camminando | Pilgrimage in Gaeta

I am in an urgent need of a vacation—the etymology of the word is quite  descriptive of my needs. Leaving life vacant of worries has always provided a fresh approach to problem solving and generated insights. Italy does not lack of inspirational places; my requirements are for a seaside place with a "bandiera blu" award,  over thousand year of historians which  to be reached from Rome with less than two hours of public transportation.
Gaeta, from the Latin Caieta, presents all the requisites. Caieta has an ancient history dating back to the Ionic colonies, with settlement starting in the VIII century BC. It was mentioned in Virgil's Aeneid. But its history continues through times integrating breathtaking natural views with architecture and sacred places. Highly spiritual and sacred is the Santuario della SS.ma Trinità, located in the Montagna Spaccata. The meeting of earth, sky and water has been celebrated through centuries by pilgrims.

camminando | SAN FRANCISCO and California Cool

Seaweed soaked shoreline, Golden Gate National Recreation Area

I recently traded in the humidity that blankets Miami (my home town) during these endless months of deep summer, for the cool morning fog of Marin County, CA and surrounds. It was a delightful respite of differing culinary finds, temperature, nature and design. While I bathed safely in the refreshing air of the mountainous region, the Northeast suffered a quake and a hurricane, thoughtlessly named after me. I marveled at my sudden ability to dodge both quakes and hurricanes as I leapt from Miami's stormy season and avoided the watery onslaught of Irene's wrath.

Tennessee Valley Trailhead,

Golden Gate National Recreation Area/Marin Headlands,

A lovely 3.1 mile hike down to the sea

A patchwork quilt of architectural design in the streets of San Francisco on a shockingly fog-free day

The entrance gate to Chinatown in San Francisco’s Grant Street
was a gift from the Republic of China in 1969. It is on the oldest street in San Francisco.

Columbus Avenue and Grant Street:
This mural commemorates the history of North Beach's Italian settlers,
while the other side features Chinatown and some of San Francisco's early history.

The streetcar system has served San Francisco since the late 19th century. Most streetcar lines in other cities, including San Francisco, were converted to buses after World War II. Five lines survived until the 1970s, when the streetcar lines were converted to light rail during the opening of the Market Syreet Subway in 1980.

Hotel Triton in San Francisco

Outside the Mill Valley Library on a Sunday afternoon….
The Merry Widow performed amongst the Redwoods.

The Redwoods,
A poem by Joseph B. Strauss

Here, sown by the Creator's hand.

In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand:

No other clime is honored so,

No other lands their glory know.