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A blog of trips, travels and vacations As an ardent traveler and passionate photographer this page chronicles our travels, trips and vacations

07/24/2026

Italy Travels Episode 10:
Milan and its captivating Duomo.
Most people use the Milan airport for arrivals or departure. But the city itself has a lot to offer. From wandering through the stunning Piazza del Duomo and admiring the incredible architecture to enjoying authentic Italian espresso at cozy cafés, every corner of the city had something special to offer. The mix of history, fashion, art, and amazing food makes Milan a destination that's both elegant and full of life.
Then there is the Duomo. No photo can truly capture the sheer scale and beauty of Milan's iconic Duomo. Construction began in 1386 and took nearly 640 years to complete, making it one of the longest building projects in history.
The cathedral is an architectural marvel, stretching about 518 ft in length, rising 356 ft. It can accommodate around 42,000 worshippers, making it one of the largest churches in the world and the 3rd in Europe.
Stepping inside is just as breathtaking as seeing the exterior. The soaring Gothic ceiling is supported by 52 massive columns, each symbolizing the weeks of the year. Sunlight streams through magnificent stained-glass windows, illuminating intricate marble sculptures, grand altars, and centuries of history carved into every detail.
An unforgettable experience and one of Italy's true architectural masterpieces.

07/06/2026

Italy Travels - episode 9.a
Florence, an Open-Air Museum:

Florence is best explored with a camera. Every street seemed to lead to another masterpiece.
There is a lot more than the Duomo and all the walkable streets around it. The iconic Ponte Vecchio, lined with centuries-old jewellers, reflected beautifully across the Arno as the changing light transforms the scene throughout the day. Crossing the river into the quieter Oltrarno district revealed a different side of Florence—artisan workshops, narrow cobbled streets, welcoming cafés, and a pace of life that felt wonderfully authentic. The grandeur of Pitti Palace offered a glimpse into the wealth and power of the Medici family.
Florence's many piazzas each had their own personality. From lively gathering places filled with music and conversation to elegant squares framed by historic churches and sculptures, every corner invited you to stop, observe and photograph. We stayed at the Hotel Pendini, right on Piazza della Repubblica, such a lively and active square.
Even outside the famous Uffizi Gallery, art was everywhere. Magnificent statues, elegant arches and the constant flow of visitors created endless opportunities for street photography and storytelling. What impressed me most was that Florence doesn't reserve its beauty for museums. The city itself is the museum. Every bridge, palace, piazza and alleyway tells a story spanning hundreds of years.
More to come on art, culture, people and food.

06/29/2026

Italy Travels - episode 9. Florence.
The DUOMO – The Heart and Soul of Florence

The Duomo of Florence is not just a building to be admired, it is one to be experienced.

Standing in the Piazza del Duomo, it is almost impossible to comprehend the scale of Santa Maria del Fiore. Every surface seems to demand attention—the intricate pink, white and green marble façade, the elegant bell tower, the Baptistery, and above it all, Brunelleschi's magnificent dome dominating the skyline.
What makes this cathedral extraordinary isn't just its beauty—it's the audacity behind it. When construction began in 1296, no one knew how the enormous dome would ever be built. More than a century later, Filippo Brunelleschi solved what many believed was an impossible engineering challenge, creating the world's largest masonry dome without the massive wooden scaffolding thought to be essential. Nearly six centuries later, it still inspires architects and engineers alike.

The closer you get, the more details emerge. Delicate carvings, geometric marble patterns, statues, and soaring Gothic lines reveal themselves with every step. Yet no single photograph can capture the Duomo. It is a monument that changes character throughout the day as the Tuscan light shifts across its marble and terracotta dome.

For photographers like me, Florence offers an endless challenge. Wide angles capture the grandeur of the cathedral, while wandering the surrounding streets reveals intimate glimpses framed by medieval buildings, cafés, and bustling piazzas. Every corner seems to present a new composition.

The Duomo is more than Florence's most famous landmark. It is a symbol of the Renaissance—a reminder of what imagination, artistry, and human ingenuity can achieve when someone refuses to accept that something is impossible.

No matter how many times you see it, the first glimpse of Brunelleschi's dome rising above the rooftops is one of those travel moments that stays with you long after you've left Florence.

06/07/2026

Italy Travels: Episode 8. VENICE

Venice is not simply a city—it is a living open-air museum where history, art, architecture, and everyday life blend seamlessly into one unforgettable experience.

Yes, Venice is over-touristed. But visit in spring or winter and you'll discover a very different city. The crushing summer crowds are gone, replaced by a gentler, slower pace that allows you to truly appreciate its magic.

My advice? Get lost on purpose.

