Trafton’s European Tour 2024-2025

Greetings from beautiful and sunny Lander, Wyoming! We’ve been busy traveling and sightseeing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of our great country! Also, doing our best to stay out of some rather nasty weather. 😬

We left Yellowstone and headed for our next home base, Driggs, Idaho. However, with the weather changing fast, we headed over the small pass from Wyoming into Idaho and, unfortunately, met a freezing rain/ snow storm 🫣

After some very cautious driving (I hate freezing rain) we cleared the passes and drove down through South Eastern Idaho. My goodness what a beautiful drive.

Wow, gorgeous scenery! Mile after mile of truly spectacular scenery!

I would compare this area to Washington’s Palouse on steroids 😎

Ok, simple, rustic cabin in Driggs, unfortunately it looks like weather is on the way 🤨

Ok, bright and early the next day, unfortunately it’s raining and foggy. We head up the hill to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It’s about 45 minutes away.

Jackson is a fun city, lots and lots of shops, restaurants, bars and places for tourists to spend $, lots of $$$$😜

Ok, plan B! We’ve never had time to explore this area, so we drive to Rexburg, it’s about two hours from Jackson. Cute town!

I’ve been reading about a pizza place in Rexburg I’ve been wanting to visit, The Righteous Slice! Delicious!

Ok, down to Idaho Falls, cute small city and a quick walk, it’s cold and windy. Let’s head home 😎

Day 2, The forecast is Sunshine! Let’s go to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons National Park!

In 1929, Grand Teton National Park was established, protecting the Teton Range’s major peaks. In the 1930’s, conservationists led by John D. Rockefeller Jr. began purchasing land in Jackson Hole to be added to the existing national park.^[4] 

Driving through Jackson Hole into the Park is simple and easy.

Dozens and dozens of cars are parked on the road to see this guy at rest, it’s crazy!

The early settlers (1880’s) were bought out by The Rockefellers in the 1930’s to establish the Park. Could you imagine living in this log house through a Wyoming winter? 🤔

Driving tour now with us popping out for pictures and short walks, not busy and incredibly beautiful.

Fun time in Driggs / Jackson Hole / SE Idaho, very beautiful and a great place to relax!

One side note on visiting Grand Tetons National Park, I’ve never seen so many high, high end cameras and lens! The serious photographers love to shoot here👍🇺🇸

Day 3 Lander, Wyoming

It’s a beautiful day to drive across the Rockies. It’s an easy 3 1/2 hour drive from Driggs to Lander so we take our time and stop and gawk at the beauty.

Fantastic drive, deer, moose, elk, lots of antelopes and even Bald Eagles. 🇺🇸

I don’t know about you, I could use a cold beer!

Easy 10 minute drive to our Airbnb! Wow 👏

Ok, we’re heading to Denver to see the Burns family for a few days. Fun adventure, glad you came along!

*This has been another TGC adventure

Wow! Yellowstone National Park 😎

Greetings from beautiful, but wet and cold Yellowstone! We arrived here on Friday, driving from Helena, Montana.

The drive from Banff to Helena is an eight hour drive, down the Rockies, around Calgary, through the Great Plains of Alberta and across the border back into the USA🇺🇸

Beautiful drive in the low 80’s, lots of boats drifting the famous Missouri River, fly fishing for trout 😎

Easy check in at our Airbnb In Helena. It’s a lovely studio above a newly built garage. The hosts home is a remodeled 1900’s craftsman. The neighborhood is called “The Mansion District” and we went for a walk and enjoyed the beautiful neighborhood.

With an easy drive from Helena to West Yellowstone, we made a short side trip to the world famous, Murray’s bar in Livingston. This is where Jimmy Buffet wrote about in his famous song “Livingston Saturday Night”😜

Ok, let’s drive up the Yellowstone River valley into Yellowstone 😎 Wow, beautiful day, suns shining, people are fishing the famous Yellowstone River seeing elk and eagles all around. Just a world class drive.

