8 nights in Florence, Italy

Posted on July 17, 2022 by Travel Spirit

It was Easter day when I checked into my Airbnb in Florence, Italy for an 8 night stay. I took a few photos after dropping my bags and boarded a train for Siena, thinking it would be less crowded. I’ll post about Siena soon. Anyway, these are a few of the photos from my time in Florence.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is absolutely gorgeous!

Occasionally, I like to use the portrait mode on my phone to blur the background.

Friendly shopkeepers…

The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River is the most popular bridge in Florence.

This is the Saint Trinity Bridge

Florence was more crowded than some of the smaller cities I visited.

This was me before starting my day…feeling good!

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022. Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Day trip from Spoleto to Magical Spello

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Traveling through Italy via trains is an adventure. I purchased a 3 month global Eurail pass and used their Rail Planner app which made it much easier, but occasionally I ran into issues. Spello is only a 30 minute train ride from Spoleto (my home base for 7 nights), and on this particular morning I checked the platform as usual and boarded what I thought was the correct train, but once on board after checking with a passenger, found out it wasn’t. I ran to the door but the train was departing for Rome. The next stop before Rome was 30 minutes away. While waiting at that station for the correct train, I saw this man and asked if I could take his photograph. He asked what he could do for me and I said nothing…just a photograph and he obliged. Afterwards, I gave him some money (which I rarely do) and he pulled out the below book and gave it to me. I asked if his feet were cold, to which he shrugged.

His name is Massimo Coppo. He was the author of the book and explained that he had lived in Indiana during his High School years and now lives in Assisi. Back on the train I read some of his book and found out that he had left his profession, house and possessions and returned to the Catholic Church and is an evangelical Pastor. Sometimes taking the wrong train can lead to unexpected blessings.

Once I finally arrived to Spello, I found it to be enchanting.

As I was exploring, I found this path which led to a monastery.

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022. My photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Day trip from Spoleto to Assisi

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Located just 30 minutes via train from Spoleto, Italy, Assisi was one of my favorite cities, along with San Gimignano, Siena, Florence, Spello, and Orvieto.

Although I walked over 400 miles in 11 weeks of traveling, I didn’t lose any weight 🙂

The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi.

This is where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a Papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy.

There’s something about ferris wheels.

Just beautiful!

Another gorgeous view and delicious Italian wine.

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022. Photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Day trip from Spoleto to Perugia

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Located 70 minutes by train from Spoleto, Perugia, Italy is another beautiful Italian city. According to my Fitbit, I walked 6 miles that day.

Up and down, up and down, up and down…

Yum…

Love the pastries and the view!

Once I had returned via train to Spoleto (my home base for 7 nights) and was about 5 minutes from my place, a man made eye contact and nodded hello and I did the same back but then he started following me and I would stop and he would make eye contact again, passing me by and then he would stop and look back at me. I went into a store for 2 minutes and when I came out he was still 15 feet ahead of me standing, so finally I stopped because I was at a crossroads and my place was 15 seconds away. I stood staring him down and he seemed unsure what to do, so finally he walked in the direction that I had started to go in which was not my direction and as soon as he was 150 ft away I darted up my street and had my key ready and went in. This can happen anywhere in the world, but it doesn’t stop me from traveling solo. You just need to be aware.

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022. My photos were taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

7 nights in Spoleto, Italy

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Travel Spirit

The 2nd accommodation of my 11 week solo European trip was located in Spoleto, Italy, a 90 minute train ride from Rome. I stayed 7 nights and had rented an Airbnb with a kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom and bathroom. It was mid-April, so still a bit chilly. The owner had space heaters for me in the downstairs and upstairs because he didn’t have the heat on, but I was still cold inside. I went to the grocery and stocked up so I could save a little money. Of course I ate out some also.

There was a laundromat 15 minutes walk from my place, so I placed my dirty clothes in a plastic bag and lugged them over there and realized I had forgotten my laundry sheets (detergent in the form of a sheet for traveling) so I had to lug it back, pick that up and walk back again…uggg. Luckily there was someone there that could speak some English to help me decipher the foreign instructions on the machines. Later in the trip I used Google lens and then translate to figure out cooking instructions, etc.

Most every day of my trip I walked anywhere from 5-8 miles. My feet hurt 😦

Since it was April and I get an early start (usually out the door by 7:30am), there weren’t massive crowds. I stopped for a break and a glass of wine. It seems you can’t order a bad glass of wine in Europe. They’re all good.

I went on three day trips from Spoleto. I’ll be covering those next.

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022. My photos were all taken with my LG Velvet Android phone.

Day trip from Rome to Orvieto

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Orvieto is located 90 minutes from Rome via train. It’s a quaint and very walkable town.

The Duomo di Orvieto is gorgeous! April is a great month to explore Italy…the crowds haven’t descended yet.

I encountered cats throughout my travels in Italy.

Around every corner there was something unexpected!

Daily life…

Don’t miss Orvieto when you travel to Italy!

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.

Day trip from Rome to Tivoli

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Located an hour from Rome via train, Tivoli’s highlight is the stunning Villa d’Este. I toured the inside, but the gardens are where you’ll find the real beauty, fountains, walkways with towering trees, and all types of plants.

The waterfalls are gorgeous!

Italy’s architecture is amazing! Lots of hills/steps to climb and descend.

I refueled with some prosciutto and bread and of course some vino before boarding the train back to Rome.

Tivoli is a great day trip option from Roma!

p.s. In case you’ve just began reading…I planned an 11 week, 5 European country, 21 accommodations solo trip from April – June of 2022.

