Above photo is of myself, my father and my daughter who was visiting from out of state.

One of my favorite parts of Florida is the Naples area which is in the southwest part of the state.  I have relatives  there including my father so I get to visit the area often.  There is a lot to do in this area including some beautiful beaches. 

One of my favorite things to do in the Naple's area is to go on one of the many sightseeing cruises that go along the coastline.  I have cruised on the Naple's Princess two times.  One time was in the afternoon and the weather got quite stormy, but I was able to get some cool looking photographs of some crazy looking storm clouds (see photo below). 

The second cruise we went on was a sunset dinner cruise,  The Princess yacht has a full dining room where they were serving a prime rib dinner.  It would have been nice to have dinner on the boat, but I'm a vegetarian so we opted to go on one of the other decks and just enjoy the sunset.  There was a bar and they sold appetizer type foods so you could eat even if you didn't purchase the dinner, 

Please click on the following link if you want more information about the many cruises available and their timetable:   Naples Princess Cruises . 

TIP:  You can often get great deals for these cruises through GROUPON !

For other activities to do in Naples click on this link:  Things to do in Naples

For those of you who are interested in the nightlife in the area click on this link:  Nightlife in Naples

  Here is a photo of the yacht we sailed on:

My father and daughter on the yacht:

The Naples coastline is really beautiful and the architecture always amazes me.  Here are a few of the beautiful homes we saw as we cruised along the coast:

Here is a photo seen on the first cruise I took in Naples of a cloud that looks more dangerous than it really was.:

I will leave you with some photos of the gorgeous sunset we saw:

Have you been on any short cruises anywhere?  Please feel free to leave any comments or questions.  I treasure all of the comments I receive and reply to them as quickly as I can.  I hope you all have a wonderful week

~Michelle

The Salt of the Earth chronicles Sebastião Salgado's career.  You can see his photos here.  I highly recommend taking a peek as they blow my mind!  Not only did this movie inspire me to work on my black and white photography, but it also changed my thoughts and goals regarding my future travel plans.  I watched this movie on the airplane when I returned from Italy and you can see the reviews from Rotten Tomatoes here.

Since visiting Bali 2 1/2 years ago and then Tanzania about two years ago I have become more of a tourist than s traveler.  I have only wanted to see happy pretty things over the past couple of years.  While I have greatly enjoyed myself I know there is another side of the world and part of me has always wanted to make a difference. 

Watching this movie "The Salt of the Earth" has convinced me that I would like to do something either in my own country or in another one to help the environment or people and animals in some way.  It was a very timely thing for me to see this movie a few weeks ago.  The narrator (Salgado) became disenchanted with humanity while taking photographs of war and refugee camps decided that he needed to make some changes.  He eventually goes back to where he was raised in Brazil and helps restore the land that had become barren due to deforestation.

With the Masssai:

Visiting Isola del Garda was one of the highlights of my trip to Lake Garda in Italy.  The Villa was one of the most gorgeous structures I had ever seen as it literally took my breath away!   It was explained to us during the tour that the villa's architecture and landscaping were planned together which is why the property is so grand.   If the two didn't have each other they might not be as beautiful as they are.

The entire tour of Isola del Garda takes about three hours as guests are taken by boat to the island which takes about a half hour.  The guided tour takes about two hours and includes some wine and snacks on one of the balconies.  You can visit this beautiful villa between April and October the cost is between 25 and €30 depending on what area of the lake you are picked up on.  The trip takes about three hours including a two hour tour of the property. Guests are allowed to take photos outside just not inside the villa. 

This property is also available for use during weddings and other important events the contact information is here:  Contact Information.

Below is one of the gorgeous gardens which are everywhere on the property.

Yours truly in front of the villa:
The tower is one of the most impressive parts of the villa:
There are some very healthy fruit trees surrounding the property:

Here is the ceiling above one of the balconys on the outside of the villa.  This is the area where we had a snack with wine or other drink:

Here is a children's play house in the backyard:

I saw this beautiful sailboat while on the tour:
I will leave you with a photo of another guest who made the tour just a little more fun!


