imagine what life was like in this ancient yet technologically advanced city.

From Pompeii, our travels took us to Ravello, a small town, perched 1,000 feet above sea level where we toured a 13th century villa and a lovely cathedral before continuing on along the Amalfi Coast. Amalfi has attracted visitors since the Middle Ages and continues to be a tourist filled coast line of incomparable beauty! The views were truly breathtaking as we traveled the coastline suspended more than 500 feet above the Mediterranean Sea.

On Sunday, we left the port of Sorrento to travel by ferry to the island of Capri. From the Marina Grande Port, the Funicular took us to the center of Capri and from there a bus took us to the tiny village of Anacapri. There we enjoyed the less touristy streets and trattitorias plus St. Michael’s Church with its 18^th century majolica floor. Then we rode the chairlift to Monte Solaro for breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples, the Fraaglioni Rocks and the surrounding islands.

We hope you enjoy our photos as much as we do: https://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/Sorrento_2730May2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPWX1bG2kKTI9QE&feat=directlink

Not Just for Golf....

May 20-22, 2011

St Andrews, Scotland is not just the world’s best known and oldest golf club. As you will see from our photos, it is where Will met Kate while attending the University of St Andrews and it is the home of Scotland’s largest cathedral and the castle which served as a palace for bishops and archbishops since c. 1200.

When our dear friends, Anne and Stuart, began planning their trip to visit us in London, playing golf at St. Andrews was at the top of Stuart’s list. Together we traveled to Edinburgh, then Dundee, and on to St. Andrews to fulfill Stuart’s dream of playing a round of golf at the "home of golf", The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754. In typical British fashion, the day was grey with showers and a few bright spells. It was also chilly for the middle of May but with all that said, Anne and I managed to entertain ourselves by exploring the town of St. Andrews and the ruins of both the castle and the cathedral while Stuart and Rick enjoyed their 18 holes on the Jubilee Course.

Here is the link to enjoy our photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/116669901425376505238/StAndrewsScotland?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOrg_JeahYnmZQ&feat=directlink

The Normandy Experience

March 31-April 3, 2011

My sister and bother-in-law, Judy and Lamar arrived at our flat on March 31 and were given one hour to change clothes and eat lunch before we hurried off to meet Rick and a colleague and begin our trip to the Normandy region of France and to the beaches of Normandy. From the Olympic site offices we piled into Diane’s SUV and drove to Folkstone where we were transported car and all to Calais, France to begin our wonderful weekend in the French countryside.

Diane and Neil live in the tiny village of Fay near Sees, France. Sees, though still small, has a typical weekend market and a cathedral both of which we spent time visiting on Saturday. As a historical/geographical connection, it is worth noting that this area of France was the birthplace of William Duke of Normandy who in 1066 became, William The Conqueror; the first Norman King of England. Among his many achievements and influences, William I built numerous fortified castles the most famous being the Tower of London.

Moving on to the real reason for coming to this area, Diane made sure that we had a complete tour of the beaches of Normandy, Arromanches, and the French villages that were all a part of the Allied Invasion. We have all seen it in movies, photos, and history books but nothing prepares you for being there and realizing the enormity of what occurred. The American Cemetery and Memorial is situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach which today appears very tranquil and unspoiled. This is the actual site of the first American cemetery on European soil which was established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944.

The Visitor Center offers a range of experiences and exhibits that pay tribute to the Americans involved in the D-Day landing. Through personal stories, photos, and films, we gained an understanding of this military achievement and the courage and sacrifice of the Allied forces. From the Visitor Center we walked by the bronze statue, "Spirit of American Youth" as we entered the Garden of the Missing where 1,557 names are inscribed on the walls. Ahead of us, across the reflecting pool we had our first view of the cemetery site which covers over 170 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing battles.

Leaving the American Cemetery, we drove on to Arromanches and viewed the Mulberry Harbor where the British constructed the artificial port of floating pier heads during the month following the D-Day invasion. Here, at the 360 theatre, we also experienced actual archived footage and newsreels in a stunning film called “The Price of Freedom.”

We all came away with a better understanding of how our lives would have been different were it not for this monumental period of history and the enormous sacrifices that were made.

Our pictures tell the story: https://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/Normandy?authkey=Gv1sRgCKOo4r-VkaqkIQ&feat=directlink

Florence: Italy's Masterpiece

March 18-20, 2011

Florence is a masterpiece and is everything you ever learned about art and sculpture! I even bought a book on Michelangelo just to learn about the Renaissance artists and how their learning and interaction resulted in this era of rebirth and why it flourished in Florence.

The museums in Florence are incomparable and house the greatest concentration of masterpieces of art in the world. We visited the two major museums one of which is the Uffizi Gallery; a masterpiece in itself and home to works by Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rafael, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Titan to name just a few. The other museum that draws crowds is the Accademia where we saw Michelangelo’s stunning masterpiece David.

The churches in Florence are museums in themselves not only architecturally but in their frescos and collections of art and statuary. The crowning masterpiece of all is the Duomo, the Gothic cathedral topped by Brunelleschi’s miraculous dome!

