Bringing Down the White Picket Fence
A Couple's Quest to Live Globally
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This city exceeded our expectations. From food to friendly, Cleveland rates 10 + on the cities we love list. Every local treated us as if we were their friend. Many tried to talk us into moving. The exploration of a new city can sometimes leave you feeling slightly unsure of how you will be greeted upon arrival. Will you feel safe? Will you feel welcome? Cleveland will make you feel all of… Read More
One of the best ways to see San Francisco is with the tour company Vantigo. On the San Francisco City Tour, a Volkswagen bus picks you up right from your hotel to take you on a ride around Fog City. You’ll stop several times along the way to capture great photos while checking out Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge. Your driver will give you the full rundown of the history… Read More
This is one of our favorite memories from San Francisco. We took a tour on a Volkswagen bus with the company Vantigo. The bus takes you all over the city and you get to see stellar views like this one. We highly recommend this tour when visiting San Francisco, but we can’t promise that you won’t want to go in search of buying your own bus and living the van life afterwards…. Read More
It’s Christmas time in the city, and Paul and I made sure to kick off the holiday season with a Seastreak cruise into downtown New York. We’re committed to getting our SPG stays in before January 1, and the city gives us plenty of opportunity to move between hotels and rack up our stays. We enjoyed a stellar upgrade at the W Downtown on Friday night. They gave us a luxurious corner… Read More
New York City and pizza. Two of the best things in America. So, let me tell you a little story. I know nothing about the pizzeria in this photograph, but I’m going to use this photo as my excuse to tell you about the pizzeria I LOVE in New York City. Harry’s Italian on Gold Street is just about the best thing on Earth, and unfortunately, we only recently realized it. Paul… Read More
Paul took this photo of Lady Liberty on the ferry ride back to Manhattan after an afternoon on Governor’s Island. Governor’s Island has become our go-to place for fun in the city. The short ferry ride costs $3 a person, which guarantees incredible views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Once there, we recommend renting a bicycle and cruising around the island. Afterwards, grab a seat at Island Oyster to bask… Read More
Shh…Paul is sleeping. This gives me the perfect opportunity to showcase his latest photos. While I may be the storyteller of our journeys, he’s the talent behind capturing the beauty in all of the places we visit. Tonight, his photos tell the story of a mid-afternoon stroll through one of our favorite cities in the world. This is Paris on a summer day. © Paul and Michelle Shappirio and Bringing Down the White… Read More
“We’ve Got Cheese Shops” In July of 2010, Paul and I spent our honeymoon in Sorrento, Italy. Our hotel sat high upon a cliff overlooking the magnificent Bay of Naples, and everyday after relaxing at the pool, we would walk to town down a long, dusty, quiet, lemon-tree lined path. Occasionally, a scooter would pass us by, motor off, using only the natural force of gravity to make its way down to the bustling streets… Read More
Bringing Down the White Picket Fence 