Animals and Armour at the Tower of London

Tower Bridge is one of London’s most famous landmarks but it’s not as old as it appears. The bridge was built in the late 1800s and designed in keeping with its medieval neighbour, the Tower of London. I got a closer look at the bridge while crossing the River Thames to visit the Tower, the oldest of Her Majesty’s Historic Royal Palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tower Bridge, London

Venice, on Our Own

As much as I appreciate all the sights that are squeezed into an organized tour of Italy there were times when I wished I could wander off down a picturesque alleyway or stop for a closer look through an intriguing shop window. Our tour was over but I wasn't ready to go home yet. It was time to slow things down a bit and explore the city of Venice on our own.

A Quiet Canal in Venice

My Bucket List: Firenze

I’m very fortunate to have visited the historic city of Florence, not once but three times, and it took me this many tries to accomplish the items on my Bucket List. I saw great works of art at the renowned Uffizi Gallery; toured locations featured in Dan Brown’s novel Inferno; and sampled unique Tuscan cuisine. But no visit to Florence is ever long enough.

Skyline of Firenze, or Florence

Saint Jean Cap Ferrat

Cap Ferrat – the name conjures visions of million dollar villas hidden behind massive security gates. In the 1800s, the peninsula was a popular spot for wealthy families in Nice to come for a picnic.  In the 1950s, celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton discovered the town of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. Today the village is a quiet side trip on France's Côte d'Azur.

Tossing a Coin in the Trevi Fountain

The film Three Coins in the Fountain popularized the custom of throwing a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain and thus ensuring your return to the Eternal City. The first time I tried my luck, the currency was the lira; more recently I used a euro coin. And now I've  planned another trip to Italy, so I'd say the ritual works.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

Evening in Villefranche-sur-Mer

French Riviera towns such as Cannes and Monte Carlo are known for their glitz and glamour but an evening in the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer is delightfully laid-back. And as the sun begins to set and the air cools down, the visitor's thoughts ultimately turn to dinner.

Quai Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer

A charming Old Town and magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea make Villefranche-sur-Mer, once a sleepy fishing village, my favourite destination along the scenic Côte d'Azur.

Villefranche-sur-Mer

St. Rémy de Provence

St. Rémy de Provence, July 2012 - We arrived in St. Rémy yesterday on the Provence extension to our Rhone River cruise with Avalon Waterways. Once again the weather promised to be hot -  35 Celsius by afternoon. Unlike my previous visit to Europe when my sun hat travelled around in my luggage, mon chapeau is being worn every day.

Afternoon in Arles

Arles, July 2012 - This was the last day of our Burgundy and Provence river cruise with Avalon Waterways. We'd spent the morning in the French countryside touring an olive farm and the hilltop town of Les Baux de Provence. Following lunch on board ship our afternoon was dedicated to a walking tour of Arles.

Tour de la Cavalerie and Arles City Gate

3 Things I Learned from Rick Steves

Before I depart on a vacation overseas, I love to do lots of research. And I start by reading guidebooks. Many, many guidebooks (I currently own 28). Browsing through the pages and compiling a list of things to see and do is a big part of the enjoyment of travel. Then I go to the Internet for more information on the items that made my list.

Rick Steves' series of European guidebooks is my favorite. He offers great tips on affordable hotels and restaurants; useful maps and walking tours; and personal recommendations on some very special experiences.

These are my three favorite Rick Steves recommendations:

1.  St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London

St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London

The Isle of Capri

Sorrento, May 2010 - Under blue skies and bright sunshine at last, we departed the Hotel Michelangelo for Marina Piccola where we would board a jet boat to the legendary Isle of Capri. We were greeted at the port by flowers and palm trees, sparkling blue-green waters and the towering cliffs of Sorrento. This was the Italy I had been waiting to see.

Cliffs of Sorrento

Naples, Pompeii and Sorrento

Roma, May 2010 - We'd been travelling through England, France and Italy on Trafalgar's Contrasts of Europe train tour. And this morning we were about to embark on the second portion of our trip, a 3-day Naples, Pompeii and Sorrento Tour with Carrani Tours.

A shuttle picked us up from the Hotel Diana and transferred us to the tour bus that would carry us south from Rome to our first stop, the city of Naples. Travelling along the modern highway, we saw the Appian Way, lined on both sides by rows of umbrella pines. This ancient road ran southeast from Rome, to Brindisi on Italy's Adriatic coast.

We arrived at the port of Naples in the rain, and regrouped with other English-speaking travellers for our walking tour.

Castel Nuovo, Naples

Paris - Right Bank

Paris, May 2010 - We arrived in Paris yesterday on Trafalgar's Contrasts of Europe train tour through England, France and Italy. And I was excited to find pains au chocolat on the breakfast buffet this morning to accompany my cafe au lait. We needed to fortify ourselves for the sunny but blustery day ahead of us that would start with a brief sightseeing tour, followed by a visit to the Eiffel Tower.

Les Invalides, Paris

Royal London

London, May 2010 (Bank Holiday) - We had been in London for three days. But this was our first day of touring on Trafalgar's Contrasts of Europe train tour, starting with a morning of London sightseeing.

A local guide showed us sights such as Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey, London

London - The Adventure Begins

London, April 2010 - The day had finally arrived. We were on our way to London to begin Trafalgar's Contrasts of Europe train tour through England, France and Italy.

Fortunately, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland had stopped spewing ash long enough for our flight to safely cross the Atlantic to Heathrow Airport. The air traffic situation had been changing hourly in recent weeks, so we weren't sure that we would reach our destination until we actually touched down on the tarmac.

Big Ben, London