Setting Goals and Objectives That Actually Drive Performance

Goals and Objectives

Every organization I’ve worked in — small and large — has had one thing in common. The ones that ran well could tell you exactly what needed to be done and how. That clarity doesn’t happen by accident. Instead, it comes from setting goals and objectives, and from values that tell people how to work and how to get things done. Every organization owns its values, and they’re universal — they apply the same way to every department, team, and individual.

I’ve seen organizations use goals and objectives interchangeably. In my own thinking, though, I treat goals as broader and more abstract, and objectives as more specific and measurable. Regardless of the term you use, both should be S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

As Forbes has put it, S.M.A.R.T. goals “can help remove uncertainties and guesswork and help ensure projects and tasks are completed within specified time frames — which, in turn, can help eliminate the risk of scope creep.”

Objectives Flow Down

Objectives provide measurable targets that translate the organization’s mission into action at every level. To show what that looks like in practice, here’s an example I like to use. It shows how one objective cascades from the corporate level down to the individual:

  • Corporate Objective: Give our valued employees the knowledge, skills, and training to do their jobs productively and safely.
  • Department Objective: Complete annual safety training for 100% of department employees by the end of Q1.
  • Team Objective: Complete annual safety training for 100% of team employees by the end of Q1.
  • Individual Objective: Complete the Q1 safety training module and pass the certification exam by March 15.

As the objective moves from corporate to department, it becomes more specific. At the team level, the main change is scope — from department to team. At the individual level, the objective becomes a specific, assignable action with its own deadline.

From Objectives to Individual Performance and KPIs

Objectives only translate into results when they connect to what each person actually does and how you measure their performance. In my experience, two tools connect them: individual performance objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

  • Individual performance objectives translate a team’s objective into a specific commitment for one person — for example, completing a certification, closing a defined number of support tickets, or hitting a sales quota.
  • KPIs are the ongoing metrics you use to track progress toward those objectives — such as training completion rate, ticket resolution time, or monthly sales revenue — and they give managers and employees a shared basis for discussing performance year-round.
  • You should review individual objectives and KPIs regularly, on a monthly basis or quarterly, rather than waiting for the annual review, so you can address gaps while there’s still time to act.
  • A good KPI ties back to one specific objective and favors leading indicators, which predict a result, over lagging ones that only confirm it after the fact. Without that discipline, KPIs turn into vanity metrics that look good on a dashboard but don’t tell you anything you can act on.

Individual objectives come directly from team and department objectives. Because of that, I’ve found that your team should always be able to trace their own goals back to a department or corporate objective. If they can’t, either the individual objective needs adjustment, or the cascade itself has a gap.

Hitting the Target

Cascading objectives and KPIs set the target; the following practices are what I’ve seen make hitting that target possible.

Leadership

First, I believe that people cannot reach their full potential without effective leadership. Specifically, successful leadership rests on trust, motivation, planning, delegation of authority, and policies and procedures that document best practices. Simply publishing objectives is not enough. In fact, I’ve seen teams with clear objectives lose momentum within weeks, simply because no one in leadership followed up on them.

Communication

Communication is essential to increasing productivity. In practice, listening, delivering clear messages, and encouraging two-way communication are fundamental. That includes KPI results, not just objectives — sharing the numbers regularly keeps people from being blindsided at review time.

Training and Coaching

Beyond that, training involves a systematic approach, patience, and an honest evaluation of whether it’s actually producing the results you want. It also means teaching people to read and use their own KPI data, not just log it — a metric nobody knows how to interpret won’t change anyone’s behavior.

Motivation

Employee motivation helps the company accomplish its goals while also helping people attain their own career goals. You’re responsibile for creating and maintaining an environment where employees feel motivated to perform at their highest level. In my experience, understanding and satisfying workers’ needs, compensating fairly, and treating people equitably are what make positive motivation stick.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable, and management must be adept at handling it. Postponing conflict resolution only allows problems to grow more severe. As a result, managers need to develop and consistently follow strategies and systems that build trust between management and employees.

Performance Feedback

Employees want to hear from management about their performance. The individual objectives and KPIs I outlined above give that conversation something concrete to reference. To make that work, managers must ensure their evaluations are clear, fair, consistent, and timely. Periodic one-on-one meetings with employees are the best time to listen to their needs and reset individual objectives and KPIs. During those meetings, look at the KPI trend over the period, not just where it landed, and treat a target that consistently misses as a signal to recalibrate the KPI itself, not just the person’s effort. By contrast, waiting until the annual review sets both the organization and the employee up to fail.

Ultimately, get the cascade right — from corporate objective down to one person’s KPI — and you’ve already done most of the hard work of managing performance. What’s left is coaching people to hit what they’ve committed to, which is where I want to go next.

What’s Next

In the next post, I’ll look at performance coaching and how to get the most out of employees. Specifically, I’ll cover how to keep objectives and KPIs on track day-to-day, once they’re set, not just at review time. We’re all busy, so setting aside time for coaching and performance feedback has a cost. I’ll share what’s worked for me and the real benefits I realized.

