I lived in Italy for a few years so Europe and the Mediterranean were all around. Even though Egypt was only three and half hours away, I only went once!
ALBANIA
Had a serious look at communism in Albania. Is Albania the next tourist destination?
CROATIA
I finally saw the emperor’s retirement home in Split.
DENMARK
Read about Denmark. Read about the “open face sandwich” of Denmark. Read about my favorite market in Denmark. The bacon… The butter… The cheese… The amusement park. Danish ice cream is super creamy. Really creamy.
ESTONIA
I decided to try and visit the “iron curtain” but did not make it all the way down. Estonia was first and what a cute place it is! The airport is great and the capital, Tallinn, is wonderful. And the food reminded me of my childhood in Finland.
FINLAND
Found a Finnish fair in Maryland. Went to a Finnish cafe in St. Paul. Made Finnish pies.
ITALY
How to date an Italian. Other types of guys… Restaurant recommendations for Rome. Read about tourist information for Rome. Activities for kids in Rome. The money of Italy. Tipping in Italy. How to take a taxi in Rome. The Roman baths still exist. Best massage in Rome.
My top ten restaurants in Italy. Read about my top ten restaurants in Rome. Why Italy does not need Michelin stars may seem a controversial topic but I’m putting out my opinion here. The must-do wine tasting now on M’s Adventures tour of Rome. Or just try this place for meal, or when on a layover at FCO airport. Ten traditional Roman foods to try. Trendy places to eat in Rome. Go on a jaunt of demi-umbria for a wine tour. Leafy greens in Italy. The ten best local markets in Rome. A special pasta dish called Pasta Trombolotto. Gluten free eating in Rome. Grocery stores in Rome are small but okay. Unknown food to try in Italy that is not on your standard list. Italians eat according to season. Read about the 12 seasons of vegetables in Rome. August in Italy. Not the best time to visit because of Ferragosto. Why some coffee tastes awful. Eating lemon rind is okay. They eat a lot of vegetables in Rome. Why I’m afraid of the normal cucumber in Rome. Finding Korean stores in Rome. Discovering never tried vegetables like Monk’s Beard. Learn about Father’s Day in Italy. Go on a food tour in Rome with Sophie. Fried croquettes of Rome. Ten places to try gelato in Rome. Sort of my list of the best, but I have not been to all the places in Rome! Oldest gelato shop in Rome. Trying the famous Bonci.
Unexpected things about moving to Rome. What is different in Italy seen from American eyes. Bidets in Italy. Preparing for the move by learning Italian. A word for a spaghetti dinner. A strange time to be a tourist in Rome. Mealtimes in Rome. Culture shock in Rome. Pizza from a machine? Some videos to binge watch, and then see where they lead! Stay indoors and watch Italy on film. Trying to see things but finding them too crowded. All roads lead to Rome! Or islands near Sicily! And be wary of the jellyfish! Abruzzo, home of the bear! The most recent “new” region that I visited was Piemonte. Read about the nine levels of life in Italy. Why it is worth it to take a private boat down the Amalfi Coast. A food tour of Emilia-Romagna. Eat, drink, taste, and stay, what and where I did. Learn about the Artichoke King. The real balsamic vinegar. Worth it. As is the real Parmesan. Where to stay — the agroturismo. Amazing sapphire blue waters in a perfect Apulian town. More about the wonders of Apulia’s clean towns. Read about yet another perfect Apulian town. Read my list of where to go that is child-friendly near Rome. Read my itinerary for a day in Naples. Read about trying the best gelato in the world. Learn about the origin of confetti and why this is not the kind you want to throw at people. What coffee to order when it is very very very hot.
Having the best day ever while tasting olive oil with Johnny Madge. Having a less than stellar day. But I’m also getting less excited about being here… eating non-Italian food in Rome, like Vietnamese.
I have departed Rome but here are some things thought I would miss about it. Or not. I will miss the photo ops in Rome. Goodbye.
LATVIA
In Riga, I mostly explored the markets as I’m wont to do. The yuppy market was cute and yuppish, but the zeppelin market is rightly world famous.
LITHUANIA
I’ll admit that in Vilnius, I mainly went for the food. The city is huge and a mix of modern and old as are most European capitals. But, I enjoyed the street fair and the personalized food tour. Luckily, I knew someone who lived there and he showed me the real local market.
MALTA
Even in the pouring rain, I loved visiting Malta. The food tour was interesting and we found delicious food.
MONTENEGRO
Visit a less crowded walled city, Budva, in Montenegro.
PORTUGAL
Lisbon was so beautiful but too hilly for me.
SERBIA
The foods of Serbia.
SWITZERLAND
Went on a train ride on a famous train. Saw snow for the first time in many years. Visited the oldest town in Switzerland. Had some really good soup in Switzerland. But the best dish was with noodles and cabbage.