National Civil Rights Museum - Memphis, Tennessee
 |
On Monday, January 18, Americans commemorate civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., with a federal holiday. I thought this would be an apt time to describe my recent visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. |
Elvis's birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi
 |
75 years ago - January 8th, 1935, Elvis Presley was born in a two room house in the town of Tupelo, Mississippi. This Christmas I got to visit the birthplace. |
Star City, Russia
 |
Star City is a military complex/town outside Moscow, near the suburb of Shchyolkovo. It is here that the Russian cosmonauts live and train at GCTC (Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center). The training center was inaugurated in January of 1960. During the cold war, Star City was a secret facility, but today it is often bustling with visitors from around the world; paying space participants, American, European, and Japanese astronauts, and their instructors. |
Roman Forum, Rome, Italy
 |
The Forum Romanum is located in the center of ancient Rome, between the Capitoline and Palatine hills. Portions of it date back to the 7th century BC. It was here that Caesar was assassinated. |
Trattoria der Pallaro, Rome, Italy
 |
We read about the Trattoria der Pallaro in Rick Steves' Rome guidebook. The restaurant has no menu, instead it has a sign that says: "qui se mangia quello che passa la casa", or "Here, you will eat what we want to feed you." The restaurant is run by Paola Fazi and her family. |
The Pantheon, Rome, Italy
 |
The Pantheon, rebuilt in 126 AD, is possibly the most intact Roman structure. It was originally a temple to all Roman gods but survived by becoming an early Christian church and remaining in continual use, deterring looting. No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Pantheon. |
The Holy Steps at the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
 |
One might think that the cathedral of Rome would be St. Peter's, but it isn't. St. Peter's isn't technically in Rome, it is in Vatican City. The official cathedral of Rome (and hence the seat of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope)) is the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. Besides beings a grand church with amazing sculptures, this site is famed for something else, the holy steps. |
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
 |
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre of the Roman empire and is in the center of Rome, next to the forum. Construction on the Colosseum began in about 70AD under Emperor Vespasian and finished about 10 years later, during his son's reign (Titus). |
Positano, Italy
 |
Positano is a picturesque seaside village on the Amalfi coast. To those that haven't had the pleasure of visiting Positano, it might be best known as the seaside home of Marcello, in the Diane Lane film, Under the Tuscan Sun. |
Capri, Italy
 |
When we added Capri to our itinerary, I can't say I was excited. I envisioned it as a beachy-resort island with little culture or history. I was so wrong. Capri (pronounced "Kah-pree", with emphasis on the first syllable) is an amazing and beautiful place. |
XML Feeds