5 Ways To Save Big For Travel Abroad

I've always wanted to travel and see more of this big, beautiful world, but for many years traveling outside the United States seemed like just a dream, something other folks did but I would never be able to afford.   After I retired, Wanderlust really set in. The one place I had always wanted to visit more than any place else was Italy. With more free time on my hands, I started researching … [Read more...]




Where I Find the Best Travel Deals & Some Amazing Deals Available Right Now

Recently I shared a post where I highlighted a few items I always take when I travel abroad. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: 5 Essentials for Traveling Internationally. I love the comments you leave on posts--always learn new things from you with each and every post. The interactions and discussions in the comments are wonderful, appreciate those so much. On that particular post linked … [Read more...]




My 5 Essentials for Traveling Internationally

It's that time of year when a lot of us are thinking more about vacation and travel. Recently, a friend and I scheduled a trip for fall. (Read more about that here: Pyramids, Mummies and Cruising the Nile.) When I travel, sometimes there's very little time to prepare if I've jumped on one of the "last-minute-travel-deals" that some travel companies offer, but in the case of the fall trip, there's plenty … [Read more...]




5 Items I Always Take When Traveling Internationally

I discovered something new on this last international trip. I discovered that I much prefer taking the longer 8-9 hour flights during the daytime, instead of at night. This was the first trip I've been on where the longest flight took place during the day time. I always thought I'd be bored to death on a long flight, but I purchased the in-flight WiFi and that, along with some interesting reading, made the … [Read more...]




The One Part of Travel I Always Dread and a New Tactic for Managing It

Email Update: I just noticed today that the company I use to send out emails for BNOTP, has been using the wrong return email address. It's been changed to the correct one which is [email protected] . So please add that address to your "approved contacts" or your email addresses. That will help to ensure that you'll receive email updates when a new post is up here on the blog. If you're one … [Read more...]




How I Got Approved For Global Entry in 20 Days

When I booked a trip to Morocco recently, the agent who helped me asked if I had already applied for Global Entry. She was the second person to mention Global Entry to me that week. I took that has a sign and decided to apply.   I completed the application online on January 4, 2017 and today, just twenty days later, I received Global Entry Approval and a Global Entry number, aka, Known … [Read more...]




A Ride Up-Down Monte Solaro & An Impromptu Performance

My main computer, the one I use every day, is currently at the computer doctor being worked on. While it's away, I thought I'd share a video I made back when I was visiting the Isle of Capri.   While visiting Capri, I did a little shopping inside Carthusia where I purchased two small bottles of perfume.   The island of Capri has two towns, Capri and Anacapri. One of the … [Read more...]




Dining in Italy and the Mystery of the Missing Bread Plates

Welcome to the 383rd Tablescape Thursday! That title of this post sounds a little like a Nancy Drew Mystery Story, doesn't it? lol For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I thought I'd share one of the dinners we were served while traveling in Italy. The tour/trip I took included some lunches and most dinners. Sometimes our lunches didn't include meat and just consisted of salad, a large bowl of pasta … [Read more...]




A Visit to Positano Italy, A Beautiful Hillside Town on the Amalfi Coast

Welcome to the 364th Metamorphosis Monday! Today's post is about the metamorphosis of a picturesque seaside village located in Italy on the Amalfi coast. Through the good and the bad it has survived, and today it's a bustling village where tourists flock from all over the world. Ever since I saw the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, I've wanted to visit Positano. I finally got my chance when I traveled to … [Read more...]




Hear the Beautiful Bells of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano, Italy

Now that the holidays are behind us and I have a bit more time, I'm starting to go through all the photos I took while traveling this past fall to Africa, Italy and Mexico. I took a lot so it's taking a while to go through them and choose the best to share. I also shot a little video along the way so I'll be mixing those into each post as I share the beauty of these amazing places. I can't wait to share … [Read more...]




