Adventures for Anyone: May 2022

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Let's Coninue Italy for Marissa with The Amazing Amalfi Coast

Ah...The Amalfi Coast of Italy. We've all dreamed about it. We have, but it's summer, and it's time to put this one in perspective. Why? Because it's one of the most scenic seaside areas in the entire world.

First off, where is it? Is it near Naples? Is it near Cefalu? Is it part of Cinque Terre? How far from Rome is it? I've heard all of these questions.

The Amalfi Coast is its own entity, as is Cinque Terre. They are both along the west coast of Italy, but that's about as close as that gets. The Amalfi Coast is an area defined as being from Vietre sul Mare to Positano on the southern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula on the Gulf of Salerno overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Hope that clears it up, and that's why I added a map.

This amazing part of the coast of Italy was settled around the 10th century. Exact times are inconsistent. They've been ruled by many and now are still a productive traditional area. They were once famous for paper, and are still famous for sandals, anchovies, and of course lemons and Limoncello.

The Amalfi Coast is known for its cliffs and the buildings, roads, walks, gardens, and businesses that cling to them. This area is along the southern part of Italy's west coast, and there are beaches a plenty for the tourists to enjoy. There are private and public, so research the sites I provided to figure out which are which.

Another question that I read a lot of is how to get around. You can take a train to Sorrento, but then, there you are. From there, train service is spotty at best. You can take a cruise, but as I've discovered, you better have ample time. Most cruise lines make this a stop on a much longer journey. While I would love to take a Mediterranean Cruise and see it all, I don't have that kind of time. Choose wisely, and if you would like to go by boat, you can charter one, take a more local cruise, or use the ferries. I don't recommend driving, and here's why. Car rentals are ridiculously expensive right now, so is gas, and that's all over; not just here. Also, the roads are windy, twisty, narrow, and if you go in the summer, crowded. Your best bet is to take a bus if you wish to experience the roads.

Be wise when choosing what you wish to do along the Amalfi Coast. Remember, everything is on a cliff. You will need to be in shape to enjoy it. The roads, the walks, the hotels, the Limoncello production facility, the restaurants, the towns, and even the zip lines and gardens are on the sides of cliffs. The village of Ravello is 365 meters above sea level. Keep that in mind. There will be steps.

The Amalfi Coast is still a fishing area. You can rent a boat and go fishing. The area is famous for its own species of Anchovy. In case you're wondering, yes, they have pizza there. Seafood is king, so be prepared to enjoy the delights created from the creatures of the sea.

And then, there's the lemons. The lemons from the Amalfi Coast look more like grapefruit in size. They're sweeter than we're used to in America. They are used in a lot of the local cuisine, and especially in the liqueur known as Limoncello. Produced in the area and a wonderful drink to enjoy on a warm summer night. You can arrange tours of the facilities and farms. It's educational and beautiful. The area also grows other citrus fruit that we don't normally talk about such as sweet grapefruit and blood oranges.

One of the most important things to do when visiting the Amalfi Coast is to get outside. Take a walk, take a ride, take a tour. Bring your camera. You have to take more than phone pics of this place. It is one of the most scenic areas in the world. If you don't bring a quality digital camera, shame on you.

There are many ancient sites to see. There are ancient stone bridges in Furore that can't be matched and are still in use. There are scenic villas and gardens hanging over the towns and harbors. There's so much to see, that you'll feel like you've stepped into a postcard. And don't forget about sunset. Make sure you see a beautiful sunset while you're there. If you don't take time for that, then shame on you.

There are museums, castles, forts, ports, walks, stairs, hiking trails, and gorges that they call valleys with waterfalls to check out. Everywhere you look, there's an amazing view.

You can zip line over gorges along the Amalfi Coast. You can sunbathe along the harbors at the beaches. You can pay to stay in a historic villa. You can go to Positano and see where the rich and famous play. You can hire a private guide to show you around and ride around for the day in what's called an Ape Calessino (in America, we'd call it a Tuk Tuk).

There's so much to do. I can't talk about it all, or I'd never end this blog.

Now, we all have to eat, and when along the Amalfi Coast, that's no different. However, here the restaurants tend to have a view. If I had a dime for every cliffside restaurant I saw while doing the research for this, I could afford to spend the summer there. If you have a fear of heights, which you shouldn't if you visit this gem of an area, There's a restaurant in a grotto on Capri if you like.

