In my free time I enjoy traveling and exploring places like museums, historical estates, botanical and public gardens, state and national parks, and more. I’ve traveled to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, Spain, India, and did a cross-country road trip in the USA. After the pandemic, I lived on the road for a few years, traveling and house-sitting (and pet-sitting) through Trusted Housesitters. I’ve shared some pictures and details from some of my favorite places below, which I plan to continue updating as I dig out more pictures from years past. I hope you enjoy them.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; Boston, MA, USA
Isabella Stewart Gardner, born in 1840, was a traveler and had an interest in art and culture. She created this museum, which opened to the public in 1903. It is known that she stated the museum should remain for the “enjoyment and education of the public forever.” The museum contains many forms of art, the courtyard garden, and more. You can see the courtyard garden and interior structure of the main building in my photos below along with two paintings of Isabella herself. I first heard about Isabella and this museum when I stumbled upon the Netflix documentary called “This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist”. There was a robbery in 1990 where 13 pieces of art were stolen, and the case remains unsolved. It’s a crazy story and beautiful place, a great day-trip to Boston with a cafe on site for lunch.
The Alhambra; UNESCO World Heritage Site; Granada, Spain
During my trip to Spain, I visited Sevilla, Cordoba, and Granada. My favorite part was visiting the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Granada. We had a tour guide and learned so much about the history of the Islamic architecture and Nasrid Dynasty, which was the last Muslim dynasty to rule in Spain. The architecture, gardens, and views were all breathtaking. My favorite parts were the arches, doors, and tile work.
Longwood Gardens; Kennett Square, PA, USA
One of the biggest public gardens I’ve ever been to, Longwood is 1,100 square feet of beauty. My favorite visit so far has been during tulip season, the tulips are stunning.
Sara Lorette 