March 18, 2024

This Photograph Inspires

A good friend of mine took this amazing photo. (I took a screenshot of it because I did not want to share his full sized version.) Isn't it beautiful? When I saw it, the words of this famously great song came to mind:

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

(Words by Katherine Lee Bates.)

March 17, 2024

Celebrating St. Paddy's at Raglan Road

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day? Eating and drinking at Disney Springs' lively Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant is certainly a memorable experience and if you're in Florida, you should certainly consider it for your party. But is it worth it? Are there better places to spend your hard earned money? How's the entertainment? The drinks? The food? Would I recommend it or will I dine there again? Read on for the latest Dine or Ditch.

The live entertainment is good-
but you may end up seated in an out of the way location.

Although his ethnicity is very mixed, our youngest son identifies the most closely with the Irish piece of his heritage, so Raglan was the place we chose to begin our trip and let the vacation kick off in high gear. 

I can't tell you what mid-week looks like in the restaurant, but on the weekend, my bet is Raglan is one of the most popular choices. It was the first place we booked on line when reservations became open, and it was the most difficult of all to get the time we wanted. Due to really awful service at the end of Magical Express, we ended up at Disney Springs almost 1.5 hours later than our initial reservation- and on a Saturday night no less. The entertainment district was mobbed, but thankfully, I had called the pub and advised them of our delay. They graciously found a place for us. 

Our wait was about 15 minutes from the time we finally checked in. We were seated in the back left side of the restaurant in a dark, moody, corner as far away from the stage as could be, but it was a perfect setting to have a long and relaxed meal and a drink.

The Whiskey Flight.

"Irish Rage" is one happy guy tonight!

I began with a gin based drink and my wife chose something lighter. Not our son! He's a hard liquor guy and was very pleased to sample the menu's Whiskey Flight- even if it did cost $27. Our drinks were actually pretty good, and they did help sooth my frazzled nerves after a very frustrating arrival on the property. But out was time to finally begin our vacation- so I put it behind me. I knew Raglan was my son's top choice for a meal on the Disney property, and I didn't want to disappoint him.

One of the tastiest appetizers we had the entire trip.

We began with complimentary bread and butter that was a meal in itself.   Our waiter was prompt, relaxed, and knowledgable. Never pushy and an excellent listener- which is not always the case when you're shoving through hundreds of guests a night. He let us sit, drink, and relax, bringing in a second basket of bread. There was no rush to take an order or push us out once our meal was complete. This was the kind of service offered by professionals and something so needed on a vacation that can be overwhelming with tight schedules and big crowds. He was rewarded well for his approach as is also our custom. 

Pull the Boxty is not the name of a kid's prank. Instead, it is a potato and hamhock creation that is every bit worth the $17 price tag. The list of appetizers may have been shortened due to COVID-19, but when we ordered this one, our server commented it was one of the most popular for a very good reason. It was in fact one of the tastiest dishes we ordered the entire trip. And it was no small plate! Hearty and heaping, everyone had their fill. I would have been happy to order this as my main meal, and I will probably do so if we ever go back.

The slow braised short ribs were a quick and easy choice for my beef-loving son. My wife picked the pot pie and was very pleased with her choice. Flaky crust, rich, hearty, and generous filling, all well presented. I stuck with my preferred choice of fish and chips when I'm in a restaurant that is known for great fish. Other than the fact that my beer battered cod was not as crispy as I normally like it, it was undeniably excellent and flavorful, much milder than I expected. The chips were standard fare, which was rather surprising. The short ribs were easily the best of our lot with a mouth watering reduced red wine jus, but the accompanying roasted veggies almost stole the show. Almost.

Delicious and different.

The desserts were tempting, but were passed as by the time we left, if was very late, and we were stuffed. The music was bright and upbeat. We were actually close enough to enjoy it but also could hear each other speak. In short, the room that seemed farthest away was actually the one that struck the perfect balance for the kind of "first night of vacation" that we wanted it to be.

