Tag: water

Tips for Visiting Saint Mark’s Basilica

The Bashful Adventurer in Venice: The four horses at upstairs at Saint Mark's Basilica. Photo credit: M. Ciavardini.

The Basilica di San Marco Is the Crown Jewel of Venice—and Everyone Knows It   It is possible to travel to Venice without visiting Saint Mark’s Basilica—those crowds! the wait!—but why would you want to skip it (except for those…

Visiting San Juan Now

A busker in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo credit: M. Ciavardini.

After Hurricane Maria and a Slow Recovery Devastated Puerto Rico, Should Tourists Still Go to San Juan?   Having planned a cruise departing from San Juan for the greater part of the year, I am not sure what to expect…

Liquid Courage

If a timid traveler needs just one book to catapult from a shelf, hit her on the head, and thrust itself into her backpack, it’s Lidia Yuknavitch’s Chronology of Water (Hawthorne Books 2010). Take the travel guides, yes, but bring…

Ducks Need Not Apply

I’ll concede that I visit Lake George, N.Y. to enjoy the lake the scenery the boats. I am still surprised when I see a sign indicating that the ducks are not entirely welcome. Of course I know ducks poop. Also,…

That Summer Light at Giverny Really Is Different

A pink house with green shutters and a killer garden are the few things that could possibly persuade me to leave Paris. Yet, having seen some muddied water lilies at the Orangerie, I was ready to be underwhelmed at Giverny.…