Currently traveling

January 2023

Around the world (well, almost!) on the Costa Deliziosa cruise ship. Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Footprints
Photos

January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 24
Friday, January 13, 2023 at 10:29 AM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
Italy Ludus Magnus 41.889512, 12.49340541°53’22” N 12°29’36” E
Coliseum Selfie
January 13, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
Brace yourself for a selfie barrage! (We used to carry a selfie stick, but Larry’s long arms are much more convenient. But I forget to post the photos he takes sometimes, so I’m catching up.)
3 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 24
Friday, January 13, 2023 at 10:29 AM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
Italy Ludus Magnus 41.889563, 12.49334241°53’22” N 12°29’36” E
Roman Coliseum
January 13, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
One of the first stops on our walking tour of Rome today was its coliseum, which is THE coliseum, really.

Its name comes from the statue of Apollo you see in the photo that our guide, Antonella, is holding.

See how freaking huge that statue was?

Nero commissioned this statue, which became known as “the Colossus.” It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Too bad it’s no longer standing, although a statue that big seems a little scary to me!Read more
2 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 24
Friday, January 13, 2023 at 9:01 AM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 72 ft
Italy Stazione di Santa Severa 42.029383, 11.9628842°1’46” N 11°57’46” E
Pringles Around the World
January 13, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
As a world traveler, I’ve come to expect Pringles to show up in every time zone. Here was have some Italian Pringles. Fittingly, they are pizza flavored!
3 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:31 PM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Western Mediterranean 42.896759, 6.62097842°53’48” N 6°37’16” E
Marseilles Sunset
January 12, 2023, Western Mediterranean ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
The sunset in Marseilles was glorious, too! More electric pastels as a fun day comes to an end.
2 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 11:03 AM
⛅ 48 °F
Altitude: 650 ft
France Aix-en-Provence (Convent)43.526425, 5.44676343°31’35” N 5°26’48” E
Around Town
January 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
This hodgepodge collection of photos are things that caught my eye today while wandering through Old Town Aix en Provence.

I see so many magnificent door knockers in Europe, so you can expect to see more of those!

I noticed many women sporting leopard print here, everything from pants, shirts, trim on collars, and so on.

As you can see, we passed an open air fish market, as well as a flower market.

The bronze bas relief is for someone named “Marcel Provence.” Since we’re in the Provence region, he certainly must be a bigwig.

As for “Les deux garçons,” this is a cafe that was frequented by the likes of local boy, Paul Cezanne, and Ernest Hemingway. Sadly, it burned down recently and is in the process of being restored.Read more
2 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 11:02 AM
⛅ 48 °F
Altitude: 650 ft
France Aix-en-Provence (Convent)43.526505, 5.44675543°31’35” N 5°26’48” E
Special Pastry
January 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
In Marseille, they have a special boat-shaped pastry that’s infused with orange flavors. It’s called a navette, and we always try it when visit the city.

Here in Aix en Provence, they also have a special boat-shaped pastry. Theirs is called a “Calisson,” so of course I tried it.

I forgot to take a photo of it before I chomped it down, but here’s a photo of the bakery that invented them. That’s where I had mine.

The sign you see explains the ingredients, which include almond paste (marzipan), which I love.

I really enjoyed the calissons today. They weren’t too sweet and pair well with coffee.Read more
1 like
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:26 AM
⛅ 46 °F
Altitude: 715 ft
France Cathédrale Saint Sauveur 43.531663, 5.44690843°31’54” N 5°26’49” E
Provence selfie
January 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
Here we are in Aix en Provence! (Pretty soon it will be too hot to wear my new hat, so I’m wearing it while I can.)
2 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:25 AM
⛅ 46 °F
Altitude: 715 ft
France Cathédrale Saint Sauveur 43.531672, 5.44695343°31’54” N 5°26’49” E
Cathedral Cops
January 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
We weren’t able to go inside the cathedral in Aix en Provence. Surprise, surprise!

Our guide said a “special meeting” was taking place inside. We certainly noticed a confluence of cops surrounding the entrance to the historic church.

And check out the moustache on that one guy! Does he look like he’s straight out of central casting, or what?Read more
1 like
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:09 AM
⛅ 46 °F
Altitude: 682 ft
France Place des Cardeurs 43.527855, 5.44867243°31’40” N 5°26’55” E
Mermaid Legs
January 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
I never noticed how common two legged mermaids were in the old days until we visited Copenhagen last summer and I saw the original Little Mermaid sculpture. She has two legs, not one as modern mermaids are depicted.

Since then, bipedal mermaids have been catching my eye!

Any thoughts? When did the shift from two legs to one occur?Read more
1 like
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 9:04 AM
☁️ 45 °F
Altitude: 600 ft
France Saint-Mitre 43.528172, 5.42945543°31’41” N 5°25’46” E
A Theme Emerges
January 12, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F
We toured Aix-en-Provence today. I’d never been before.

We passed Paul Cezanne’s birth house on the way into town. It’s closed to the public, though, so we couldn’t go insider.

