Category: Travel

Travel writing~

5/31/2018

Whew, finally I finished a travel article entitled “Free in Florence,” about the free things you can do in Florence for a week. I posted it on Thorn Tree, the travel bloggers section of Lonely Planet, where they have a monthly contest of what they consider the best blogs. Entering gives me impetus to get something written and the chance to see what other bloggers do.
      Very like all of the bloggers are younger than me. Many are young people who hope to write and travel for a living. They post from around the world, many from exotic place. They take physical risks and travel on a shoestring.
      I blog about Europe—Italy and Scotland; and closer to home—Boston. I’m not interested in making a living out of travel writing, nor do I want to visit exotic places or take any kind of physical risks. I don’t travel on a shoestring, but I do keep an eye my budget.
    To read my latest entry, go to “A Solitary Traveler” to this blog.
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/welcome

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Anticipation is half the fun (almost)

3/28/2018

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I fly to Italy a week from tonight. The week of getting has begun: delivering brownies, visiting, packing, and filling the freezer with 15 dinners for my husband, one for each night I’ll be away. This getting ready week speaks to the idea that “anticipation is half fun.” Although I don’t put any quantitative value on it, more than usual I find myself living in the moment as I go about these tasks, relishing what I do and why I do it. Brownie making, visiting, packing and cooking have a tad of spiritual practice to them.

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A cottage by the sea, wherever you feel peace~

2/28/2018

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   I am continually surprised that friends still think I am going to the cottage by the sea. Because I keep the title and picture for this blog, they assume I am still driving up to Maine and sitting on the deck looking out. Those days ended in 2015, but memories remain and as does my longing for silence, solitude and simplicity. Plus, I sometimes like to be alone.
     In place of this weekly cottage time, I have traveled more, and as I am confident to claim, I love traveling alone. This works out well because my husband loves staying home and working in the garden.
     When we went through our recent decision to move to a condo, I had to put off my usual spring trip to Italy. But when we came to our senses and decided to stay young in this old house for at least a few more years, I immediately got on the internet and arranged a trip to Italy with Monastery Stays. Usually I just go to Florence, but my April 4-19 itinerary is different: Rome (4 nights), Assisi (3), Cortona (1), and Florence (6). I’ll be staying at convents—guesthouses run by nuns. They are beautiful spaces, inexpensive, simple, and all ensuite.
     A cottage by the sea is wherever you feel at peace.

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Rainbow sendoff~

12/19/2017

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    I made it home Saturday with ease. Yes, a long day but what should I expect with such an itinerary: A rainbow sent me off from the Florence airport, to the Charles de Gaulle airport, to Boston, and then home. I’m back in the swing of life especially since I’ve been getting up at 4 AM to start my day with a couple of strong, black cups of American coffee.
    The other good news is that I haven’t turned on the TV, at least not for the news. The Patriots win, yes, the political soap opera, no.
    The best good news is last evening’s Christmas caroling with my church. We sang at a nursing home, two community living complexes, and a couple of individual homes. Although at each place we sang for a special member, many, many others enjoyed the festivities and sang right along.

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A benefit of solitary travel~

12/13/2017

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A benefit of solitary travel is that I have an extended period of time to consider things. Please, I don’t choose the word things lightly. I need a word that is unspecific and that covers myriad topics, ideas, dreams, subjects, themes, issues, events, passions, and obsessions—all those things. You can tell that I checkedmy computer thesaurus; the list could be longer.
One of the things I’ve been considering is this blog—ways to spruce it up, clean it up, add the new, get rid of the old—little things. It is the big things that I will keep: the name, acottagebythesea, and the purpose, A blog for those who are looking for silence, solitude and simplicity, and who sometimes want to be alone. These are my heart, my bliss. I’ll keep blogging and blabbing, and from time to time include a recipe, travel article, poem, and book review.

