Our Stay at a Vineyard Retreat near Gaiole in Tuscany

italian cypress evergreen trees at ll colombaio di cencio Vineyard, gaiole in chianti, itay

laneway to the Cottage at Il Colombaio di Cencio, Gaiole, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 10

Bob’s and my sense of adventure was high the day we set off from Rome into the rural region of Tuscany.  After picking up our rental vehicle at the airport, beneath damp, grey skies, we negotiated the ring road out of Rome and soon found ourselves scooting along narrow country roads that would lead us to our farmhouse retreat at a winery near Gaiole. Read more

Visiting the Spanish Steps in Rome

photograph of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy

The Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy

On the afternoon that Bob and I landed in Rome, Italy, we were in dire need of a stretch given the long hours of travel time from Toronto.  Our accommodation,   Hotel Manfredi,   was centrally located in the Old Quarter so The Spanish Steps were less than ten minutes by foot from the hotel lobby.  It seemed a likely destination given its close proximity. Read more

Northern Potoo In The Mangrove Swamp At San Blas

Northern Potoo in the mangrove swamp at san blas, mexico, pic 5

On our boat tour through the mangrove swamp near San Blas, in Mexico, we saw no less than three Northern Potoos, one of the most highly-sought-after species for birdwatchers.  Bob and I had booked a week’s stay in the tiny fishing village on the Pacific Coast and planned to use our time wisely.  Known as a birding hotspot, the town attracts scores of avian enthusiasts, so we had to secure our guides and tours promptly upon arrival to ensure availability. Read more

Exploring The Colosseum And Its Underground In Rome

An image of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

Of all the ancient ruins in Rome, Italy, for me it was The Colosseum that I most looked forward to seeing and exploring.  We did not make straight there on our first full day in the city, but instead preferred to set the stage by checking out The Roman Forum just east of there which gave us a sneak peak of the iconic stadium from one vantage point. Read more

Reflections on our Travels to Rome

photograph of the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy

Rome Italy Skyline

In August 2015, Bob and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary so we wanted to further mark the occasion with a memorable trip.  Never having visited Italy, we figured that a jaunt to the city of Rome would be a good place to start our 3-week vacation.  After all, it is considered amongst the top ten romantic cities in the world. Read more

Our Bike Ride On Inishmore Island

rental bikes on inishmore island, ireland, pic 2

Bob and I had spent the early part of one morning touring the ancient fort, Dun Aonghasa, and photographing the wide variety of wildflowers at that location, so by the time we returned to our accommodations at  Kilmurvey House  ,  our rental bikes were ready and waiting for us.  A quick stop at the nearby cafe afforded us some sandwiches and apples that were tucked into our backpacks before setting off on our bike ride on Inishmore Island. Read more

Roosters Cockfighting near Ocampo in Mexico

roosters cockfighting near angangueo - mexico 4

The second morning following our arrival in Mexico, Bob and I took full advantage of a perfect sunny day to go to Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca “El Rosario” to witness the phenomenon of wintering Monarchs by the millions.  Getting there was half the adventure, and unexpected sights such as a spur-of-the-moment cockfight at roadside certainly made the trip interesting. Read more

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