Skip the checklist and wander through a labyrinth of canals, bridges, hidden squares, and narrow alleyways. Rise before sunrise, when Venice is at its most enchanting. Leave the main tourist routes behind and explore the quiet backstreets and peaceful canals that many visitors never see. Stay on the island itself if you can, ideally in a small family-run hotel where Venetian hospitality still feels warm and genuine.

Frequent the neighborhood bàcari—tiny local wine bars buzzing with life. Grab an espresso, a simple sandwich, a glass of local wine, and watch Venetian life unfold around you.

As evening approaches and the setting sun transforms the canals into ribbons of liquid gold, Venice enters one of its most cherished rituals: the giro d'ombra. Find a tiny bàcaro, squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder with locals, order an ombra—a small glass of house wine—and sample a few cicchetti while conversations flow as easily as the wine.

And don't miss one of Venice's greatest bargains: a ride on the public vaporetto along the Grand Canal. As you glide past colourful palaces, centuries-old churches, and elegant waterfront facades, the city reveals itself from the perspective it was meant to be seen—from the water.

Venice rewards those who slow down, wander without a plan, and embrace the unexpected. The real magic isn't found in checking landmarks off a list. It's discovered around the next corner, across the next bridge, or beside a quiet canal where time seems to stand still.

That is most of what we did. Of course the Italian travels took months of research, early selections and reservations. Rick Steves books, videos and blogs were quite useful.

05/28/2026

Italy Travels 2026: Episode 8.
The post office in Vatican City, established in 1929, has its own stamps and seals. We of course wanted a postcard with Pope Leo’s Vatican stamps and Vatican postal seal on it – so we posted cards also to ourselves from Vatican. The Vatican's post office sends millions of letters every year and its services are considered more reliable than Rome’s which is why many Italians travel there to post their letters and cards. In fact the Vatican City’s postal system was declared to be “one the best postal systems in the world”, by the Universal Postal Union. The Vatican's postal code is 00120.

Talking about Vatican City, you know it has been the world’s smallest independent recognised state since 1929. It’s also home to the smallest and oldest standing army, the Swiss Guards, who have protected the Pope since 1506. In the Vatican City stands the beautiful St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the western world, with a suitably impressive dome painted by Michelangelo.The Vatican museum has1400 rooms containing art and artefacts from 3,000 years of Roman life. The breathtaking Sistine Chapel is the Pope’s private chapel and venue for papal elections. So its worth the long lines and the crowds – ensure you get a timed entry tickets at least couple of months before your visit

05/16/2026

Italy Travels 2026: episode 7
Lake Como and Northern Italy is not on every traveller’s itinerary. Pity because it is so beautiful and different from your history / art trip sections of Italy just like Cinque Terra. As a Canadian it reminds me of our beautiful lakes and mountains with chic charm of history. Combine it with a short stop in Milan from where it is only an hour away. Switzerland is about 15 km away and if you like trains consider the Bernina express for a day trip to the St Moritz. Must visit includes several villas and towns like Veranna, Bellagio, Mennagio, Lenno etc. A great mother’s day gift from my daughter who joined us here from her base in London.

05/05/2026

Italy Travels 2026: episode 6
If I have to select one favourite region it would be Tuscany. Stayed a week in Florence the key city, consuming its art, history, architecture, wine and food culture. Went through many of the neighbouring towns including Pisa, Siena, san Gimignano, Chianti, Lucca, Monteriggioni, many of Chianti hills and vineyards.

04/29/2026

Italy Travels 2026:
Cinque Terre (five villages) was a photographer’s dream. Riameggiore climb to the castle was steep and lots of steps, but the view was worth it. Lots of hiking and steps to climb, made it with lots of rest stops. Quite tiring doing the villages, but the weather was gorgeous.

04/26/2026

Italy Travels 2026:
here I am here in shoulder season, spring 2026. Early, yet the tourists are flooding in: everything is crowded. The on line reserved fixed time slot entries is a way out. I am more of a traveler than a tourist, but my wife has specific attractions that she has to take in. Fortunately in Rome we found a nice family hotel in Monti (booked 6 months ago) which puts us in walking distance to most sites.

04/22/2026

The art of traveling with spinner carryons has been fine tuned for 3+ weeks. So no checked baggage and easy for the stairs and cobblestones in Italy. We use compression bags for the content and carefully selected travel clothes. The bag also includes my camera equipment. Another thing to pick carefully is credit or travel cards that give you free business class lounge access so you can have your dinner in style. I am covered for Toronto and Milan. There are some classy lounges in many airports - in particular I like the Turkish Airlines and the middle easter airline ones.

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