To Voyage Without Fear
Sicily is a beautiful clash of cultures. Perhaps unfairly memorialized by the infamous mafia activity in the 20th century, Sicily should bring to mind a rich, diverse culture influenced by many different empires.
What a fantasy to house sit in Sicily for a month. We couldn’t believe our luck - from the picturesque French Alps to postcard-worthy Sicily? Our month in Sicily did turn out to be a fairy tale, with all the twists and turns that those tales often provide.
There was no mistaking the fact that we crossed the border from Switzerland to Italy. As we made our way to Florence, chalet-style houses immediately morphed into old Tuscan villas. We were racing through an Italian landscape painting, with each twist and turn offering glimpses into the lives of those who lived between the brush... Continue Reading →
Pompeii is another one of those places you feel like you’ve always known about. Frozen in time, it’s an awe-inspiring window into the distant past that can make a few thousand years feel like a few minutes. Although our house sit obligation in Sicily was fast approaching, we planned a short stopover to see Pompeii... Continue Reading →
It was only a matter of time before we ended up in Rome. All roads do lead there, after all.
Ah, Florence! How to even describe you. The blooming heart of the Renaissance. Home to some of the greatest artworks of all time. Central base of the Medici political dynasty. Not to mention the dreamy vistas, mouthwatering gelato, and romantic Arno river. We’d finally made it to Bella Italia!
Leaving the frigid city blocks of Oslo, it was time to head south and gain some altitude. We took a short plane journey over to Paris for the next leg of our trip. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t be spending anytime in my favorite city, as not long after our plane landed, we were on a high... Continue Reading →
We had originally planned on spending a month in Norway. We wanted to explore the countryside, spend Christmas in the same area my mother’s ancestors are from, and get a real feel for the culture and traditions. However, we were offered a house sit in the French Alps for most of December into January, and... Continue Reading →
Iceland looks like it is part of a different planet. Depending on where you are on the island, you can see wildly different terrains. There are extensive lava fields, conical volcanoes, black sand beaches, towering basalt columns, endless flatlands, and creeping glaciers. These are just several examples within a few hours of Reykjavik, and the... Continue Reading →
I first went to Iceland in October of 2017. With WOW Air, Iceland’s budget airline, it’s amazingly affordable to get to Iceland, even it’s just for a long weekend. More and more tourists are flocking to Iceland, so many that tourism is one of Iceland’s top exports (alongside aluminum, in fact). Given how popular it... Continue Reading →