Then came the bill. 

Including our very generous tip for excellent service, our night out at Raglan Road was actually the most expensive meal of this vacation, hitting the $175 price tag for a pub trip. That's almost $60 a head. Now, before you scoff, keep in mind that this is cheaper than the in-park hard to book meals. And it included live entertainment that had nothing to do with Disney rubberheads. 

We found Raglan Road worthy of its reputation and worth the price for a special event, but you may feel differently. 

Considerations: 

  • Book early and try to get something after dark for the best authentic atmosphere. 
  • Nighttime is not kid friendly, so try brunch if there are children in your group.
  • Decide ahead of time what type of experience you want. Seating places a big role in this restaurant. 
  • The live entertainment is excellent- but it is a very loud restaurant.
  • Go hungry or don't go. If you've filled up on a big lunch, choose this for another day.

Let me end with this traditional Irish blessing:

"May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.

May the soft winds freshen your spirit.

May the sunshine brighten your heart

May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.

And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love."


Want more Dine or Ditch?
Check out these other reviews:

Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom
Garden Grill at Epcot
Cafe Orleans at Disneyland
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Orlando Resort
Cafe Orleans at Disneyland
Mythos at Islands of Adventure

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

March 15, 2024

Tropical and Exotic Adventureland

For fans of Disneyland, it can seem that Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is a second class version of "Walt's park", but the truth is, the Florida wonderland is full of incredible Imagineering work! Take a look at the concept art for the Great Ceremonial House, home to the Enchanted Tiki Birds at opening, but now known as the Enchanted Tiki Room. Just beautiful! Even without its water feature- look closely- it is a stunning building.

Great thought was put in when it came to designing all of the Magic Kingdom. It was on a grand scale, and initial plans were meant to continue on in that vein. For proof, just take a look at the never built Thunder Mesa complex for Frontierland

I will admit that once Aladdin's Magic Carpets came on the site that something was lost. The addition was not only a thematic mismatch, it was a downgrade to the elegance of the area. Used to be a view from the top of the Swiss Family Tree House yielded the fantasy to take hold: YOU were out in the jungles of the world, and across the horizon were exotic locales waiting to be explored. Asia, Polynesia, Africa, and beyond. Adventure awaits!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

March 11, 2024

Stunning and Sleek Tomorrowland

When Disney Imagineers are at the top of their game, they can be pretty tough to beat. In the early days of Disneyland, Imagineering pulled out all the stops, and their pieces of concept art for the new park certainly pleased Walt Disney. They were forward thinking when it came to the land of the future. In 1955, Tomorrowland was full of corporate exhibits and not much else. That changed when a 1967 version was revealed. The Carousel of Progress, right from the 1964 World's Fair, an amazing Adventure Thru Inner Space attraction, and of course, the fan favorite Peoplemover made their debut. The thrills were still to come. Space Mountain took a bit longer, but it was well worth the wait. 

Just for fun, here's a pretty rare piece of art for Walt Disney World's Space Mountain, before Tron's Lightcycles came in.

I might have more concept art on the world wide Tomorrowlands than any other parts of the parks. Explore on! You've only scratched the surface with this post, but this article might be the best place to start...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

March 8, 2024

New Fantasy Springs Ad for Tokyo Disneysea Expansion

Just take a look at this! It's been appearing in multiple places all over Tokyo- a brand new ad for the Fantasy Springs expansion at the  already beautiful Tokyo Disneysea. Areas devoted to Peter Pan, the Frozen gang, and Rapunzel and friends will make for a very popular addition. 

Looking at the art, you can see the hotel in the background as well as Rapunzel's Forest, Peter Pan's Never Land, and Frozen Kingdom.

Will you even be able to get in? I don't know as it seems to be a tough thing to do unless you pay mega-yen to stay at the brand new Fantasy Springs Hotel or have some insider connection. If you want more news on the expansion from a great guy who lives in Japan, go no further than the You Tube channel of 8-Bit Theme Park Japan. They broke the news on this ad, and they will be a surefire source of all the latest information.

