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#AtoZChallenge: Il Paretaio B&B
Photo of Il Paretaio from TripAdvisor website. Many moons ago, my friend and I planned a trip to Italy. We mapped out Bed and Breakfast inns in Rome, Venice, Florence and Tuscany, in hope that we’d have a more authentic, local experience. We chose Tuscany because Karen Brown recommended Il Paretaio as a relaxing choice that also offered one of the top riding stables in Italy. We thought it would be neat to go horseback riding, as well as visit beautiful countryside. Preparation for our trip included us taking English riding lessons at a stable near Elizabeth, Colo. We learned how to saddle up the horses, ride them (posting with…
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A to Z Challenge: “H”orsing around
Horses are amazing creatures! I’ve ridden horses when I was younger in Colorado, while I was at Girl Scout camp or up in Estes Park with my aunt and cousins. I’ve mainly ridden them on trails in the mountains, which is a beautiful experience and very fulfilling, at least until the horse senses that he’s almost home and it’s feeding time. Then I usually lose all control and end up galloping to the barn, feeling lucky to stay atop said amazing creature! My fellow riding partners would be impressed with my equine prowess if it weren’t for the scared look on my face as I dismount. You may have heard…
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“P”arks
Hawthorn Park is beautiful in the spring, summer and fall. It can even be peaceful in the winter, with new fallen snow. Photo by Diane Weidenbenner. One benefit of living in Indiana is the abundance of natural parks and wetland refuges within a short driving distance from towns and cities. It’s not uncommon to drive 15-30 minutes or up to one hour to reach parks, rivers, lakes and other such beautiful natural settings to relieve stress and enjoy time away. I live in Terre Haute and in a 15-30 minute drive from my house, I have access to Hawthorn Park, as an example, which is on 250-plus acres and includes…