Wish You Were Here
INDIA: San Jose residents Debbie and Pete Anderson visited the Taj Mahal this spring. “Built in Agra by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”
TRAVEL TIPS: “When traveling, remain open-minded and stay flexible. The weather in India is best between November and February. Carry bottled water and sunglasses. Pack a mask for cities that have bad air quality.”
ITALY: Brentwood residents Monika and Dominic Filardo’s Italian adventures last fall included stops in Venice, Florence, Pompeii, Naples and Rome, where they visited the Colosseum.
Travel tips: “Airbnb is a great way to find lodging. You get more bang for your buck. We found a nice two-bedroom flat with great views near the Vatican,” Monika says. “Also, if you don’t drive like a Formula One race car driver, taking public transportation, the subway and trains is your best alternative to get around. Most everyone speaks a little English, but it’s good to have a small pocket phrasebook to help you communicate. Lastly, ensure you always have change since most public toilets will cost you on average 1 euro.”
Share your travels with us! Send your vacation selfies to jburrell@bayareanewsgroup.com. Be sure to tell us who’s who, where they’re from and where you are — and include a couple of travel tips to help fellow readers globe-trot, too.