Which brings me to another feature about the area; grottoes. There are some you can eat in, some you can visit, and some you get to by boat. They are a sight to see, and a great way to make use of that camera I recommended.

Add in some great shopping, lots of museums, and connections to other fabulous areas of western Italy, and the Amalfi Coast is an amazing place to visit. Bring a bathing suit, some Dramamine, sunblock, a great camera, hiking shoes, a sense of adventure and enjoy!

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https://www.positano.com/en/map

https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-amalfi-coast-italy/

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https://positano-amalfi-coast.com/lemons-on-the-amalfi-coast/

https://www.leagavi.it/en/funicular-train

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https://www.ziplineitalia.it/furore/en/pagine/costiera_amalfitana

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https://www.givemecoast.com/en/960616/amalficoastextraservices

https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/amalfi-coast-itinerary/

https://www.grayline.com/tours/sorrento/amalfi-coast-experience-from-sorrento-14592_1_12130_3209/

https://www.firebirdtours.com/welcome/italy-tours?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FT_Italy_EN_US&utm_term=italy%20tours&msclkid=c8f27cfdd68b16675fe71e738dfe1ce0&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FT%20%7C%20Italy%20%7C%20EN%20%7C%20US&utm_term=italy%20tours&utm_content=Italy%20Tours%20%7C%20MT%3ABMM

https://www.ravello.com/attractions/villa-cimbrone/

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https://theamalficourse.com/cultural-historical-sites/

https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/things-to-do/top-attractions

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https://www.kimkim.com/c/hidden-grottoes-of-the-amalfi-coast

https://www.positano.com/en/e/visiting-the-emerald-grotto-amalfi

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/destinations/italy/index.html?cid=SEM|BNG|999|c_73554934_kwd-27347905369:loc-4086_76828520549694&utm_id=sem:NB-Search-Oceans-Italy&utm_content=VOC-US-BNG-NB-Core-Italy&msclkid=d539fe5489081ef4466d9cdad404e2cb&gclid=d539fe5489081ef4466d9cdad404e2cb&gclsrc=3p.ds

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https://www.cruiseamalfi.com/

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https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/11/hiking-valley-of-the-mills-or-valle-dei-mulini-in-amalfi-italy.html

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https://www.luxuryhotelsguides.com/?subufi=38899&h1=hotels-in-place-region-country&msclkid=520c72c736be1133e8ef104969d52c50

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https://thetourguy.com/travel-blog/italy/pompeii-amalfi-coast/best-restaurants-on-the-amalfi-coast/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g187780-Amalfi_Amalfi_Coast_Province_of_Salerno_Campania.html

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/restaurants-amalfi-coast

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/6-must-visit-restaurants-on-the-amalfi-coast/

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Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Memorial Day Cometh, and We're Off to The Races!

Memorial Day is fast approaching here in America, and while most of us will spend a good deal of time honoring our veterans and lives lost in war and other military times; there's one thing that comes vividly to life on that weekend. We are off to the races!

I speak of racing this year with a fondness that I've not felt before as my young son goes into the racing world and training with a crew and gets to work at his very first Indianapolis 500. I'm a proud mama, and as a sideline, give a little root for Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud for me.

The Indy 500 is the oldest continually run and arguably the biggest race in the world. This will be the 106th running of the race that started back in 1911. It is the only race in the world that celebrates its winner with a glass of milk, simply because it is the only race that weathered prohibition in the United States, and has kept the practice as tradition.

The 500 has gone through a lot of tough times and a lot of changes. The race used to run on Memorial Day, which didn't leave a rain date for spectators. Eventually the race was moved to Sunday, because weather in the Midwest in May is largely unpredictable. Now, if the weather is bad enough to cancel the race, the spectators can see it on Monday.

Other things to know about the Indianapolis 500. This is an entire month of events in Indianapolis, Indiana. There are other races, time trials, concerts, parades, festivals and more. It is the single busiest time of the year in that town, and worth a look.

This year, there is a rare chance to see a record broken. Helio Castroneves belongs to an elite group of drivers who have won four Indy 500 races. He is racing this year, which means he could become the only driver to ever win 5.

But, I don't mention racing today just to talk about my son's upcoming career or one race. Not at all. I bring it up, because Memorial Day Weekend here in America is one of the biggest racing weekends around the world.

