Mary M. McConnaha

I spent less than 24 hours in Florence altogether, but it was so great being able to see Emilie (a fellow camp counselor from this past summer). It’s amazing how even just a small touch of familiarity can make a long trip away from home easier. We spent the evening seeing the outside of many … More Florence, Italy

Once upon a time, years before I was born, a young boy created a small altar in his closet. After pretending to be a soldier, he would come back to his room and pretend to be a priest. Where would he end up? That depended on his local priest, a Franciscan, who inspired him to … More Assisi, Italy

“Ciao, bella Verona!” –Victor in Letters to Juliet   Here in Italy, I decided to bypass the larger cities like Venice, Milan, and Rome for a quieter change of pace. Verona fit my bill perfectly: touristy enough to have plenty to do while still full of local Italians going about their daily happenings. I arrived … More Verona, Italy

This morning I took part in the very popular Sound of Music bike tour (highly recommend if you ever find yourself in the area!). We stopped by many of the sights that were featured in the movies – here are some photos that I took side-by-side with stills from the movie! Fraulein Maria gaining confidence … More The Sound of Music and Salzburg

“You mean to say that I’m more at home here, among the birds and the flowers and the wind that moves through the trees like a restless sea…More at home here than in Vienna in all your glittering salons gossiping gaily with bores I detest, soaking myself in champagne, stumbling about to waltzes by Strauss … More Vienna, Austria

Here, I have lots of things listed to do in no particular order at the moment. They cover parts of Norway, the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria. How many things do you think I can accomplish in four months? In my lifetime? Send a post card  Stonehenge Walk through Anne Frank’s … More My Bucket List!

Hello from Prague! I know I should start this blog post with either a “hello” or “good afternoon” in the Czech language, but I have honestly learned nothing in Czech. Everyone in Prague speaks such perfect English – at least in the places I have visited – that I haven’t had to listen closely to … More Prague, Czech Republic

“So you have been here one week, and already you have decided to take an Arts degree from Redmond College?” – Aunt Josephine to Anne in Anne of Green Gables I have been abroad for one week now. I have taken ferries, trains, trams, busses, and a taxi. I have ordered wine in a restaurant … More Frankfurt, Germany