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Sailing by the Almafi Coast, Italy
The last time I was in Europe we were sailing on La Gitana. We came up the Red Sea, through the Suez canal, and stopped in Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Spain, and the Baleraic Islands. I waved wistfully at Italy as we sailed by. We have to save something “for later, ” I consoled myself.
We were on our way home then. We wanted to get there in time for our daughter to start High School, and to bring our son home, who had stayed behind in Australia with friends. They were eight and eleven when we sailed away from Ventura Harbor six years earlier.
Now, at long last I am returning to Europe, this time with cousins, one of whom won a grant to visit the castles of Europe to enrich her 4th grade classroom. Lucky kids. Lucky me! I get to tag along.
We will be flying into Madrid and visiting Segovia and Barcelona as well, before heading on to Paris. From there we will take a train to Bruges, Belgium, then on to Frankfurt where we will rent a car to tour Germany and all the castles along the way.
At Freiburg we’ll catch a train over the alps to enter Italy, at long last. From Milan we’ll head down to Lake Como and the Almafi Coast we had sailed by so long ago. We’ll spend several days there and on the island of Capri, before heading to Rome, and from there home again.
A whirlwind romance in 30 days! For me, the highlights of the trip will be the art museums. To see some of my favorite artists’ paintings in person will be such a thrill. But the castles, the cathedrals, the cities, the hillside villages, the architecture, the history . . . all will be a close second.
Sadly I will be missing all of Tuscany, including Florence, Vienna, and Venice. For an art lover, this will be a huge sacrifice. But I can’t complain. I’m thrilled to be going at all. Besides, I remind myself: I need to save something for “later.” Hopefully it won’t take this long to return.
I don’t want my blog to go dark while I’m away, so I’ve pre-scheduled a few posts to cover the month I’m gone. That way I can keep in touch with all you lovelies through comments on my blog and on yours. I won’t be blogging about my trip until I return though. I promise not to turn this into a travelogue.
A few photos from our last trip to Europe before I go. Ciao!
My daughter in Athens, Greece
In Spain. (Note the limited wardrobe, poor baby.)
In Marmaris, Turkey, with her friend, Sarah, another yachtie child living her parents’ dream.
Two fair maidens listening to Heavy Metal in Kolossi Castle, Cyprus
WOW, how exciting Deborah. When do you set off? Hugs Xx
This coming Friday. Yikes! I’m excited and a little anxious too. Will I be ready in time?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
Absolutely, you will Deborah. Have a ball my lovely, as I know you will. xX
30 days – wow! What a way to wake up from the long winter’s nap and weird springtime weather!
May your newly grown-out hair tossle in the breezes of the Amalfi Coast…
Thanks, Laura! I hope there’s lots of cooling breezes along that coast. Otherwise, my hair will probably be pulled up on my head–all that heat and humidity!
That’s great Debbie! I know you’ll have a fantastic time. Good to see those old photos of Kelli and Blue Spurr Sarah. Happy days…
Thanks, Jess! I’m really excited. So good to be going back. And yes, some of those old photos of the girls are classic.
“A whirlwind romance” indeed! May you soak up all the European art and history to your heart’s content. I have fond memories of Barcelona for its Gaudí architecture and Lake Como for its serenity, so I’ll be interested to read about your own discoveries in these areas.
Thank you! I will. And I’ll be happy to report back on my travels. I can’t wait!