Have you ever visited a property that took your breath away the way this one did me?  If so, please tell me about it.   Thank you very much for stopping by my blog.  Please feel free to leave any comments or questions.   Have a great week!

~Michelle

The building of Scaliger Castle started in the late thirteenth century.  It can be seen from all over Sirmione on Lake Garda.  I visited the castle and loved the beautiful and picturesque views from the top in spite of the 140 steps up it takes to get there!  The above photo was taken from the top of the castle.  It only costs 4 euros per person to enter and is open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. 

There are so many nice restaurants, bars, and coffee shops overlooking the lake right outside the door of the castle.

I took the below photo as I was approaching Scaliger Castle from one of the narrow cobblestone streets of Sirmione.
Another  two views from the top:

There is a beach and long walkway along the lake when you exit the castle:
There are many swans and ducks swimming in the moat outside the castle:
I loved this sign beside the castle.  I haven't been able to find any information on why it was placed there.

A few views of the outside of the castle:

Here is a view of the castle from my hotel at sunset:
 
Views of the colorful town of Sirmione from outside the castle walls:

Here is a doorway and well inside the castle walls:
The walkway along Lake Garda outside the castle:
Have you visited any castles?  If so, which was your favorite and why?

Thank you for stopping by my page.  I enjoy reading your comments and try to respond quickly to any questions.  I hope you all have a great week!

~Michelle

I have stayed at every star level hotel there is.  I even stayed at some guest houses and  hostels when I visited Tanzania in Africa.  This was my second trip to Italy and my first time visiting Lake Garda, Italy.  I have always been very impressed by the hospitality at the hotels I have stayed at in this country.  The Villa Cortine Palace is definitely in the top few hotels I have ever stayed anywhere. 

The photos I post and what I write can not do this little piece of heaven justice.  I truly felt like I was in paradise while I stayed there. They definitely provided the best service that I have ever encountered and the grounds are some of the nicest I have encountered.   The view is incredible as the hotel is set high up above the town of Sirmione.

Being a frequent traveler I have realized that I am pickier about my accommodations then I wanted to believe as I can usually find several things wrong even at the four and five star hotels I've been a guest at.  I cannot think of a single complaint regarding this hotel.  The food was amazing, the staff was extremely friendly, and the view was incredible throughout the hotel.  My bed was very comfortable and the property is very secure.  When you come through the gate you must be buzzed in either through the front or back of the property so one should feel very safe at this hotel. 

The location is also very central and just a few minutes from Scaliger Castle.  The price is quite reasonable for what you receive and if you book through the hotel's website they often have good prices available.  I stayed there in September and the rates were quite a bit less and if I had stayed there between June and August.  If you are someone who enjoys the finer things in life, this hotel could be the right one for you!  I really felt like I was in a museum when strolling through the hotel and around the beautiful and expansive grounds.

The following four photos were taken from the balcony in my room:

Below is the lovely breakfast room:

I am not a breakfast eater unless I'm in Italy.  Omelets were prepared fresh.  One can order fresh coffee or cappuccino.

This beautiful structure and garden were on the grounds of the hotel:
Here are a few other photos I took on the hotel grounds:

I found this beautiful garden on the walkway down to the hotel's private beach:
The pool has a beautiful view of Lake Garda
Guests can eat breakfast or dinner in this area:

The two photos below were taken in the hotel bar/lounge where you can have dinner and snacks throughout the day.

I am practicing using a tripod and timer to take photos.  I decided to take photos of myself in some of the beautiful rooms around the hotel which is full of gorgeous antiques.

I was hesitant to post a photo of my nice big room as it was a little messy, but I loved the chandelier over the bed!

The following two photos are of the hotel's private beach and restaurant:


I will leave you with just one of the lovely sunrises I saw:

Thank you for much for visiting my blog!  Have you stayed at any hotels that you absolutely loved?  I really appreciate comments and treasure every one I receive.  I hope you are having a fantastic week.

~Michelle