(Art copyright Walt Disney Company and Oriental Land Company.)

March 5, 2024

Making Records with the World's Biggest Stars

What do the following legendary musical artists all have in common? Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Sting, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Karen Carpenter, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Quincy Jones, Art Garfunkel and dozens more. They are have worked with producer Phil Ramone

The now deceased genius producer and artist goes behind the scenes of American Popular Music and reveals stories about the creation of one iconic song after another. How he did it and how he worked with some of the most gifted writers, musicians and singers to walk the planet. He'll mention the exciting work behind something like Still Crazy After All These Years, and the reader needs to turn on the record to hear what was put into it.

Who is the artist Phil said was most open to feedback? Who was terrified to meet Ray Charles and why? What song took over a decade to complete and which were written in a matter of minutes? 

Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music is a fan's dream book! Phil and co-author Charles L. Granata make this one a must-read... and a must listen to.

March 1, 2024

Disney's Tree of Life Points to Something Truly Incredible

Definitely the most beautiful Disney park in Florida,  Animal Kingdom continues to capture my attention in so many ways. Imagineer Joe Rohde's design of it all intrigues me. Particularly the eye-popping Tree of Life. I could stand there and just stare at it! And we do every trip. It's just a stunningly beautiful piece of art that makes me think the whole world should look like this.

Walking around, I'm always reminded of the original Garden of Eden whenever I take a stroll through the Oasis Gardens. Beautiful! Lately, I've been reminded of something totally different...and I don't like it one bit.

Are you just like me? Do you seem to get caught in the same old things over and over again? You know, those snares that seem to take you down. The traps that cause you to think you'll never conquer some bad habit, some old fear. Get in line. This queue is as long as humanity itself.

It's been years and years since I first begun reading the Bible. Since it's the greatest story ever told, I am always uncovering new truths each time I read. Such a gift! Just recently I saw for the very first time something I had never realized in one of the most famous passages in the Bible. It is so powerful in its simplicity that I am surprised I do not apply this truth more often.


In the first two chapters of Genesis, we see what God intended the world to be: beautiful, peaceful, purposeful, and relational – God with his creation! It was good- very very good! This is where He creates our world and blesses it.

Chapter 3 is where things fall apart big time- in the Garden of Eden- and the world becomes what we now experience. Let's look at it.

"Now the serpent was more crafty (note: some translations say “cunning”) - than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

Let me paint the picture here:

Beautiful garden, a beautiful day, a beautiful life. Adam is happy and lazily looking around- probably admiring his wife’s natural beauty. In fact, he’s probably so absorbed by her naked body to think about what is happening… probably doesn’t even initially notice the serpent.


Eve’s already next to the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, probably admiring it and thinking about it- and totally oblivious to what was to come. She may even be a little bewildered by a creature that speaks. She's never seen that before! A conversation takes place. Eve ponders what was just said and makes a decision to eat from the forbidden fruit. She hands the fruit to Adam, and he eats too.

How did things go south for them?
The enemy had a strategy that still works well today. Sadly, all too well- on me, on you, and on just about everyone I know.

Satan’s successful plan is a progression. One step at a time, he lures us in. It begins with questioning God’s word. Look at verse 1- “Did God really say?”

He questioned whether it was a sin to eat, wearing Eve down bit by bit, planting seeds of doubt regarding God’s goodness- "Why would a good God deny you anything you want?" you can almost hear him saying. Boy, I get this- and buy into it myself sometimes.


But then in verse 4 – “You certainly won’t die” / when you eat, your eyes will be open like God’s" . Here the serpent denied the inevitable consequences and danger of sin, wearing her down again. He's selling the advantage of sin very slyly by offering a falsehood: the half lie and half truth always equals total deception. 


