26/1/2023 0 Comments tips for traveling alone in italy
I personally don't enjoy traveling on my own. I know, according to the unwritten laws of travelers, that would make me a fake traveler in the mind of some. Well, I prefer traveling with friends or family, having someone to rely on if something happens and having someone to share laughs with on long train rides or to ask what they're having while looking at a restaurant menu. Memories are always better when shared in my opinion. But, I don't always have someone to travel with and I know that if I keep waiting for someone to accompany me on my travels then I will be stuck at home forever. Italy was my first solo trip and has not been the last, but it was a destination that I found pretty easy to visit by myself. It was safe and there were plenty of other solo travelers and groups I could join.
stay in hostels
Hostels are one of the best places for solo travelers because they are filled with other solo travelers looking for company, but people will also leave you alone if you would rather stay by yourself. They have activities and tours, often for free, that you can join up and where you can meet other travelers. The kitchen is always a good place to exchange stories and learn what other travelers have been up to so you can get some inspiration on what to do next or join people who are heading the same direction as you for the next few days.
go on organised activities like a cooking class or a tour
Italy has a lot of activities on offer. From Vespa tours to guided tours of its best museums or classes on how to make pizza or pasta, there are definitely activities for everyone and I guarantee there will be other solo travelers on these tours. I personally went on a guided tour to Sienna and San Gimignano where I met two other women that I had so much fun spending the day with. Same with the pizza and gelato making class that ended up leading to a full evening of sharing stories with a group of other travelers. You can read all about the class here. The activities were definitely a lot of fun, but sharing them with like-minded people was even better.
bring a book/journal/newspaper to the restaurant
I don't know why that is, but Italians find it weird that a woman would be by herself at the restaurant and, it's not malicious, but they are not quiet about it. At the beginning of my trip, almost everytime I would go to the restaurant I would get asked if my boyfriend had just dumped me, or if my boyfriend would be joining me later and if we had a fight. When I answered that I was visiting Italy by myself they would act really confused and often answer that a pretty thing like me should have a boyfriend... They probably meant well and just thought that I was Eat, Pray, Loving my way through Italy and depressed, but I was fine and just trying to enjoy my pizza, thank you very much! So I started bringing a book to the restaurant and it really helped. Not only was it less lonely than eating by myself, but the Italians seemed satisfied that I was doing fine on my own if I had a book with me. So trust me, if you are trying to eat in peace by yourself, bring a novel, bring a journal, bring a newspaper, but bring something to read.
find friends on solo-traveler facebook groups
I had no idea these existed, but a guy in my dorm told me there were Facebook groups where you could meet up with other solo travelers who were looking for company while visiting new cities and they work great. I was able to meet up with another girl who invited me on a free guided tour of Rome and we ended up spending the rest of the day together exploring the city. I do recommend being safe about it and planning activities in a group setting or meeting up in a public place, but it can be a great way to meet new people.
I wish you so much fun on your solo adventures in Italy! May you find great friends and eat lots of delicious food!
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27/12/2022 0 Comments SUNSETS IN RIOMAGGIORE
On the day that I was arriving in Cinque Terre, I had a pretty late train from Florence. I left my hostel pretty early to go explore. I had an appointment at 1 PM to go up to the roof of the Duomo so I went up the 398 steps up the Campanile (the Bell Tower), then up the 463 steps to the top of the Duomo. I then ran all the way back to my hostel to get my backpack, and all the way in the opposite direction to the train station for my train at 3 PM. I took the train to Pisa, then another to La Spezia and then got on the Cinque Terre train to Riomaggiore. I got lost on the way to my AirBnb and ran up and down the steps and streets of Riomaggiore, then up the three sets of stairs to my room. Let's just say I was completely exhausted when I got there, but the sun was about to set and I wasn't about to miss it! So I ran back down to the marina and made it just in time! My first Cinque Terre sunset, but definitely not the last as I made a point to see all of them during my four-day stay.
The next day, I took the train to visit the other villages, but made sure to come back to Riomaggiore in time to get pizza and walk back to the marina and find a nice spot to eat dinner with a view.
The 3rd day I spent at the beach, soaking in the sunshine and didn't go back to town until dark, just to make sure I wouldn't miss the view.
Honestly, I would never tire of those sunsets even if I saw one every night for years! It's just so pretty and peaceful!
If you ever visit Italy, Cinque Terre is a must and be sure to never miss one of these magical sunsets while you are there! For more information on Cinque Terre, click here.
25/7/2022 0 Comments COOKING CLASS IN TUSCANY
When it was finally my turn, I was a little nervous at the thought of throwing my pizza in the air, but finally decided to try it, why not. It's not like I'll get that chance again soon right? It turns out, I may have the Italian chef gene as I did pretty good for a first timer. I managed to throw it up in the air and not drop it, then added sauce, cheese, olives (yum!) and basil and some kind of leaf that I was told was really good and it was. Then into the wood burning oven it went for about three minutes and an eternity later it was ready to eat. Just in time as I had not had lunch that day and was starving.
The whole group sat together to eat the best pizza we had ever had. I admit that I might be biased because I made it myself with a lot of love, but it is truly the best pizza I have ever tasted.