Easy entry, let’s drive to our destination, West Yellowstone.

The park was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress through the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone was the first national park in the US, and is also widely understood to be the first national park in the world.

The park is huge, covering over 5,500 square miles,and borders three states, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming! It’s truly a treasure 🇺🇸

Easy drive across the park to our home in West Yellowstone.

Easy check-in to our “cabin”. It’s more like a manufacturered home in a few trees but it’ll be great.

Ok, up bright and early as there’s rain and wind in the forecast. Let’s do a driving and scenic tour of The Grand Loop.

I’m not going to try and name everything, we saw SO Much and it was all beautiful.

The crowds aren’t bad as the lodging and hospitality spots are mostly closed for the winter.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Yellowstone without viewing Old Faihful🇺🇸

Rolling now, piling up the steps and miles😜

It’s so well designed in Yellowstone, lots of parking spots and easy access, I’m sure it’s different in the summer, but now it’s fantastic! Fun checking out license plates from different states. They come from everywhere to visit Yellowstone.

Wow, back to the “Cabin” and possibly 🍷, fantastic world class place. You could easily spend a couple weeks here hiking and exploring 👍

We see a heavy rain event coming on day two, might have to scale back a bit, but a definite must do place if you like “Gods Country”

Day 2

We had been watching a large storm heading our way and guess what?

We decided to sleep in and take a shorter route to sightsee as 1.5 inches of rain was forecast and the temperatures had dropped into the 30s. So quick sightseeing trip.

Ok, we’re soaked ! Even with the rain, fantastic place to visit!

Ok, we’re moving to The Grand Tetons area for the next few days, little snow in the forecast 😬

@If you click each of the photos they will become full sized😎

Greetings from the Great White North! We had a couple more things to accomplish on our Canadian adventure, so back into the trusty Hyundai we go😜

Quick, easy 30 minute drive to the Lake Louise Park and Ride then onto one of a huge fleet of mass transit shuttles that move you to Lake Louise.

Visiting the area is a little different. Unless you are staying in Lake Louise itself, you have to buy a timed entry pass to take the shuttle in😬 These passes are purchased on line and go very very quickly. The site sells out the passes in a matter of minutes!

So, we arrived at our destination on time, parked in a HUGE parking lot and boarded our bus with no issues 🫣

First stop, Lake Louise, beautiful, beautiful place, just lots, and I mean lots, of people 🫣 Some pictures from the lake.

Ok, the shuttle took us to Lake Moraine. It’s a 20 minute shuttle with lots of bus traffic 🫣

Ok, back to the shuttle and parking lot. Wow, that’s a lot of beauty, but one heck of a lot of people 😬

That’s a wrap from Canada as we head to Helena, Montana tomorrow. It’s an eight hour drive and then on to Yellowstone the next day!

Little snow in the Yellowstone forecast, we’ll see!

Greetings from beautiful Alberta, Canada and the Canadian Rockies.

Leaving Valemount, BC we drive up the Rockies, it’s partly cloudy and easy driving! First stop, Rearguard Falls, the highest spot Chinook salmon make it upriver!

The areas around Jasper had a terrible fire two years ago and about 1/2 the city burned 🤨 Jasper is rebuilding 👍

Next stop, Athabasca Falls, quite lovely!

Ok, bright and early, touring the Banff area. Man the tour bus crowds are massive, large buses, small buses, medium buses they are here by the hundreds 🫣

Banff is a very trendy city with lots of Hotels, Condos and Airbnb’s. It’s a very high end shopping district.

Glad we’re in the country 👊

Fun couple of days, weather is cooperating and we are enjoying ourselves immensely!

Tomorrow, Lake Louise and Lake Moraine, hopefully the crowds are Ok🫣

Greetings from the Great White North! TGC is taking me on a trip across the Canadian mountains and I thought I’d share a few photos and updates!