Three months in Europe

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Back in November, while I was recovering from a hip replacement, I decided to plan an 11 week trip to five countries in Europe, leaving April 2nd and returning June 20th. I would sit at my computer for 8-10 hours a day with my hip throbbing to research for the trip. I decided to spend three weeks in Italy, three weeks in France, two weeks in Germany (I used to live there when I was in the military), 10 nights on the Greek Islands, and two weeks in Switzerland. My itinerary ended up being almost 40 pages long. To make the trip affordable I booked lodging (21 accommodations) thru Airbnb and Booking.com and chose places that were a 5 – 15 minute walk from the train station, so I wouldn’t have to take taxis. I had been to all of the countries, but previously had only visited Rome (for 6 hours from a cruise ship) and Paris (took my niece there in 2007).

My first stop was Rome, Italy for 6 nights. I booked a room sharing a kitchen with two other rooms thru Airbnb. I had pre-planned walking routes using Google Maps.

The Trevi Fountain was being cleaned…

The Pantheon

I don’t remember the name of this fountain

I’m an early bird…no people at the Spanish Steps

The Villa Borghese park was lovely

This was interesting art

Another cool fountain

This was in the Trastevere neighborhood

Lots of sidewalk cafes

The pizza was sooo good!

Yummy cappuccino

I should’ve prepared ahead of time for all of the walking.

Final images of Hawaii

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Time to say goodbye to Hawaii…you were there when I needed your warmth and distraction.

I went for a five mile walk one day and got a blister 😦 but some nice photos 🙂

Hopefully I’ll return some day.

Surfing in Hawaii

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Travel Spirit

I love to capture people in action…like surfing in Hawaii! Skiing, horseback riding, etc.

Some of these photos are from Waikiki Beach and others are from the North Shore of Oahu, that’s where the big waves are.

Photography is fun…especially when people are doing things they love!

Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Travel Spirit

One of the ladies I met thru Bachelor Number Two invited me to go with her and a friend to Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. It’s so lush, green, and tropical!

These trees were soooo tall!

We stopped at Kāneʻohe Beach Park afterwards.

It was a lovely afternoon!

Hiking Monoa Falls

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Travel Spirit

When researching things to do during my month long stay on Oahu, hiking to Monoa Falls was near the top. Getting there was an adventure. I rented a Biki Bike and biked three miles to a local bus that drops you a mile from the trailhead. Once inside the park, it’s less than a 2 mile hike roundtrip, but then everything in reverse. It was well worth it!

Walking through the park, I had visions of Jurassic Park.

I definitely recommend hiking to Monoa Falls!

Invitation to go Sailing

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Remember Bachelor Number Two, I met some women at the barbecue I went to with him and one of them invited me to go sailing! It was a fun day.

It was all women except for the owner/captain of the sailboat. All of the women had varying degrees of sailing experience, so it was interesting to watch him give the orders while he sat.

We went to a sand bar where it’s shallow and you can get out and walk around.

One of the women invited us back to her condo’s hot tub and pool.

Hawaii is definitely beautiful!

Meetup.com is great for solo travelers

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Travel Spirit

I joined Meetup.com back in 2007 after a divorce and it was a great way to meet people. First it was a hiking meetup, then a wine-tasting meetup, followed by others. Thinking of ways to combat my loneliness during my month-long stay on Oahu, I checked out the meetups that were available and joined a few. I ended up going to two events, both were Happy Hours. After a couple of Mai Tai’s, I was hamming it up for this photo 🙂

At the end of the evening…

I met a girl at one of the Happy Hours and she invited me to her pool, which was lovely.

I didn’t have a beach bag with me, so when we walked a couple of blocks from her apartment that she rented for 6 weeks to work remotely, I naively placed my keys, cover-up, and wallet in her bag. After a while, I decided to take a walk on the beach for 15 minutes and when I returned, she had vanished. I called and texted her repeatedly, to no avail. I thought perhaps she had went back to her place, so I walked back and luckily remembered her floor number. My phone was almost dead and there was a guy on the elevator, so I asked him if he had a charger for my type of phone…he did, so I explained the situation and he said if she wasn’t at her place to come to his and I could charge my phone. She wasn’t at her place, so I went to his, which felt awkward, being in a male stranger’s apartment. Anyway, as I’m charging my phone, he was preparing dinner and invited me to dine with him, which I did. She finally called me back (1 ½ hours later) and said she was at the pool bar and for me to join her. I explained I didn’t want to walk back in only my bathing suit and was eating dinner so she said she’d be back within an hour. As soon as she returned, I retrieved my things, checked my wallet in front of her, and could tell she was very inebriated…her apartment smelled like vomit. She wasn’t apologetic. To make a long story a little shorter, just recently (which is 4 months later) I received an e-mail from Walmart concerning a purchase I made, but it wasn’t me (I won’t go into the details, but I could tell it was her). I had to cancel my credit card and change my passwords. Lesson learned!

I took this photo while taking my naive walk on the beach.

Hiking Diamond Head at Sunrise

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Travel Spirit

Hiking is one of my favorite activities and having gorgeous scenery when you’re doing it is amazing! Since I didn’t have a car for my month-long stay in Honolulu, I rented a Biki Bike before sunrise, biked 1.5 miles to the closest Biki Bike station near the trail head, hiked 2 miles to the summit and then back to the Biki Bike station. There were a few people on the trail. It began raining as I approached the summit, which made it difficult to take photos, but the views were beautiful!