Organization Performance

Introduction

My first job was as a library page in my hometown, beginning in 1971. Over the next 46 years, my work encompassed a wide range of activities, from individual contributor to department manager. Over that same time, I worked in organizations large and small. I spent 20 years in the US Army after school and finished as a manager for a large regional bank.

As I moved between organizations and roles, I noticed large variations between organizations in terms of effectiveness and productivity. Equally important, individual levels of proficiency and satisfaction seemed tied to organizational effectiveness.

What I hope to do here is explore experiences from my work life and spell out what I see as important to organizational and individual success. Let’s start at the top with the organizations.

Organizations

Team of colleagues discussing organizational strategy in a meeting

Looking back on my career, I spent most of my time in organizations of 200 or less. At times I worked at higher levels, but they were mostly for 6 months or less. It’s important to understand that this colors my view on organizations and how to make them productive and efficient. The following is focused on businesses and organizations of 100-200 people. We’re talking about a small business or organization that’s part of a larger company.

Mission, Objectives, and Structure

Wireframe flowchart mapping app screens and user flow on a whiteboard

 

Whether it’s a separate business or a subordinate department, they all share one thing. The organization operates with a mission, objectives, and structure. 

A business mission statement explains why a business exists, what it does, whom it serves, and its core values. Objectives build off the mission statement and spell out targets and milestones used to track progress and performance. The business, departments, and teams are structured to efficiently accomplish the mission.

Mission

Why we exist, what we do, whom we serve, and our core values. Here are a few examples:

    • LinkedIn –  “To connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.”
    • Patagonia –  “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” 
    • Nike –  “Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.”

Objectives

Once we have a mission statement, we build from that. Objectives describe the discrete targets and milestones needed to meet the mission’s purpose. Key elements of objectives are their timeframe, measurability, and application.

Timeframe: While objectives can have a long-term focus, those are generally relevant at the executive level. Most objectives are operational or medium-term. Operational objectives align daily and weekly activities with larger goals. Quarterly sales targets, meeting budgets, or annual cost-savings targets are examples of operational objectives. Launching new products, expanding markets, and other lengthy projects are medium-term objectives.

Measurability: SMART is an acronym used in several organizations where I worked. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. SMART objectives are trackable and quantifiable. This makes them easy to tie to performance objectives for both teams and individuals. 

Application: Objectives flow down — departmental objectives support company objectives, and team objectives support departmental objectives. An objective that isn’t relevant to a given team isn’t imposed on that team’s objectives. 

Structure

Functions in an organization are normally structured for efficiency and common purpose. For example, sales and marketing may be one department, while accounting and administration are another. Managers and supervisors operate within a scope defined by their departments’ objectives. Some common objectives may flow down to all departments, but each department will normally have a set of unique objectives.

In my experience, once mission, objectives, and structure are set, the real test of an organization is whether it can turn those objectives into consistent day-to-day proficiency. That’s where department responsibilities, essential task lists, and team and individual task and skill lists come in.

Organizational Proficiency

Organizational proficiency is built from the top down and validated from the bottom up. Senior managers define what each department must be able to do; department managers translate those responsibilities into essential tasks; and supervisors break those essential tasks into the team and individual tasks and skills that people are trained and evaluated against. This cascade — department responsibilities, essential task lists, and team/individual task and skill lists — creates the foundation for the goal and objective setting that follows at each level of the organization.

Department Responsibilities
    • Senior managers define the core responsibilities of each department, based on the organization’s mission, strategy, and the capabilities it must deliver.
    • Department responsibilities describe the outcomes a department is accountable for, not the specific tasks used to achieve them. As such, they serve as the starting point for essential task list development.
    • Because priorities shift, senior managers periodically review and adjust these responsibilities as the organization’s mission, market, or resources change.  This ensures that essential task lists, team and individual task and skill lists stay aligned to current priorities rather than historical ones.
Elements of Organizational Proficiency

Once department responsibilities are defined, proficiency is built and measured at three levels: the essential tasks that define departmental capability, the team tasks that require coordinated effort, and the individual tasks and skills that make up each role.

