We read at the Dubai Museum that oil exports started only 50 years ago. The city then had a population of under 100,000. Today, more than 3 million call Dubai home.

The Burj Khalifa is truly impressive. We made it to the top for some spectacular views and got to take in the fountain show before ascending.

This tower was the tallest building in old Dubai. The Dubai Museum is a don’t miss – good history on the UAE and the city.

These structures abound in the old part of the town. Called “wind towers”, the captured the breezes coming off the water to produce natural “air conditioning” to homes.

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

12 hours from NYC to Riyadh. The trip would probably have been perfect if the airline served alcohol! I would fly Air Saudia again.

Dubai is a contrast between old and new. This is the view from our hotel room.

It’s sort of off the beaten path, but taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, so getting around is easy. It’s a much welcome respite from the noise of air travel.

We left behind this beauty (thank you neighbors for looking after her)..,

Packed up our 120 pounds of luggage (each!)….

Took the requisite selfie ( still a skill that needs some work)….

And made it this far…

Strange what I remember from this terminal from the 60’s. They did a phenomenal job on the restoration!!!

The early rounds. It can’t get much better than this. Great seats! Go Serena and Rafael!

We made a quick stop to stay on Mt. Etna near Catania. Our first stop in Sicily!

Catania is home to a lively fish market. Some of the fish is easily identifiable, but there were others there that could only be considered an Sicilian delicacy!

Talk about fresh swordfish!

This is deserving of so many more posts, so I will do my very best to summarize our magnificent stay in Apulia.

Close to the Southernmost point in the heel of Apulia lies a small town by the name of Ugento.

One of the family members that once ruled the area has undertaken to restore the family castle and create a five star hotel.

In the midst of the restoration and modernization they have uncovered frescoes dating back to Norman times, previously unknown sections of the castle, and many, many beautiful works of art.

We were told that this beautiful garden once housed a pig sty and a chicken coop.

Behind these doors lies a superb restaurant (Michelin – set your sights on a visit here soon) and a cooking school affiliated with the CIA.

This is just one of the many frescoes that adorns the castle ceilings.

Not sure how we have managed it, but we have staying in an ancient customs house, to a stone village, a hillside pension and now an ancient cave dwelling. At the same time we have had some of the most incredible food in unique settings.

Matera was once “condemned” by the Italian government. People were living below the poverty line in ancient caves dotting the hillsides. Now it is to be the European Capital of Culture for 2019.

I never ventured out of the old town – surely because I got lost at least a half dozen times wandering the hills.

There are massive stone quarries nearby where much of the raw material for building are procured.

Not sure how this will post, but this is something you don’t see every day…

…Happens to be Insalate Caprese, but when made with THE REAL THING (Buffalo mozzarella) it goes to a whole new level. We visited a producer of buffalo mozzarella in Paestum and not only got to sample that mornings production of cheese, but also ate Buffalo yogurt and gelato.

One of the buffaloes poses for me.

And wouldn’t you produce great milk if you could graze in the shadows of these ruins.

You don’t see to many manufacturing plants that look like this in the states.

On one of our first trips to Europe (and our first
trip to Italy) we found this wonderful B&B in Positano. We returned this trip only to be greeted warmly by the family and enjoyed our stay just as much as we did 20 years ago.

The views from the hotel are still spectacular.

The Duomo in Amalfi is fantastic. Those doors are a thousand years old and made from a solid piece of bronze from Constantinople.

I am pretty sure Rudolf Nureyev doesn’t have anything on us, although he did live on the Le Galli islands in a Corborsier house.