I am a total cathedral aficionado. I go cuckoo over cathedrals, particularly those in Europe. I have seen many unbelievably gorgeous cathedrals. But there was one cathedral still on my bucket list - the famous Milan Duomo.

Think the Library of Congress is for bookworms only? Think again, my friends! I took a short trek to Washington, D.C. last May and this is what I discovered on my very first visit.

I’m going to start posting twice a week (see earlier schedule) about my 37-day trip to Europe last summer. And I’m choosing to start with the most fabulous, economical place to stay in Milan - the K34 Milano B & B operated by my now-dear Italian friend, Stefania!

I have been to many wonderful museums all over the world and I do enjoy most of the museums I have seen. But I have to say The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix ‘blew my socks right off!” 

If you’re anything like me, you don’t particularly love the month of January in the Midwest. Some folks get Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and tire of the gray clouds, lack of sunshine and monotony of being indoors. I don’t tend to notice that much in myself, but I do crave beautiful green plants and colorful, blooming flowers this time of year.

And where oh where have I been in the last year or so?