Essential Task Proficiency (ETP)
    • Essential Task Proficiency is achieved when a department executes its essential tasks to standard; it is the measure of whether the department can deliver on the responsibilities assigned to it.
    • From there, department managers develop an Essential Task List (ETL) tailored to the department’s assigned responsibilities and the organization’s broader mission.
    • In turn, supervisory-level leaders identify the team and individual tasks that support successful accomplishment of the ETL, ensuring every task performed below the department level ladders up to an essential task.
    • This direct connection between the ETL and team- and individual-level tasks keeps the organization’s performance and training efforts focused on what matters to mission accomplishment. As a result, it steers effort away from tasks that are easy to measure but not essential.
Team Task Proficiency
    • Supervisors identify the team tasks required to support the department’s essential task list. Team tasks are defined and measurable, and require coordinated teamwork — rather than any single person’s performance — to accomplish.
    • Team proficiency is rated on a three-level scale: Proficient, Practiced, or Untrained.
    • Proficient teams execute the task to standard with only minor, correctable shortcomings.
    • Practiced teams can perform the task but require additional, targeted training and coaching to meet the standard consistently.
    • By contrast, untrained teams cannot yet perform the task to standard and need dedicated training before supervisors can rely on them to meet it.
Individual Task Proficiency
    • Supervisors also identify the individual tasks and skills each team member must master to support team and essential task proficiency.
    • Individual performance management focuses on developing and sustaining skills that are observable and measurable, so gaps can be identified and closed.
    • Throughout, leaders are responsible for observing, evaluating, and recording each individual’s proficiency on assigned tasks.
    • Individual task proficiency is measured on a GO/NO-GO basis against a defined standard, leaving no ambiguity about whether the standard was met.
Development of Subordinate Leaders
    • Senior managers invest in the development of subordinate leaders through mentoring and performance-oriented counseling, so the leaders responsible for building ETLs and team and individual task and skill lists are themselves capable of doing so.
    • Coaching, training, and goal setting ensure leaders and supervisors are competent and able to manage others — a prerequisite for accurately identifying and evaluating the tasks described above.
    • A top-down, bottom-up approach to training fosters effective communication and resource synchronization: direction and priorities flow down from senior managers, while task-level realities and training needs flow back up from supervisors.
Managers’ Role in Training
    • Even with capable leaders in place, managers still face constraints in resource allocation and time management when training the tasks identified at the department, team, and individual levels.
    • Managers develop long-range plans to prioritize the most critical tasks first, based on organizational goals, timelines, and available resources.
    • Because resources are limited, managers must continually weigh ETL, team, and individual task priorities against one another to ensure the organization’s overall proficiency keeps pace with its mission requirements.

Looking Ahead: Goal and Objective Setting

Hand holding a compass pointing down an open path, symbolizing goal setting

With department responsibilities, essential task lists, and team and individual task and skill lists in place, the organization has the foundation it needs to set meaningful goals and objectives at every level. The next section defines how department, team, and individual goals and objectives are derived directly from these task and skill requirements. This way, performance targets stay grounded in what the organization actually needs its people to be able to do.

Rock, Sand and Sea

Kalbarri, Australia

The best way I can describe the landscape around Kalbarri is simple: rock, sand, and sea. It sounds almost too basic, but after spending time there, I realized those three elements are everything, and somehow, they’re more beautiful together than we could have imagined.

Kalbarri marked the first stop on our journey north along Western Australia’s coast, and it immediately felt different from anywhere I’d been before. The town sits quietly between rugged wilderness and the vast openness of the Indian Ocean, as if it knows the landscape around it is the real star.
Kalbarri Beach

On our first morning, we walked along the shoreline and quickly learned that this is not a soft, gentle coast. The shore is either sand or rock, and where there’s rock, it’s wild and unforgiving. Cliffs drop sharply into the sea, carved into dramatic shapes by endless waves. The ocean stretched out in an almost unreal shade of azure blue, glowing beneath a perfectly clear sky. During our entire stay, I don’t remember seeing a single cloud.

The contrast was striking: deep blue water, reddish-orange cliffs, and bursts of white spray exploding upward each time waves slammed into the rocks. We could have stood there for hours just watching the rhythm of it — the steady crash, retreat, and return of the sea.

Inland to the Gorges

One day we drove inland to Kalbarri National Park, and the scenery changed completely. The coastline disappeared behind us, replaced by wide open land and ancient rock formations glowing in shades of red and rust.

The Murchison River winds through the park, carving deep gorges that feel impossibly old. Standing at the edge of one of the lookouts, I felt a quiet stillness that’s hard to describe — no city noise, no crowds, just wind moving across the cliffs and the immense scale of the landscape stretching in every direction.

It’s the kind of place that makes you pause without meaning to.
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Seeing Pink from the Sky

One of the highlights of our time there was a short flight down the coast. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the moment we reached Hutt Lagoon, I understood why people talk about it so much.

A lush green valleyFrom the air, the lagoon looked surreal — a vivid pink lake sitting just inland from the ocean, separated by pale sand dunes. The colors shifted as we flew: soft blush pinks blending into deeper rose tones, edged by white sand and the dark blue sea beyond.

The lake sits below sea level, and seawater filters through the dunes before entering it. Microscopic algae thrive there, producing beta-carotene that gives the water its extraordinary color. Knowing the science somehow made it even more fascinating — nature quietly creating something that looks almost unreal.

You can drive to the lake, but seeing it from above felt magical. From the ground, you see a pink lake. From the air, you see patterns, textures, and color stretching across the landscape like a living painting.

First Impressions of the Journey North

Looking back, our first days in Kalbarri set the tone for the entire trip. Everything felt bigger — the sky, the coastline, the silence, the distances between places. It was raw and uncomplicated, shaped by natural forces rather than people.

Kalbarri isn’t flashy or crowded. It doesn’t try to impress you. Instead, it slowly works its way under your skin through color, scale, and quiet moments — waves crashing against ancient rock, endless blue skies, and landscapes that feel untouched by time.
By the time we left to continue north, I realized those three simple words still described it best: rock, sand, and water — but now they carried memories, movement, and a sense of wonder I hadn’t expected when the trip began.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles are striking limestone pillars that rise from the golden sands of Nambung National Park in Western Australia. Julie and I were heading north along the Indian Ocean Drive (part of the Coral Coast route), approximately 200km out of Perth. With Exmouth at the northwest tip of Australia as our ultimate goal, the park served as the perfect first stop on our adventure. Located roughly halfway between Perth and Kalbarri, this site promised a truly unique landscape — and it did not disappoint.