We walked by several “hospital particuleur” as they call the fancy old homes, but none of them offered tours of the inside.

We passed a few churches along the way, as well, but as you may have guessed, none would allow us to entry.

So that was the theme of the day: Lovely on the outside, but no entry allowed!Read more
2 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 22
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 12:56 PM
☁️ 55 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
Italy Piazza del Brandale 44.309928, 8.48705544°18’36” N 8°29’13” E
It’s on!
January 11, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
Even though we’ve been aboard the ship for nearly a week, the world cruise officially starts now, it seems. When we returned to the ship today, they’d rolled out this special carpet!
Two to TravelEnjoy your world cruise.
1/11/23Reply
TravelerThanks! And you, too!!! :) If our ships pass each other, I shall wave!
1/13/23Reply
TravelerHow cool ! That's how you know where you're going next? Or you have an itinerary to follow?
1/11/23Reply
TravelerYes, the ship has a bunch of planned stops. It’s like a buffet; we get a little taste of a bunch of different places as we sail the seas.
1/13/23Reply
2 more comments
6 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 22
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 12:17 PM
☁️ 54 °F
Altitude: 79 ft
Italy Cattedrale dell'Assunta 44.307253, 8.48228844°18’26” N 8°28’56” E
Baby Pasta
January 11, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
In Italy, they sell small pasta for babies. The ones shown here are suitable for bambini 10 months or older!
0 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 22
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 7:47 AM
☁️ 50 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Ligurian Sea 44.280925, 8.55905844°16’51” N 8°33’33” E
Savona Sunrise
January 11, 2023, Ligurian Sea ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
Larry and I are still supremely jet lagged. Last night, I fell asleep at 9 and woke at 3am. I blame the vestiges of grief.

This morning’s sunrise in Savona, Italy was a vibrant entrance into another wonderful day!

We don’t have a tour planned, but I’m excited to explore the old town here. One of my quests is to find some ground coffee and some hair conditioner.

Usually, I can get away with just using the ship’s shampoo, but this stuff is drying my hair out.

As for the coffee, the coffee on this ship is terribly weak! They offer espresso, but it’s overpriced and just OK. You’d think there would be better offerings on an Italian ship, but there you go.

So my plan is to make some toddy coffee in our room’s frig. It’s worth a try! I’ll let you know how it goes.Read more
TravelerCoffee & conditioner...A DEF MUST !! Coffee def. Maybe try something for condtioner...liquid fabric softener...or even epsom salts???? So excited for our journey !! Thanks...as always!! XO
1/11/23Reply
My first serious girlfriend was from Savona. [marK]
1/11/23Reply
TravelerOh, wow. Did you meet her there?
1/13/23Reply
5 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 1:38 PM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Italy Rada di Napoli 40.807947, 14.27396740°48’29” N 14°16’26” E
Marseille Sunrise
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
As I snapped this sunrise, a woman walked up beside me and exclaimed, “Magnifique!”

The city you see in the distance is Marseille. I can hardly wait to see what marvels today will bring!
3 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 11:28 AM
⛅ 52 °F
Altitude: 62 ft
Italy Antiquarium of Pompeii 40.748192, 14.48347540°44’53” N 14°29’1” E
1 1 1 1 1 1
Pompeii Museum
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
Here’s a glimpse of the museum at Pompeii. I’m not sure how long it’s been here, but it wasn’t here when I visited back in 2011.

The ash petrified horse is a recent discovery. I was also surprised to see the teeth in one of the volcano victim’s mouth!Read more
Traveler Nice
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Cool
1/11/23Reply
Traveler OHHHHH WOW !!
1/11/23Reply
4 more comments
6 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 11:09 AM
🌧 52 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
Italy Forum at Pompeii 40.749317, 14.48602540°44’58” N 14°29’10” E
1 1 1
Laundry Basins in Pompeii
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 52 °F
Pretty sure both of these are laundry basins, although I fell behind the group at this point and didn’t hear the full explanation! Interesting that both feature women’s mouths for the water to come out. I’ll have to look this up when I get back home.Read more
Traveler Wow
1/11/23Reply
Traveler The mouths i find interesting
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Cool
1/11/23Reply
4 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 11:01 AM
🌧 52 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
Italy Lupanare 40.750325, 14.48686340°45’1” N 14°29’13” E
1 1
Ancient Brothel
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 52 °F
The Lupanare is one of Pompeii’s brothels. “Lupo” means “wolf.” According to our guide, the name “lupanare” comes from the bestial howls women working at the brothel made to attract customers.

