Travel Monday – Florence
There was something magical about my first (and so far only) trip to Italy. Until I visited, it remained a place of daydreams….a land full of ancient structures, cobbled streets and delicious food. Imagine my delight in discovering that Florence really was everything that I expected Italy to be. The city remains a fantastic place for a city break as it’s a reasonable distance and price from the UK. Take a long weekend to explore Florence, or use the city as your starting off point for a longer exploration of the amazing Tuscany region.
Photo credit: echiner1
Florence, or Firenze to locals, is the capital city of the gorgeous Tuscan region and is home to many things to do and see for both first-time visitors and seasoned travellers on another tour through Italy. Located on the banks of the winding River Arno, Florence is known for its architecture, world-famous museums and of course shopping and food!
Photo credit: alessandraelle
On a first-time visit to Florence, be sure to take the time to wander about and explore the city on foot. There are a host of walking and biking tours that leave from the city centre and these offer a good opportunity to get an overview of the city and what it has to offer. Stroll across the Medieval Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) to watch tourists haggling over jewellery prices with the vendors who have been offering their wares here for decades. The only bridge in the city that survived World War II intact, the Ponte Vecchio is an important part of any visit to Florence.
Photo credit: hsivonen
Another essential thing to do in Florence is visit some of its many art galleries and museums that house of of the most famous pieces in the world. Stop by the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s most renowned art museums that was built in the 1500s and became a place for the Medici family to display many of the commissioned pieces that they acquired during their prominence. Opened to the public in 1765, the Uffizi offers visitors the opportunity to step back in time and view all of the masterpieces acquired by the Medicis. Be sure to reserve your tickets in advance as this is Florence’s most popular tourist attraction and queues can be hours long.
Of course, any visit to Florence should also include seeing Michelangelo’s famous David statue that is located today in the Academia di Belle Arti. This 17-foot marble statue was sculpted by Michelangelo at the young age of 26, after he beat out Leonardo da Vinci and others to gain the commission of this piece. Like the Uffizi, this is one of Florence’s most visited spots so it’s best to prepare for a long wait.
Photo credit: Dan..
No discussion of a visit to Florence would be complete without mentioning the amazing selection of foods to be had in this city. Gelato shops are ubiquitous and offer the best frozen treats I’ve ever experienced. The outdoor markets are also numerous and offer a glimpse of locals and their shopping habits as well as a cheap alternative to dining in a restaurant. However, a requirement for any visit to this city is a meal in one of its many trattorias. Stop in, expect to be treated like family, and enjoy a delicious multiple-course meal and of course freely-flowing wine. The best ones I tried were off the proverbial “beaten path” and on some of the less-visited streets. Ask at your hotel for recommendations or strike out on your own to find your favourites!
Return flights from London to Florence this April start at only £53 – take this perfect opportunity for an authentic Italian experience!
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Sunday Snapshot – Panama
The world-famous Panama Canal is one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. This shot was taken at the most narrow point of the canal, and features the Centennial Bridge that was built in celebration of the 100th year of the canal and opened in 2004. Though difficult to tell in this photo, the bridge towers over the canal at a height of over 80 metres over the water, allowing for even the largest of vessels to pass underneath.
Photo credit: saxonfenken
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Saturday Snapshot – Malta
From the beautiful island country of Malta, today’s snapshot features Manoel Island and the remarkable fort that was constructed on the island in the mid-1700’s. Centrally located in Malta and close to the capital city of Valletta, this spot is definitely worth a visit!
Photo credit: foxypar4
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Friday Travel Fun – Links and News
To round out a good and productive week here at Travelfusion, I wanted to share a few fun travel links and articles that I’ve come across over the past few days. Enjoy!
Kulula-air tries not to take itself too seriously – Gadling
Photo credit: shanair
Gadling reported this week that South African based carrier Kulula-air is putting the fun back into travel with its new plane paint scheme. Bright green planes are entertaining enough, but they’ve taken it a step further by painting explanations of the plane’s sections and features. The pilot’s seat is denoted with “Big Cheese” the nose cone has a “really big dish inside,” and much more!
Jessica Watson, 16, Youngest Person to Sail Around the World Solo – Matador
Photo credit: Jessica Watson
At a time when many of her friends are falling for their first boyfriends and gossiping about who they saw at the mall, Jessica Watson has the courage to attempt to sail around the world on her own. At 16, if she is able to navigate her small boat, Ella’s Pink Lady, all the way around the world, she will break a record and become the youngest person to ever do so. Jessica blogs regularly about her journey and you can keep up with her trip on her website. She’s nearing the Cape of Good Hope and seems to be nearly halfway to her native Australia. How inspiring!
Around the World in Seven Gestures – Guardian Travel
Photo credit: Guardian Travel – Scott Garrett
Want to know how to refer to yourself in Japan? Or show respect in India? The Guardian has put together a useful guide to gestures used around the world and their meanings. With handy pictures, this is a fun post and informative too!
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Travel Thoughts – “At Home” Abroad
We’ve touched upon the subject before in previous posts, but today I am doing a lot of reflection about what travel means to me and wondering what it means to others. Do you travel to get completely away from what you know, or are there some creature comforts that are important for you to have when you go away? With globalisation, internet and the huge amount of information available to travellers, sometimes it feels like it’s possible to see the same things everywhere you go.
Take the mass export of American restaurants, for example. In 2001, I had the opportunity to take a trip to Beijing, China. Though I had toured Europe previously and been to Mexico and Canada many times, this trip to Beijing was the furthest from my “comfort zone” that I had ever been. Imagine my shock when I stumbled upon the all-too-familiar green awning of Starbucks whilst sightseeing in a local Beijing neighbourhood! Since my trip, I understand that Starbucks has opened and subsequently closed a location at Beijing’s famous and historic Forbidden City, which dates back to the 1400’s.
Photo credit: dearbarbie
When is enough enough? Do you find these “familiar” sites comforting when you are travelling or do you head out to dine with the locals and shy away from any chain restaurants? The news that McDonald’s is planning to open a restaurant in the food court at the Louvre in Paris shocked many this past fall and critics decried the juxtaposition of Botticelli and Big Macs. However, with a Virgin Megastore and newly opened Apple Store in the same Louvre shopping centre, is McDonald’s any worse? Also, the French apparently are the second biggest consumers of McDonald’s per capita, behind only the United States, so is this opening entirely appropriate?
Photo credit: Bruno Girin
I know when I’m travelling, I’m hoping for some exposure to local culture, customs and cuisine. That’s not to say that I don’t sometimes queue for some typical tourist attractions like Michelangelo’s David in Florence or the Buda Castle in Budapest, but I do hope for an authentic experience dining-wise and stop short of meals in McDonald’s in a new city. I was definitely put off by my Starbucks experience in China and am a bit sad to see these types of places dotting historical sites in most all of the countries I’ve visited since. I will admit though that I have ordered and sampled a Diet Coke in pretty much every city I’ve visited – I guess we all have our vices!
Photo credit: bunnicula
I’m curious to know what others think about feeling at home whilst travelling abroad. Are there certain things that you need to have that you would also have at home? Do you go for a 100% authentic experience and stay away from all familiar products? Or, do McDonald’s and other fast-food chains offer you a nice home away from home that make all those scary menus written in a foreign language disappear as quickly as you can say “I’ll have fries with that?”
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