Then, he boldly suggests it's to her advantage to sin. Let's be honest: This is exactly where I fall most often and maybe you as well. This proposed advantage helps us justify our own sin nature and the lies we tell ourselves. 



The offer is made, and Eve considers taking the bait.

But here is where Eve blows it. She has a chance but never runs from the serpent. She doesn’t go back to God for clarification. She blindly takes the serpent’s word as truth. Eve makes the decision alone without consulting Adam, who God gave her for truth and support. Her eyes fixates on the benefits of eating (good for food, pleasing to the eye, gaining wisdom). Instead she indulges and passes on the "blessing" to her husband. 


Here's the challenging application:


Truth Number 1: If we don’t run away from temptation, we must face a battle that is even bigger and harder to deal with!


Truth Number 2:  With everything we are told/read/watch, we must go back to God for the truth.  This includes:

1-  What we tell ourselves  - "I won’t get stuck in it"
2-  What we hear from our wives, friends, and others
3-  What the media reinforces all around us- the benefits of sin

Truth Number 3:

We need to know what the word of God says, and we need the support of the people around us when we are tempted.

Choosing to do rightly will be a constant battle- especially if we know what we want to do is wrong! It’s a control issue! We love to be masters of our own destiny. It’s not just about sin- its about obedience and allowing god to direct our lives. Sometimes it is just ego! We don’t want anyone telling us what to do or we are impatient and will not choose to wait for God's best. We do not want to wait for god to take action- so we do it ourselves, what we think is best- even if its against his wishes. “Human wisdom” versus trusting God.


Truth Number 4:
Most importantly of all- let me say this again- most importantly of all:  Besides displeasing God, the saddest part about taking things into our own hands is the truth that it limits us from ever seeing God take care of our lives. Read that last line again. He wants to be that personal with us, but our own refusal to submit to his ways or his commands lead us to a life much less satisfying... and then we wonder where God is when we need Him!

We constantly battle giving over control, and we rationalize our sin while we pursue knowledge of God. How can we expect God’s blessing if we knowingly indulge in sin?


From Lord of the Rings.

So Satan wears us down with his schemes, but we also can help him win! How is that possible?

Truth Number 5:

We flirt with sin, thinking we are in control, and we end up giving the enemy a foothold.

Our biggest mistake is revealed in how Eve handled herself. Notice the opening of this passage reveals the serpent didn't lead Eve to the Tree. She was already there!

Instead of going about the garden enjoying all that God had given, being thankful and satisfied with God's goodness, she fixates on the tree itself and the forbidden fruit she cannot have. She flirts with it, obsesses over it, perhaps even thinks about how close she can get to it without falling!  We do the same thing! 

Truth Number 6:
Knowledge without relationship and obedience is not Christianity!

The focus of real faith remains on relationship with him not what He does for us. Adam and Eve traded  a pure relationship with God for knowledge like God!

The Pharisees, those religious leaders of the ancient Jews, had all the knowledge anyone could want about God. And Jesus told them they were phonies and frauds! They looked good on the outside but inside, they were dead. And they were leading people in ways of death instead of life. 


For some of them, this was hard to hear as they truly desired to please God and desired others would please him. But they flaunted their knowledge, desiring the respect and fear or men. Status was so important to them.


That sweet baby grew to be a man with a mission!

Here they were, the spiritual leaders of the day, and they could not recognize God in the flesh - Jesus- when they saw him.

Back to Chapter 3 of Genesis: "...then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the lord god as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 

Thankfully, God looks for Adam and Eve, and later we read the episode in the Garden ends with hope and a sacrifice by God on our behalf. A foretaste of what God would provide by sending Jesus to die for our sin while on the cross. God in the flesh dies on our behalf so we can live... and later rises from the dead to prove his conquest over death and sin.

All this is a reminder that God pursues us- even after we are in sin! Satan desires to use guilt and anger to push us away from God,  but our loving God draws us near, wanting us to change direction.

