It begins in Florence Italy. A three-week tour of the city that is considered one of the great historical, artistic, architectural, cultural, economic, and fashion centers of Europe. It was the birthplace of the Renaissance, a political, artistic, and cultural rebirth that followed the Middle Ages. Day trips to Siena, Lucca, Viareggio, Venice, and Rome will give us a feel for other areas of Italy including a weekend stay in Milan at the end of this leg of our journey.

The following Facebook groups, Instagram pages, Podcasts and YouTube channels helped me to plan this trip:

Untold Italy - The Global Expats -

Italy Travel Planning

Photo can be found at this link.

Our United Kingdom visit includes both London on Scotland. London is considered the “center of the world” - Greenwich. It defines 0° longitude (i.e., the Prime Meridian) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It is among the oldest of the world’s great cities—its history spanning nearly two millennia. Edinburgh, Scotland is next stop. Edinburgh city lies on the east coast of Scotland and sits on an extinct volcano. J.K. Rowling wrote some of Harry Potter in an Edinburgh café and took inspiration from the landscape for her characters and locations.

Photos can be found at the this link.

Norway is the third country on our journey and one I have been fortunate to visit many times since my first trip there in 1981. My grandfather’s family and the descendants of my great grandparents on my father’s side all live there. While my birthplace of Minnesota boasts 10,000 lakes, there are 400,000 lakes in Norway and 1,190 fjords. In most of Norway during the summer, the sun never sets. This part of our trip is all about showing Jimm more of this beautiful country.

Photos can be found at this link.

The final stop on our journey, Iceland has been on my bucket list for a long time. While I have technically been in the country as I passed through the airport several times during my international travels, this is the first time I will actually be “seeing” the country. Iceland is one of the oldest democracies in the world and is also considered the safest. Between 30 and 40% of Icelanders will not deny the existence of elves. Icelandic folklore is still rich with stories about the Huldufólk, meaning "hidden people", who are said to live in the lava fields. We will get a chance to tour the south coast and visit the famous Blue Lagoon while visiting.

Photos can be found at this link.