Alison writes under the nom-de-plume of Soul Travel Ally. You won’t find lists of the best places to go or things to do on this blog. Instead these are stories of travels with adventure and soul. You can also check… Read More »Soul Travel Ally
What is a quest? I love a good quest. I think of it as something that interests you, driven by emotional involvement. A quest takes you places that you wouldn’t otherwise go. Especially when travelling, I find that having a… Read More »Pursuing a quest: The immense value and satisfaction of pursuing your interests while travelling
The Abruzzo town of Sulmona holds a farmer’s market in Piazza Garibaldi every Wednesday and Saturday. So, what’s it like? On this glorious spring day, it seems that many people want to find out. In contrast to our previous visit… Read More »Savouring the local flavour: How to Taste the delights of Italy’s Sulmona farmer’s market
Stumbling onto this site while circling Lake Varano in the Gargano region of Puglia, I did not expect too much. Parking in the almost empty but sizeable carpark, we admired the relatively new tiered seating in a modern amphitheatre. Obviously,… Read More »Reaching for the divine on the pilgrim trail of St Michael: my visit to the Santuario Grotta di San Michele
Florence of the South? Names for Lecce so I’ve read, include “The Florence of the South” and “The Lady of the Baroque”. While the former name is common, I imagine, the real Florence further to the north disputes it. The… Read More »Baroque architecture in the heel of Italy: an artistic and cultural feast for the senses
Mozzarella has special distinction in Italy. Protected since 1996, it is one of those products labelled DOC or “controlled designation of origin”. Specific aficionados avoid using the term ‘mozzarella’ unless the cheese uses buffalo milk produced from the southern Campania… Read More »Uncovering the rich history and culture of Campania’s beloved mozzarella
Founded by Hercules Herculaneum, had you ever heard of it before? I certainly had not. But instantly I was intrigued because it sounded somewhat like Hercules, that mythical hero of old. And indeed, there is a connection with the city… Read More »Overshadowed by both Vesuvius and Pompeii, Herculaneum is the forgotten seaside resort
Some places just draw you in. The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome is one such place. I initially sought out this ancient place five years ago for two reasons. First, its reputation as the original location for Christian… Read More »Giving in to a strong urge to revisit the ancient wonders of the Basilica of Santa Maria of Trastevere, Rome
Arriving at the water’s edge we see two small fibreglass boats ready to take us away. At the back of the boats, patiently sitting are the two oarsmen. They wait for us to settle in before poling gently away from… Read More »An otherworldly idyll on the waters of Kalametiya bird sanctuary
Yes, I chose to travel to Provesende in the Alto Douro region of Portugal because of stories of its bakery. I am always on the hunt for authentic experiences. So, the idea of a small village bakery operating much the… Read More »A Douro destination – the bakery of Provesende draws me in