Andrea here. We authors do tend to spend a LOT of time in the writing room, but we sometimes reward ourselves for all those solitary hours spent scribbling away by getting out and traveling. And if it’s research, that makes it all the more fun! (Look for Lady Arianna to caught up in some future intrigue that takes her to Venice.) I recently took a sojourn that crossed off one of the top entries on my Bucket List of Places To Go. I figured I deserved it for turning in Book 10 of my Wrexford & Sloane series in late August—and also as a pre-game celebration for the release of Book 9, which happened yesterday. (I’m thrilled to say that it went up to #1 bestseller in Historical Mysteries!)
Now that I’m catching my breath I thought I’d take you on a short travelogue of the first few destinations. (More to come in Part 2.) The trip came about because Wench Nicola happened to mention to me that she and her husband were going on a cruise down the Adriatic coast with the same company that they used to take a Northern Lights cruise. And when she mentioned that Albania was one of the stops, I couldn’t resist! (I’ve always wanted to visit there since reading This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart.)
The trip started in Venice, a city whose unique allure is hard to capture in words. An aura of mystery shrouds its many islands (there are over 100) like the shimmering mists that dip and dart though its narrow streets and twisting canals. There’s an intriguing mix of East and West. Founded by Romans fleeing from Lombard invaders during 5th through 7th century, Venice evolved into a maritime power and independent state, gaining wealth and prestige from trading with both Europe and Byzantium. It remain a force unto itself until until 1797, when Napoleon captured it for France.
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t still retains its indescribable magic. The Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, the amazing palazzos along the Grand Canal, countless churches with stunning art—the list of marvelous places and nooks and crannies goes on and on. One is guaranteed to lost lost while wandering around. Dead ends lead to nowhere, but that’s part of the charm! It’s famous for its food and coffee. Small shops showcase handmade items featuring exquisite craftsmanship.
It’s also known for it fabulous paper good, and I had a wonderful time exploring tiny art shops. At one of them I found the proprietor, an elderly gentleman, hand-making marble paper. On his work desk were the linen and backing boards that he used to make the covers for the sketchbooks he created with beautiful, thick drawing paper. I bought one for myself and one for a friend—they are real works of art.
Oh, and the sunsets! One understand why artists were drawn to its ethereal beauty. J.M.W. Turner loved the city and painted incredible watercolors that captured its nuances.
Nicola and I had great fun poking around, and also enjoyed a glorious evening of watching the sun set as we cruised along the Giudecca Canal, past St. Mark’s Square and out into the Adriatic for our next stop . . .
Which was the island of Rab in Croatia. It’s known for its stunning natural beauty. Like most of the Adriatic coast, it’s rocky, but with scenic coves and majestic forests of holm oak and pine. Hiking is popular, as is exploring the nature preserves along the coast by bicycle. And one can reward all that physical exercise with a Rab Cake, a specialty of the island made of ground almonds, butter, sugar and a dash of lemon baked inside a delicate crust. Delicious!
So that’s the first part of my travelogue. What about you? What’s on your Travel Bucket List?
Venice is a wonderful place, so glad you and Nicola enjoyed it so much (once I retired I travelled annually from NSW to visit family and friends in the UK and managed a few days in Venice as part of the trip). I am frustrated at present with internet problems which have left me hanging halfway through your Wrexford book 9, preordered on Audible for some months but no longer accessible until I can acquire a new router, but some consolation to find this piece on Word-wenches. I hope you Nicola and Mr C have wonderful time on your Adriatic voyage.
Arrgh—so sorry for the internet problems. How frustrating! I hope you can get the router situation straightened out.
Nicola, Mr C and I had a wonderful time on the cruise. So many fabulously interesting places! Stay tuned for more on the journey!
In a couple of years, I’m going to Greece for the second time, to see Meteora, the amazing area of monasteries carved into the stone. I’m seeing Corfu, Thessaloniki, and something the tour is calling the Riviera of Athens.
Oh, how fabulous, Patricia. That’s going to be an amazing trip. I’ve visited Meteora and it is stunning! Thessaloniki is wonderful too, Do NOT miss the The Royal Tomb of King Philip of Macedonia (Alexander the Great’s father. It’s one of the striking small museums I’ve ever visited.
I am off to Naples in a fortnight for my second visit to Pompeii and Herculaneum, where I have one quarter of the site left to study. Next year Crete, Ephesus or maybe Sicily and one day Egypt. The remnants of ancient civilisations fascinate me and as my children are grown up and my husband can no longer travel long distances I can please myself. I’ve found a company that has small parties and uses expert guides. Perfect!
Lynn, that does sounds perfect! Ephesus is amazing. And I’ll sign up with you for Sicily and Egypt! They are both very high on my Bucket List.
