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The Magellan Expedition
  • Amy and Pat Taylor

The Magellan Expedition

24 Days. Switzerland, Italy, Croatia & Spain. Traveling with Gary and Patty. Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 17, 2025
    Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Travelling Light

    August 17 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    The whole packing thing has been a big part of the lead up.

    Of course, we have all the planning, reservations (Planes, Trains, Automobiles), tours bikes, etc, but the packing has been a thing. Not a bad thing - a fun challenge.

    24 days. 1 carry-on suit case and 1 personal item each (with our biking helmet in the carry-on) .

    We are not checking bags. There will be hikes from trains to hotels over stone pavers.

    We have a week in the tight quarters of a sailing yatch.

    And fortunately, My Lovely has got this.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    We Ain't There Yet. But gonna get there

    August 17 in the United States ⋅ 🌩️ 79 °F

    Yes, we began our trip by learning a lesson.

    Our flight out of Nashville was delayed. Delayed so long (more than 90 minutes) that we missed our connection in Philly to Zurich. There were a dozen people on our flight trying to make international connections - 5 of them for our flight.

    Let me cut past the chase. We got to the gate at 7:01 for a 7:05 departure - - - and they had closed the gate door. We missed our flight.

    The gate agent fussed that we know that should be at the gate at least 15 minutes early.

    The Lesson Learned: In the future, when we are going overseas, be in the departure city 12 hours in advance spend the night if neccessary.

    But let's look at the positive side.

    The first positive is that My Lovely is a trooper. We ran for it. She ran.

    The second positive is that My Lovely didn't let this bring her down. It was a roll with the punches thing. I love this lady.

    3rd Positive: (THIS IS THE CHASE)
    We caught a ride with Cole Trickle (Days Of Thunder reference). As I said, we ran. We ran some more. We limped for 15 seconds and ran some more. And then I saw the guy that drives the electric cart and I let out a whistle. He stopped. We jumped on, My Lovely behind the driver and me in the very back (facing backwards). We invited 2 others that were also trying to catch a flight. And off he went. This dude left OJ running through the airport in his dust (a really old Hertz commercial). Seriously, he was pedal to the metal. And he wasn't scared of his horn. This guy really wasn't scared of anything. Not even the speeding tickets. Not the cop cams. He was weaving this big cart through travelers without a second thought. He was driving so hard that I was trying to get to my wallet to get a tip for him, but I couldn't let go or I would have been thrown out --- that is no exaggeration. Once we got to the gate and had obviously missed the flight, I got him taken care of.

    4th Positive: We are still going, but we will get there about 9 hours later. We will miss walking around Zurich with Gary and Patty, but the purpose of going to Zurich (for us) was to take the Bernina Express. That is still on the table.

    5th Positive: Look at the previous footprint. 24 says in a carry-on and a personal bag. We still have all our luggage.

    6th Positive: Our concern at this point is being fresh. We don't want 1 thing to mess up the next thing. A life lesson "Never let 2 bad things happen back to back". So we booked a room for a nap during the extra long layover in London so that we are rested and happy. My Lovely was all about it.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
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    Hotel Albergo Milano, Varenna

    August 19 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    We really enjoyed our time in Varenna. I thought it might be too much time, but Pat was right...it was perfect. Patty loved our small hotel, the Albergo Milano, in Varenna. Who wouldn't? It was right on the shore and our side by side rooms had beautiful Terraces. We spent some time every day enjoying the views from there. Also very cool is the fact that the hotel is always in the images of Varenna, so all the paintings and artwork usually include it.Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
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    Menaggio

    August 20 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    The are many villages on Lake Como, but the prime trio are Bellagio, Menaggio and Varrenna, all connected by ferry rides.

    Bellagio is by far the more well known with more shopping, restaurants and tourists.

    Our time in Menaggio was relaxed. Just a couple of hours spent there. A visit in a lovely little church with an interesting exhibit of crocheted dolls, a little light shopping and of course - gelato.

    From Amy...I might have fallen in love with some adorable carved ducks ...there might be one coming home via mail....    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
    11

    Shop Hard

    August 20 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 70 °F

    Today was the day without planned activities. A relaxing day? Yes, we were very relaxed. capital One and the shop owners gave us 2 thumbs up because we were so relaxed. We shopped hard.

    Me and my shoes. My Lovely and her new purse. A necklace for a sweet little girl, a souvenir for a friend, a print for us and a few other little tidbits. That was just for us. Patty made a bit of a splash as well. We were so fortunate that the shop owners supplied us so well.

    Bellagio was beautiful. Yes, we saw things other than the shops. Beautiful old buildings, olive trees, pretty flowers and of course, the lake. It wasn't as crowded as I had expected. Nothing in a rush - not for us and not for others.

    We have another stop today in Menaggio. We will see if the tally increases, but I doubt it.

    And tonight, we are dressing for dinner. We have to pick outfits for our shoes and purse.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Villa Monastero

    August 21 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Varenna, a short walk past the piazza.

    A little history first.
    Villa Monastero was initially a monastery founded at the end of the 12th century on the shores of Lake Como. At that time, the monastery was more like a farmhouse as opposed to the palace it is now.

    At the beginning of the 17th century it was transformed into more of a palace. Then remodeled a couple more times in the 1800's.

    Confiscated by Germany during WWI. Ultimately owned by a swiss couple who donated the property to the state in 1937 so that it could create a museum and an institute for hydrogeological studies. It now hosts scientific conferences and tourists. .

    We enjoyed a relaxing morning in touring the museum and botanical gardens. The grounds stretch along the shore.

    Peaceful. Beautiful. Views of the lake and mountains. A large variety of plant life, but not over done or over crowded.

    The villa museum was a walk back in time. Again, the ceilings grab you. Here, everything is a canvas.

    A morning spent walking hand in hand. A perfect vacation day.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Rained Out - by a Sprinkle

    August 21 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 68 °F

    Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
    A tale of a cancelled trip,
    That started from this Italian port
    Along this tourist strip.

    The mate was a mighty sailing man,
    The skipper brave and sure.
    Four passengers were to set sail that day
    For a four hour tour, a four hour tour.

    The spinkles started getting rough,
    The tiny ship was aborted,
    If not for the courage of the shopping crew
    The day would be lost, the day would be lost.

    The afternoon was saved by a little light reading, six stores that needed to be shopped and a tad bit of gelato.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Villa del Balbianello

    August 22 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    This is a venerable estate on the shores of Lake Como with ties back to the Catholic Church as it was originally a Fransican Monestary and later owned by a cardinal.

    However, this tour is more of a modern history. The last owner, Guido Monzino, who died at age 60 in 1988, and donated the estate.

    Monzino gained his wealth from owning department stores. A single man and an avid explorer.

    This tour was actually the most enjoyable home I have toured. The home and grounds were stunning.

    It was old and concurrent with my lifetime as well (that actually could be sad). This was relatable (not the wealth, but the timeframe).

    Adventuresome - Monzino was an explorer. He planned, financed and participated in many expeditions over 20 years, including Mt Everest. The first (and so far only) Italian led expedition. He also led an old school expedition to the north pole utilizing sleds and teams of huskies. His collections were fun to see.

    And last but not least, there was the Star Wars connection. There were scenes from the "Attack of the Clones" that were shot here. And while I do not have a connection to it, we do have a connection to boys. There was no minor amount of fun in getting photos to share with the boys.

    I have to mention a couple of things about the Star Wars Connection. The place is gorgeous and photo worthy, but the lines were formed for the Star Wars photos. 2 different locations and the fans were particular to get the photo correct. We were fortunate to have a fan in our tour group to help us along. Additionally, there was a couple of older (I think) Japanese ladies in our group that needed to leave the tour early or miss their boat. The question they asked before making their decision?

    "Will there be any more Star Wars stuff to see?"

    After getting photos of My Lovely in the pose and in the position, I could not wait to text the boys (sleeping in the middle of the night back in the states). I wanted them to wake to pictures of mom and Star Wars.

    Jacob's response..." So freaking jealous....How did you get on Naboo?" (Answer ..smuggled aboard the Millennium Falcon!)

    Sam's response to Bear's pic..."Bro's literally Anakin!"

    So much fun!    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Castle Serendipity

    August 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Castle serendipity

    My Lovely said "Biggest Surprise".

    The surprise was that it was twice, or thrice, as much fun as we expected.