As Tony Stewart for one, can tell you; the evening following the Indianapolis 500 is the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the longest NASCAR race of the year. A few drivers have done both the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 in the same day. Tony Stewart was famous for it.

Once again, there are events all weekend long in Charlotte to celebrate both Memorial Day and the race, and its a lot of fun for everyone.

In Great Britain on Memorial Day Weekend they hold the British GT Championship Series at Donington Park. It's a huge event in England and a great weekend of events.

The Nurburgring in Germany is busy all month long during May, culminating in the Nurburgring 24 Hours. It is one of the biggest events of the year on one of the most challenging and famous race tracks in the world. The Nurburgring is roughly 13 miles long, making it one of the longest tracks in the world. It's open on certain days throughout the year to the public. Manufacturers bring their cars here to race for world record speed titles.

Australia hits the track in Sydney with a race weekend for all kinds of fans. For three days May 27 - 29, they race everything from supercars to touring cars to sprints and even Trans Ams. There's truly something for everyone during a wild weekend that even includes Radical Cup Racing.

Back on the American Front, Sprint Cars hit the track Memorial Day Weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee. Part of the American circuit and a sight to see. If you like dirt tracks, Sprint is a lot of fun to watch. If you see one fly through the air, don't worry. They're remarkably safe.

The Super GT crews hit Suzuka, Japan on Memorial Day Weekend. A key component to their circuit as well as an entire weekend of events. Once again, there are festivals, concerts, other racing events and so on.

And finally, the big puppy on my bucketlist. The Monaco Grand Prix is on Memorial Day Weekend. This F1 event is another one of the longest running races in the world with its first running in 1929. Every year the streets of Monaco yield to the giant race cars as they race one of the most famous races in the world.

Unlike many races, there are many ways to watch the Grand Prix, whether it be from a hotel balcony or even a yacht in the harbor, but it is a truly unique race in a truly unique place. As with many of these huge events, there are all kinds of things race related to do in Monaco in May.

So, Memorial Day is coming and the world is off to the races. Going to any kind of a race is memorable. I've been to Indy, and Daytona and they are something to behold. I highly recommend attending some kind of motorsport race. You can watch records broken, once in a lifetime happenings, and enjoy!

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https://www.tripadvisor.com/

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https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/event-info/schedule.

https://seatgeek.com/venues/indianapolis-motor-speedway/tickets?aid=10923&pid=276707292&gid=1207263846544400&rid=kwd-75454367832412:loc-190&dt=c&adId=75454085532684&mt=bp&n=o&xid=1&msclkid=b386f5e6eff31d8f25ca9763fa5826e9&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Venues%3A%20Indianapolis%20Motor%20Speedway%20(1612)%20%5BState%3AIN%5D%20%5BTurn%20On%20May%5D&utm_term=indy%20500%20race&utm_content=Info%20-%20Broad

https://tickets-center.com/search/Indianapolis-Motor-Speedway/Indy-500-tickets/?venueId=783&performerId=372&venueName=Indianapolis+Motor+Speedway&performerName=Indy+500&vaid=1018&pfaid=2045&tagid=103&atid=101&venueId=783&venueName=Indianapolis+Motor+Speedway&vaid=1018&performerId=372&performerName=Indy+500&pfaid=2045&tagid=103&nid=2&accid=140079355&cid=71605856339072&kwid=71606419216371&akwd=indianapolis%20500%20in%20indy&dmt=p&bmt=bp&dist=s&uq=2022%20indy%20500&device=c&ismobile=false&msclkid=5185e8db0e701a67cbf48a5e1bdb47c0&loc_physical_ms=44736&loc_interest_ms=49290&exid=&vx=0

https://www.stubhub.com/?AffiliateID=49&LCID=2057&PCID=PSUSBINSPOINDYC26268B1279&AdID=81226519629091&gclid=2c929f75e06218f49315fdf0f5c9ce17&ps_p=1&ps_ag=1299623110014772&ps_tg=kwd-81226633753054:loc-190&ps=&ps_p=1&ps_c=401766132&ps_ag=1299623110014772&ps_tg=kwd-81226633753054:loc-190&ps_ad=81226519629091&ps_n=o&ps_d=c&gclid=2c929f75e06218f49315fdf0f5c9ce17&gcid=C12289X021&keyword=1299623110014772kwd-81226633753054:loc-190_c&creative=&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&utm_campaign=401766132&kwt=nb&mt=e&kw=2022%20Indy%20500&ap=&ploc=44736&iloc=49290&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_content=default&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=2c929f75e06218f49315fdf0f5c9ce17&