The Pinnacles limestone pillars rising from golden sand.

Ancient Spires

Limestone pinnacles at Nambung National Park.The Pinnacles Desert features thousands of these stunning formations, estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000 years old. They were created as the sea receded, leaving behind shell deposits that eventually solidified into limestone.
Limestone pinnacles rising from desert sand.We purchased a Western Australia Park Pass at the gate and navigated the sandy loop in our Subaru Outback rental. Despite numerous warning signs about the soft terrain, our vehicle handled the sandy road with ease.

A Surreal Stroll

Driving and walking through this otherworldly terrain, we marveled at the distinct shapes and sizes of the pillars jutting from the sand. While many are about 1 meter (3 feet) tall, some tower up to 3.5 or even 5 meters (11–16 feet). These thousands of pillars have been weathered and sculpted by coastal winds over millennia. Wandering through the stones, I was struck by the profound silence, broken only by the whistling wind and the soft rustle of shifting sand.

Wide view of the Pinnacles Desert landscape.

Coastal Colors

Though the park is adjacent to the Indian Ocean, my camera couldn’t quite capture the breathtaking contrast between the vibrant desert and the nearby azure waters. The warm, golden tones of the sand and the pale limestone pillars stood out beautifully against the deep blue of the sky.

Nambung National Park is truly a one-of-a-kind destination that feels more like a scene from a science fiction movie than a typical desert.

The Pinnacles limestone pillars at sunset.

Traveler’s Tips

  • Golden Hour Photography — The best times are sunrise and sunset. Low-angled light creates long, dramatic shadows that highlight the textures of the limestone pillars against the glowing sand. Early morning also means fewer crowds and cooler temperatures.
  • Astro-Photography — Minimal light pollution makes this a premier spot for stargazing. Many photographers stay after dusk to capture the Milky Way arched over the eerie landscape.
  • Nearby Stop: Cervantes — Just 20 minutes north of the park, this fishing town is famous for its Lobster Shack, where you can enjoy fresh Western Rock Lobster.
  • Hangover Bay — Located within the park, this is a great spot for a coastal picnic or a quick swim in the turquoise Indian Ocean.
  • Lancelin Sand Dunes — On the drive back to Perth, stop here for sandboarding or 4WD adventures on massive white dunes.

Pinnacles Desert at dusk.

Tomb Raiders

Tomb Raiders

The Ta Prohm temple is often referred to as the Tomb Raiders temple because it was depicted in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.


The site sits down a wide path through a heavily forested area. Just as depicted in the movie, the temple really does have trees growing on top, around and through the various buildings and walls. I’m talking about large trees with massive roots tangling the rock walls.

Snaking Tree Roots

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
This root is a great example. It comes in through a wall, coils around some interior design pieces and then plunges through the floor. It’s called the coiled snake. First of all it is massive, but it really does remind me of a huge coiled snake. We came upon it as we navigated through the halls inside one of the temple buildings.

Restoration Work

A great deal of the temple has been restored, or stabilized, but work is ongoing. The trees draped over the walls were the most interesting part for us.

The temple was ‘lost’ for centuries before being rediscovered in the 19th century. As restoration work continues, efforts are made not to disturb the trees that have entwined themselves into the structure. If you get to Cambodia, be sure to put the Tomb Raiders temple on your list.

Angkor Thom

This morning (Feb 24) Julie and I visited Angkor Thom, a city and associated temples covering about 4 square miles. Angkor Thom had an estimated population exceeding 100,000 in the 12th century. The city is square, and appears to have a wall completely surrounding it. Located across the city footprint, many of the temples remain mostly covered with forest.

South Gate

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.Our bus dropped us outside the city, and we entered on foot through the South Gate, crossing the bridge over the moat. Imposing stones figures line both sides of the bridge. Each face represents a spirit, defending the approaches to the city. The figures continue right up the entry gate. They let us in without incident.

The gate itself is a narrow opening, only wide enough for a single lane of motorcycles, small cars or mini-busses. Pedestrian traffic shares the road, informally passing through the gate when vehicle traffic pauses.A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky. The South Gate, dominated by another imposing figure, guards entry into the city. This one is a large face carved in stone and set atop the entryway.

Moats and Water

It is worth mentioning that this moat we crossed, is a fraction of the width of the Angkor Wat moat. Our guide pointed out that research suggests the moat is part of a hydraulic system that drew fresh water in from the northeast corner of the city, cycled it through the city for use, and eventually discharged it into the moat to the south. After exploring the South Gate area we reboarded the bus and headed to the central temple, Bayon.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.The front of the Bayon Temple is covered with an extensive bas-relief carving that tells the story of the city. The carved stone stretches for several hundred feet, interrupted only by the entry doors.

