FOODIE IN FLIP FLOPS

GOT fans, recognize this site? Dragonstone Castle, which was obviously done in CGI but the pathway and island are real. This islet is located on the northern coast of Spain in Basque country and was a beautiful place to spend a little time. There is parking nearby, but it is a fair amount of walking to get to the island and back.  This made man bridge takes you over the water to the ladder of steps leading you to the medieval church at the apex.  The 360 degree views of the rugged coastline are stunning.  At the church we were rewarded with more beautiful views and the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. Great walk for a four legged friend, Bogi definitely enjoyed it! This coastal area is pretty isolated. There is not much in the way of restaurants so pack a lunch because they have several benches spaced out along the path overlooking the Bay of Biscay that are perfect for a picnic. Gaztelugatxe is definitely worth a stop when in the area. 

The city of Chartres flies under the radar and I am not quite sure why. It is located 50 miles southwest of Paris and is the capital of the Eure-et-Loir Department. It is a small city with a historic cathedral, charming cobblestone streets with the Eure River winding through.   Chartres has beautiful old buildings and nice walking paths making it easy to explore and wander.  I felt as though we had stepped back in time. Along the river, the city has a small animal park and an elaborate garden with over 65 different varieties of roses. Bogi had no trouble making friends! Another interesting attraction is the Maison Picassiette. In 1938, Raymond Isadore collected and starting decorating his house with broken shards of glass and china. It took Isadore 25 years to cover the floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, fences... essentially everything! In the 1980's, the city took over the property and for €6 you can wander t...

We have always wanted to visit the Dolmites in the Italian Alps, but for some reason kept putting it on the back burner. I'm glad we finally went because it was one of the most beautiful places we have ever been!! The region is divided into three valleys, all beautiful. You could spend a month here and not come close to seeing everything. I recommend picking a valley that most interests you and then explore from there. If you have more time, switch accommodations into another valley, otherwise you will be overwhelmed trying to see everything and end up spending too much time in the car. The roads are mostly two lane which wind through mountain passes, nothing fast moving about it. With that said, the views while driving will knock your socks off and give you a kink in your neck.   In northern Italy, there are three languages spoken, German, Italian, and Ladin. It is a unique microcosm in that you have both the influences of the Italians and Germans, making it a ni...

There are several cities with ancient arenas that seem to be overlooked because of the popularity of the colosseum in Rome. Verona is a prime example of one of these cities.  The amphitheater was built in 30AD in what is known today as the Piazza Bra. It is easy to pay an entrance fee and explore, however, the highlight is to catch a play or an opera. Verona is the setting for William Shakespeares' Romeo and Juliet, which is why it is nicknamed "The City of Love".  You can visit Juliette's balcony at the Cappelletti house in the old city. Touching Juliette's right breast is supposed to bring luck. Bogi was an absolute gentleman and refrained! Thousands of notes to Juliette line the portico which leads to the courtyard. If you prefer you can write a love letter to the Juliet Club where a team of volunteers, known as secretaries, select a few of the most beautiful letters written that year. The winners are chosen on Valenti...