November 9, 2026 Everywhere you look in Portugal (and frequently in Brazil and Cape Verde) you find Azulejo, painted ceramic tiles. Azujelo is from the Arabic Al-zullij, “polished stone.” They were developed by the Moors who painted mud bricks. When fire swept through towns, burning wooden roofs and building frames, the paint baked onto the… Read more

November 8, 2026 As we have visited Porto, Spain before, I thought you might enjoy this blog from our last visit. April 30, 2025 Porto has a particular pace. Not slow, but surely not rushed. The server in the cafe comes over to your table when they are ready. As an ex-New Yorker this took… Read more

November 6, 2026 Malaga, Spain is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and I have to believe it is one of the reasons why this vibrant city has extraordinary street art. If you wonder how Chongae and I get around in cities around the world we do it the old fashion way. We walk and take… Read more

November 5, 2026 There is something rather special about Cartagena. It is a city that seems to welcome you into its life rather than simply present itself as a tourist destination. Walking through its streets, you begin to notice the little things that make it so appealing: the beautiful old buildings, the colourful paintings that… Read more

November 4, 2026 As I shared, the reason we choose this itinerary is because it was port intensive. Twenty ports in twenty-three days over seven countries (Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands) is a whirlwind for even a seasoned traveler. Just as if you were traveling across the United States, you would need… Read more

We have now left Italy and are sailing through Spain. After a fantastic day visiting La Sagrada familia in Barcelona we find ourselves in Palma de Mallorca, on the southern coast of the island of Majorca. Palma de Mallorca is a city that effortlessly blends old-world Mediterranean charm with a fresh, fashionable energy. Set against… Read more

Travel writers have described Sagrada Familia’s Nativity Façade as if “Someone left the cake out in the rain.” Borrowing a term from Jimmy Webb’s MacArthur Park.  Webb, in turn took the line from WH Auden who said his lined face looked like a wedding cake that someone left out in the rain.  The phrase describes… Read more

My good friend, Phil Glennon’s son got married in Barcelona, Spain last year (The newlyweds are both physicians) As Phil’s new daughter-in-law is from Spain, Phil sent me this email before our arrival in Barcelona, “When you visit Sagrada Familia, I recommend going first to the museum, which is to the right of the main… Read more

In case you were interested in knowing about Naples, Italy in particular here is a blog I wrote on October 31, 2025. Within a short walk, to the left of the pier, are three of Naples best known landmarks: Castel Nuovo, the 17th Century Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and the elaborate 18th Century San Carlo… Read more

Sorrento, Italy… Tomorrow, we will once again visit Naples, Italy, and as not to be redundant, I’ve attached a blog from our visit in November 2024, Enjoy!  Like many towns along and near the Amalfi Coast, it clings to cliffs with winding switchbacks leading to small harbors.  It is no surprise that the lemon is… Read more