The Library

One of the internal building we looked at in the temple is the “library”, which we found to have a curious design. The stairs leading to the entrance are steep, possibly 60°, and the stairs stretch 20′-30′ feet up the outside of the building. I can’t imagine they had a great deal of visitors.

We spent close to an hour exploring inside and outside this temple, then it was time to move on. Passing the Terrace of the Leper King first, we saw multiple temples, some restored and many more just waiting their turn. Our next destination is the ‘Tomb Raiders Temple‘, Ta Prohm.

That’ll be the next blog.

Rome to Venice

Italy is a beautiful and welcoming country that we’ve visited several times. We’re often asked ‘where are the best places to see‘ on a visit. We haven’t seen all of Italy yet, but let’s cover some of our favorites.

Rome

If you’re traveling to Italy, Rome must be at the top of your list of must-visit locations. The city is the cultural capital and also home to the Vatican. While most of Italy has historical and cultural sites, in Rome you feel immersed in the centuries of history.

Our favorite tour company in Italy is The Rome Connection. We’ve used them for more than 10 years to explore Rome and recently, the Amalfi Coast. You want a company that can efficiently get you to the most important locations and help you maximize your time. They have our highest recommendations.

For hotels, our favorite in Rome is the Star Hotel Michelangelo. Located a leisurely walk from St. Peter’s Square, the hotel offers plenty of nearby restaurants and easy access to the Vatican and other local sites. They also have a great breakfast!

Vatican City

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Located west of the center of Rome, and just across the Tiber River, it’s easy to spend an entire day at this site. Nestled within the bustling city of Rome, this tiny independent state is a treasure trove of history, art, and spirituality. Here you’ll find interesting things to explore ranging from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Vatican Museums and beyond.

When touring the Vatican, a local guide is highly recommended. The lines can be daunting, and there is so much you’ll miss without a talented local to assist you. If you’re traveling with The Rome Connection, they get the tickets in advance, allowing you to skip waiting in line. If this is your first visit to Rome, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica should be on your ‘must see’ list.

Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel are seen together on one tour. In the Sistine Chapel, you’ll be fascinated by the incredible frescoes, including Michelangelo’s famous “The Creation of Adam.” ‘Respectful silence’ is expected, as one of the Vatican guides politely reminded us. We spent limited time in the Sistine Chapel. Seating is limited to along the walls, and we found you can only spend so much time staring at the high ceilings.

Home to one of the world’s most extensive art collections, the Vatican Museums’ vastness can be overwhelming. Highlights included the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the Egyptian Museum.

Once you decide that you’ve finally finished in the museum, head to the Basilica.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Entering from the piazza side, you pass through the immense doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Beyond its size, it is home to Michelangelo’s Pietà and many other beautiful works of art.

Be sure to examine the paintings closely because many are intricate mosaics rather than paintings.

Early Rome

The city of Rome is like a gigantic outdoor museum of history. While there are many places to visit, our picks for visitors are the Colosseum, Roman Forman, Circus Maximus, and Pantheon. The Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona are also great spots.

The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and is still the largest standing amphitheater in the world.  The architecture and engineering capture my attention, while Julie is struck by the history and events that make it so significant. Regardless of how you view it, the Colosseum is an amazing place.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

The Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo in 1536, is perched at the top of the Capitoline Hill. The Roman Forum lies on a line between it and the Colosseum.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Roman Forum with Colosseum in the distance

The Forum is a vast collection of temples and buildings. In Roman times, it was the commercial, government, and cultural center for the City of Rome. You will get your best photos from behind the Piazza del Campidoglio, looking down into the Forum and towards the Colosseum. However, walking through the Forum gives you up close and personal views that you will certainly remember.

Pantheon

The Pantheon and Piazza Navona are two of my favorite sites in Rome. They’re located East of Vatican City, across the Tiber River. A Catholic Church since the 7th Century, the Pantheon was built as a Roman temple in the 2nd Century AD. It was built on the site of an earlier temple (27 BC) that had burnt down.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Pantheon

We arrived at the Pantheon before it opened yet there was already a long line. It’s an amazing building with beautiful marble and architecture. The ceiling has a round opening at the top of the dome that provides natural light. This is a photo-rich environment.

Piazza Navona

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Piazza Navona

Not very far away is Piazza Navona, a beautiful piazza with several fountains and statues. The piazza has been featured in many films including Catch-22, Coins in the Fountain, American Assassin, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. If you’re fortunate to visit when there is a market, you’ll have the full experience of this beautiful piazza. Julie and I bought two paintings here in 2013 that decorated our walls for many years.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Pisa and Cinque Terre

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Lucca and Pisa are located south of Cinque Terre. Lucca is a quiet town with classic shops, restaurants, and churches. However, Pisa and the famous Leaning Tower are why visitors flock here.

The iconic tower sits on the parklike grounds of the Cathedral of Pisa. There are plenty of views for photography, so again, have your phone or camera ready.

South of the tower is the pleasant town piazza where you can get something to eat, or simply rest and enjoy a glass of wine while you watch the world go by. That’s what we did.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

When thinking of the Cinque Terre region, dark Mediterranean waters, and brightly colored villages come to mind. Take a ferry from La Spezia to Monterosso al Mare, enjoying a bright sunny morning on the water. Along the coast, we passed the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, and Vernazza.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

From La Spezia, the ferry only stops at a few towns, most of the others don’t have a port that can accommodate the ferry. We took a 9 AM ferry in late June, so the morning sun lit up the bright colors of the villages we passed.