Bringing Home A Bit of Tuscany To My Kitchen

Welcome to the 353rd Metamorphosis Monday! Almost every day sees some kind of metamorphosis in our homes right now with the holidays here. I absolutely love this time of year! Halloween has always been one of most favorite holidays because it's filled with so many smiles and so much laughter. I hope your Halloween was a lot of fun this year. I have a small Before and After to share in my kitchen. It's … [Read more...]




6 Pairs of Shoes That Kept Me Warm, Cozy and Comfortable in Italy

For several weeks before my trip to Italy, I checked the "extended" forecast for the Tuscany and Amalfi Coast region a couple of times a week. As the time drew closer to leave, I checked almost daily. Forecasts can often be wrong but the three-week extended forecast for the areas we were to be touring, was consistently showing chilly temps and cloudy days with lots of chances for rain. Ugh. Not what I … [Read more...]




Chills in Sorrento

Welcome to the 352nd Metamorphosis Monday! While we were staying in Sorrento, on afternoons or evenings when we were out touring or were just free to explore on our own, we would often walk the short distance to a nearby market area where we could shop and dine. About a block away from our hotel, there was a bridge that had to be crossed to reach the shopping/dining areas. We merrily crossed over it several … [Read more...]




A 4-Course Meal With 2 Desserts!

Welcome to the 370th Tablescape Thursday! On Monday, October 19th, after spending the day in Positano, we had dinner in a beautiful restaurant on the way back to our hotel in Sorrento. We've been traveling all day today, en route from Sorrento to Rome (that's why my post is late going up) so the info I have about the restaurant we dined in is buried somewhere in my suitcase. When I get home, I'll share … [Read more...]




A Visit to Herculaneum, An Ancient City Buried for 1,700 Years

Grand Circle Travel included five free days into our 17 day tour of Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. On those days we can head out on our own or, we can participate in one of the "optional" tours they offer. This past Saturday, I was tempted to skip the optional tour of Herculaneum (one of the cities left in ruin after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD) since Pompeii was already a scheduled site for our trip. In … [Read more...]




Under The Tuscan Sun: My Visit To Bramasole

Greetings Dear Friends! I've just returned from a day touring Herculaneum, one of the cities buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. I can't wait to share the photos I took with you. I was so amazed to see how much they valued decorating and having a beautiful home and garden even back in 79 AD. I guess I thought they would be too busy coping with the daily needs of life (food, shelter, etc...) to … [Read more...]




Inside the Siena Cathedral and the Piccolomini Library, Italy

On Monday we visited Siena and this was the view we had overlooking the city as we walked down steps on our way to the Siena Cathedral.         The Siena Cathedral is a medieval church located in Siena, Italy. It was designed and completed between 1215 and 1263. It's built in the shape of a Latin cross with a dome and a bell tower.   Let's go … [Read more...]




A Visit to Radicofani & the Orcia Valley

Happy Friday! Do you have a fun weekend planned? It's late here, but before I turn in, I thought I'd share a few photos from today's excursions into the Tuscan countryside. Doesn't this photo scream Tuscany? Though it was pretty hazy out and not the greatest day for landscape photos, this one was pretty much a requirement when we happened upon it. Do you think the folks who live here planted all those … [Read more...]




When in Rome…

Welcome to the 368th Tablescape Thursday! As I type this, my laptop says it's 3:24 PM, but I know that's EST time back home in Georgia. The handy little "Dual Clock" widget on my phone informs me that it's actually 9:24 PM where my physical body finds itself...Rome, Italy. After traveling over 5,000 miles and crossing six time zones, I arrived early this morning just in time to catch this beautiful … [Read more...]




Look Out Italy, Here I Come!

About a month ago I asked for your thoughts and advice on the many questions I had regarding taking a vacation overseas. Today I've been reading back through all your comments again, taking lots and lots of notes. You left so many great suggestions and advice on that post and I appreciate those so much! If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Wanderlust I've taken the next big step and I've … [Read more...]