The garden of Ninfa 5

For some reason trees grow bigger here at Ninfa and flowers bloom extra big too. Its true that the varieties of blooms were selected for their huge size but even so they do extra well in the Garden of Ninfa. I've been checking airfares. Norwegian air are selling tickets for 2018 and they leave from major cities in the USA. In May next year if you book now fares from Los Angeles to Rome are as low as US$189 one way. What are you waiting for? I'd go except I need to go elsewhere to explore and collect more stories. I have a Youtube channel too under my name. I use my real name in all my social media channel.

The Garden of Ninfa 4

The sweet sound of the trickling of water is soft and barely audible. The river Ninfa flows through the whole property making it an incredible water feature for the water loving Gunnera and the Iris. The water is as clear as glass and extremely cold and is alive with numerous reeds living in it. One needs to experience the Garden of Ninfa in person to appreciate fully its charm and beauty. When I see all the ugliness in the whole, the anger and the violence, I wished that they could just pause to admire such beauty and their lives would be so changed. I get trollers and spammers on my social media pages and I always reject them with the caption, 'no strange or ugly people please.' I cannot stand ugliness especially in people's attitudes.

Its Ninfa again

Norwegian air is selling really cheap tickets for next year. Direct flights to Rome from major cities are now available especially from US cities. Check it out and plan your trip to Rome and to one of the opening days at the Garden of Ninfa. I've just released an eBook on the garden of Ninfa. Check that out too on Amazon.

Calgarry on the Isle of Mull June 2016

This is what the Machair looks like in June and in July other varieties start popping up making it look like a Persian carpet. In August they all die and only the heather blooms and the whole area becomes purple. Most of the world's Machair are found on the Western side of the Outer Hebrides because conditions for it are ideal there. While there are some in the Inner Hebrides like this patch in Calgarry. To really see and experience the Machair you have to go to the Outer Hebrides and in July if possible.

Machair?

Some of my best memories are to places where there is not a single painting, no buildings, no musical instruments, no modern construct, to places where mother nature does her thing unimpeded.Here I was sitting on the Machair in South Uists of the Outer Hebrides enjoying mother nature where except for a midge bite I was so contented.

The Machair of Scotland

After traveling for the last 20 years, cities don't excite me anymore. I need to see and experience the wild and natural places. I discovered the Machair 2 years ago and found out that 70% of the world's Machair are in the Western Isles of Scotland. So I made 2 trips there and have plans to embark on a third. I'm writing an eBook about it too even as the eBook on the Garden of Ninfa is now available on Amazon Kindle. The plan is to seek out the world's extraordinary places and write about them. More about Machair is coming.

The Garden of Ninfa, the eBook

This is the eBook I just published on Amazon Kindle and is available for sale. It gives a more detailed history of the people responsible for the garden and how and when to visit. Its not a lot of money but I think is worth the read. I'm working on my eBook on the Hebrides right now and am looking for ideas for other titles. I'm looking for more obscure places that are worth the effort. Many of us are seasoned travelers and like me are running out of cute and extraordinary places to go to. Let me help you.

Ninfa 3

Of course when you go is important. To see the roses in their splendorous glory, the first 2 weeks of June is ideal. I was here at the end of April and though the roses did not that much of a splash, I did see some. I will always love the garden of Ninfa, there is none like it.

Ninfa 2

As one visitor described it as 'a medieval Pompeii' it was once a thriving city with numerous churches, city walls, and castles. Today only the ruins remain and before they were cleaned up and restored, they were covered with ivy that draped over everyone and made it look totally spooky. The Caetani family because of their connection with the Pope was able to acquire the whole village and turned into their country estate which they restored to the dazzling beauty that it is today. Being dubbed, 'the most romantic garden in the world' it certainly behooves us to visit it at least once in a lifetime.

Ninfa

The garden of Ninfa, just outside of Rome is known as the most romantic garden in the world. I had the joy of visiting it this las April and it is truly marvelous. There's not another garden like it even as I just uploaded my ebook on the garden and its history. Check it out on Amazon Kindle.

Foraging for brambles in England

The brambles are early this year. They usually don't ripen till mid to late August. The long lane leading up from the main road to the entrance at Scotney castle was lined with brambles. The walk to the entrance was done with another English couple so while we did a little picking we chatted most of the time. I did a lot more foraging on the way back to the main road where the bus dropped us off. I dawdled, picked and ate. It was a childhood dream of mine living in a British colony and reading books about life in England. I must have been 6 when I read this English reader about a little girl and boy who went out picking blackberries with their grandfather. The grandfather used the crook of his cane to reach those blackberries high above their heads. That story has stayed with me for 60 years and I've always wanted to do that. The past years have seen me do a little foraging but not to the extent I did this trip. This memory will stay with me for a very long time.

Scotney castle, UK

Trust me, this photo wasn't photo shopped even though it looked like it. For a while now I've seen the evocative pictures of Scotney castle and have it on my iPhone to remind me that I need to visit. Its so easy these days, just google anything and the instructions on how to get there pops up. So armed with the information off I went that morning in London. The train from Charing Cross station took me to Tunbridge Wells. At Tunbridge Wells High street, bus 256 will take me to Lamberhurst and from there a long walk (20 minutes) will lead me to the front entrance of Scotney castle. This is the old castle, 630 years old which the owner has let become a ruin turning it into a romantic folly. The residence is up the hill and was built in 1837. There is a massive moat that surrounds this old castle. I walked its whole perimeter taking pictures from every angle. She doesn't have any bad side at all. She's beautiful and so evocative. If you happen to be in London on days that Scotney castle is opened, make the effort to visit.

The beaches of the Outer Hebrides

I was on a quest, in search of the Machair, those flowery meadows of the Outer Hebrides. I found more, I found those beautiful white sand beaches and icy blue ocean waters that are the beaches of the Outer Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides are those far western island chain of Scotland that borders the Atlantic ocean on one side. It is the Atlantic ocean side that has these kinds of beaches. They are so evocative and exceedingly beautiful. I just came back and already making plans to return.