The water in the Mediterranean is a dark blue. It provides a brilliant contrast with the colorful towns. You’ll want that camera ready to capture that great vacation photo.

Monterosso

Disembark the ferry in Monterosso, the northernmost town in Cinque Terre. Monterosso is split into two sections. The southern section, where you arrive is full of shops and restaurants. Take your time to wander up the winding streets and through the various shops. Choose one of the restaurants with a view of the harbor and Mediterranean for lunch.

The trip back to Lucca is by train. To get to the train, there’s a tunnel with sidewalks running north to the other half of the town. As you exit the tunnel there’s a colorful view of a long curving beach with a thin strip of buildings. Steep, rocky hills rise rapidly to the east, leaving just enough room for the train tracks that are the town’s connection to the outside world.

The trip back to Lucca takes about 20 minutes and passes through multiple tunnels along the coast.

Venice

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Venice is a city surrounded by water. Over 100 islands make up the city dominated by canals and over 400 connecting bridges. The most popular attractions in Venice include St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Piazza San Marco. We stayed at the Hotel Indigo Venice which is about a 30-minute walk to Piazza St Marco, or St Marks Square.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Be prepared for some waiting in lines. You want to see St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, so get tickets early, or better still, sign up for a tour that offers ‘skip the line’ tickets. We spent several hours meandering the streets of Venice and exploring shops and art galleries. The city is clean and while it was full of tourists, we never really felt the crush of the crowd.

More to see

These are some of our favorite spots to visit in Italy, but these are only the central and northeast parts of the country. We have plans to visit Sicily, and the Italian Alps someday as well. Soon I’ll post about our trip to Naples, The Amalfi Coast, and Capri. What a country!

Argentina 2023

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

The seasons in South America are opposite ours here in the United States. That’s why we chose February to visit Chile and Argentina.

These two countries offer a great deal of variety, and we explored them from Cape Horn in the south to the Atacama desert in the north. Their diversity partly stems from their size, and geography. Were they in North America, they would stretch from Guatemala to Alaska. At the same time, the land rapidly rises from the Pacific coast in Chile, up to the peaks of the Andes, and then back down to the Atlantic coast in Argentina. The widest point across the two countries is roughly equal to the distance from Boston to Chicago.

Since we previously wrote about exploring Patagonia in the south, let’s talk about things to see and do in the central and north of Argentina.

I’ll cover Chile in a future post.

Buenos Aires

This city has been called the Paris of South America. There are several wide, tree lined avenues across the city, reminiscent of the broad boulevards of Paris. For example, Avenida 9 de Julio encompasses 16 lanes of traffic and landscaped medians. Getting around the city by taxi is easy and inexpensive. We never spent more that $10 USD on any taxi, and we travelled all over the city.

We were able to communicate with some basic Spanish, and found English spoken at most tourism sites, hotels and restaurants.

Evening Fun
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Tango Orchestra

When visiting the city of Buenos Aires, our recommendations include the Rojo Tango dinner and the Argentine Experience. For example, our tango evening included a great meal, very good wines and of course the Tango. The live music, great dancers, and traditional Argentine cuisine made for a great evening. (Fortunately, the evening involved watching rather than dancing!)

Another evening, we learned about Argentine culture, and prepared our own empanadas. The Argentine Experience brings fellow travelers together for a fun evening to enjoy fantastic local dishes and wine. Our only regret was not having enjoyed this night earlier in our trip.

Food and Day Trips
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Six of us spent several days exploring the city both on our own and with private guides. Our top choices for things to see and do include the following:

  • National Museum of Fine Arts – An excellent collection of art ranging from Rembrandt to Rene Rodin and Jackson Pollock.
  • La Recoleta Cemetery – It’s most famous resident is Eva Perón or “Evita”, listed under her maiden name “Maria Eva Duarteâ€.
  • El Cuartito – lunch at this famous pizza restaurant is a must! (Talcahuano 937, Buenos Aires)
  • Sunday La Recoleta Market – Food, local crafts and art is on sale in the park near La Recoleta
  • Biking Buenos Aires – Enjoy a day exploring the city by bicycle.
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

Biking Buenos Aires

Iguazu National Park, Argentina
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

2.7 km of falls

Iguazu Falls are in Iguazu National Park, about 700 miles north of Buenos Aires, on the border shared with Brazil. From talking with the tour guides in the park, the summer is the best time to visit here. Reaching the park requires flying to Puerto Iguazu in the northeast corner of Argentina. We took the two hour flight from Jorge Newberry Airport along the River Plate in Buenos Aires Buenos to Puerto Iguazu. From there, we headed south to a hotel cut out of the jungle. The follow morning we headed out early to the nearby park.

