Barcelona, Spain

The torpedo shaped building is one of the new landmarks for the old city. We found Barcelona to be a beautiful, modern, fast, busy, colorful city and we have to go back!









The famous and flamboyant architect Gaudi has his fingerprints all over the city, this being the La Sagrada Familia church.

Florence and Pisa, Italy

One day in Florence is not enough time to see the tremendous artwork and architecture that abounds in that city, so after a morning of driving (with a driver) to as many spots as we could we stopped for a cup of cappuccino--more artistry--and the best cup of hot chocolate I have ever had!

Our late afternoon trip to Pisa was again filled to the brim and I tried to keep the Tower in an upright position!

Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii

It is amazing that when I thought  of Pompeii I didn't think of it as a city of 20,000 with shops and homes and people and dogs. But walking through the ruins was reality. Another fascinating story in our world's history. 

Mitch and I decided to visit the top of Mt. Vesuvius and were driven the narrow, crooked, steep road almost to the top, then we had to walk the mile and a half to the top of the still active volcano.

Rome, Italy

We did "Rome in a Day" with our private driver who took us to all the spots for an outside glance. It was spectacular--there was so much to see. However, this is Trevi Fountain and if you throw a coin over your left shoulder you will be back!!

Mykonos, Greece

The city Mykonos was a beautiful little city on the hillsides and edge of the ocean. The houses are almost all whitewashed with blue windows and doors. The streets are teeny (that's smaller than tiny) but abound with shops and restaurants.

Istanbul, Turkey

The skyline of Istanbul, one of the largest cities in the world, 14,000,000, was punctuated by domes and minarets. I can't believe we actually walked the streets!

We were "helped" by a nice gentlemen who eventually led us right to his cousin's silver shop and his brother's rug shop.

The Blue Mosque was closed for the time we were there, but its presence was magnificent.

Ephesus, Turkey

We spent a day in Ephesus and it is mind boggling to think of the time frame of this city--from the ancient Romans and their worship of gods and goddesses to the time of Jesus, still over 2000 years ago, to us walking the same streets they walked.

 There was so much to see and pieces of stone laying all over that it is hard to realize that 90% of the city has not been excavated.

This is a piece that shows the goddess Nike. Can you find the Nike "swoosch"?

This is the Great Theater, built to hold 25,000, and was the place that John preached to the Ephesians. We sat in those seats!

We traveled a ways up into the hills and visited the Virgin Mary's home, the place she is to have lived after Jesus died on the cross and told John to take Mary as his mother.