• Blog,  Random Places We Go (Photos)

    Domodossola, Italy

    On a whim, I took a 7:35 am train from Bern, Switzerland, to Domodossola, Italy.  The one-and-a-half-hour train ride is beautiful down through the Bernese Alps.  Although it was cloudy and a bit foggy on the Switzerland side of the Alps, the sun was shining as soon as we crossed through the tunnel and came out into Italy. Domodossola is a quaint little town in northern Italy with a beautiful old section. Once you arrive at the station, it is a quick 5-10-minute walk up the main street before you reach the side street that leads to the old section. Once you make your way into the main piazza in…

  • Blog,  Random Places We Go (Photos)

    The Volto Santo

    A few weeks ago, while on our trip to Italy, we visited Lucca. In the Tuscany region, Lucca is believed to have been founded around 180 BC. It is a beautiful place, and I highly recommend it if you ever visit the Tuscany region. The Cathedral of St. Martin is located within the city’s walled area. Inside the cathedral is the Chapel of the Holy Face, or the Volto Santo, also known as the Holy Cross. The small chapel contains a walnut crucifix showing Christ wearing a tunic. Yet it is the face, the Volto Santo, that grabbed me. Like all old relics, the Volto Santo is surrounded by history,…

  • Random Places We Go (Photos),  Blog

    Tuscany, Italy

    We are very grateful that friends invited us to join them in Tuscany, Italy, during the boys’ fall break last week. It was a wonderful week of sights and sounds. We decided to drive, so our journey took us up, down, around, and even through the Alps. It was indeed a beautiful ride. After passing the Great St. Bernard Pass, our first stop was Aosta, a town in northern Italy. Nestled in the Italian Alps, Aosta is home to great Roman Empire history. After spending the night in Aosta, we continued our drive through northern Italy and the beautiful Italian Riviera to the Tuscany region. During our stay in Tuscany,…