Niagara FallsVictoria FallsIguazu Falls
Water drop in feet 167360 269
Length in feet3,9405,6048,858

As the largest waterfall system in the world, Iguazu Falls consists of multiple separate waterfalls and cataracts, with drops between 197-269 ft. Cataracts are spread along 2.7-kilometers (1.7 mi) with islands separating the individual falls. The park has a network of trails and engineered walkways across the expanses of water that offer a variety of amazing views. To get to the falls, we took the small park train to the end of the line(3 km), Gargenta Station. From there we headed out across the water on an elevated walkway.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

The Devil’s Throat

Cataracts

The walkway (Paseo Garganta del Diablo) is a 1 km (0.6 mi) segment that brought us right to the edge of Devil’s Throat, the highest and deepest of the falls. Amazing! Roaring water got louder and louder as we approached the rising clouds of mist. Suddenly, we were at the edge, looking down into the maelstrom of the Devil’s Throat.

We spent several hours exploring the many distinct falls. Each turn in a trail seemed to take us to a new and vivid view of another waterfall. Along the way we also encountered an amazing variety of birds and butterflies. After a leisurely lunch in the park, we were ready for our last adventure of the day. We headed down to the lower Iguazu River, buttoned up in life vests over swim suits, and headed up the river in a jet boat.

Jet Boats

Racing up the river over the rapids we could see the approaching falls. Our boat pilot repeatedly edged us close to the deafening roar of the falls, including Devil`s Throat. After our third trip under pounding torrents of water from the falls, we were all completely soaked. We loved it!

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

From the Jet Boat

What an amazing place Iguazu Falls is. Like Patagonia, this is a visit you have to make if you travel to Argentina!

There is so much more to say about Argentina. We are so glad that we made the trip. If you haven’t been there yet, you should strongly consider adding it to you future travel plans.

Iceland Excursions

Recently, a friend of ours mentioned that they were looking at Iceland excursions for a cruise with several stops in Iceland. They asked for some suggestions as to where they should take excursions to. So, here is some of the advice we gave them.

From Akureyri, Iceland

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.Akureyri is a port at the end of a deep fjord on the north central coast of Iceland. I’m not sure, but I imagine that visits there would involve tendering in. On our visit to Akureyri, we spent an afternoon whale watching. While there was a fog bank involved, we had several very close encounters with whales.

Heading east, out of Akureyri, we took Hwy 1 to visit Godafoss, Myvatn Lake, and Dettifoss. I would imagine that all three of these are available on an excursion out of Akureyri.

Godafoss

A wonderful experience, and an easy hike, the waterfall is located near Fossholl, about 30 minutes east of Akureyri. From the parking area, the falls are easily reached by an improved trail. We traveled on the east side of the water. There were some more challenging trails down to the water’s edge that provided a nice perspective as well.
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
The name Goðafoss goes back to an 11th century legend. An Iceland leader, Porgeir decided that his people should adopt Christianity. To prove that the old gods have no power, he threw their images into this waterfall, and was thus the waterfall of the gods.

Myvatn Lake

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Myvatn Lake is about 40 minutes down the road from Godafoss. The area features beautiful views of volcanic landscapes, and thermal springs. We saw plenty of birds on the many trails. As you explore some of trails, opportunities abound for some beautiful pictures of the lake and distant mountains. If you look carefully, you can see the steam rising from geothermal features in the distance.

Dettifoss

Dettifoss is another impressive waterfall in Vatnajokull National Park. About 45 minutes past Myvatn Lake, it is reputed to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

While the falls are a bit of a hike from the parking area, the effort is well worth it. You cross a vast expanse of volcanic detritus, completely void of any trees. Suddenly, the source of the pounding noise is before you.

The water is loader with glacial sediments and cascades over the falls with a roar. The drop is about the same as Niagara Falls, but the water falls nearly uninterrupted to the bottom, while Niagara has a significant buildup of collapsed rock remains. The local trails offer a variety of up close and panoramic views. Bring your camera for this sight!
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

From Reykjavik

From Reykjavik the best option for a daytrip is the golden circle. We thought the best sights on the drive were the falls at Gullfoss, the hot springs at Geysir, and the national park at Þingvellir.

Gullfoss

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.Gullfoss is an impressive waterfall that offers easy access. We hiked right to the edge for an incredible experience and to the hills overlooking the area where we had an amazing view. The cascade, comprised of multiple tiers, can be seen up close and from the surrounding hills.

Geysir

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Geysir is a very miniature version of Yellowstone National Park located in Haukadalur Valley. The valley boasts hot springs, mud springs and geysers, including the powerful Strokkur, Smiður and Litli-Strokkur.
A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.Strokkur is, arguably, the country’s most famous hot spring, shooting vast jets of boiling water from 20-40 meters (65-130 feet). Don’t worry about missing this incredible spectacle of nature, as Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes; just make sure to have your camera ready.

Þingvellir

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

One of the last stops on the golden circle route is Þingvellir. This is where the North America and Europe tectonic plates drift apart, the crevasses being visible in Almannagjá canyon as well as in Silfra. We walked along a trail below the cliff of the North American plate and up to the top. From there we had an expansive view of the gap leading to the European plate. Beautiful area.

Iceland is a beautiful country. Regardless of where you visit, you’re going to find awesome sights and interesting advenures.