https://indianapolis.ticketsales.com/indianapolis-motor-speedway/372/2022+Indy+500?msclkid=f9dfa2a7b7501156439bc022a2fb91e2&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(e783)%20%7C%20Indianapolis%20Motor%20Speedway%20%7C%20Indianapolis&utm_term=2022%20indy%20500&utm_content=05%2F29%2F2022%20%7C%20783-3590591%20%7C%202022%20Indy%20500

https://www.scca.com/pages/2022-majors-schedule

https://www.motorsport.com/supergt/event/suzuka-545102/545102/news/

https://www.porschesport.com/news/2022-porsche-michelin-sprint-challenge-calendar-announced

https://www.formula1monaco.com/

https://www.nuerburgring.de/events/categories/automotive/24h-race

https://britishgt.com/

https://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/Schedule.aspx

https://www.nascar.com/nascar-cup-series/2022/schedule/

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Drottingholm...Good One Jenn! Welcome to Stockholm!

Upon returning to my friends' bucket lists, I ran across one of Jenn's requests and couldn't resist. She asked if I could discuss a very specific site, Drottingholm Castle, the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family. Well, being that it's on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden; one of the most fascinating cities in one of the most fascinating countries in Europe, how could I possibly resist?

First, we'll discuss the castle. Built in 1580 by Johan III for his wife, the queen; it stood on Island Lovon in Lake Malar just outside of Stockholm. Drottingholm literally meant Queen's Islet. Sweden was a powerhouse during that time, and having a grand residence to show how powerful they were was of utmost importance. After all, who's going to respect your power if you don't have a massive castle, inspired by Versailles on an island to spend your summers at? I don't know, but it sure has made life for us Europhiles traveling the continent grand and amazing. There's nothing quite like visiting a grand palace.

But, as happened with many works of architecture in pre fire retardant times, Drottingholm burned in 1681. It was eventually rebuilt, but then was sold to the state in 1777. The royal family still used it as a summer residence until 1818 when Charles XIV abandoned the palace during his entire reign. He died in 1844.

As with most ancient palaces in Europe, there was more to Drottingholm than just the main palace. There were elaborate gardens and grounds. There were other buildings, like the church built in 1746 and the Chinese Pavilion built during the reign of Catherine the Great of Russia who also fancied all things Asian and had a Chinese Palace of her own.

Oscar I revived the abandoned palace during his reign, and since then, it has been maintained and the royal family, although these days they are largely figureheads, have used the palace as their residence consistently since 1981.

The Palace has many areas that are open to the public these days, and there are about a dozen different tours you can take. Over the centuries, world renowned artists and architects, sculptors and painters, garden designers and horticulturists have worked tirelessly to produce the collective work of art that we see today as Drottingholm Palace. It's an amazing place with an amazing history, and Jenn has officially landed it directly on my bucket list.

And now, I need to digress. I have always wanted to go to Sweden, and Stockholm has always been on my bucket list. So, just a little information on the city that is home to the amazing Drottingholm Palace.

First, there are at least a dozen other amazing palaces and castles to see in the area, including the official Royal Palace of Sweden right in the city. If you love a good castle and palace like I do, this is a city for you.

Stockholm is a city we've all heard of. It's one of those happy countries that none of us Americans understands, because it seem that the weather alone would drive a person crazy. In the winter it is cold, dark most of the day, and people do take their snowmobiles to McDonald's drive thru. We've seen that on TV. In the summer though. Wow. It really doesn't get dark and the weather is largely sunny and warm. People go swimming in lakes in the summer, not just in the winter after running out of one of their world famous saunas.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and one of the most progressive cities and countries on Earth. During the pandemic, Sweden took its own path to deal with Covid-19 by not trying to stop the spread with masks and lock downs. They did restrict entry into their country, and they have a fabulous vaccine rate, but they decided that it would have to run its course. And now, Sweden does fall on the low risk list. Were they right? Who knows.

But, Sweden has been celebrating science, art, and forward thinking pretty much forever. They have a city that sits on 14 different islands, and they have many ways for the citizens to get around on public transportation. Can you have an underground in such a watery area? Why, yes you can. And not only do they have a subway system, the stations are works of art. A working art museum if you will. They also have an intricate ferry system to navigate all those islands. There's also buses, taxis, ubers and whatever. Bicycle rentals are very popular.

