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Author: Janet Simmonds

Tour guide, travel writer, travel company owner - specialising in unique and exceptional journeys in Italy, Alps, France, Switzerland and British Isles.

Emotions Italy Treat Yourself

Grand Hotels, volcanic mud and thermal waters….

Posted on August 5, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 21 minutes

St Christopher

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 8 minutes

Journeys in Europe Sicily

Sicily – June 2023

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 1 minute

grand tourist Journeys in Europe Tales from Italy The Alps

Venice to the Alps – a journey

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 9 minutes

America Lucy Simmonds

The Empire Builder — Lucinda Jane Simmonds

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time less than 1 minute

Sicily – La Sicilia galleria

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 1 minute

Maria Cristina Castellucci Sicily

Tales from Sicily

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 2 minutes

Global Supper

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 6 minutes

Italy searching for italy Southern Italy

Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri…

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time 8 minutes

Guest writers Lucy Simmonds

Planting trees and a big pair of pants

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Janet Simmonds

Reading time less than 1 minute

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THE EDUCATED TRAVELLER

THE EDUCATED TRAVELLER

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ABOUT

Janet Simmonds (nee Panagakis) is a British-born tour guide, writer and company director. Born in Liverpool with a slightly Greek grand-father and a very Greek great grand-father she has a special affinity with the Mediterranean, especially Italy and Greece. Trained as a Geographer and Art Historian at the Universities of Oxford and Manchester, Janet has spent most of her adult life running specialist travel companies and travelling extensively. Several times a year she leads small groups to different parts of the Mediterranean. She writes about her travels and observations.

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A year in Venice draws to a close! The season starts again for me in early April, meanwhile #Carnevale #sangiorgio #torcello #salute #giudecca #santalucia it’s planning and preparation time. #Venezia #Venice #Serenissima #inspiration #grandtourist #educatedtraveller #italia

A fabulous sunset viewed from Lido di Venezia, looking westwards towards the Euganean Hills. Starting to plan for a #writers retreat in Veneto, Italy in September 2023. Then in January 2024 a brand new project, super exciting...A Winter Residency for Alma College's MFA program @almacollegemfa where students will spend 12 days in the Veneto, Italy in the company of expert faculty members and the inspirational program director, writer and novelist @sophfronia.scott - very excited to create and deliver an amazing experience in Italy for both these groups. #inspiration #grandtourist #educatedtraveller #writing #writers

Lucian Freud’s illustrated letters to John Craxton reminds me of the intense artistic and literary creativity that existed between Greece and Paris and London. Also the adulation the literati had for Ancient Greece and the majesty of Athens. Thinking of Leigh Fermor, Mani Peninsula and a land of milk and honey! #Benaki #Athens #Craxton #Freud #grandtourist #educatedtraveller @osbornesamuelgallery @royalacademyarts @thebenakimuseum

And that’s a wrap for 2022 we’ll be back in 2023 all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. This year has seen us in Monte Carlo, Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, Verona and the Italian Alps. We’ve had guests exploring the Venetian Lagoon, discovering hidden Rome and whizzing about in speed boats off the Amalfi coast. There’s been exploring in Athens and Istanbul too! Even an electric boat or two on Chiemsee - a small lake outside Munich. It’s been quite a year for #grandtourist and as always our customers become friends. We’ve hosted writers in the Veneto on a special writer’s retreat expertly taught by @sophfronia.scott and curated by me and @lulusimmonds22 . How cool is that. Special thanks to @hogan.barb @sincerely__lisa #bonniemarcus @rslessack @jenn.sander @ryanclawson @francescablench @alessandrodalcorso for making our job easier by being such good fun! See you in #2023 and of course enjoy the Festive Season! Keep an eye out for details of next year’s writer’s retreat and a very special ‘residency’ at Villa Franceschi for Alma College’s MFA program in January, 2024

#Venice #Venezia from the air September 2022 città incredibile incantevole mozzafiato….. sempre qualcosa di nuova a scoprire - La bella unica città #Venezia #italia #grandtourist #educatedtraveller #journeys #tailormade #exceptional

San Giorgio Maggiore #Venice fabulous venue for contemporary art #aiweiwei #commediaumana is one of many exceptional pieces exhibited here - made up of thousands of pieces of black Murano glass. The black ‘human comedy’ is a dark and brutal look at the human condition. The vast ‘chandelier’ or hanging sculpture is made up of thousands of Murano glass pieces (in black) body parts, rib cages, bones, organs (hearts, lungs) skulls and then (bizarrely) surveillance cameras, a cornucopia of modern life. There’s a long history of exhibiting monumental contemporary art here on San Giorgio (a bit like the turbine hall at Tate Modern). In 2019 Irish-American artist Sean Scully created the multi-coloured Jacob’s Ladder - a felt tower or Ziggarat to be shown here at San Giorgio. Then in 2020 it was the turn of Swiss artist Not Vital an architect - yes that’s his name….who came up with a mirrored obelisk entitled ‘A place to watch the sun set’ @NotVitalStudio - imaginative and fascinating stuff. With special thanks to the Benedictine Order who welcome artist and creative endeavour in their church. Full article: wp.me/p5eFNn-6wl #Venice #SanGiorgio #aiweiwei #notvitalartist #seanscully #grandtourist #educatedtraveller

St Catherine of Alexandria born c.287-304 AD. Christian martyr regarded as a saint in both Catholic + Orthodox traditions. Superb painting of Catherine by Cima da Conegliano - 15th century in @WallaceMuseum #London full article wp.me/p5eFNn-4P4

Feast of St Catherine of Alexandria last Friday, 25th November. Born around 287 and died for her faith 304 AD. Christian martyr regarded as a saint in both Catholic + Orthodox traditions. Rather lovely stained glass window of Catherine at Chester Cathedral. There’s a superb painting of Catherine by Cima da Conegliano - 15th century in The Wallace Collection, London - full article about Catherine here…. wp.me/p5eFNn-4P4

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