TGC and I met in Wenatchee in 1978 and were married here in 1980! It’s her hometown, so we stopped by to see the changes in 50 years, there’s a lot!

Up and over the Cascades we go, beautiful fall day!

Easy border crossing, no wait at all😎

After a couple hours, we arrived in Whistler, BC! Quite the happening place!

Up and into the Rockies we go. Really not that high compared to Idahos Sawtooths, but very beautiful!

TGC wanted to do some power hiking in the Rockies so I hung out and guarded Lunch😎

TGC poured out the 8k walk in 90 minutes…me, I’m happy to report lunch was delicious Alfresco😎

Leaving for the Baniff / Lake Louise areas, it’s a 6 hour drive!

PS, the Canadians are very nice, as always 🇺🇸

Ha, fooled ya, one last blog, as Roma is so special 👍

Greetings one last time from beautiful Roma! Fantastic weather here again, sunny and mid 60’s.😎

TGC says tie on those walking shoes one last time😅 We’ve got more to see in the Eternal City of Roma!

On to the subway we go for the short ride to the Trevi Fountain area.

Before we start the tour, I have to comment on Roma. We first came here 12 years ago and the city was kind of shabby and gritty, even the tourist areas. Now, it’s very clean, police officers everywhere and even the subway, which is notorious for theft was safe. A great experience in Roma!

Ok, walking now, first stop, the World famous, Trevi fountain!

Guess you can’t throw coins anymore. Here’s TGC back in the day!

Ok, walking now, I feel 24,000 steps again 😬

This area is under construction because of a subway expansion to add another line, so pictures are difficult.

Walking now, along the Roman Forum.

Ok, let’s hit the big one, The Roman Colosseum😎

Pictures from our previous visit also.

They’ve booted the Gladiator impersonators out, it’s clean and safe👍

Walking again 😅

Just like that we’re in our Hood. You know what that means!

Yes, another 24,000 steps needs to be rewarded ✔️

Fun, fun trip to Rome! Now, back to the airport as we have a 6:00 AM flight on Saturday 😬

Final Stats

Miles driven-7,500

Miles walked, per TGC’s Fitbit- 637 or 6.5 miles per day, every day😜

Greetings from beautiful and sunny Rome. Yes, it’s 65 degrees and the shorts are back😎

Two day drive from Palermo to Rome with an overnight stay in beautiful Pizzo, Italy.

Same story with the ferry crossing from Sicily into Italy. We got lost, (signage on the freeway was terrible), a couple of older Italian men tried to scam us, but finally we found the ferry terminal!✔️

Safe and still somewhat sound, we drove into Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, dropped off the car and checked in to a Hilton. Overnight stay to reorganize and then train and metro into Roma!

Ok, we’re all checked in, let’s go! Roma is one of my favorite city’s in the world! It’s a historic city AND a fantastic food city. Let’s get started!

Ok, we walk around the Hood, very, very upscale. We’re staying in the San Giovanni neighborhood, very nice!

Next morning, It’s bright and early, out the door at 7:00 AM as the crowds in Rome are huge😜

On to the subway, hang on to your bag🫣

Don’t be fooled by the costumes which were designed by Leonardo himself! These are top level military guards 😬

You must remember, the Vatican is a separate country from Italy. No checking of passports though 😜

St Peters Basilica took over 120 years to build. It was completed in the early 1600’s and is truly one of THE most spectacular places to visit in the world! It’s jaw dropping ✔️

This is a very, very holy place so, we tried to respect the thousands who come here on pilgrimage.

Ok, so there’s no way our iPhone does St. Peters Basilica justice. It’s far, far more beautiful than these pictures show.

Ok, we’re walking now, I’ve done this walk before, tie the shoes tight😅

TGC is caffeinated and ready to go😬

Walking!

Ok, keep walking, says TGC😅

Ok, back to the subway, 24,000 steps.

Successful day one, stay tuned more too come!

Greetings from beautiful but cloudy 65 degree Palermo, Sicily!