Florence is a city so filled with great art and architecture that it requires a return visit as we were only able to take in the most notable sites including the Palazzo Vecchio, the Ponte Vecchio, the Pitti Palace (Palace of the Medici Family), and the Duomo. Oh, and did I mention the gelato…clearly, you cannot see all these great sites without several breaks at the many gelaterias!!! The pasta is great here as well…Florence is “capitol” of Tuscany! A travel tip…bring two sizes of clothes…..

Hope you enjoy the photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/116669901425376505238/Florence1820March2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHu1sDOi9X9sgE&feat=directlink

Charming Venice

March 4-6, 2011

We fell in love with Venice, the island city of Italy, with its canal streets! I am sure that a visit to Venice is a delight at anytime of year but if you find yourself there (unknowingly – that would explain the high price and low availability of hotel room…duh!) during Carnevale it is quite a colorful and celebratory city! Carnevale is a cross between Mardi Gras and a 20something Halloween Party! You will enjoy some of the “all out” costumes that we photographed.

It is a joy just to cruise up and down The Grand Canal which is Venice’s “Main Street” where all the views look just like paintings and you can never take enough photos. The architectural highlights include: St. Mark’s Basilica, The Doge’s Palace, the Campanile, and the Rialto Bridge. Throw in a couple of other churches, bridges, museums, gondolas, and a trip to Murano (the island famous for its glass factories) and you have a perfect holiday weekend!

We hope you enjoy the photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/116669901425376505238/Venice46March2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ-e_uG3s4rp4QE&feat=directlink

Provence and its Winter Glory

January 26-28, 2011

Sunshine once again welcomed us when we landed in Marsielle, France and began our tour of five cities in southern Provence. First we drove through the Alpilles mountains to the hillside village of Les Baux de Provence. The landscape is dominated by the bauxite hills, vineyards and olive fields with the 10^th century fortress of the feudal Lords of Baux sitting high atop the village and afforded them control of 79 villages of for nearly four centuries.

Leaving Les Baux and driving toward our accommodations in St. Remy we passed through the ancient Roman ruins of Glanum where we explored the Triumphal Arch and Mausoleum, named the best preserved Mausoleum of the Roman World. Directly across the road just out of site is hospital where Van Gogh lived from 1889-90 and painted the famous Starry Night and Self-Portrait. Our afternoon and evening was spent exploring the 14^th century village of St. Remy; known as the birthplace of Nostrodamus.

Day two of our tour took us to Arles, one of the richest cities of the Roman Empire. The Arena, built around 1 B.C., is well preserved and currently used for bullfights, concerts, operas, and theatre performances. The Eglise St. Trophime, constructed in the 12^th Century, is considered a masterpiece of the Romanesque style and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Much of Arles is reminiscent of Van Gogh who painted nearly 200 paintings while living here from February 1888 - May 1889.

From Arles, we explored Pont du Gard, the 50 kilometer Roman aqueduct spanning the Gardon River. Further on we arrived in Avignon famous for having served as the seat of the papacy from 1309-1377 when the popes fled Rome and built the Palais des Papes. Our final stop was in the town of Aix en-Provence, the city of fountains.

Please enjoy our photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/Provence?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmN1arNgrakOQ&feat=directlink

Follow the Sun....

January 22, 2011


For our second trip in January we chose to “Follow the Sun” in the lyrical sense as we paid tribute to the Beatles in the city of their roots: Liverpool! We spent a fun-filled weekend reliving the 60s as we visited The Beatles Story Museum and enjoyed the Magical Mystery Tour. We were also reminded that Liverpool has other historic significance as a major maritime city on the banks of the Mersey River, Liverpool was the port of registry for The Titanic and in 2004 was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Just a few pictures for you to enjoy….
https://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/Liverpool?authkey=Gv1sRgCO-TmMS7teP6Ig&feat=directlink

Blue skies & sunshine in Southern Spain

January 14-16, 2011

70 degrees and sunny is a good reason for Londoners to travel to Spain in January!

We landed on Gibraltar, a tiny piece of Britian on the tip of Spain only 14 miles from Morocco. From the Rock of Gibraltar you can see the corresponding North African peak and together these two peaks, called the Pillars of Hercules, form the Straits of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is distinctive as the only British overseas territory and home to the only primates in Europe, the Barbary Apes.

From Gibraltar we traveled to our hotel at the Sotogrande Resort to rest up for day two in Ronda. Ronda is a unique and historic city, surrounded by mountains, 2400 feet above sea level, and perched over a deep gorge. Settlements here date from the end of the Stone Age, through the Romans, and the most influencial of all, The Moorish Period which ended here in 1485. Our tour included a visit to one of the oldest Bullrings in Spain where we learned the history and tradition of bullfighting. After a visit to the Palacio de Mondragon, the Moorish palace built in 1314 and the Iglesia de Santa Maria La Mayor, grand cathedral, our day ended with a sunset over the beautiful landscape.