    More than a couple "Princess Bride" references. Jesting about the castle provided for a merry time. More complete than we expected, we were transported to a child like place. Who wouldn't want to cross the draw bridge and ascend the Keep.

    The shields, weapons and coat of arms, I wished the boys could have been with us.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Ghosts of Vezio Castle

    August 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Credit: mymodernmet.com

    When visiting Castello di Vezio, you aren't alone. There are “Ghosts” that dot the grounds.

    These ghosts of Vezio are plaster casts made by the managers of the castle each year. Tourists volunteer to have plaster fitted to them, which are used to create these ghostly figures. They are then left to the elements throughout the winter until a new season begins and the ghosts are cast anew. These ghosts are one of the castle's biggest attractions, but why are they on the grounds and what do they represent?

    It's all linked to a legend about why the castle was built in the first place.

    The castle was built thanks to the wishes of Theodelinda. She was the queen of the Lombards, the Germanic people who ruled this part of Italy for several hundred years. It's said that she spent the last years of her life in the area and wished to leave behind a church and oratory with a prominent bell tower as part of her legacy.

    Though that never happened, the legend states that her heart and soul are buried within the walls of the Vezio Castle and that her soul wanders its halls on moonless nights. These plaster sculptures are a physical representation of that legend that certainly adds to the beauty and mystery of the castle.

    If you want to get a glimpse of them in person, the Vezio Castle is open every year from March until early November.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
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    Have Fun Storming the Castle

    August 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Castello de Vezio exceeded expectations. Not only mine, but all four of us.

    We expected ruins. And yes, these were ruins, but with plenty still intact including an outer wall and a castle tower (known as "A Keep"), complete with a draw bridge.

    We got to climb the Keep to the top and enjoy the fabulous views.

    At each stage of the tower, weapons, armor, flags and the like were displayed. I could not help but think of the boys as I looked at the weapons.

    The ruins were great, but in such Italian style, the grounds were impeccably manicured.

    Then to top it all off, we went there to enjoy an aperitif. Again exceeding expectations. The presentation was beautiful. The flavors were some of the best so far, and the portions... simply too much. We expected to tease our appetites, it was dinner with leftovers.

    We had so much fun, there will be several footprints to house all the photos.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Medieval Aperitivo

    August 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    In Italy, an aperitivo (aperitif) is a cultural ritual, not just a drink, that involves enjoying a low-alcohol beverage and snacks in the early evening to stimulate the appetite before dinner.

    This was so much more. The evening was already a tremendous success as we had just been frolicking in the Castle, absorbed the grounds; and been mesmerized by the views. Now, we were ready to treat our taste buds.

    A prosecco and a Chianti Canaiolo.

    A charcuterie of pizza, Parma ham, prosciutto and salami, goat cheese, carmelized onions, tomatoes and mozzarella, grapes, peppers and more.

    Dusk graced us al fresco. Light music in the background and the panorama everywhere else. A perfect evening.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Dancing in the Street

    August 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    You know the evening was already a success when there is dancing in the street.

    Need I say more?

    41 years of marriage, a whimsical evening, a stroll through the tiny village and music from across the valley!

    Magic!    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
    311

    Lake Ride

    August 23 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    After getting rained out (lightly sprinkled out) on Thursday, we got to enjoy our day on the lake.

    With Captian Gary driving us around Lake Como, we got to see the opposing views, all the towns and villages perched on the sides of the surrounding mountains.

    There were sailboats, wind surfers and kite sailors. My Lovely is enchanted by the mountains and she got her fill as the cool lake water sprayed about.

    Locating the castle from the lake was a highlight (after the fabulous evening before), as was seeing so many churches in each of the towns.

    We were very fortunate with the weather and the wonderful company. Thank you Patty and Gary for being with us on this journey    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Travel Day

    August 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Today we made the commute from Lake Como to Florence (about 241 miles). In Italy you travel by train whenever possible. Train travel is so pleasant. Plenty of room, no hassle, easy in and out.

    On our ride, the train reached a top speed of 340 k/hr (211 mph) and it felt like 50 mph.

    The highlight of the day was lunch. We finally found good gluten free food for Gary. The food was incredibly tasteful and we brought half of it back to the flat.

    Our home here in Florence is an Air B&B. It is an authentic Italian flat. It is nice and quaint.

    Mom wanted a purse from Italy and Florence is the place. We got in early enough to dip into several shops.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Our Firenza Apartment!