The stone beds look quite uncomfortable to me, but I suppose folks weren’t there to sleep and any cushions they had are long gone.Read more
Traveler Looks more like a prison , huh
1/11/23Reply
TravelerTY
1/11/23Reply
Traveler this looks kind of brutal
1/12/23Reply
6 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 10:47 AM
🌧 52 °F
Altitude: 56 ft
Italy Terme Stabiane 40.74997, 14.4877840°44’60” N 14°29’16” E
1 2
The Stabian Baths
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 52 °F
Here are some shots of the Stabian Baths. These were public baths in Pompeii featuring a frigidarium (cold water), tepidarium (medium heat), and calderium (hot water.)
Traveler Wow...i've NEVER scene public baths.
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Pretty
1/11/23Reply
TravelerPretty cool
1/11/23Reply
I could spend hours just walking and looking!! How wonderful!!! [Trudy Jackson]
1/13/23Reply
4 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 10:41 AM
🌧 52 °F
Altitude: 66 ft
Italy Terme Stabiane 40.75008, 14.48800340°45’0” N 14°29’17” E
1 1 1
Phalluses in Pompeii
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 52 °F
I’m always on the lookout for interesting architectural details. In Pompeii, a unique feature were all the penises!

They do not all mean the same thing. Sometimes they are literally pointing the way to the nearest brothel, such as the last two in this post.

Other times, they refer to the god Priapus. Our guide told us that the phallus over the baker’s oven is likely an appeal to Priapus for abundance.

Also shown here are the mill stones for grinding flour, and another architectural detail. I’m not sure what it means exactly.Read more
TravelerVERY interesting !!
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Wow
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Cool arch design !
1/11/23Reply
2 more comments
4 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 10:34 AM
🌧 52 °F
Altitude: 66 ft
Italy Terme Stabiane 40.750062, 14.48798740°45’0” N 14°29’17” E
Quiet Day in Pompeii
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 52 °F
Last time we visited Pompeii, the streets were bustling with tourists. This time, being off season, it was much different. I really enjoyed strolling these ancient ruins during such a quiet day. Makes it easier to imagine life in the past.Read more
TravelerI'm thoroughly enjoying !
1/11/23Reply
5 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 10:12 AM
🌧 50 °F
Altitude: 72 ft
Italy Casa di Stallius Eros 40.749488, 14.4899340°44’58” N 14°29’24” E
1
1 1
House of the Lovers
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 50 °F
During our tour of Pompeii, we strolled through a middle class home that’s nicknamed “the house of the lovers.”
Traveler Love this !
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Wow
1/11/23Reply
Traveler I'm thinking all those wood beams are added at later dates? Looks out of place. Also I see glass so must be added . Hmmmm
1/11/23Reply
5 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM
🌧 50 °F
Altitude: 49 ft
Italy Amphitheatre 40.74873, 14.48909240°44’55” N 14°29’21” E
1 1 1 1
Pompeii misc
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 50 °F
What a fun day we had exploring Pompeii! The first and last time I was here was 2011. Larry and I were here during our honeymoon.

It amazes me to see tile work from 2000 years ago and have it in such good shape!Read more
TravelerAgreeee !! So VERY THANKFUL you always take time to share !! You have no idea how much it's appreciated ! All the workmanship is just amazing !! Especially from so long ago !
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Wow
1/11/23Reply
Traveler Hmmmmm
1/11/23Reply
2 more comments
5 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 7:27 AM
⛅ 50 °F
Altitude: 7 ft
Italy Bacino del Piliero 40.84113, 14.26080540°50’28” N 14°15’39” E
In the Shadow of Vesuvius
January 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Good morning from Naples! We’re enjoying the sunrise in the shadow of Vesuvius. I wonder what delights this day will bring?
TravelerPrettiful !!!
1/11/23Reply
5 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 20
Monday, January 9, 2023 at 12:30 PM
☁️ 63 °F
Altitude: 56 ft
Italy Piazza del Duomo 37.50223, 15.08727537°30’8” N 15°5’14” E
1
Catanian Street Food
January 9, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
As part of our tour, we stopped for a typical Catanian handheld meal. Arancino is a fried rice ball that features meat, tomatoes and cheese. The shape is meant to represent Mt Etna. It was tasty and very filling, a true meal on the go.Read more
Traveler Lol...caught Lar with his mouth open...GOOD SHOT !!
1/11/23Reply
TravelerSounds yummy !
1/11/23Reply
4 likes
January 2023 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 20
Monday, January 9, 2023 at 11:49 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 52 ft
Italy Fontana dell'Amenano 37.50173, 15.08686737°30’6” N 15°5’13” E
Sant Agata Mural
January 9, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
If you read my entry called “Breast Pastry,” then you already know why this woman is carrying a tray with her own breasts upon it.

The sticker next to this wall mural mimics a typical art gallery info plaque. In this case, it lists the artist as “TVboy” and says it’s from the “Museo della Strada,” aka “the Museum of the Street.”

This is the first time I’ve come across TVboy, but it seems that he is a bit like Banksy. Here’s the info I found after following the QR code next to the mural:

“Tvboy is a Contemporary Urban Artist based in Barcelona. Born in Palermo in 1980, he started painting in the streets of Milan in 1996. In 2004 he became known for the Tvboy character and moved to Barcelona, where he settled his art studio. He has displayed his artworks in many different countries worldwide both in the street or in gallery and museum exhibitions.”

For more about TVboy, visit his website at : TVboy.itRead more
2 likes