Enjoy some photos from my adventures!

Located 5 miles outside of Cork, Ireland, Blarney Castle is a beautiful site to see. And of course, you must climb to the top to kiss the stone!

What trip to Italy is complete without a gondola ride in the Grand Canal? Venice--my favorite city in Italy! So far!

Malta is quickly becoming a "go-to" place to visit in Europe. The Marsaxlokk Fishing Village with its local market is a great way to spend a morning and St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta is not to be missed!

Maui--my favorite island in Hawaii. There is much to do and see here including snorkeling at the Molokini Crater and Turtle Town.

A sheepdog demonstration is a MUST do when visiting Ireland. These dogs are absolutely amazing!

Old Faithful erupts 17-20 times a day. This entire park should be on everyone's bucket list!

The Baths in Virgin Gorda--getting there was half the fun!

You have never been on a cruise like a Star Clippers cruise! These ships sail all over the world but our trip took us to the Caribbean. Here is a beautiful shot of our ship, The Star Flyer

To me the best part of the Star Clipper experience was the intimacy of it all. Only 130 passengers on our ship. We met people from all over the world--Germany, France, England, Canada and USA.

A quick weekend jaunt or a several days stay in the Bahamas--Margaritaville at Sea is the place to be for a great party!

NYC--the ultimate in city destinations! I fulfilled a dream by taking the ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty! Amazing history here!

This trip was to the mainland Greece and not the islands but my friend and I had an amazing time with Gate 1 Tours. Here we are in front of the Parthenon. If you love history, you will love Greece!

I have been on all the major US cruise lines and there is nothing like a Disney Cruise! The character meet and greets are my favorite and nightly shows are Broadway quality. 

....and there is absolutely nothing as amazing as spending Halloween on a Disney Cruise! My gang dressed up as Star Wars characters and we were a hit on the ship!

Sometimes the best jewels are found close to home! And they are made even better when family from out of state come to visit!

St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island are some of my family's favorite beach vacation spots. Calm beaches, quaint towns, and not overly crowded. 

Such a privilege to visit the Holy Land with my mother. This was another Gate 1 Travel guided tour. Walking where Jesus walked and hearing the history was an unforgettable experience!

Alaska should be on everyone's bucket list. An absolutely stunning land and all the major cruise lines visit this area. This was my second trip and just as amazing as the first time!

My ultimate Italy dream trip finally came true! Another Gate 1 guided trip and I loved every minute of it. First stop was Burano.  It is a quintessential Italian village with its beautiful colors, friendly people and amazing food. We did a private walking tour and had a great visit despite the rain.

Another visit to my favorite city in Italy. This time most of my family got to go with me. And what’s Venice without the gondola ride?

Last time I was in Venice I did not get to see the inside of the Basilica. So thankful I got to see the beautiful interior this time. We are a horse family so I zeroed in on the Triumphal Quadriga bronze statue. 

Such an iconic sight and a must see when in Tuscany!

Easily my most favorite sight in Rome! We hired a private guide who did an amazing job of explaining the workings and history of this remarkable piece of history! If you go, make a point of seeing it lit up at night—truly stunning!

The main attraction of the Accademia Gallery is, of course, the most famous work of Michelangelo. The amazing attention to detail in this piece is almost incomprehensible when you take in to account that it is done in one solid piece of marble. They do not make art like this anymore. 

This island is worth a trip just for the views alone but then there is the great food, perfumes, and Gardens of Augustus to see the famous  Faraglioni rock formations. 

While in Boston for an educational conference, I took the time to take a Freedom Trail tour to learn about the pivotal role that Boston played in the American Revolution. Also checked out the USS Constitution first launched in 1787.

My sister's first major trip! I was thrilled to show her the many sites of NYC including a somber stop at the 9/11 Memorial. Next stop? SWIZTERLAND!

My first sighting of this brought up feelings similar to my first viewing of the Vietnam War Memorial. Such a "mournful and moving piece of stone"--to quote Mark Twain.  It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris.

One of my favorite stops and of course, we had to get a picture at the Grand Tour photo stop. Gruyères is a medieval town known for production of the cheese of the same name. This cheese was used to make fondue we had the night before. Can't visit Switzerland without eating chocolate and fondue! 

Love this shot taken on our way back to the meeting point in Gruyères!

Easily one of the best excursions I have ever signed up for! It had snowed the night before and was beautiful and sunny when we went up. Took a cogwheel train up 7,000 feet and a cable car back down to Lucerne. Stunning scenery everywhere you looked!

While I do not like cold and snow, I have to admit the snow made for some gorgeous pictures.

This was a unique experience. Amazing to see the difference in the landscape at the bottom of the mountain verses the top.

Lucerne offered some great views at night. Here is the famous Chapel Bridge. Plus, it was just before Christmas and so those lights were going up all over the cities we visited in Switzerland as well. 

No place in Switzerland for chocolate like Geneva. Everything in this picture but the leaves, corn cobs and grass is made of chocolate. We found chocolate that was almost $100 a pound! They take their chocolate seriously here! 

Instead of touring the Lake Como region with our Gate 1 group, we took the train from Lugano to Milan to see the famous Duomo and the La Scala. I had missed seeing the opera house my first trip and people had told me it was something to see. They were right!