    August 24 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Our lodging in Florence (Firenza) was a very charming apartment in the heart of old Florence. It was called Oasis in the Heart of Florence. We were within walking distance to mostly everything we wanted to see. Our host did arrange several taxis for us also. We were surrounded by restaurants and shops. Close to the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. We very much enjoyed it!Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    The Duomo

    August 25 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

    Like so many of the churches here, it is impossible to see all there is to see.

    Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the largest churches in the world: its layout consists of a basilica with three naves, but today I learned why everyone simply calls it the Duomo.

    The dome is overwhelming. Of course the entirety (inside and out) is filled with art, history a d beauty, but the dome which is octagonal, is the centerpiece. It us a series of frescos and is stunning to see from the floor. But if one is willing to do the 437 steps (we did not), one could see it all much closer.

    There is so much there from clocks to sculptures to stained glass, but truly enjoyed what the guide taught us about the clock.

    It is a 24 hour clock that runs counterclockwise. The day begins at sunset and measures 24 hours until the next sunset. And every 10 days the clock has to be adjusted as the daylight times grow longer or shorter. The day begins at sunset. Who knew?    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Piazzale Michelangelo and the Troubadour

    August 25 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 75 °F

    Florence

    Most of today was a "free day". Well not so much free, there was shopping involved, but mostly unplanned. Meaning shopping wherever we wanted.

    After our Duomo tour, we went back to the condo for lunch (fabulous leftovers from yesterday), and a little relaxing.

    Then it was off to the Ponte Vecchio where we shopped and gelatoed.

    We another round of relaxing prior to the nightcap.

    Piazzale Michelangelo Sunset

    The Piazzale Michelangelo overlooks the Florence, the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo.

    We took pictures while waited for the sunset while we listened to a troubadour playing romantic classics on his violin.

    Some silly people may have burst a few bubbles too.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
    21

    Excursion to Siena

    August 26 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Excursion to Siena

    We took an excursion to Siena to visit the town, and to have a winery dinner.

    The tour of the Cathedral of Siena is another awe inspiring event for us. It is truly amazing how art, marble etchings, and sculptures can tell the history of the bible. And again, there was so much. To account for all the art would be like counting the gains of sand on the beach.

    Aside from the Cathedral, of course, Siena had shops that needed shopping. We found a nice Christmas ornament made of Morano glass. And the day would not have been complete without gelato.

    But the purpose of the trip, and highlight of the day was the winery dinner.

    We had a good time. Our host, whom we would have sworn was the grandson of the winery owner but said he was not related, was entertaining. He was quite boisterous and humorous.

    For the second time, we had onion jam. I will try to make the onion jam when we get home.

    The winery was a winner, if for no other reason than we entered the evening with an attitude of fun and continued through to a sweet end.

    The sun set as we dined. A fingernail moon and the last bit of sunlight glowing from the clouds silhouetted the crest of a ridge.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler
    1

    Prosecco!!! Il Ciliegio Winery

    August 26 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    It wasn't the wine, it was the winery.

    When I'm having brunch, my heart and mind are relaxed and inviting. Such was the setting at our wine dinner.

    After a short introduction (in Italian - and not really tranlated, but fun to watch the 78 ish owner interact with our guide Gabriello, laughing and obviously glad to have us as his guests) we were invited to a prosecco. Sparkling wine just makes me happy.

    Dinner was simple and fresh and 100% Italian. Each item accompanied with wine and an explanation from our wonderful host, Mirco.

    A light charcuterie with meat, cheese, polenta brochetta, and onion jam served. Rigatoni with meat sauce. Hanger steak with roasted potatoes. Biscotti with dessert wine.

    It wasn't the menu, it was the festivity. It wasn't the location, it was the setting. It wasn't the sunset, it was the silhouettes that led us up the hill in the vineyard.

    We loved our wine dinner. My Lovely ordered up simply perfect weather, and our evening sparkled.    Read more

  • Amy and Pat TaylorThe Magellan ExpeditionTraveler

    Fashion at Pitti Palace part 1

    August 27 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    One of the exhibits at Pitti Palace was a fashion through the years exhibit. We all enjoyed it, but this post is especially for you, Momma! We thought you would enjoy this! Enjoy!

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