Anybody can make history; only a great man can write it. – Oscar Wilde You’re standing inside a church in a city that was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogoth Kingdom and the Byzantine Empire. Today, this little-known town has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites featuring the best Byzantine art outside … More Where are you now?
I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. – Eric Clapton Mondoñedo cathedral at daybreak Three weeks ago I finished walking 514 miles from the border of France to Santiago de Compostela. It was quite the journey. While I still haven’t wrapped my head around the … More 15 Things to know about the Camino del Norte
Simple ingredients prepared in a simple way – the best way to take everyday cooking to a higher level. – Jose Andres In a post about budgeting for long-term travel in retirement, Robie and I mentioned how having a few items in the pantry along with a rolodex of quick and easy recipes helps us … More Lunchtime Poll: What’s your best go-to meal in a snap?
Any Portuguese town looks like bride’s finery – something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. – Mary McCarthy Hello, Robie once again. I am happy to report that Reid has completed the Camino del Norte and is currently working on new articles for the website. While she is resting and writing I’m bringing … More Portugal: The Sixty-Fifth Country
The best Ferrari ever built is the next one. – Enzo Ferrari Hello, Robie here. I am filling in once again for Reid as she finishes her 500-mile journey along the path of St. James in northern Spain. She will arrive in Santiago de Compostela today and I am extremely excited to see my wife … More The Ferrari Museums of Italy
The Balkans are a region that produces more history than it can consume. – Winston Churchill For three decades Albania was the most isolated country in the world. While the nation has come a long way in a short amount of time, progress is slow and superstitions remain. After seven months in the country, Robie … More Stranger Things: Albania
The Creator made Italy by designs from Michelangelo. – Mark Twain Hello, Robie here. I’ll be doing a few posts while Reid is completing her journey along the path of St James in northern Spain, the Camino del Norte. She and her sister are doing well and should complete their five-hundred-mile trek in roughly the … More Off the Beaten Path in Northern Italy
I tried visiting Albania, But I couldn’t find it on the map. – Oscar Wilde The best thing about traveling around Europe is the rail system. It’s fast, scenic, affordable and easy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t extend into the Balkans. Except for a few rail lines in the north of the peninsula and sporadic connections in … More 10 Tips for traveling the Balkans by bus
Food is our common ground, a universal experience. – James Beard In Sarandё Robie and I had time to explore the city’s many hangouts. Arriving in January we found few dining options open in the off season. Come March places that had been closed since the holidays began welcoming customers as more restaurants reopened across … More Our top picks for the best places to eat in Sarandё (and a few to avoid)
Everyone’s destination is the same; only the paths are different. – Sushmita Sen Hendaye, France – Saturday, June 11, 1983 A woman’s voice pierced the early morning fog crying, “Bordeaux?” in a high-pitched shriek. Nothing about the morning had gone right. Awakened as the train pulled into the station, our trio scrambled to gather bags … More The longest 500 hundred yards
Reid & Robie 