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A new discovery about myself:  I'm a peeping Tom traveler!  Not in a creepy sort of way, but in a casually curious kind of way.  Alongside the usual famous sites, I enjoy looking through windows, behind doors and into alleyways to see what new discoveries lie within.  Sometimes I find small, well-tended gardens blooming amid a busy concrete city offering a refuge from the hustle and bustle.  Other times, it's a breathtaking expanse of unspoiled scenery sitting just beyond an ancient wall.  Occasionally, it's just a snapshot of ordinary life.  Whatever the find, it is usually something special to behold. 

I particularly love looking through portals--doors or entryways leading to something unknown, or maybe even slightly mysterious.  Italy is filled with portals--some grander than others.  Most cities and towns were once surrounded by ancient stone walls defending itself against predators, and one could only access the town through its main portals.  Most palaces and significant buildings have large, and sometimes ornate portals leading to expansive courtyards and decorated architecture.  Often, the portals themselves tell a story with inscriptions or carvings detailing battles conquered or long family histories.

Portals signify leaving one place to enter another.  Similarly, when traveling to Italy, I leave all the stress of life at home and enter into la dolce vita--the sweet life!  Maybe that's why I have a thing for Italy's portals!