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Taking only what I need to Florence~

9/9/2017

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I’m ready. My rule for simple packing: Take only what I need. A good one for all of life.
10:45 PM flight from Boston, arrive Rome, 12:45. High speed train to Florence and I’m there for supper. Very grateful.

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Scotland again!

5/23/2017

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     I’m gearing up for Wednesday’s flight to Glasgow. It’s a simple flight with a plane change in Dublin. I’ll arrive in Glasgow in time to enjoy a Scottish breakfast at the airport before catching the bus to Oban. Then a short walk along the quay to Maridon House, my go-to bed and breakfast on my way to Iona. I’ll enjoy an early supper of fish and chips at my favorite seafood restaurant before an early sleep. In the morning there will be plenty of time for another Scottish breakfast before the forty-five minute ferry ride to the Isle of Mull, the hour and a half bus ride across Mull, the three minute ferry to Iona, and the two minute walk to the Argyll Hotel.
     Next Tuesday I'll make the reverse trip by train to Glasgow, and then travel on for a week in Edinburgh.
     A simple trip for one who has done it often; solitude since I’m traveling alone; silence inside my head.

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Home again~

4/8/2017

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I got home a day early. The short story, both fact and fiction, is that Alitalia change my flight from Tuesday (today) to Monday (yesterday). I found out about it when an email popped up telling me it was time to check for tomorrow’s flight.
“But I don’t fly until the day after, blah, blah, blah,” I told the computer, before deciding to do as it said and sign in for the flight that was currently in Alitalia’s system.
“It probably has to do with the strike on Wednesday. Didn’t they call you,” I heard from the attendant at check.
“I know nothing about a strike, and no, they didn’t call me.”
“So Italian,” I tell myself, and yet in looking back through my emails, I notice they had sneaked in change. No blame game for me. I should have been more attentive; the airline was remiss.
The bad news is that I missed lunch with a friend. The good news is that I got home without a hitch, and I didn’t get upset about the change. Living into silence, solitude and simplicity paid off.

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Home a day early~

3/29/2017

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     I’m home a day early. The short story, both fact and fiction, is that Alitalia change my flight from Tuesday (today) to Monday (yesterday). I found out about it when an email popped up telling me it was time to check for tomorrow’s flight.
    “But I don’t fly until the day after, blah, blah, blah,” I told the computer, before deciding to do as it said and sign in for the flight that was currently in Alitalia’s system.
    “It probably has to do with the strike on Wednesday. Didn’t they call you,” I heard from the attendant at check.
    “I know nothing about a strike, and no, they didn’t call me.”
    “So Italian,” I tell myself, and yet in looking back through my emails, I notice they had sneaked in the change. No blame game for me. I should have been more attentive; the airline was remiss.
      The bad news is that I missed lunch with a friend. The good news is that I got home without a hitch, and I didn’t get upset about the change. Living into silence, solitude and simplicity paid off.

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From Rome to Florence

3/11/2017

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You may be wondering the date of my next solitary trip to Florence. Well, wonder no more. I fly to Rome March 20, spend one night in the Eternal City (plan to visit Castel Sant’Angelo) and take the train the morning of the 22nd to Florence. I’ve rented a new-to-me apartment behind the Duomo for thirteen nights before hopping back on a train to Rome for an afternoon flight home on April 4.
For two weeks I will walk, sightsee, read, visit, pray, meditate, and eat by myself. I am never lonely or bored. I’m the first to say that this kind of life itinerary isn’t for everyone, but it sure is for me, and I’m very grateful to be able to fulfill this longing. My life is busy here at home, and will be when I return, so this getaway is most welcome. Some lucky folks go to Florida or the Cape; I go to Florence.

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<<Previous

Travel writing~

Anticipation is half the fun (almost)

A cottage by the sea, wherever you feel peace~

Rainbow sendoff~

A benefit of solitary travel~

Taking only what I need to Florence~

Scotland again!

Home again~

Home a day early~

From Rome to Florence

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