The US friend I mentioned in the introduction to my Travel Page was here for her annual visit to Italy, and we took our traditional short trip. This time it was to London (with a quick peek at Oxford, too). One of the things we did was visit Kew Gardens and have high tea. I had never heard of the gardens that I recall. It was interesting and a lovely park. The grounds are beautiful, relaxing, and so interesting. The green hop-on/hop-off bus helped us cover a lot of ground, an

After walking around Oxford, we finished the day in the King's Arms, known locally as the KM. Another high-energy atmosphere, happy people, great vibe. I dearly miss my university years.  Wadham College now owns the building, and Young & Co.'s Brewery operates the King's Arms. Founded in Wandsworth, London in 1831, the Brewery, known simply as Young's, and today owns 290 pubs and inns across London and southern England. The front of the pub was busy with people mingling and c

The Turf Tavern a Very Old Pub During our London trip, we took the train to Oxford and had lunch at The Turf. The Turf Tavern began as a malt house in the 13th century beside Oxford's medieval city wall. The building still shows features from earlier centuries, including its timber beams and low ceilings. As recorded during the 1381 reign of King Richard II, the tavern operated as a drinking house. It was originally called the "Spotted Cow" and was a place for gambling and be

Falling in Love with London I took a short trip to London a couple of weeks ago and fell in love. (Well, my true, only city love is San Francisco, but Seattle is a close second, and now so is London!) The exchange rate was dismal for the dollar. If your money is the pound or the euro, now is the time to visit the US. Oops, sorry, I think it's closed to foreigners. The British money sure is pretty, and it's plastic. It has an odd but solid feeling. Flying Out of Ancona Airport

Jesi, Ancona in the Marche region of Italy My first visit to Italy in 2019 was filled with many interactions and local fun. The country was new and exciting; the people were very friendly, and I chatted with everyone. Walking down a quiet cobblestone road in a castle in Jesi (Marche, Italy), we passed two men installing a lamp above a door. Their small van parked on the narrow road made passing by a little tight. "Buongiorno, sono Americana" (hello, I am American), I said as

Montefalco, Italy Walking through a castle, as one does in Italy, enjoying the shops and the people in Montefalco, Italy, a town in the Umbria region of Italy, we came across the Church of Sant'Agostino , a small Gothic-style church built in the 13th century. It was completed in 1275 and dedicated to Saint Augustine , Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The church is in between shops and across from a butcher—an odd juxtaposition. The front is unremarkable, aside from the large

Italy wasn't a travel destination for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful country, and I like the idea of traveling far and wide, but I'm a homebody. My travel dreams were limited to a few trips focused on nature and animals, such as whale-watching in Alaska and encounters with elephants in Asia or Africa. Or, I'd occasionally dream about a trip to Ireland, where my grandmother and ancestors lived. In reality, these were passing thoughts because I dreaded the idea of tra