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Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Spain
Another highlight from my May 2022 trip to Spain was seeing the Puente Nuevo in Ronda. This stunning pile of engineering spans the tajo de Ronda, a 400-foot-deep chasm carved out by the Guadalevín river, which separates Ronda’s casco antiguo, known locally as La Ciudad, from the newer part of town. I hiked down (and back up) the Camino del Albacar to a mirador located on a rocky crag with jaw-dropping views of the bridge and, to my surprise, a…
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The Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Every trip has its favorite moment. On a recent vacation to Spain, mine was the afternoon Charles and I spent in Granada touring the Alhambra. The day began in Málaga, our base for four nights, where we got an earlyish start to make the 80-mile journey to Granada in our rental car. We took the coastal route along the A-7, Spain’s meticulously maintained Mediterranean corniche. It was a gorgeous spring day, with a cloudless sky and a beaming sun blanketing…
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Bodega Head, Sonoma Coast, California
After our stay in Napa, Charles and I were supposed to spend a few days on Lake Tahoe, but the multiple wildfires in the area thwarted our plans. As a last-minute alternative, we headed west to the Sonoma Coast, well away from the threat of wildfire smoke wreaking havoc on our eyes and lungs. While only 40 miles from Napa proper, the distance between is filled with several of those notorious California microclimates, making for a truly stunning drive. I…
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Pinnacle Gulch, Sonoma Coast, California
At the end of August, Charles and I embarked on our first trip by plane since the start of COVID. We flew to San Francisco and spent a week in Napa and on the Sonoma Coast followed by a few days in the city. I love traveling to California for so many reasons: the food, the wine, the weather, the endless variety of landscapes, and my favorite – the easy access to nature. On my list of things to do…
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Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Part 2)
Continuation from Cape Cod (Part 1) Charles and I love seafood. If you recall, it’s one of the key reasons why we chose Cape Cod – for its wealth of acclaimed seafood dining establishments. Avocet’s Nest did have a very nice kitchen, but after cooking every single meal for six months straight, we were both eager to dine out as much as we could during those seven days. I did do some research beforehand and catalogued a list of restaurants…
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Tulum Ruins, Riviera Maya, Mexico
It was a scorching December afternoon on the Riviera Maya, and I’m not quite sure why but my partner, Charles, and I decided to walk the two miles from our hotel to the Tulum ruins. Actually, I do remember why – it was overcast and rainy the two previous days, and we needed an escape from the dreadful resort where we were staying. With the sun blazing in a cloudless sky and the pavement piping hot, we were dripping with…
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Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Part 1)
Earlier this year, Charles and I had a two-week getaway planned to Spain and Portugal in honor of our 10-year anniversary, but, like most travel plans the world over, ours were canceled due to COVID. When the end of summer rolled around and it was deemed safe for Americans to travel domestically to regions with low case and hospitalization rates, Cape Cod seemed like the perfect destination: not too far from where we’re currently based in the Catskills; easy access…
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Lake Como, Italy
The best way to see Lake Como is by boat. I had read this tip in numerous guide books prior to my first trip to the Italian Lakes in the fall of 2018. Growing up in the suburbs of Northern New Jersey, my family wasn’t really into boats. The one and only boating memory I had was from a trip to Florida while visiting my grandparents. Their friends owned a yacht and took my entire family on a tour of…
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Franciacorta & Lake Iseo, Italy
Here are some scenes from the morning I spent in Franciacorta, the sparkling wine-producing region of central Lombardy, followed by an afternoon exploring Lake Iseo and an evening in Brescia. I began the day at Scuderia Crazy Horse, an equestrian facility in Erbusco, the heart of Franciacorta. I rode a spry colt named Cognac through vineyards and bridal trails. It was a beautiful fall day and the scenery was sublime, made even more striking by hints of vibrant autumnal foliage…