Day three found us in the white-washed hillside town of Mijas, 1400 feet above sea level as we made our way to the seaside city of Malaga. Malaga, the southern most city in Europe and one of the oldest in the world is also the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. This beautiful city is both modern and ancient. Here, through a single lens, one can see the Roman amphitheatre, Islamic fortress and modern city center as you make your way to the Picasso Museum. Our wonderful guided tour took us through the main halls of this museum which has a permanent collection of over 200 works of art. Our trip to the Costa del Sol ended here but you can enjoy our photos at: https://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/GibraltarRondaMalaga?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfbu_7F5PWcSA&feat=directlink

An Very British Holiday

December 24 – January 1, 2011

We loved sharing the holiday season with Jennifer and Ben in London! They arrived on December 24th and we picked them up in a rental car at the airport and were off to Oxford (after fitting their suitcases in and around the four of us)…a full size car in the UK is NOT the same size as a full size American car!!!

We arrived at The Old Bank Hotel in Oxford and discovered the campus directly across the street. Before dark (which is at 4 PM in the winter months), we walked over to Radcliffe Square which features the iconic Radcliffe Camera…the domed main reading room of Bodleian Library (oldest library in the world). We continued from there on through campus, under the Bridge of Sighs which connects two parts of Hertford College and on to the central pub on campus: The Turf Tavern. Back at the hotel, we let the travelers finally have a shower and a nap before dinner at a restaurant housed in a Victorian Conservatory and then on to Midnight Mass sung by the choir at The University Church of St. Mary which dates from the 13th century. After breakfast on Christmas day we drove to the Cotswolds and although many of the village roads were iced over, we were able to visit: Northleach, Bourton-on-the-Water, Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Burford. We returned to Oxford in time for our Christmas Feast and then settled into the hotel’s library where we had beer, wine and snacks and played cards until our eyes closed. After breakfast on Boxing Day (the 26th) we had a proper tour of Oxford University and learned the history and tales of this most famous place…who knew that Hugh Grant was an honours graduate of Oxford University?!?!

We returned to London and immediately set about seeing many sights in and around London including: The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, The Churchill War Rooms, Hampton Court Palace, The National Gallery, Windsor Castle, and the Wallace Collection & Armory. Rick was able to arrange a special tour of the London 2012 Olympic Site and also get us tickets to a Premireship Football Match between Chelsea and Bolton.

As you can guess, their trip ended much too soon but we were all happy to ring in the New Year together in the UK five hours before the Peach dropped in Atlanta!

Enjoy our photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/JenniferBenS2010WinterHoliday?authkey=Gv1sRgCJbTktDBkZCGOQ&feat=directlink

Pre-Holiday Activities

November - December


Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were restful, joyful, peaceful, and memorable!

Yes!!!...we are still living in London, seeing the sights, traveling, and enjoying life. Our holidays, like yours were busy with parties, family, friends, visitors, and travels which is why I have neglected the blog for so long.

I inherited a wonderful book titled: Best Day Trips from London: 25 Great Escapes. This often serves as my travel guide and I have now been on 20 of the 25 trips. In November, before life got crazy, I traveled with a friend to the very “Ancient Town of Rye.” This small, charming, and historic town can be seen in a day. The highlights include the nearly 900 year old church which has a clock dating from 1561 and the 12th century Ypres Tower which was a fortified castle, later a prison, and now a museum

December was filled with Christmas Markets and Festivals modeled after the German tradition of open-air stalls selling food, crafts, toys, decorations, and gifts. There is entertainment, ice skating, and caroling and each one is unique and fun to visit so I spent many days with friends exploring these markets in London and the surrounding towns and villages. We also toured Waddesdon Manor which was built in the style of a French chateau by the Rothschild family, and is now managed by the National Trust. It was built between 1874 and 1889 and although it has some modern touches, it also has an extensive collection of French furniture, carpets, porcelain, and paintings plus being well known for its gardens and statuary. Since it was beautifully decorated for Christmas, many of the rooms were not accessible and the statues covered for the winter so I will definitely be returning in the warmer weather as there is much to see.

Our final trip before we got into the full swing of the holidays was celebrating Rick’s birthday with a trip to Bath, the home of the most famous Roman Baths and the first spa resort. The city is designated a World Heritage Site and it well known for its Georgian architecture and distinctly beautiful Royal Crescent which makes it one of England’s most beautiful cities. We treated ourselves to a relaxing weekend at the Royal Crescent Hotel that was built in the late 18th century and was once a royal home. We enjoyed the spa services, a lovely (maybe one of our best ever) dinners, toured the Roman Baths, the Bath Abbey featuring a beautiful Jacob’s Ladder on its façade, and the Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon followed by lunch in the famous Pump Room restaurant.

Enjoy the photos and look for the next blog entry highlighting Jennifer and Ben’s visit from Christmas to New Year’s Day!
http://picasaweb.google.com/alysehirsekorn/RyeWaddesdonManorBath?authkey=Gv1sRgCL6SsvDjlv2teg&feat=directlink