Author Archives: Elaine-iaK's Travels

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About Elaine-iaK's Travels

As a graduate of Recreation Administration, from San Diego State University, I have made recreation and travels my career and life’s passion. After graduation, I traveled solo for one year throughout the South Pacific, doing travel photography in a wide variety of settings. Upon my return, many of my photographs became the subjects of my newly created line of handcrafted photographic greeting cards, "Exquisite! By, Elaine", a business I have had since 1986. Check them out at: http://ExquisiteCards.fototime.com . In 1983, I began teaming up with my mom, Goldie, teaching arts & crafts to cruise ship passengers, aboard Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. In addition, I lectured on travel photography, as well as Australia and New Zealand history, aboard Princess Cruises. In 2004, I formed a new teaching team with my recently retired husband, Bruce, who serves as my "humble assistant" until 2010 when the cruise lines shifted the arts and crafts program to mostly being taught by their own staff. Currently, our favorite mode of travel is by river boat. Along the way, we enjoy poking around small European towns, meeting the people, seeking out interesting photo subjects, and always stopping at every chocolatier to make a purchase. Adding to my chocolate label and wrapper collection is a bonus! And, as a U.S. Masters swimmer, if I can find a pool to get in a swim with the locals, all the better! Cheers! Elaine-iaK ~ Believing in your dreams can be far more rewarding than living by your limitations~ -Karla Peterson

PERU #3: LIKABLE LIMA (PART 3) – BARRANCO DISTRICT

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Adjacent to the Miraflores District of Lima is the Barranco District, considered to be Lima’s most romantic, bohemian, and artsy area of the city.  It is THE neighborhood for Peru’s leading artists, musicians, designers and photographers as well as a huge draw for surfers in search of the perfect wave.

Barranco is also known for its murals, which are a magnet for me and my camera.  I love color and photographing color— everything from hot air balloons, flowers, and tropical fish and coral (which I photographed while SCUBA diving) to murals.  Bruce enjoys murals as well, so we set off on foot via the Malecon, the long way to Barranco, but the route with the nicest views.

On the way to searching the streets for murals, we stopped at Dedalo, a beautiful old mansion-turned-gallery that hosts the work of more than 700 artists.   Eye candy!  Each of the many rooms displayed meticulously crafted items we admired and enjoyed seeing.  For anybody who appreciates beautiful crafts, this is a must-see destination if you ever visit Lima!

Since signs posted throughout the gallery invited us to “please take photos” and post them on social media, I will gladly do so here!  These are just a few:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

The wood floors were gorgeous!

Uplifted and inspired, we continued our walk, in search of murals, enjoying the town along the way.

Don’t you just love this repair shop door? It made me laugh!

All the walking to and from Barranco built up our appetite, so we enjoyed dinner at Pardos Chicken in Larcomar, partly so we could enjoy the view of the surfers off in the distance.  It was another cloudy, humid day, so this picture doesn’t do justice to the incredible view we had out our booth window:

The actual tour didn’t start until the following day, but we received a call from Raul, our tour leader, just as we stepped into our hotel room to prepare to go out again.  “What are you doing this evening?” he asked.  Bruce replied, “We are going to see Circuito Magico del Agua!  Would you like to join us?”  So, off the three of us went to see the most amazing multimedia water fountain show we had ever seen!

Next up: PERU #4: LIKABLE LIMA (PART 4) – CIRCUITO MAGICO DEL AGUA

PERU #2: LIKABLE LIMA (PART 2)

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Our first day in Lima, the capital of Peru, was a full one!  After seeing the parade, Parque Kennedy, the Inka Market, and Indian Market (all covered here), we walked the Malecon, Lima’s clifftop walkway.  It was located just two blocks from our hotel, so we enjoyed walking different parts of it each day while we were in Lima. 

Larcomar, a shopping center built into the cliff, was right at the foot of the boulevard where our hotel was located, so we couldn’t help but to see it.  Shopping malls aren’t our thing, but this one was worth a stroll around just to see how it was situated on the steep cliff.  There were amazing views from the top level and restaurants!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

The sky wasn’t the prettiest while we were there, but we fully expected that.  Lima is known for its often foggy and always humid weather, but it was winter, so the temperature was in the 60’s.  I loved every minute of it!  The poor photography conditions was worth the trade-off to be out of the Georgia heat.

