Author Archives: admin

Santuario di Sant Euseo. Climb several steps to the 16th century church fronted by 6 columns. The paint was chipped and peeling. Inside it is Baroque with frescoes. This was a long way out of the way, but I had … Continue reading →

Aosta August 9, 2021 This small province sits in its NW corner of Italy where France, Switzerland, and Italy meet at the Mount Blanc massif. Aosta is the last region in mainland Europe that I have to see (excepting Crimea … Continue reading →

Lombardy Aug 6-8, 2021 I flew from La Palma, Mallorca to Verona (via Rome) on Alitalia (80E + 50E for one piece of checked baggage) in 3 ½ hours. Covid. No PCR is required but vaccination is necessary. For proof … Continue reading →

Balearic Islands July 31-August 5, 2021 The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Spain. Mallorca. The largest of the Balearic Islands, and a classic among European travel destinations, with beaches, nightlife and spectacular mountains. Menorca. The second largest island … Continue reading →

ITALY – The Trip (August 4- 2021) I flew from La Palma, Millorca to Verona (via Rome) on Alitalia (80E + 50E for one piece of checked baggage) in 3 ½ hours. Covid. No PCR is required but vaccination is … Continue reading →

July 25-31, 2021 Canary Islands The Canary archipelago consists of 8 inhabited islands with a population of 2 million. They have been an integrated part of Spain for centuries. As a major European tourist destination, all the major islands have well-developed … Continue reading →

Madeira July 21-24, 2021 Madeira is a sub-tropical archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous region of Portugal. The archipelago is made up of two populated islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two groups of unpopulated islands called the Desertas and … Continue reading →

Cape Verde (Portuguese: Cabo Verde) comprises a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean,  500 km west of Senegal. Cape Verde is formed by 10 main islands and about 8 islets. The once uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became … Continue reading →

The Archipelago of the Azores is an autonomous region of Portugal formed on the tips of barely submerged underwater mountains, the nine islands boast crater lakes, hot springs and spluttering geysers. The population of one quarter of a million residents live on these … Continue reading →

Social skills The vital art of talking to strangers Three books explain why it matters—and can easily be lost JulY 10th 2021 ECONOMIST  Hello, Stranger. By Will Buckingham. Granta; 336 pages; £16.99 The Power of Strangers. By Joe Keohane. Random House; 352 pages; … Continue reading →