adventures-of-a-scatterbrain

Bella Roma: A Journey Through the Heart of Italy

kinetictwist@gmail.com (Shana England) — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:03:34 GMT

Roma, sei bellisima

R ome, known as the Eternal City, is a treasure mine of art, history, and culture. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon are among the well-known landmarks that showcase the magnificence of ancient Rome. The Vatican City is home to St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, which include incredible works of art by Michelangelo and other Renaissance masters. Walk around beautiful squares such as Piazza Navona or toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain for good luck. Foodies will enjoy Rome's wonderful cuisine, which ranges from rich gelato to traditional pasta dishes like carbonara. The city's vibrant atmosphere, historic charm, and abundance of activities make it an unforgettable destination.

Some of my favorite activities:

Visiting Cafe Settimiano in Trastevere for a cappuccino.
Wandering. Start walking and see where it takes you!
The Roman Forum and all the well-known landmarks.
Picnic in Villa Borghese.
Try one of Mr. Tiramisu's 100 kinds of tiramisu!
Get a bagel and iced coffee from Mammo.

There is so much to do in Rome, and the adventures are limitless. Get out and explore!

Flamenco, Sunsets, and Tapas: A Journey Through the Heart of Southern Spain

kinetictwist@gmail.com (Shana England) — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 23:55:03 GMT

The journey we took to Portugal, Gibraltar, and Spain was unforgettable. The rich cultural diversity, breathtaking natural beauty, and mouth-watering local cuisine of these amazing locations are sure to wow.

The southernmost part of Spain, Andalusia, has the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. Beautiful beaches, rugged mountains, and parched deserts make it famous. Historic and cultural landmarks in the area include Granada's Alhambra and Córdoba's Great Mosque, which was turned into a church during the Christian Reconquest.

Andalusia is home to flamenco music and dance, as well as mouthwatering dishes like gazpacho, paella, and tapas.

Seville (one of my favorite cities), the capital and largest city of Andalusia, is well-known for its history, architecture, and nightlife. Granada, with its Alhambra palace and Sierra Nevada mountains; Córdoba, with its mosque-cathedral and old Jewish Quarter; and Malaga, with its beaches and museums, are also notable cities.

Here is the schedule of our journey and the destinations we got to explore:

Missing the ocean breeze...

kinetictwist@gmail.com (Shana England) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 04:33:39 GMT

Monterey, California

Although this is an older post, Monterey is one of our favorite places to live. Monterey is located 115 miles south of San Francisco on California's central coast. It's a beautiful coastal hamlet with great hiking, warm weather all year, and superb food. There are numerous activities available in the surrounding region. Some of our favorite activities include a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a stroll through a local farmers market, Moss Landing, the tidal pools at Asilomar Beach, body surfing or surfing in Carmel or Santa Cruz, a whale watching tour, and hiking. The walks in Point Lobos Natural Reserve and the coast of Big Sur were two of our favorites.

Favorite local foods: The best Mexican restaurant in town is Baldemiro's Taco Shop. Rosine's Restaurant, Pavel's Backerei, Compango's Market & Deli, and Sweet Elena's Bakery & Cafe were additional favorites.

The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed "Clinton Walker House," located on Carmel Beach, is a rare find.

My First Blog Post

kinetictwist@gmail.com (Shana England) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 10:32:19 GMT

It's official: I'm going to start blogging!

I can't wait to get going on this adventure. Let your mind be led by randomness as you follow along with me!