The cliff-top walk was beautiful with many small parks and bougainvillea growing everywhere.  Our destination for our first walk was Parque del Amour (Love Park), inaugurated on Valentine’s Day, 1993.  The centerpiece of the park is a huge sculpture called, “The Kiss” but we were there to see the Gaudi-inspired mosaics that included phrases and poems about love.  We loved it!

We had also hoped to see the paragliders that usually fly along the cliffs, but we didn’t see any.  Stay tuned, because they will appear in an upcoming post!

We enjoyed a Pan con chocolate, heated on the spot, while visiting Love Park. The U.S. price was the equivalent of only $1.20, and the warm chocolate and bread was delicious!

This is the Peru Sole, their currency.

Around our hotel:

Since the included meals with Overseas Adventure Travel are always multi-course, we usually opt for something lighter and more casual when we are on our own.  Bruce wanted our first dinner in Lima to be a treat, though, so we made reservations for Huaca Pucllana.  Located adjacent to the Huaca Pucllana ruins that we were planning to see, it worked out nicely to enjoy dinner first and then tour take the evening tour of the ruins.

What a memorable and fascinating evening!  The beautiful terrace of the restaurant overlooked the ruins, so we dined enjoying a very unique view!

Following dinner, we went next door to see the museum and take our evening tour.  There were just four other people, making the experience intimate and enjoyable.

These ruins were amazing, once we understood the history and construction of the site.  Built as a ceremonial center between 450-650 A.D., they were abandoned for at least a century until the Wari society’s elite converted the top of the pyramid into a sacred space where their deceased were interred.  Later, the Ychsma people (1100 to 1450 A.D.) used it to bury their dead as well.  They also used it as a repository of offerings associated with ancestor worship.

The most amazing thing about these ruins was learning that what we saw was just a fraction of the size of the original site.  It was only by accident these ruins were discovered in the 1980’s during excavation work; the remainder has been built over during the past centuries.

The adobe and mud bricks were made and then stacked in this fashion for more stability.

Here’s a fun fact:  People think Maccu Picchu is ancient  at 574 years old, but Huaca Pucllana is 1,100 years old!

Coming up next: PERU #3: LIKABLE LIMA (PART 3)– BARRANCO DISTRICT

PERU #1: LIKABLE LIMA (PART 1)

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I will be honest with you; Lima wasn’t on my bucket list.  It’s not that I didn’t want to go there; it’s just that I had been to Lima on a cruise many years ago and the city hadn’t left much of a lasting impression on me.  Ahhh, but that’s a downside of cruising.  How much can you really see in one day—or a part of a day?

To be very honest with you, we were supposed to have been on an American Queen Voyages expedition cruise in Alaska during the last half of July.  The company went bankrupt, so our cruise was canceled.  (Thankfully, we will be getting our deposit back no later than the end of September, according to the court settlement, so no money was lost.)

Why did we choose Peru to replace that trip?  We had traveled a few times with Overseas Adventure Travel and enjoyed our experiences, the tour was highly recommended by people on our past OAT tours, we wanted to see Machu Picchu, and we wanted to get out of the Georgia heat (In July, it’s winter in Peru).

The tour started in Lima, so, we decided to fly in early and explore more of the city on our own—a good decision, because we had some great experiences and a fun surprise!  My impression of Lima during our four-day visit definitely improved dramatically!

Based in the Miraflores district, we set out to explore the area the morning after our arrival.  Just a couple of blocks away from our hotel, we heard Spanish being spoken on a megaphone.  Then we saw more and more people—with signs—as we got closer.  Oh no!  Was this another political protest?  A possible riot brewing?  There were police everywhere! We hesitated before getting closer, but then we saw… a parade!  Who doesn’t love a parade?  It was a national holiday in Peru, and the celebration was on!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

These were all police motorcycles.

I was curious where the parade was going to and what else we might see on the route, so we followed along.  In addition to school marching bands, the fire department, cultural dance clubs, and service organizations, we came across the police department’s K-9 unit.  I have been in some foreign cities where it was illegal to photograph government installations, military, and police; so, I was hesitant to take any pictures, since I hadn’t researched Peru’s policy. The police were lined up with their (mostly) obedient dogs and I really wanted a photo!  I asked the one who looked like he was in charge if it was ok (by pointing to my camera and asking, “Photos, si?”), and with a proud grin across his face, he commanded attention from his unit, so I could get a good shot!  Jefe (“boss” in Spanish) didn’t have much luck getting them all to cooperate in sync, but no worries!  I was having a good laugh watching them all; it was quite entertaining!  He also let me get in the line, so Bruce could get a picture of me with the pooches. 

Through Jefe’s “interpreter” (the cop to my right in the photo who spoke very little English— and I speak about as much Spanish!), he invited us to watch them march to the end of the parade route.  The parade got backed up, though, due to the competition judging at the end of the route, so we continued to the craft markets after visiting the cats across the street in Lima’s central park,  Parque Kennedy.

The cats are THE attraction at the park.  Back in the 1990’s the park was inundated with rats, so residents of the area brought their cats in to eliminate the problem.  That they did!  Ultimately, a group was organized to feed, leave fresh water, and care for the cats.  Now, people visit the park to watch, cuddle, and pet the cats and the park is rat-free.  Win-win!

Of course, the cats don’t necessarily stay in the park…

Our travels on foot took us next to the Indian and Inka craft markets where I feasted my eyes on all the colors:

Fortunately, our hotel was well-situated, but we still walked all over the Miraflores district and beyond…

Next up:  PERU #2: LIKABLE LIMA (PART 2)

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #21:  VENETIAN VILLA CONDULMER

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For our last day in Italy, we made our way from the Alps to the Venetian countryside, stopping at an apple orchard in Valsugana.  We learned from the owner about apple cultivation and the production of apple juice, cider, and vinegar.  Cherries were being grown there as well and we were fortunate to arrive just in time to taste them at their best!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Lunch followed; a variety of home-cooked dishes that included apples as an ingredient, of course!

Our journey continued to Villa Condulmer where we stayed our final night.  Built in the 17th century as a monastery, it later became a private residence that changed owners several times. Famous composer, Guiseppe Verdi, was friends with the one of the owners and stayed there for a few months in the 1800’s.  In 1959, the villa was transformed into a hotel and features the piano that Verdi played during his stay.

The villa was gorgeous!  We enjoyed meandering through the lobby, bar, and sitting rooms as well as the lush grounds in both the front and back.  It was a perfect place to relax and enjoy the last day in one of our favorite countries!

In the evening, following a champagne reception for our group, we enjoyed our last dinner together and bid farewell to our fellow travelers and Maria, our tour leader.

As was our previous three tours with Overseas Adventure Travels, we enjoyed it very much and highly recommend their small group tours.  If you do check out the site and contact OAT, please let them know Elaine Krugman referred you and give them my customer number: 3018126.  If you book a trip with them, not only will you receive $100 off because you were referred by me, but I will, too!

Thanks for joining me on this journey!  I hope you will return to see Peru!

Coming up next:  PERU #1: LIKABLE LIMA

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #20: LUSH LADIN VALLEYS & DAZZLING DOLOMITES

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I was hoping for good weather on the day we would have the best views of the Dolomites and we got it!  As we made our way along the winding roads into the Val Gardena valley, the views were stunning.

This is a top ski area in the winter and a popular hiking and mountain biking destination the remainder of the year.  It is one of five valleys in the region where the main language spoken is Ladin, and the people are very proud of their language and culture.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Wood carving is a traditional craft here and the local churches are adorned with intricate wood carvings.  We stopped at a shop to see some beautiful wood-carved creations as well as these large mushrooms—a nod to one of the staple foods in the region.

The main attraction, however, was the gorgeous scenery!

We met with Peter, a native of the area who could speak five languages fluently by the time he was 20 years old.  In addition to his native Ladin language, he grew up speaking the other two official languages of the region:  German and Italian.  During his earlier school years, he learned English, and then French when he was in high school.

Peter led us on a hike through the little village and through beautiful hillsides, while sharing his culture with us and pointing out the flora and fauna along the way.  Our hike concluded at a small lake, a popular ice skating and curling spot in the winter.

This is a popular skiing area, so there were several ski lifts– and a few cows.

Following our hike, we stopped at the cutest little village for a traditional Ladin lunch.  It was a lovely day!

Few vegetables can be grown in northern Italy due to the climate, so tomato-based sauce is not used on pasta. Instead, they use butter, and lots of it!

Next up:  SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #21:  VENETIAN VILLA CONDULMER

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #19: VISITING BOLZANO BY TRAIN & CABLE CAR

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Our group hopped on a local train to Bolzano, the capital of the South Tyrol province of Italy, in the far north of the country.  The tourist bureau had issued a free transportation card to each of us, so the round-trip ride was free, as was the bus from the train station to the Museum of Archaeology to visit Otzi the Iceman.  Nice!

Otzi wasn’t much of a looker; he wasn’t tall, dark or handsome.  No, the bloke was actually a well-preserved 5,300-year-old mummy that was discovered in this region in 1991 by two climbers who saw a hand sticking out of the snow.  This is what he would have looked like back in his day:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Otzi was analyzed and determined to be the oldest human discovered in Europe.  For many years, researchers were unable to determine Otzi’s cause of death, but when he was discovered, damaged equipment near him indicated mortal combat had taken place.  Ooooh, the plot thickens…

The mystery was solved in 2001 when a more detailed x-ray examination revealed an arrowhead in Otzi’s left shoulder.  He was murdered! Poor Otzi; may he rest in peace.

Some Scenes around Bolzano:

While visiting Bolzano, in addition to a walking tour, we met with two locals—one German, and one Italian, to learn about the history and culture identity of this area.  South Tyrol had been an Austrian territory for centuries, but as I had explained in my last post, Mussolini had done his best to destroy what used to be a rich German history, language, and culture.  Germans were treated badly and forced to abandon their homes and possessions if they refused to give up their language and culture.  They were also thrown in prison.  In 1939, Germans in the region were given a choice: Go to Germany and live under Hitler or stay and give up their German culture.  What a horrid choice!  Towns and families became split.  For the 70,000 people who went to Germany, they got good jobs, but for those who had owned land in South Tyrol, they were unable to sell it so they could leave.  Between 1939-1944, Germans who stayed ended up fighting against Hitler and, in many cases, their own families and friends who had left.  Hitler invaded Bolzano and Jews were immediately sent to concentration camps.

Following World War II, Germans had difficulty returning, because there was a lack of jobs or support from the government.  As a result, they formed the Unity Party to fight for their rights.  They were very poor and didn’t get along with the Italians, but they ultimately won their fight for equal rights and got their German names back.

In 1972, statutes were passed to become an autonomous region.  90% of tax money collected is kept in the region, and Tyrol is now the second richest region in the country. 

Today, there are three official languages protected by law in the region—German, spoken by 70% of the people, Italian, and Ladin, the oldest language of the three that is spoken by only 5% of the region’s population.

Thanks to some German and Italian ice skaters from the area that were top in the world at the time, they helped to bridge the cultures and bolstered national pride.  As a result, the Germans and Italians get along much better now.

Following what turned out to be a riveting discussion and question/ answer session that went much more in depth about the cultural differences between the Germans and Italians in the region, we headed back to the train station.  Most of the group returned to Trento to take an optional tour.  Bruce and I opted to take the Renon Cable Car (also free with our card) to Oberbozen/ Soprabolzano and thoroughly enjoyed the views!

Coming up next: SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #20: LUSH LADIN VALLEYS & DAZZLING DOLOMITES

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #18: OVERLAND TO BEAUTIFUL BRESSANONE / BRIXEN

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Our travels to Bressanone (aka Brixen) took us through the Val di Funes, a valley in northeast Italy with rolling hills dotted with farms and surrounded by steep alpine peaks.  We stopped for a hike along Santa Magdalena, a scenic trail that passed by family farms, a tiny church, and offered incredible views of the Italian Dolomites when the clouds cleared.  Following our hike and lunch at Fines Hotel & Restaurant, we were fortunate to catch some nice views of the jagged, spiked dolomite mountains. 

Dolomite is a carbonate rock, and the Italian Dolomites are comprised of 32 clusters of dolomite peaks that look like limestone spikes.  The large concentration of this type of rock is only found in Italy and is a UNESCO Heritage Site.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

What a thoughtful farmer, devising a back scratcher for his cows!
This is Gabriel Messner, hike leader and owner of the Fines Hotel & Restaurant where we had lunch. Look for him (hopefully!) in the next winter Olympics as a skier for Team Italy. As a national team member, he has hopes to make the cut!
The view of the Dolomites got better…
…and better. But they will get even better in my upcoming post!

This region of Italy is close to Austria, so the languages spoken are both German and Italian.  The cuisine, as we discovered at lunch, had a German influence—much different than what you would find in the south of Italy.

We continued on to Bressanone, which used to be called “Brixen,” a German name, until Mussolini, the horrible dictator, came in and changed all of the German names of towns and streets to Italian names and forced the residents to do the same.  The fascist didn’t stop there; he banned the German language and it wasn’t allowed to be taught in the schools.  Austrian history was forbidden from being taught as well.  Mussolini tried to wipe out that entire culture.  Thankfully, it was all ultimately reversed. Signs in the area are in both German and Italian, and German is one of the official languages.

Bressanone / Brixen is a medieval town of about 23,000 people founded in 901 and located in the autonomous Trentino-Alto Adige region.  We found it to be quite charming and enjoyable to explore during the afternoon and evening.

Hotel Krone, our hotel in Bressanone, was established in 1717!
A beautiful garden and walking path down the street from our hotel.
Bressanone / Brixen Cathedral
Delicious pizza!
An adorable (and funny!) puppet show in the piazza capped off a wonderful day!

Next up: SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #19: VISITING BOLZANO BY TRAIN & CABLE CAR

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #17: TERRIFIC TRENTO

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The day began with a group walking tour of Trento, and then we had a free afternoon to enjoy by ourselves.  We had opted against taking the optional cooking class—a good decision given our lack of desire and spending $270 (for two) on something we had little interest in doing.  Instead, we explored more of the city, including taking a cable car up to the mountaintop for a panorama view.

For this post, I will take you on a photo tour of the sites we enjoyed throughout our tour and let the photos and captions tell the story.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Castello del Buonconsiglio / Buonconsiglio Castle was built in the 13th century
He seemed to be amused watching our group outside of the castle!
We had visited (and photographed) the piazza the previous day, but I couldn’t get enough of these gorgeous frescoes! As the light changed, I kept going back, as you will see later in the afternoon…
We had a free pass to ride the Trento cable car, and we thoroughly enjoyed the views!
While Bruce rested his knee (torn meniscus), I poked around the streets of Sardagna and watched a car race winding through the streets off in the distance.
Back in town, the sky was clearing more and more, so we enjoyed wandering the streets.
Back in the piazza again! Click on the photo for a panorama view!
Piazza Dante, across from our hotel
The specialty at this shop was speck, a fatty ham that is 80% fat! It was a hard NO for me, but it was a favorite in the old days– the “energy bar of the middle ages,” according to our morning tour guide!
I thought this community closet was a great idea! Leave clothes that you don’t need and pick up something you do. Donated canned and packaged food was available as well.

Next up:  SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #18: OVERLAND TO BEAUTIFUL BRESSANONE (BRIXEN)

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #16: TRAVELING TO TRENTO

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On the way to Trento, we stopped in the beautiful town of Desenzano, situated on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake.  Some of the streets were blocked off, which baffled Maria, our travel leader, and our bus driver.  Did something horrible happen?  It wasn’t until a sports car with a number on the side whizzed by that we realized we had stumbled upon a car race!  We all hopped out of the bus and headed to the waterfront to see the action.  It was the 2024 1000 Miglia, an annual 1000-mile vintage car race that has taken place in the province of Brescia since 1927.  The tour concluded in Desenzano where the drivers got their final stamps at the check-in tent, and then took some final laps to celebrate.  Italians are huge car race enthusiasts, so it was fun to watch with the locals, as they cheered for their favorites.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Maria also managed to corral our group for a walking tour of the town, which we found to be quaint and charming.  The race and walking tour were great ways to break up our journey to Trento!

Ricetto Castle

We continued on to visit an olive mill for a tour, olive oil tasting, and al fresco lunch.  The mill we visited, Frantoio Manestrini, was a family-operated mill that had received national recognition.  The vegetarian option for lunch was a welcomed surprise, given the lack of vegetables available during the previous days in Northern Italy and Switzerland.

The final leg of our journey took us through the foothills of the Italian Dolomites, which we would be seeing more of in the following days.  Upon arrival in Trento, we checked in at the beautiful Grand Hotel Trento, and then took an orientation tour of the lovely town.

Looking up the winding staircase from the bottom floor…
…and looking back down from the top.

Trento is the capital of the autonomous province of Trento.  Formerly part of Austria, it was annexed by Italy in 1919 and is now one of the wealthiest and most prosperous cities in Italy with a high standard of living and quality of life.

Trento is a city of frescoes.
Trento is also a city of gorgeous stone sidewalks of local red limestone.
Some of the stone sidewalks have fossils such as this one dating back 200-250 million years!

As if we hadn’t already experienced good luck when we happened upon that car race, the good luck continued in the evening when we stumbled upon a festival in Plaza Duomo, the cathedral square, following dinner.  Proloco Centro Storico Trento is part of Feste Vigiliane, celebrating patron saint San Vigilius.  The week-long festival transforms the streets and alleys into a mediaeval quarter where food, entertainment, and ancient handicrafts bring out the crowds.  The celebrations are full of humor and laughter, concluding with fireworks on the final day.

We stood outside the gate watching men prepare huge copper kettles of polenta.  Along with beer, bowls of the polenta were carried out by costumed servers.  It was a big social event, and everybody seemed to be having a great time!  We sure enjoyed watching!

Coming up next: SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #17: TERRIFIC TRENTO

SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #15:MAGICAL MONTE ISOLA AND INTRIGUING ISEO

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About that “break” I mentioned at the end of my last post; we went on an Overseas Adventure Travel tour to Peru.  As soon as I complete my blogs about this tour, I will begin my posts on our amazing and fabulous adventure!

Meanwhile, back in Italy, while the rest of the group went on an optional tour, Bruce and I opted to spend the day exploring on our own.  We walked to the charming town of Iseo to catch the ferry to the island of Monte Isola, and we immediately knew we wanted to save some time to see more on the way back.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Scenes of Iseo, while walking through town to the ferry.
This mother was cruising near the ferry with her baby hitching a ride on her back.
Looking back at Iseo from the ferry.
A view of the mainland from the lake.
Monte Isola

Monte Isola, located in the middle of Lake Iseo, is 1.7 square miles in size and has a population of less than 2,000.  It is a beautiful island that peaks at just under 2000 feet, making it a challenge to traverse on foot.  We set out to hike one of the loops that took us through the cobbled-street town, and along the waterfront. 

We saw mothers with their babies all along the waterfront!

We then turned inland to traverse the island’s steep interior. When I say steep, I mean steep!  On one of the roads, a sign warned a couple of cyclists about the steep grade as they walked their bikes up the incline, huffing and puffing.  I wondered if they muttered to each other, “Tell me something I don’t already know!”  Meanwhile, cyclists flew by in the other direction, as they raced downhill.  There was no walking path for pedestrians and no shoulder, so we carefully navigated as bikes and a few cars flew down as we walked up. 

Celebrating our achievement of making it to the top, we enjoyed the spectacular views of the lake down below and Iseo off in the distance.  It was definitely worth the hike up, even if it was challenging and clouds threatened to drench us along the way.  (Fortunately, we stayed dry!)

Bruce enjoying a cold Coke Zero on our way back down.
We’re almost there!

After we completed the loop back to town, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the ancient, cobbled-street town with its steep and windy back streets. Ancient is a subjective description, but there is indication the town was a Roman settlement dating back to 905!  This town has history!

More recently, Monte Isola’s little commune became famous when artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude created an incredible temporary installation, The Floating Piers, in 2016. These are a few photos I shot of the photo exhibit that was on display along the waterfront:

The skies cleared for our ferry ride back to Iseo, so we enjoyed weaving our way in and out of the streets after we arrived, exploring around each corner. 

We passed by this little privately-owned island on the way back to Iseo.
Iseo

We decided to have pizza for dinner at a little place I found on Trip Advisor, Forno Di Porta del Camo.  Check out the link for my review, “Great Owner & Great Pizza.”  We will never forget the owner or his pizza.  We laughed about it the entire way back to our hotel!

Next up: SWITZERLAND & NORTHERN ITALY #16: TRAVELING TO TRENTO