Six Hearts One Journey
The Unfettered Quest…
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Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Maya
August 2016: Updated photos from our most recent visit: This July and August, we spent a full week at Secrets Maroma and just loved it! From the most stunning, white sand beach to the exquisite dining, it is now one of my favorite resorts in all of the Riviera Maya and Cancun area. Here is a quick synopsis: This is a lovely, active, fun resort set on one of the most gorgeous beaches in all of Mexico. It is laid back and relaxed, but also offers an active, energetic vibe. The dining… Read More
A Photoblog on Siena, Italy
Siena is by far one of the most enchanting medieval cities we have ever visited. It is spectacular and charming and is nestled in the heart of Tuscany. I know I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but the most advantageous way to explore a gem like this one is on foot for hours, over several days. Yes, Siena can definitely be seen and enjoyed in one day. It’s a relatively easy day trip from Florence. Once you realize how special it is, however, I’m guessing you’ll want to spend… Read More
Exploring Florence, Italy
Florence in a day? No way! While you can Google many sample 1-day itineraries for a visit to Florence (really, do it now), there is NO way you would even begin to scratch the surface of this beautiful city in such a short timeframe! I first visited Florence while backpacking through Europe over 20 years ago with one of my best friends. I had no idea how special Florence was, as I was not into art and architecture. I had no appreciation for it at that time. What a missed opportunity! I… Read More
A Snapshot of Venice, Italy
Venice. It’s such an extraordinary city. I’ve always thought of it as a romantic destination – so much so that when my best friend from college and I backpacked through Europe, I declined taking a gondola ride with her. I wanted my first ride to be with my husband. Isn’t that crazy? And yet…almost 20 years later, it finally happened! I got that first gondola ride, and it was indeed with my husband! Of course, this many years later, we also had our four kids with us, but it was still romantic…. Read More
Danny in Capri, Italy
Capri is one of the most beautiful place I have seen! Capri is very very small, and it is an island near Naples, Italy. Capri has great views, everywhere! If you climb up the mountain, there is an amazing hike you can take, and when you are at the top, you can look down on the ocean! It is so beautiful! Capri also has lots of alleys that have tons of houses lined up. Most of the houses are in the wall actually, well a lot where I was, that is what… Read More
The Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre, translated “Five Lands”, is located on the Italian Riviera, just west of La Spezia and an easy train ride away from Florence. It is made up of five beautiful seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. Colorful homes cling to steep terraces, fishing boats float in azure water, and brave villagers dive from rocky cliffs into the cold sea water. While you could definitely spend a few days here, we chose to visit Cinque Terre in one day, and it was definitely doable, given the fantastic transportation system, a… Read More
Dining in Sonoma and Napa Valley, CA
We have had the opportunity to dine in many different countries this past year, and I can unashamedly say the Sonoma and Napa Valley restaurants rival some of our favorites! We lived in Southern CA for six years but for some reason, I was never made aware of how enjoyable to dining experience was here. Had I known, I never would have waited so long to visit. Below are a few highlights: Le Bouchon Bakery in Napa: Some of the most amazing food I’ve ever tasted. We read about this bakery and then heard… Read More
Sonoma and Napa Valley, CA
We have finally settled back into life in Chicago. Ryan recently began a new job at Glassdoor, and flew out to California for a 3-week training. What a perfect excuse for me to hop back onto a plane and fly to the West Coast! After all, three weeks is just a little too long to be separated, isn’t it? Is it my fault the training was changed to two weeks AFTER I purchased tickets to CA? 🙂 Interesting but after living in CA for six years, having three of our four children… Read More
Pompeii Photoblog
Pompeii is a popular day trip from Rome, though we prefer to visit Pompeii as we leave Rome and wind our way to the Amalfi Coast. It’s a perfect stopover spot between the Eternal City and the Amalfi Coast and/or Capri and takes about two hours to visit. According to History.com, Pompeii was a flourishing resort town five miles south of Vesuvius, where the wealthy would escape the bustling city life and enjoy soaking in the sun. Elegant villas dotted the paved streets of Pompeii and even today, you can envision what the… Read More
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