Another year has come and gone and by far one of the biggest highlights of 2018 was Sicily.  You think you know Italy through its highlights – Rome, Florence, Venice, etc. – but Sicily is unlike anything else.  We did a whirlwind loop around the island and I’m still awestruck by its understated richness, from beautiful architecture and natural landscapes to some of the best food I’ve ever tasted.

There was so much diversity among the different places we visited (like hiking to the summit of Mount Etna or taking a ferry to explore the tiny island of Marettimo) that I’m still in the process of sorting through notes, photos and writing posts that you’ll start to see over the coming months.  In the meantime here’s a snapshot of a few other travel highlights from this year.

Happy New Year and best wishes in 2019!

Weekend on the Coast – California, March 2018

Waves in the sand

Oceano beach

Coastal sunset

Sand dollar on the shore

Lovely succulent

Wine tasting with a view

When in California

San Diego Adventure – California, May 2018

Downtown San Diego skyline

Hotel del Coronado

Coronado Island

USS Midway

Waterfront views

Tide pools in La Jolla

Carlsbad Flower Fields

Sunset on the San Diego bay

Balboa Park

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Beach Trail at Torrey Pines

Under the Sicilian Sun – Sicily, September 2018

Lava stone architecture in Catania

Pasta alla Norma

At the summit of Mount Etna

Piazza IX Aprile in Taormina

Cannolo e cafe

Roadside attraction

Ancient Greek ruins at the Valley of the Temples

Scala dei Turchi

Pistachio and chocolate gelato

Beach views

Hilltop castle in Erice

Hiking at Zingaro Nature Reserve

Pizza in Castellammare del Golfo

Gorgeous island of Levanzo

Busiate pasta

Quite streets on the island of Marettimo

Last Sicilian sunset

La Dolce Vita – Rome, September 2018

Gorgeous colonnade at the Vatican

St. Peter’s Basilica

View from the dome of St. Peter’s

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Buonasera Roma

Trevi Fountain at Dusk

Delicious gnocchi

Classic Colosseum

La dolce vita

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – New Mexico, October 2018

The first balloons begin to inflate

Balloons with the Sandia Mountains in the background

Lined up and ready to go

Morning glow

Up, up and away

Colorful hot air balloons

Holiday Season in the City – New York, December 2018

Christmas tree at Bryant Park

Bryant Park ice skating

Atlas holding the heavens

Empire state of mind

“Bergdorf Goodies” window display

More sweets at Bergdorf Goodman

Oh Christmas tree

Beautiful light show at Saks 5th Avenue

Rockefeller Center tree and skating rink

All Aboard the Polar Express – Colorado, December 2018

Black and white and red all over

Here comes the Polar Express

All aboard

Reading the Polar Express

Hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate

Santa’s sleigh at the North Pole

Special visit from Santa Claus

Bringing up the caboose

Until next year Polar Express

Snow kissed trees

Winter wonderland in Durango