Category Archives: Italy

Leaning Towards One of the World’s Most Recognizable Buildings

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The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is simply a bell tower for the adjacent cathedral; cathedrals all over Italy have bell towers and many of them are leaning for one reason or another, but I’ve seen everyone else’s pictures “propping up” the Leaning Tower and I needed to have one of my own. Tourists stand in front of the tipsy tower, leaning at a jaunty angle themselves, and take snapshots in which they seem to disobey the laws of gravity. Although it’s a tourist trap, I feel into the desire to travel to Pisa with the sole purpose of seeing the Leaning Tower.

Pisa is located in the region of Tuscany, a short train ride away from Florence; so when we arrived in Florence early in the morning and still had a full day of free travel on the Eurorail, we figured a quick jaunt to Pisa was in order.  Continue reading →

Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited – #1 Rome, Italy

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Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited

With 33 countries under my belt, I’ve experienced some of the most amazing cities that the world has to offer. From great beaches, climate, friendly people, personal interests, world-famous attractions, architecture, history, and culture, there are many different factors that make a city great, let alone top ten!

#1 Rome, Italy – One of the oldest cities in the world, there is no other place that holds the beginning of life like Rome.  Continue reading →

When in Rome…

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The Colosseum is probably the most impressive building of the Roman empire. Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, it was the largest building of the era, and, in my eyes, it is the most impressive piece of Italian history.
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Context is Everything at The Spanish Steps Pub Crawl

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After days of tenting, sleeping in a car, and paying through the nose for cheap hostels with no bathrooms and bed bugs, Camping Village Roma was a 5 star resort. There were three beds, a fridge, air conditioning, a private shower and clean sheets in the room. The hostel offered parties at the bar, a swimming pool, a mini-market, beach volleyball, a friendly staff, a restaurant and a poolside bar; not to mention, we had Internet almost whenever we wanted. It was close to all of the major attractions and there was a bus that stopped outside of the gates. If I had to recommend any hostel in all of Italy, it would be Camping Village Roma; for the price, it was unbeatable. The best part was that our roommate was an Aussie with lots of friends and a great attitude. He took us to the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl and showed us that you can have just as much fun in the streets as the pubs as long as you have a stash of rum and a few Aussies.  Continue reading →

Trevi Fountain’s Draw

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Trevi Fountain is a commonly visited tourist spot, and I heard that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, you are ensured to return back to Rome. I’m not one to follow legends too closely, but if there is any opportunity to increase my odds of returning to Rome, I’ll believe in superstition.

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Leaning Towards One of the World’s Most Recognizable Buildings

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The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is simply a bell tower for the adjacent cathedral; cathedrals all over Italy have bell towers and many of them are leaning for one reason or another, but I’ve seen everyone else’s pictures “propping up” the Leaning Tower and I needed to have one of my own. Tourists stand in front of the tipsy tower, leaning at a jaunty angle themselves, and take snapshots in which they seem to disobey the laws of gravity. Although it’s a tourist trip, I feel into the desire to travel to Pisa with the sole purpose of seeing the Leaning Tower.

Pisa is located in the region of Tuscany, a short train ride away from Florence; so when we arrived in Florence early in the morning and still had a full day of free travel on the Eurorail, we figured a quick jaunt to Pisa was in order.  Continue reading →

The Bridge of Gold & Bankruptcy

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The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) or Bridge of Gold, in Florence, lasted over 7 decades and is the only surviving bridge from Florence’s medieval days. Impressive as that is, the true impression lies within its walls and buildings. The Bridge of Gold, as you can see, is not made of gold, but instead the shops on the bridge are almost exclusively goldsmiths. If you want to shop for jewelry, this would be the place.

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Colossal Tour – Rome’s Living History

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It has always been a dream of mine to step foot in the Roman Colosseum, probably the most impressive building of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum is the iconic symbol for everything I’ve studied in university and before. It represents a glimpse into history, both its flaws and its triumphs. Even today, in a world of skyscrapers and architectural advancements, the Colosseum is still truly impressive.

The structured beauty of the Colosseum is in stark contrast to the murderous encounters that took place within it. Up to 50,000 spectators, including women and children, watched as thousands of people fought tooth and nail for their lives in a vicious cycle of victory or death.  Continue reading →