Patagonia 2023

Patagonia is one of the most stunning natural wonders in the world, located at the southern tip of South America, with its rugged mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and magnificent glaciers. We selected three locations to focus on for the trip there in February 2023 – Torres del Paine National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier, and Upsala Glacier. Our visit to this remote and beautiful part of the world was an incredible experience.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.
Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park, located in southern Chilean Patagonia, was our first stop. The park is a natural wonder that will take your breath away. The park is home to some of the most stunning landscapes in the world, including glaciers, turquoise lakes, and towering granite spires.

One of the most iconic sights in the park is the three towering granite spires that give the park its name. The Torres del Paine towers, or “the Horns” are an impressive sight. This is especially true when viewing their reflections in the clear waters of the many lakes. Regardless of where we went in the park, these spires dominated the horizon.

Grey Lake was our first stops in the park. The lake covers an area of over 4 square miles (10 sq km). The lake is fed by the Grey Glacier, flowing down from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The glacier gives the lake its unique blue color. Towering mountains, including the Paine Grande and Cerro Catedral surround the glacier. The ‘Horns’ dominate the skyline.

After lunch in the Lago Gray Hotel, we headed south, then east, crossing the Rio Paini at Puente Weber. We stopped at the river and grabbed a dozen pictures to add to our mounting cache. Our next major stop was Salto Grande, a narrow gap where the water from Lago Nordenskjold cascades into Lago Pehoe and continues south to the ocean. Nordenskjold is a strange name for a lake in southern Chile, named after the Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskjold, who explored the region in the early 1900s.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.Nordenskjold Lake, and Salto Grande both offer stunning views of the mountains. The Horns of Paine are right in your face across the clear blue water of the lake. Seeing, and feeling the mass of water flowing across the gap was incredible. The views of the surrounding mountains were truly awe-inspiring. For instance, if you’re taking a hike along the lake’s shore or simply soaking up the views from a distance, Nordenskjold Lake is a must-see destination for any traveler to the park.

On the trip back to our hotel in Puerto Natales, Julie and I agreed that Torres del Paine National Park is a must-see destination. Any traveler interested in experiencing the stunning natural beauty of Patagonia should definitely visit this park. The park’s towering mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and pristine glaciers make it a truly awe-inspiring place to visit.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.Perito Moreno Glacier

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the most famous glaciers in the world and for good reason. Located in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, the glacier is a massive ice field that stretches over 97 square miles. It’s also one of the few glaciers in the world that is still advancing.

We chose to first take a boat tour that brought us up close and personal with the towering ice wall. Sitting in the boat, floating in front of the ice, we were able to see the glacier’s beautiful blue ice. (See the photo above) We also heard what sounded like rifle shots in the distance, the sound of ice cracking.

After that, we stopped at the Perito Moreno Forest Walk (Paseo del Bosque). This tiered trail runs through native trees, and offers many different perspectives of the glacier. The view gave me goosebumps, as did the wind on this chilly 40° summer day. We stared across the narrow gap and took in the glacier face rising over 240′ above the surface of the lake, creating a truly awe-inspiring sight. Another impressive view from Paseo del Bosque is that of the surrounding mountains. The glacier, in a valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks, creating a dramatic landscape that is sure to take your breath away.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or simply looking for a beautiful walk, Paseo del Bosque at Perito Moreno Glacier is a must-see destination in Patagonia.

Upsala Glacier
Upsala Glacier The Upsala Glacier is another must-see destination in Patagonia. Located on the Argentine side of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The glacier is an enormous ice field that stretches over 600 square miles. That size makes it one of the largest glaciers in South America.

To see the glacier up close, we took a boat from Puerto Bandera, near the western end of Lake Argentino. From the port, we headed up the Upsala channel of Lago Argentino. After reaching the peninsula separating the Upsala and Cristina channels, we started encountering icebergs that had calved from the glacier.

The boat continued North to where we could see the Upsala, Cono, and Bertacchi Glaciers. Upsala is by far the largest of the three with Cono flowing parallel (from the north) and Bertacchi from the west. Icebergs, large and small, littered the channel.

Leaving the glacier behind we backtracked south and then headed north into Cristina Channel. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Estancia Cristina, part of Los Glaciares National Park. The displays here, located in a renovated barn, are amazing artifacts of life in this remote region from the early 20th century.

Continental Ice Lookout
The last portion of our exploration was crossing a rugged ridge in 4×4 trucks to the isolated Continental Ice Lookout. The research station monitored glaciers, Murallon, Cono, and Bertacchi which fed into the Upsala Glacier. These three glaciers slid between three mountains of the same name as the glaciers.

A lush green valley with a river flowing through mountainous terrain under a cloudy sky.

After disembarking at the abandoned research station we hiked to a nearby observation point. Ice covered the area less than 50 years ago. The retreating glacier, seen above, is now several kilometers in the distance. The ice sheet left behind smoothed rock surfaces and exposed seams of folded rock layers.

Standing here, we realized that there had been hundreds of feet of glacier ice here in the 1960’s. Julie and I were in grade school at that time. Now the ice was receding in the distance. Sadly, it was our last full day in Patagonia.

Check out our post on the rest of Argentina.