Before we took off for Europe in September, I posted my nine pre-trip expectations. Let’s check in to see how those expectations worked out.
Cinque Terra in the Off-Season, or Maddie Jacobs to the Rescue
Riamaggiore was quiet as a morgue. We arrived in mid-November to find no life on the streets and most of the shops had closed for the winter; the only travelers we met in our first hours in town were completely annoying. Traveling through Italy in […]
Pompeii – the Antidote for Art, City and Penis Fatigue
After two and a half weeks in Rome, Venice, Florence, and Naples, we were a little burned out. It is possible to see too much exquisite art; cities can wear you out. And you can only look at so many penises.
Mt. Etna Erupts, or I Don’t Get to Climb Mt. Etna
We were at the train station in Naples buying train tickets for Taormina. Unbeknownst to us, Mt. Etna was at that moment erupting, coating Taormina in a layer of volcanic ash, sand and rock.
Returning to Rome: Part II
This time, Rome blew my mind. Somehow when I visited 12 years ago, I didn’t appreciate it enough, it didn’t make such a huge impression on me.
11 Things I Learned Traveling in Turkey and Greece
1. People kiss in Greece like the world is ending We sat down at a coffee shop and from over my shoulder I heard a tremendous slurping noise. I expected to look over and see a parched Saint Bernard drinking water from a big trough. […]
12 Photos of Rome at Night in Black & White
Rome is magical every minute of the day, but to me it is most special at night. After sunset, the tour groups disband, Romans start to reclaim the coffee shops and bars, and the piazzas fill with performers, lovers, artists and photographers. A relaxed vibe […]
A Photo Tour of Meteora – the Coolest Place in Greece You May Not Know About
Before I decided to go to Greece, I had never heard of Meteora. Greece is famous for Athens and the Parthenon, sandy beaches and Santorini sunsets. I didn’t realize the country was so mountainous and full of interesting sights on the mainland.
On Returning to Rome and 9/11
Today, I am going back to Rome. When I went 12-plus years ago, it was the most hectic, chaotic city I’d been to at that time. Although I loved it, I never did quite relax and enjoy it. Now, having been to much crazier places […]
Pamukkale – A Land of Surreal Landscapes and Strange Tourists
We went to Pamukkale for the surreal landscapes and the Roman ruins. Although very beautiful and interesting, we found the tourists to be more entertaining. Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle,” is a white cliff face formed by the calcified deposits of mineral waters that rush from […]
10 Photos of a Stunning Santorini Sunset
I don’t know what to say about the sunset we saw last night. Words and photos can’t do it justice. It was the type of sunset that proves the existence of God.
The Trails and Tribulations of Driving a Rental Car in Greece
As we drove our rental car out of downtown Hania with no problems, I thought, “That was easy.” Little did I know, more challenging driving situations were, literally, right around the corner.
Planet Bell 