Walking Tour of Rome

I have walked and walked and walked the city of Rome.  I have visited 5 times now and each time fought with that map and the horribly crooked streets that are hard to follow.  But I was determined to see as much as I could in the short time that I had.  And I did.  I loved it all. 

I loved the Spanish Steps, at the Piazza de Spagna.  I would love to just sit at the steps with someone and "hang out" for a while.  But there is always such limited time and I have to hurry to get to the next site. 

The Fontana de Trevi is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. I could spend hours shooting that architecture.

The Trevi Fountain is a little difficult to find on your own.  The surrounding streets are crooked and not all of them appear on the map.  I am not that great with a map in the first place, and have no sense of direction.  But suddenly you turn a corner and there it is. 

The figures in the fountain tell a story.  The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea.  Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water.  (I emptied my purse).

 

Continuing on to Castel Sant'Angelo, the cylindrical building that used to be a fortress, now a museum.  Once used as a prison, the Popes turned it into a castle.  This castle is connected to St. Peter's Basilica (The Vatican). 

I've also visited the Pantheon, the most complete ancient building in Rome.  It is absolutely worth it to take the time and go inside.  The dome is amazing.  Michelangelo studied this dome before beginning his work on St. Peter's Basilica. 

Also steeped in history is the Colosseum.  Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiator contests and public spectacles. 

I love every bit of Rome and can not wait to go back sometime and walk the city again. 

The Waterways of Venice

Venice is such a beautiful city, full of photographic charm.  I was here in the fall of 2006 and was barely into photography.  I got a couple of nice shots, but would love to go back and get a few thousand more. 

One of the highlights is the sail into Venice - you go though miles of picturesque waterways and can see St. Mark's Square from the deck. 

St. Mark's Square is a fun place to just walk around and shop.  You have to purchase some Murano glass...  and you can not leave hungry!

Pizzas, pastas - all kinds of wonderful Italian cuisine - but most of all, the gelato. There's nothing like it.

There's also nothing like a gondola ride through the waterways of Venice.  Truly one of life's pleasures.

I would love to go back again.  And again.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini has one of the most spectacular landscapes in Greece.  The villages are built on tall cliffs, offering a breathtaking view over a submerged volcano.  I went to the village of Oia, which has some of the most incredible views - and shopping!

   

Bell towers and blue domes - the signature of Greece. 

  

 Colorful pastels and Mediterranean charm.  I was here in August, 2008.

Tiny paths, whitewashed buildings, narrow walkways - and the blue Mediterranean waters.  It is such a picturesque place.  The shopping was a lot of fun.  A lot of symbols of Greece - jewelry and many other items with the symbol of infinity. 

Taormina, Italy

Taormina, Italy is a quaint little town to just walk around on your own. You start on one end and walk all the way to the other, until you reach the grand theater. I spent most of my time at the theater because it offered spectacular views of the blue mediterranean waters with the ship drifting peacefully in the background. 

This is an nice view of the theater from the back. 

I did a lot of climbing up and down those steps!  I tried to shoot from all angles and had to work around the sun - and the ship drifting.  I was there in August of 2008 and it was very hot.

Little shops line the streets to and from the theater.

Love the blue hues of the Mediterranean.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The walled city of Dubrovnik is also known as "the Pearl of the Adriatic".  The Old Town of Dubrovnik is a neat place to just stroll through at leisure. 

Edinburgh, Scotland

My day in Edinburgh, Scotland was spent at the castle, and then some free time to walk around the city.  I love the Scottish kilts.  Our Captain on the ship - Captian O'Neil - was from Scotland and he wore his kilt in the evenings. 

I bought a few things, some jewelry with the Celtic design.  The family symbols or clan coat of arms was prominent here, and I found the coat of arms for "Fletcher" which is my mom's maiden name. 

This "castle" in Scotland is where I made the important distinction between castles in Europe and castles in the British Isles.  I was envisioning gold and grandeur, and was a little surprised by these old ruins.  But beautiful in their own way, and full of history. 

The Edinburgh Castle houses the crown jewels of Scotland.  On display were the crown, sword, and sceptre. 

Other cities visited in Scotland were Isle of Skye and Portree.  There was a group of us from the office onboard, and we all met at a local pub for fish and chips. 

And, of course, you can't leave Scotland without seeing the Loch Ness monster.

Belfast, Ireland

The thing I remember most about Belfast was the graffiti.  The shots I did get were taken through a bus window.  All of the guides spoke of the political turmoil this country has gone through, it was quite interesting.

I also remember a small park area where people "hung out" and there was a memorial to the lost lives of the Titanic.

I visited the British Isles in September of 2007.

Dublin, Ireland

I had a day to walk around  Dublin and it was much too big of a city to try to walk it.  I spent more time walking and it took forever to get anywhere.  I walked to St. Patrick's Cathedral (left) and went inside. 

I saw the Book of Kells on display in the Library of Trinity College.  The Book of Kells contains the four gospels of the New Testament - St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John, written in Latin.

During all that walking, and being in Ireland, I did see a few pubs along the way.

Nice & Eze, France

I have flown into Nice several times as it is the airport to catch the ship when it sails out of Nice or Monte Carlo.  The airport is right on the coast, you fly in from the water.  I spent the day one time, with friends.   Nice has the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean coast.

On our day in Nice we traveled a short distance to Eze.  Cute little place to walk around.  It is a little hilltop city, right on the coast.  Lots of little shops and cafes, a neat place to visit.