Rome needs no introduction. We have all been there without ever having been there.

Before my trip, some of my friends told me to learn Latin just in case, but fortunately that was not necessary.

There is so much to enjoy in Galveston, only an hour’s drive from Houston, Texas. This ‘Palace’, just one example, took six years to build. Made to order for a military man who later became a U.S. Congressman, it was completed in 1893, with 52 rooms. (The wooden staircase alone took three years.)

You just want to pinch those cheeks of the moulded sculptures.

The Renaissance Festival (not too far from Houston) is really a joy to attend, and we go back year after year. The people – both employees and attendees – are uncommonly nice, and the same activities continue to be fun even the Nth time. Go! We heartily recommend!