Rome, April 2023

  Download to your phone: 1)  Google Translate App       How to use:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0JQqkKjHZw free online or offline (must download the Italian dictionary)       This app lets you  speak English in and hit the speaker button to make Italian come out have an Italian person speak into it and the English comes out. take a photo of a sign and it translates the text to English 2)    Maps.me App       How to use:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq7n5HL3lsk works offline download the country/city we are in works off your GPS and your phone's compass 3)  Audio guides     Rick Steves Europe Audio Tours App  (Free):                 https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-europe

  Get the private water taxi from the airport and have them drop you at the Taverna Al Remer. Doing a Cichetti Crawl: Cicchetti  ( https://theromanguy.com/italy-travel-blog/venice/where-to-eat-the-best-cicchetti-in-venice/  )is a popular Venetian snack food typically served in small portions at bars and restaurants throughout the city. While there is no strict etiquette for eating ciccheti, there are a few customs that visitors should be aware of.   Firstly, it is common for Ciccheti to be eaten while standing up at the bar. I wouldn't take them strolling around the city! However, some bars and restaurants do have tables where customers can sit and enjoy their ciccheti. Generally, the one that serves you at the table are more expensive and more touristic. Some of the traditional may have some tables and you do not pay extra charges. In terms of timing, cicchetti can be enjoyed at any time of day, whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or as a pre-dinner snack. Howe...

1.  Packing cubes.   Roll 3 of your outfits into one cube. Saves space.   Keeps things organized and dry. I like mediums and smalls. 3 mediums fit in a 24inch with room to spare. Some smalls are great for cosmetic bags, shoes,  etc.  Amazon Basics 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set - Medium, Black https://a.co/d/ekkhesn 2.  Travel plugs.    Plan out your chargers and think ahead! These are not converters so all your devices have to accept 220v    Apple products do. Bates- European Plug Adapter, 3 pc, Travel Adapter, US to Europe Plug Adapter, EU Adapter, Electrical Adapters, Converter Plug, European Outlet Adapter, Travel Plug Adapter, Converter Plug for Europe https://a.co/d/27Bef6h 3.  Charging station: So many things to charge. This is my favorite way to charge everything   Plug into 1 adapter, charge my headphones, phone, iPad, portable charger, watch.  These are not created alike   Be sure it will accept ...

The Do-It-Yourself Tour of Pompeii Here's directions to download an interactive google map https://travelwithsheemelle.com/pompeii-self-guided-walking-tour/ By  Jennifer Dombrowski   You know it. The tour with the guide holding up a sign, umbrella or some other object so you don’t lose your group. Though it doesn’t really matter if you do lose your group – it’s so large, you have to battle your way to the front to even hear what the guide is saying. And that’s not the only battle; if you want any decent photos, you’re no doubt sighing in annoyance as you try to avoid your fellow tour group members’ heads or, worse of all, their totally obnoxious iPads as they too try to snap photos of the sights. No, thank you! Instead, try this do-it-yourself tour of Pompeii. The Forum was the main town square and was strictly pedestrian only In 79 AD somewhere around 20,000 Pompeians went about their daily lives giving nary a thought to the volcano they lived alongside. August 24th would cha...

  Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy Founded by Dominican friars in 1221, Officina Profumo Farmaceutica is a true hidden Florentine gem, close to Santa Maria Novella train station. Here, you’ll not only find medicines but also delicious scents and perfumes. Did you know that the first perfume (considered in the modern way) was made in Florence, when Catherine de Medici asked for a scent for her wedding? Michelangelo’s Secret Carving On the façade of Palazzo Vecchio, the administrative city centre of  Florence , you can spot a hidden face carved by Michelangelo. The artist used to spend most of his time in the square, and, by legend, he carved the face of a man who used to bore him with stories behind the man’s back while Michelangelo was pretending to listen. Traffic signs by Clet When in Florence, pay attention to the traffic signs! Why? A local artist called Clet has been adding stickers to them since the summer of 2010. Now, they are part of the art scene of Florence, even if man...

  DAY 3 Ponte Vecchio, Boboli Gardens and Piazza Michelangelo TeeFarm We start by walking around the Ponte Vecchio.  Once you cross the river into Oltrarno (the other side), you will see the beautiful Piti Palace and Boboli Gardens.   Lastly, you will once again see a gorgeous sunset over the city of Florence at Piazza Michelangelo. Again, wear your walking shoes because it will be a long day ahead of you! STOP 1 Erin Confortini Walking along the Arno River The Ponte Vecchio is the famous bridge crossing the Arno River that you most likely saw in pictures of  Florence . Once here, you can spend the morning going in and out of jewelry and higher-end souvenir shops while taking photos along the Arno.  Or head right to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens. STOP 2 Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens Once you cross the Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno (the other side of the river), visit the Boboli Gardens. This is an outdoor museum dating back to the 15th century...