Let's put this to application- We’ve got the Ten Commandments as our guide to living a life that pleases God. We seriously add to our troubles and displease Him when we break them. It's always good to take a look at these and evaluate where we are and how we are doing.

Ask yourself:

·       What are my idols?
·       Where am I involved in sexual sin?
·       Do I covet what other people have? etc.

Or is it just an issue of control- Wanting to do what you want?

Is it pride? "No one will tell me what to do!"  Or is it just flat out disobedience. Has God told you to do something and you have refused?

If you are a follower of Jesus, admit where you are, and give it all back to the only God who loves you and gave His life for you. If you're not, consider who He is by what He has done on your behalf. 

Peace with God. It's available only through the gift of Jesus. It's offered to you.  Do you believe Jesus died in your place for your sins? Do you believe He is the Son of God, God made man, and that He died and rose again? Will you turn away from the things that displease Him and give your life back to the One who created you? What will you do with all of it?


(Most photos copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

February 27, 2024

Tiana and the Salt Mine Adventure

Is this a real photograph inside of the soon to come Tiana's Bayou Adventure? Every time I look at construction updates of the conversion of Splash Mountain into the Princess and the Frog themed attraction, I do not picture a real Louisiana salt dome to look covered in flowers. Instead I see this image from Pinocchio's Daring Journey in my mind.

As a hard working company owner of Tiana's Foods, she's traded in her princess frocks for something totally different- and she's chopped off those once beautiful flowing locks into a more manageable do. I'm sure little girls around the world will be queuing for hours to be able to buy the newest addition to Tiana's wardrobe!

(Sarcastic) Kudos to whoever turned the beloved Disney Princess Tiana into Businesswoman Tiana. So magical!

February 23, 2024

Professor of Rock Changes His Mind on the Carpenters

 People grow up. How else can you explain hating one band than then all of a sudden finding you actually love them? This is what happened to the Professor of Rock, a popular music fan and critic. Carpenters, Karen and Richard Carpenter that is, were once detested and now appreciated. He owes it all to the beautiful ballad Rainy Days and Mondays coming on the radio at just the right (wrong) time in his life. His insights are spot on. Watch it below.

February 21, 2024

For the First Time in Trip Planning, Universal Orlando Beats Disney World

This is the first time and probably not the last. For our next Florida vacation, we are staying the entire time at a hotel at Universal Orlando Resort- not Walt Disney World, not DVC, not just off property. Butterbeer beats Blue Milk. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Diagon Alley, and Velocicoaster are calling us- and we cannot dent its pull. Sure, I'm gonna have to ride Tron over at the Magic Kingdom and Ratatouille and Guardians at Epcot, but everything else is up for grabs. Flights are booked, tickets purchased, and hotel is chosen. Let the trip planning begin!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

February 19, 2024

Monday Morning at Disneyland, 1959.

 
Walt Disney's newest experiment, Disneyland, was a beloved success! Since its opening in 1955 millions of guests entered the gates, drawn in by television and the honest to goodness fact that Walt Disney's company produced high quality work regardless of the media they used. (Note to Robert Iger and company: Quality work results in long term profits.)

The land of tomorrow might have been shortchanged at opening with attractions that were mostly corporate exhibits, but by 1959, that was changed for good. The impact of adding the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine Voyage, and the Monorail cannot be understated. Guest numbers were at one million for 1955, but by this expansion, the park was now running at 5 million. Not too shabby for something critics thought would fail.

Tomorrowland was now a destination unto itself- and a much more beautiful one with a shimmering lagoon and a snow covered mountain.

Beginning a day at Disneyland with a leisurely stroll down Main Street U.S.A., guests now had to decide whether to head straight to the beloved Jungle Cruise on one side of the park or head to the other and experience the newest and most compelling to date attractions. 

Perhaps the best plan was to go to Frontierland and explore the Old West before the crowds hit. The East vs. West debate continues to this day.  Maybe the best plan is straight through the castle to ride Peter Pan's Flight or the equally beloved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

From Daveland.

