Tea and Crumpets: Indie Travel

I am starting to feel a bit like I live in airport; they are like my home, and I think that I may be able to let you know your food options and perhaps nap options at each stop. But that is quite a good price to pay for the chance to travel the world. And that is what has been happening since I left London on the 19^th. In the last few days I visited the ruins of beautiful Croatia teeming with cats, the mountains of Toulon, the ruins of Rome, the leaning Tower of Pisa, the city of flowers (Florence) and finally the architectural masterpiece of Barcelona. Mixed in with all those adventures were gelato, Spanish paella, mousse de Catalan, Bruschetta, Pizza, and other delicious delicacies.

Here are a few city highlights:

When in...

1) Venice: watch out for the flooded streets as the city is literally sinking more each year. Go out in the evening and be surrounded by the glow of the city as you cross the bridge that is lined with sparkling colorful Venetian Masks. I felt like I should be attending a fairy tale masquerade in this city. Take a gondola ride along the Grand Canal, under the bridge, past the fish market, and finally along the tiny canals through the city. Make sure that if you visit San Marco Square you walk on the platforms, for there are at least a couple inches of water filling the entire square at high tide in the morning. Make sure that you indulge in some of the best pizza you will ever have, followed by some tasty gelato.

Mama Mia Pizza!

Fabio, our wonderful gondola driver

On the gondola

2) Croatia: Steer clear of the many cats prowling throughout the ruins. Visit Diocletian’s Palace and take time to pose just like Diocletian in front of his statue at the Golden Gate. Sit out by the palm tree lined dock and bask in the beauty of the ocean backed by the rolling hills of Split. This is a small city, which you can probably walk in about 10 minutes, but its intricate passageways and mass of tunnels throughout the old palace is incredible.

Roads of Croatia

Croatia from the Boat

Enjoying the ocean from a bench in Croatia

CROATIA

Diocletian and I look so much alike

3) Rome: This city is filled with sites to see, art to enjoy, and places to just bask in the immense history of such a great empire. Start the day with a train ride via a Harry Potter train to the city center. Enter into another country, Aka the Vatican and stare at the circle of columns that encircles the Vatican itself. Then head over to the museum and gaze in wonder at the intricately painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The lower walls are painted with masses of draperies lined with gold and looking soft enough to reach out and touch. Then as your eyes wander upward they finally rest on the center of the ceiling, where God reaches out to Adam at creation, their fingers frozen moments from touching. The rest of the room is covered in painted columns, biblical characters, historical figures, and scenes from history, all so complex and intricately painted. The mere beauty of the room is astounding. Let’s just say that staring upward for extended periods of time combined with major sea legs is an interesting combination. After spending tons of time just gazing, stumble out of the Sistine Chapel and begin to conquer the rest of the city. First stop at the Spanish steps after passing Hadrian’s massive fort along the way. Climb all 138 stairs that connect the Spanish and Italian quarters of the city; this is the longest and widest staircase in Europe. At the top enjoy the incredible view of the surrounding city: houses with blossoming window boxes, the domes of the Vatican, the city extends in a panoramic picture. Step back from the breathtaking view and wander through the paintings of street vendors before heading back down the stairs in the warm sunlight. The next stop should ensure both your return to Rome and your love life: the Trevi fountain. Look at the pictures in my last post for insight into this amazing place. Throw your coin (in my case an American Quarter) over your left shoulder to ensure that you will one day come back to Rome; how I hope this will prove true. Supposedly to boost your love life you should throw a second coin, but unfortunately, I didn’t discover this until dinner that evening with our fellow cruise diners. So I now can blame anything on the Trevi Fountain. J You can’t leave Rome without going to the enormous Colliseum. This building is a circular mass of columns with beautiful architecture. It is astounding to look at the looming four-story amphitheatre and imagine the gladiators entering with the crowd screaming its approval. Avoid all the men in gladiator costumes who want to charge you an arm and a leg for their picture. Stop into a small Italian pub and grab some delicious bruschetta that is after the waiter has already caressed your friend’s faces and winked at you. Imagine crispy bread drizzled in olive oil, topped with fresh red tomatoes and herbs, surrounded by a bed of rocket. It is a magical food, which my cooking sister Rebekah excels in creating. Finish up the meal with some free “sexy limoncello” courtesy of our waiter...smell the glass and escape from the restaurant before having to consume that cleaner-smelling drink. On your way back to the train, meander by the Forum, making sure to sing, “Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone, a comedy tonight!” Wave goodbye to the Vatican as it glows in the sun and its own personal rainstorm, followed by a rainbow (real life). Rome in a day.

Coliseum

In front of the Trevi Fountain

Pic after climbing up and down the Spanish Steps

in front of the Vatican

Train ride into Rome

4) Florence: in a few words...Tower of Pisa. Take your picture holding it up of course! Enjoy the day with your Italian tour guide, Luca, who you can have some fun with by trying to teach him how to say, “ya’ll.” In exchange he will teach you how to say “Buon Giorno.” After seeing the Duomo, with its many glittering mosaics, meet up with some other friends and share independent travel stories over some gelato. The city of flowers is another beautiful Italian city, where you of course get a glimpse of the famous David. Remember the day always by purchasing a painted sunflower and landscape memento from a street vendor, who you wish you could just grab coffee with and chat all day about her life.

Meeting up with Stephanie and Rachel in Florence

5) Toulon, France: Beware the windy city of France. The mountains loom up behind the city, and after taking the bus to the top; enjoy the view of the ocean and mountains. Walk through the city food market with its array of fresh fruits and veggies, but seriously don’t get blown away!

Atop the mountain in Toulon

Trying not to freeze in Toulon

6) Barcelona: The final stop on the maiden voyage; I am in love with this country and its language. Remember that you are now telling people Hola rather than Bonjour or Buon Giorno. Walk around the whole city in the glorious sunlight, beginning by getting a treat among the famous Mercat San Josep. As you walk through the city streets, look at the swirling architecture of Guadi. End your trek at the Parc Guell, where the entrance is framed by two buildings that look like candy houses out of Hansel and Gretel. If you have seen the Cheetah Girls you may freak out a bit that this is one of the filming locations for their second movie. But even if you are not a Disney fan you will just love the mosaic filled park and enjoy bargaining with the vendors. The day ends with a flamenco show, paella and some mousse Catalan. This city is probably one of my favorite places that I visited, and I have made it one of my life goals to become fluent in Spanish.

At the Parc Guell, notice the amazing architecture behind me that is defined by its colorful mosaics, fantasy constructions and swirling architecture.