And then, right when I thought it could not get better, they announced that they would put all the gelato out on a table and we would get to try all of them with every king of toping you can imagine including balsamic vinegar, lavender flowers, basil, nuts, grated chocolate, etc. I tried the strawberry, pistachios, vanilla, raspberry, lemon, had double helpings of our chocolate gelato and went for seconds. Needless to say, I wasn't hungry anymore way before I stopped eating. And surprisingly, other than our chocolate gelato, my favorite was strawberry with some balsamic vinegar. It seems disgusting, but trust me it is the most delicious mix ever. If you have the time while in Florence, I definitely suggest trying a cooking class. I had so much fun and would do it again in a heartbeat.
It has been exactly a year (I know, this article is way overdue) since I visited the villages and sea shores of Cinque Terre and I still dream about its colorful houses, turquoise water and gorgeous scenery. It is one of the most expensive regions of Italy to visit, but Mamma Mia is it worth it! It is, without a doubt, my favorite place in Italy. If Cinque Terre is on your Bucket List, then this article is for you. If not, you will be adding it to your Bucket List in three, two, one... Done!
How to get there
In Italy in general, but especially in Cinque Terre, the best way to get around is by train. To get to Cinque Terre, you have to get on the train in La Spezia Centrale which will stop at each of the villages along the way and runs approximately every 20 minutes. One train ticket cost 4€ when I was there in 2019. This might be something to consider when you are planning your trip and booking your accommodation. The train will first stop in Riomaggiore, then Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso and will then make its way to Levanto, which is not in Cinque Terre, but on the other side of the park from La Spezia.
Hiking Cinque terre
One of the main reasons people visit Cinque Terre is to hike. You can hike all the way along the coast and up and down the mountains between the five villages and the views are absolutely gorgeous. You need a pass to be allowed to hike in the park called the Cinque Terre Card, but the good thing about the pass is you can purchase the trail & train pass which allows you to take the train as many times as you like without paying for a ticket every time. This is very useful if you don't plan on hiking the whole way through in one day or don't feel like walking all the way back at the end of the day. You can check out the prices here. It also gives you free wifi at the train stations and free access to the bathrooms in the park which is always useful when traveling. The trails can be pretty intense depending on the different sections of the park so I recommend getting a map and looking up the elevation gain and distance before starting your hike. Also, and I feel this should come as a no brainer, but I saw it so many times, please don't wear flip flops on a hike, for your safety and the safety of the first aid crew that will have to come get you if you fall off a cliff.
What to do in Cinque Terre
Other then hike, there are so many things to do in Cinque Terre. You can rent a boat, go to the beach, visit the artisanal shops in all of the villages, sit on a terrace and enjoy the view, attend a tasting of local delicacies... Honestly I could have spent a week sitting on the rocks in Riomaggiore and looking at the ocean. Also, don't miss the exceptionally beautiful sunsets. I personally watched from Riomaggiore, but I'm sure all of the villages offer a great view of the sunset.
Where to stay
I don't have any recommandations of places to stay in Cinque Terre as there are so many cute little Airbnbs that it's no trouble finding a place to stay. The real struggle is finding a place that is affordable. I do have a few tips though. First, don't stay in Corniglia if you are taking the train unless they offer to come get you at the train station. The train station is at the bottom of the mountain, and the village is on the top. You would have to walk up about 200 steps with your luggage just to get to the village. Consider that! Second, if you are trying to visit Cinque Terre without braking the bank, consider staying in La Spezia. The neighboring city offers more affordable options and is literally a short train ride away from all of the villages of Cinque Terre. There are also hostels, something you won't find in the park.
What to eat
Honestly, it feels like all the food in Italy is delicious. Everything you try will be flavorful and there is no way to do it wrong. But in the region of Liguria, where Cinque Terre is located, is known for its pesto and focaccia (which is a kind of bread topped with anything you might like). One thing that you will also find everywhere and is a good to-go option is fried anchovies. There are also plenty of different wines particular to the region that you can try in any of the restaurants. I personally tried a pesto pizza in one of the little restaurants in Riomaggiore that was the best I have ever tasted.
How long should you stay
Well, if you can stay forever, I have no idea why you would ever want to leave this little paradise. You will definitely have very strong legs after a while. But if visiting for a short time is your only option, a day is enough if you just want to hop on the train to each village, hop down for a few pictures and back on to the next one. But if you want to hike and explore the different villages, crooked streets and secluded beaches, I would stay at least two to three days. It also gives you more of a chance to catch at least one sunset if the weather is not on your side.
The best picture spots
One of the reasons most people visit Cinque Terre is to photograph its colorful villages and steep cliffs. As far as photographing the villages goes, the marinas in Riomaggiore and Manarola are tough to beat as their rock shelters around the marina offer a great standing point to photograph the village. They also offer great viewpoints on the sunset. Also, if there is one hike that you want to do for pictures, I would recommend the one between Monterosso and Vernazza. It is one of the longer ones, but it offers great view points on both villages and from the cliffs you can even see Corniglia and Manarola. There are also cute littles bridges along the way and gorgeous scenery with the olive trees and terrasses.
If I could grant a wish for everyone to visit one destination in their lives, I would send them all to Cinque Terre (not all at the same time of course). It is the kind of place that leaves an imprint on your soul and that you will always want to go back to. A little colorful miracle that you wouldn't believe is real if you weren't there witnessing it with your own eyes. I will forever consider myself lucky to have visited and been lucky enough to see, not just one, but three Cinque Terre sunsets.
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