As you can see in the rendering above, Tomorrowland now had a wide variety of choices with attractions to suit just about anyone. Thrill ride? Check. Outer space adventure? Yes. Liquid space journey? A long time favorite. You could drive a car even if you were underage. Visit the House of the Future. Ride in a Rocket Jet. And hop aboard the transportation of the future. 

What a beautiful world Tomorrowland was! At least for another 15 or so years. Until it wasn't. But for now, just imagine a glorious day in the Land of the Future in 1959. It's all there waiting for you!

February 18, 2024

To My Oldest Daughter

Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter, As I often create multiple posts at once, I was looking for some photos to use for an article celebrating 35 Years of Disney's Hollywood Studios scheduled for its anniversary on May 1. 

I found this. Here is my oldest daughter at Disney-MGM Studios back in 1989. She's still a sweet one all these years later- now with a growing family of her own. And I'm so proud of her!

My eldest son and my wife are behind her. Our youngest daughter is behind me as I take the photo. No second son yet. Time flies quickly. If you have young kids, they are a gift from God. I know they are work, but enjoy them. It is a very wonderful time of life!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

February 16, 2024

Come Sail Away

The warmth of the sun. The smell of the sea air, and the softness of the sand. Can there be anything better to daydream about on a cold and snowy winter day? No.

I saw this photo (photographer unknown) and thought of the classic song by Styx, Come Sail Away. Then, it was the Beach Boys and The Warmth of the Sun. Then, it was my favorite Carpenters song, Boat to Sail. (You've got to hear Karen Carpenter sing this and the great piano by brother Richard.)  And then it was...

The list goes on and on and on.

February 15, 2024

Design Detail: Shanghai Disneyland's Treasure Cove

Design detail is what used to make the Disney parks unique. It's not exclusive to them anymore as Universal Creative has made huge strides to transform old spaces into highly detailed ones as well as create modern day theme park masterpieces. Their Diagon Alley at Islands of Adventure is the best single Intellectual Property themed land ever. (Proof is here.) But that is not to say Disney Imagineering has given up on delivering lands rich in artistry and hidden design gems to discover.

In spite of how large the park is and how this creates a lack of charm, Shanghai Disneyland holds a fair amount of design detail. When the lands feel sterile (surprisingly, Fantasyland for example), it's really bad. But when it's good, it's really good.


When it comes to Mainland China's Disney park - let's be clear here, it is not the other way around- it seems everyone is focusing on Zootopia right now. That's expected as it is brand new, but I'd like to look at a different area instead. The pirate themed Treasure Cove is also an example of great design. 

Yes, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure excels in this area. From entrance to queue to the incredible attraction itself, Imagineering hit a grand slam! 

But on the smaller side of the scale, take a look at the top photo of the almost hidden prison cel just above the waterline of the bay that straddles both Treasure Cove and Adventure Isle. There's a skeleton of the last prisoner peering out from behind the bars. You can only see if from the canoes, but it is something that they did not have to add. These thoughtful touches bring something to the park that most guests probably can't put their finger on, but when found all over, they add a depth and richness to the entire park.  Storytelling at its finest.

Here's one more to be found in Treasure Cove...

There's more design detail posts on the blog as these are part of what make great theme parks compelling. At least to me. And probably to you as well if you've read this far!

(Photographer unknown.)

February 14, 2024

Happy Valentine's Day to My One True Love

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. In this case, it's Sorrento, but you get the idea. Happy Valentine's Day to my one true love! I'm so thankful you chose me. Life and the Lord have taken us on some great adventures. And there's more to come. 

This home high in the hills overlooks Mount Vesuvius and a sparkling bay. These steps leading into the home were a bit treacherous late at night, but during the day, it felt like walking into a secret garden. We'd soon discover the most beautiful restaurant on earth. More Italy trip report to come!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)