You might recognize the iconic city hall of Stockholm. There are only a handful of cities in the world that has a city hall that is world famous, but Stockholm has made that happen. Every year, the Nobel Prizes are announced in that hall, and they are the single most sought after awards on Earth. Being a Nobel Laureate is a dream of just about anyone.

Stockholm has museums as well. The Vasa is preserved in its museum and is the best preserved ship in the world from the 1700's.

There's also the Skansen Open Air Museum just outside of town. It shows you what life was like in the past in Sweden and is the largest open air museum in the world. Pretty impressive.

Art is tantamount in Stockholm, and Fotografiska is their photography museum. They showcase photography from Sweden and all over the world. Hold onto your hat. This is a chain that is producing museums all over the world. I've been to the one in New York City. It's a great place to visit if you love the art of photography.

Now, what else is Sweden famous for? What do we Americans know about it? That's right, we Americans love IKEA. That's right. Stockholm is ground zero and the flagship store is right in the city.

Not only can you shop at the original, but they have a museum too, and you can see all of the designs from over the years. Sweden had both modern and museum together all over Stockholm. It's a little bit of world wide combined with a lot of Swedish creativity and ingenuity. What we call the Nordic Countries are some of the most creative countries on Earth. They've taken what could be a problematic environment and turned it into an area of some of the most inventive cultures on Earth, and Sweden heads that list of countries.

I had to leave one of my favorites for last. The very first 45 record I ever owned was the very first piece of music I ever owned and I got it for my birthday. That record was Dancing Queen and so began my lifelong love of ABBA. Yes, they are Swedish, and yes, there is a museum in Stockholm. Honestly, that place would be my first stop. And, don't forget, ABBA put out a new album last winter. They're still going strong.

There's so much to see and do in Stockholm, and Drottingholm is the pinnacle of any trip there. You should tour that Palace and any others you have time to see. There's so much that you shouldn't miss in that city. Yes, you should take a tour on some kind of boat. You should check out the old town. You should take a ride on a bike and check out the amazing parks and gardens. You should definitely go to some one of a kind museums. Stockholm is also a world famous food destination, they have a massive music scene, and they have festivals of all kinds all year long. They have one of the largest pride festivals in the world.

Sweden is one of the most progressive countries in the world. We know their artists, their products, their food, and their happy lifestyle. They have a socialist outlook, a royal family, a democratic government, a creative nature, a go with the flow attitude, an eye for beauty and an ear for great tunes. It's one of the places that we know so much about, yet don't realize how much we really know. It's a country that has gone from warring with Russia to celebrating the world's greatest acts of peace and greatest genius.

So, take some time to think about visiting the capital of a country that battled Covid-19 head on with no fear. Come and see forward thinking in action. Come and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Come and study the past, see the future, sail all around it and enjoy!

https://www.kungligaslotten.se/english/royal-palaces-and-sites/drottningholm-palace.html

https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g19767947-d208281-Reviews-Drottningholm_Palace-Drottningholm.html

https://www.visitnordic.com/en/attraction/drottningholm-palace

https://www.historyhit.com/locations/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.getyourguide.com/drottningholm-palace-l3728/city-cards-tc101/?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=377151465&cq_con=1247946168886853&cq_term=www.getyourguide.com&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=o&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=377151465&adgroup_id=1247946168886853&target_id=dat-2329796419836470%3Aaud-806416223%3Aloc-190&loc_physical_ms=44736&match_type=b&ad_id=&keyword=www.getyourguide.com&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&gclid=fc9d7db674311c494a1f1fcd86c36204&gclid=fc9d7db674311c494a1f1fcd86c36204&gclsrc=3p.ds&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=fc9d7db674311c494a1f1fcd86c36204&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ct%3Ddsa%7Cln%3D29%3Aen%7Ctc%3Dus&utm_term=www.getyourguide.com&utm_content=ct%3Ddsa%7Cfn%3Df1

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/royal-domain-of-drottningholm-sweden/a78b9947-7ad4-4cb1-aae2-891b103c2eee

https://www.castlesofsweden.com/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.britannica.com/technology/palace

https://www.routesnorth.com/stockholm/visiting-drottningholm-palace-from-stockholm/

https://www.virtuoso.com/tours/12635093/drottingholm-palace#.YnvzmZLMK70

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/559