Milan Cathedral

Just a short walk from the Rosa Grand Hotel in Milan, you will discover the Duomo di Milano. This cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. Located in the main square of the City center, this church offers some of the most spectacular Gothic facades this Traveling Gal has ever seen! Work began on this magnificent architectural marvel back in the 14th Century and finished nearly 500 years later. Because I found it so spectacular, I decided to devote an entire post to its grandeur. Continue reading →

The Sights and Tastes of Bologna, Italy

On my way to my pasta making workshop and scrumptious lunch at a celebrated restaurant, Cantina Bentivoglio, I strolled the green market brimming with local produce. The specialty food stores in Bologna offer an array of Modena Balsamic vinegars, Parma ham, and of course, tortellini and giant rounds of Parmesan cheese.

The Splendor of the Sultan

Follow my journey from Hong Kong to Miami during a 70-day partial world cruise on the Oceania Insignia.  Today I experienced the grandeur of Brunei.  Following is a pictorial of a few of the sights.

Brunei is a sovereign state located on the north coast of Borneo, in the South China Sea.  This small country has the largest number of oil fields in Southeast Asia.  With its vast gas and oil reserves, Brunei’s immense wealth is obvious from the opulence depicted in the photos within this post.

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A Bird’s Eye View from the Swallow’s Nest

The Swallow’s Nest is one of the most visited and photographed sites on the Crimean Peninsula. Located in the extreme southern part of Ukraine and jutting out into the Black Sea, the castle is featured in the film version of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians. Many tourists visit the Swallow’s Nest from Yalta, a frequent port of call during Black Sea cruises.

The Shanghai Museum

The Shanghai Museum houses many pottery pieces and wooden carving funeral figurines, depicting humans and animals from dynasties dating back to the 5th century BC.

Florence Masterpieces

The Ufizzi Gallery hosts a magnificent collection of Primitive and Renaissance paintings, including some universally acclaimed masterpieces of all time by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo