Author Archives: wes

Wes and Marlow14 November 2015FerraraIt is, again, a birthday weekend. In fact, today is the day! Wesley’s birthday. He has the desire to visit Ferrara so we packed a small backpack for two and got on a train for the thirty minute ride.From the Ferrara train stazione we walked fifteen minutes to the historic centerContinue reading “Ferrara: 14 November 2015”

Today we had the most pleasant start to our day on our weekend visit to Parma.  We had tickets for an 11AM concert at the Opera and wanted to fit in a visit to the Palazzo della Pilotta (1583), an imposing fortress that houses an art collection (a few Leonardo Da Vinci, Canaletto) but theContinue reading “Parma: Unexpected pleasure in the Palazzo della Pilotta”

Wes and Marlow8 November 2015ParmaAbout last night, Saturday, in Parma. After dark, we went in search of food. Specifically, “Parma” ham and “Parm”igiano-Reggiano cheese.The streets of historic Parma are laid out on a grid with corners at right angles. I clarify that because in Bologna the streets radiate outward in about twelve pie slices, pizzaContinue reading “Parma: 8 November 2015”

Wes and Marlow 7 November 2015 Modena and Parma Early this morning, staying in the birthday celebration mood—mine and Wes’s on next Sunday, the fourteenth—Wes had the idea to go on a field trip. We chose Modena and Parma. In Bologna, everyone asked, “why Modena?”  They were kind of right. In Modena, we walked tenContinue reading “Modena and Parma: 7 Nov 2015”

Wes and Marlow6 November 2015Bologna We are at the start of a wonderful meal!The Drogheria was probably once a pharmacy, hence the name. Now, a ristorante, it sprawls through what were once corridors and pharmacy prep rooms. Mostly tables for two set in former hallways. The wall shelves, formerly for merchandise, now are filled withContinue reading “Bologna: 6 Nov 2015”

We started the driving portion of the trip in Logrono on the right-hand side of the map below.  Arriving by train from Barcelona in the early evening. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z1znHUI7zjuY.kOdlBUcMmCgQ After picking up the rental car and exploring the tapas scene in Logrono, the heart of La Rioja, we drove to our first Parador in Santa DomingoContinue reading “The Route and the Paradores”

The Parador system in Spain began in nineteen twenty-eight as a way to promote tourism. The government wisely selected  mostly ancient buildings to convert into luxury hotels. A few of them are modern. The majority are former monasteries and palaces. We stayed for a few nights in each of these four Paradors: Santo Domingo deContinue reading “Spain: Part 2 of 3”

Wes and Marlow Spain Report 1 of 3 We are en route home. I thought I would find time to send updates from the road. I did not anticipate that Spain, which we know so well, would fascinate us more than ever. We found the cities–large, small and smaller–so interesting that we wandered and pokedContinue reading “Spain: Part 1 of 3”

After food, visiting several outstanding churches from distinctive time periods was a close second highlight of this trip.  One of the benefits of traveling with Sam and Kathy is their ability to pick the best of the best to visit.  And once there, to describe the various features that contribute to the uniqueness of theseContinue reading “Churches”

At our inn, over the door way, the date Sixteen-Twenty-Eight is carved into the stone. Above that are two stone coat of arms. The structure was a monastery. It is two floors surrounding a courtyard. It is all in heavy golden stone, burnished dark wood glass and warm lighting with comfortable chairs. Classical music waftsContinue reading “Cangas de Onís, Asturias”