TGC says one more walking tour 😬 so here we go!

Walking along the waterfront, it’s 45 minutes to the first stop says TGC!

Ok, let’s move inland through the alleys

First stop, Teatro Massimo.

Up the hill to the next stop, Capo Street Market.

Much smaller market and has a more neighborhood feel!

Ok, back to the Airbnb, another 20,000 step day 😅and time to pack for the trip back to Italys mainland on the way to Rome! And then, home👍

We’ve been in southern Italy and Sicily for three weeks. We’ve had a wonderful time in Bari, Lecce, Paola, into Sicily to Catania, Agrigento, Trapani and finally Palermo.

We were surprised at the beauty we saw and the wonderful people we met! Were parts a little crazy, yes, but that’s part of the adventure, isn’t it?

You know we like the road less traveled, well, this is it. We were shocked by the amount of Italian tourists that filled the city’s!

I most likely will not blog for five days or so as we move to Rome and position ourselves to fly home! So until then!

Greetings from beautiful, sunny and 65 degree Palermo, Sicily!

We made the short two hour drive from Trapani to Palermo without any major problems. Of course the roads were “under construction”, but we even managed to navigate to our Airbnb without any major issues.

We had an issue with the Airbnb we had reserved months ago, and were lucky enough to find this one just days out!

We visited Palermo in 2013 and frankly weren’t impressed. But a guy we follow, Rick Stein, (a British Chef, restaurant entrepreneur and travel enthusiast) said we’re missing the boat, so here we are again🫣

Palermo has the same, very old history as the rest of Sicily, but with a couple of additions. One, in WWll, the US Air Force bombed Palermo relentlessly for two years, with very high civilian casualties and major destruction to the city. Second, is the Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian Mafia😬

Yes, the Cosa Nostra is very real and still functioning in Palermo. You need to watch your step here🫣

Ok, safely checked in and a short walk in the Hood😬

Whenever you see that big of a cruise ship, you know the city generally is safe, as no city wants tourists hurt! I think we’ll be ok👍

Ok, bright and early, 8:30 is early in Palermo 👍 away we go, walking tour say TGC😅

One of Italy’s largest markets, Mercato di Ballaro is everything…meat, fish, green grocer, flea market, restaurants, street food, grocery. You name it, it’s got it all with a mass of people…singing, yelling and swearing at everyone! It’s Sicily! Talk about sensory overload, again!

Ok says TGC, let’s walk! Up the hill to the Norman Palace and Villa Bonanno.

Next stop, the beautiful Cattedrale of Palermo!

Ok, long walk home, over two miles 😅

Wow, what a fantastic beautiful day, great weather, breathtaking sights and didn’t feel unsafe once. What a difference 12 years makes!

That’s the end of day one, 20,000 mostly flat steps and beautiful sunshine 😜

Day two tomorrow! Now, where’s that Cannoli😎

Arrivederci!

Greetings from beautiful, but a little cloudy and rainy, 60 degrees Trapani, Sicily! Yes, the Sicilians are freezing!

Where the heck is Trapani you might be asking? Well it’s on the far western coast of Sicily.

Easy three hour drive across Sicily to Trapani, and the scenery was spectacular!

The scenery was unbelievably beautiful!

Everything is very, very green. It’s been a wet winter in Sicily.

We arrived in Trapani and checking in to our Airbnb was a little chaotic…not much English spoken here😜 However, we were able to check in with some help from our host.

Cute place, pedestrian only area, and with the trusty Citroen safely in a parking garage 😉 TGC says walking tour time.

The following pictures are taken over a couple of days.

Ok, next morning little cloudy!

Ok, it’s raining now. Beautiful, beautiful city! Clean, safe and they are working hard on renovating! Glad we stopped by.

Only 16,000 steps, flat as a pancake no cobblestones or steps! and the afternoon off because it’s raining? Wow!

A short drive to Palermo tomorrow, Sicily’s most notorious city😉

Arrivederci!