Traveling overseas was not a part of my life until about seven years ago when a friend of mine was being transferred with the Navy to Naples, Italy.  He wanted me to go with him to Naples to look for a place for his family to live while stationed overseas.  I had been overseas before, but much younger and not fully as a tourist -- more like a Marine headed to Viet Nam.  My Italy trip changed my whole perspective as to where to travel.  It was like walking into all my previous text books and into areas that I could not even have imagined existed.  I have always loved history -- I quickly learned that American History is in its infancy compared to the rest of the world.  I also learned that American Inventions got their ideas from what has been done in Europe for centuries.  Each time I return, I learn of new areas, techniques and inventions that have long existed in these other beautiful places.  I also have seen places that are so beautiful because of their age and because the citizenry have had years to prioritize what they want their cities to look like and to plant and grow trees and flowers to compliment their historical buildings.  Europe's need to protect it's environment, history, culture and heritage is far advanced of that found in America.

      The other aspect of Europe that I quickly identified with was Europe's requirement of a good meal each day - whether you feel like it or not.  My friend and I both have many things in common - but, one of the strongest is our love for a good meal!  There are few eating opportunities that can match sitting in a restaurant on the Amalfi Coast eating clams and spaghetti and drinking locally brewed wine! Everywhere you go in Europe there is a great meal in an old historical place that has been serving meals for centuries waiting for your pleasure.

      I try to return to Europe each year going someplace different each time.  It is my greatest pleasure to have the chance to explore those places that have been in place for centuries before me and will be here centuries after me.  It keeps you humble -- to know that so many people have walked upon these grounds before you, some  great, some not so great and some who have given their lives so that I might have this pleasure.  Americans feel they have the market on the right to protect their own -- that is another concept that maybe we got from those countries that were founded centuries before us.

I hope you enjoy some of these pictures.  Simply click on the city above that you wish to visit and then click on the picture to enlarge -- the editor.