I did a lot lof traveling when i was younger way before retirement and went to all the places on my A list and even some on the B list. I absolutely adored Venice on a college Alumni trip. It js the most fascinating and unusual place! The buildings, the canals, the squares by turns charming, beautiful and haunting. Pompeii and Herculeam were fascinating. We spent a whole day there. I have been to Italy on many trips and it is one of my favorite places to visit. Having said that, The UK tops the list. I lost count of how many times i visited there. For someone who loves history, literature and architecture it was a veritable treasure trove of place to see. I loved all the small villages bestled in valleys and plains. And, of course, I loved the Cotswolds and the West Country. I always had a list with me of places i wanted to see from books I had read. It was so lovely that so many of them were still there! And the Country houses were quite spectacular wjth their artwork, decoraration history(we had one of those passes that admitted to many of them).
Well, this post is already too long a d i have been to so many places not mentioned here. Now that i am retired, I can relax and enjoy just being home, seeing friends and involved in other activities.
Jane, I can’t wait to visit Pompeii and Herculeam.
Haunting is a great adjective for Venice. It really is a unique city. I also love Tuscany.
And as you can probably guess, the UK has a very special place in my heart. I never tire of visiting there, and always discover some new and wonderful nooks and crannies on every trip.
I have to say that Pompeii d Herculean were jaw dropping experiences and they have made even more discoveries since I was there. I do hope you get there, words can’t describe how fascinating it is. As i am a died in the wool Anglophile it holds a special place in my heart as well. The longest visit was in tbe 1990’s
when a friend and i spent a month traveling around. It was such fun and I didn’t want it end, but alas I had to go back to work…….sigh…….
That sounds like a wonderful trip, Andrea. Thanks so much for sharing details and photos! The only travel on my agenda is a flight cross country next year to see my sister, her family, and her new home. We haven’t seen each other since 2019, so I’m looking forward to it.
Kareni, visiting family, especially ones you haven’t seen in a long time, is the BEST reason for traveling! I know you will have a wonderful time, and cherish the time spent together.
Loved MURDER AT SOMERSET HOUSE! It was terrific and – loved the new addition too! I also loved that you were back with your local Boston surrounds names. So funny and enjoyed by this suburban Boston resident. Review coming to Amazon tonight!
Thank you, Andrea Penrose. Weirdly enough one of my sons (and family) recently cruised down the Danube and visited Venice, Bratislava, Budapest, Croatia, Serbia and others. They loved Budapest.
Thank you SO much, Barbara. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it! (And it makes me chuckle that someone enjoys my little private joke with making the Boston-area towns the names for the villains!
The Danube cruise sounds fabulous. I’ve heard Budapest is really fascinating, so that’s another place on my Bucket List.
Lovely blog, Andrea. I recently watched a doco of Joanna Lumley sailing down the Danube and I thought it looked wonderful. I’ve travelled extensively in Greece and mentions in the comments of Meteora and other places, as well as your lovely photos have sparked many memories, and a little wistfulness. Sailing through the Corinth Canal and arriving in Venice at dawn was a highlight.
I have always, always wanted to sail in a felucca down the Nile. I blame Elizabeth Peters’ (Crocodile on the sandbank) as well as various Agatha Christie books. Alas, whenever it was possible from my end of things, there were troubles in Egypt, and I never got to do it. Probably won’t now. But I can still dream.
Thanks, Anne—let’s do the trip together! It’s also VERY high on my Bucket List. I, too, fell in love with the idea of a sail down the Nile from Elizabeth Peters/Amelia Peabody! But I also have a photo album of my grandparents “doing” the Nile. And my mother did it as well. So I want to continue the family tradition!
Congratulations on Murder at Somerset House going to #1 so quickly. Well deserved. I loved it. One of my favorite Wrexford and Sloane, mainly because it was a bit different in focus and I learned so much. I think I was #5 or 6 to post an Amazon review.
My travel bucket and my potential travel partner – my daughter Erin would be Ireland, Wales and especially Scotland, maybe England since it’s right there.
Thank you SO much, Jan. I really appreciate the kind words, and am so happy you enjoyed it. I worried a bit—the plot is more complicated that usual, and I wasn’t sure what readers would think, so confess to some nervousness before the release.
You both look so happy in that photo! I traveled the Adriatic in the opposite direction, from Dubrovnik, stopping at a couple of islands like Krk, along the Croatian coast, to Trieste and then Venice. Dubrovnik is spectacular. But I would love to see Albania. I remember at least one of Loretta Chase’s early books was set there.
Karin, it was really special to spend time with Nicola. That made the trip extra fun. Isn’t the Adriatic coast wonderful? Such natural beauty and wonderful history. I definitely want to go back to Albania! So much to explore!