Travel & Truffles...

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Venezia - Day 1 at Night

If you thought Venice was beautiful in the daytime, it is even more charming at night. Its relatively safe, so dont be afraid to wander the streets and get lost. In fact, I encourage you to! You'll find lovers holding hands, hidden alley-ways and small canals, and local streets alive with bars and restaurants. An absolute must visit when I travel if its available is to go to Harry's Bar. Sure, its overpriced with its cocktails at 20 euros, but its an experience. And if you're going to splurge, you have to go to the Harry's Bar here because it originated in Venice. Dinner was at a local osteria by my hotel - Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente. I will say this - Tuscan food is so much better, but then again, you dont come to Venice for the food. You come to Venice to be in love! And at night, you will understand why Venice is considered the most romantic city in the world.

In front of Basilica di San Marco

Facade of Basilica di San Marco

Gondolas

One of the many charming alleys

Venice Carnival Masks - Just ended when I arrived!

Dusk

Gondolas Parked

Harrys Bar Cipriani

Inside Harry's Bar

Doge's Palace lit up at night

Venice streets at night

Dinner at a Al 40 Ladroni

Shrimp Polenta

Home-made Gnocchi with Crab Meat

Venezia - Day 1

I was on the Trenatalia from Florence to Venice, when suddenly the train tracks were suddenly surrounded by water. At that moment, I knew I landed somewhere magical.

To get around, you will need a "Vaporetto Pass" for the water buses. They allow for unlimited travel for the time period purchased - 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours etc. And like New York City's train system, they run almost constantly. However, they run on the large canals surrounding the lagoon, and can't fit in the narrow and shallow canals through the local streets. That's what the Gondolas are for. The most famous square is San Marco and that's where you will spend most of your time, happily. There is not much to sight-see, you just sit along the canal, get lost in the labyrinthes of streets, and enjoy the views.

The Rialto Bridge - the oldest bridge in Venice, the first of only four bridges to span the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge is lined with shops and is a gateway to the Rialto Market.

Gondolas Parked

On the Vaporetto or Water Bus

Doge's Palace, the Campanile and the Basilica

Piazza San Marco

The View

Along the Canal

Ponte dei Sospiri or "Bridge of Sighs." Though it looks highly ornamental, it transported prisoners to their cells for execution. They would sigh after looking through the narrow windows where they got their last views of Venice.

Gondeliers at dusk - the best time to go on a gondola ride.

Old Doors have history

The Shadows of Doge's Palace at dusk

Zodiac Tower Designer Store

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Last night in Florence. Dinner at Acqua Al 2

In the States, there are weeks that go by without me feeling a need to drink coffee. But whenever I'm in Europe, I am suddenly drinking cappuccinos twice a day! There is nothing more satisfying than breaking up the day of sightseeing than unwinding in a coffee shop, people-watching, and finding relief in seeing the bottom of the cup. So the evening began the same way the morning began... with a cup of cappuccino.

Sadly, tonight is the last night in Florence. This is such an incredible city and is my all-time favorite city, rivaling Paris. Dinner had to be especially special tonight and I've always wanted to try Acqua Al 2 from hearing how great the restaurant is from people who have ate here. They have 3 restaurants in the world - Florence, San Diego, and their newest one in Washington DC. The food was very delicious and would highly recommend this restaurant. The downside was the wait time for a table because this place is VERY popular. However, the maître d' was very accommodating. He gave us patrons a glass of Prosecco while we waited. How nice right? To get a sample of everything and to make things easy, I would highly recommend getting the chef's tasting menu. The pasta tasting menu consisted of 5 pasta dishes. One pasta dish after another kept coming out, which made me very happy. The entree tasting was of both of their famous, world-renowned steaks - blueberry and balsamic. I personally like balsamic steak better because it isn't as sweet as the blueberry. But they are famous for both steaks, so regardless, you have to try both! Dessert was a tiramisu (my fav). The tiramisu is like a pudding here, and was very delicious. Overall, this restaurant was a great experience, and if I'm ever in San Diego or Washington, I'd eat here again to take me back to Florence, Italy... if only for a few hours.

Acqua Al 2

Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40 50122 Florence, Italy
055 284170

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Pisa, Italy. A day trip from Florence

From Florence, you have the option of taking a couple day trips. I really wanted to go to Cinque Terre, which is 5 towns built on a coastal cliff-top. However, all the locals advised not to go because it was winter, the town was unfortunately flooded, and the trails were closed. Instead, I ended up venturing to Pisa, which I do not regret for a second! Words cannot describe the awe that struck me when I finally turn the corner of the street and see this tower actually leaning over!!! Obviously, I knew what to expect after seeing this is countless photographs, but it still did not prepare me to see this sight in person. The tower looks unreal, and its shocking to me how it hasn't fallen over yet! It truly is one the the world's most famous and precarious architectural feats.

Here's what I learned about the tower mostly while eavesdropping on a tour group. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually a bell tower. Work on the ground floor of the white marble campanile began on August 8, 1173 and construction continued in three stages across 177 years. And of course, the infamous question - Why does it lean? The architects failed to realize was that the soil was unstable. After the first three stories were constructed, the ground began to sink, and the tower began to lean. Restoration is continually ongoing to stabilize it. This took my breath away and I felt like a kid seeing this. It still shocks me to this day.

The grounds of the tower are beautiful with its luscious green lawn, which everyone kept sneaking on to take a "propping up the tower" photo despite all the "keep off grass" signs. There is the Piazza del Duomo, dating from 1063. The first thing you notice upon walking up to the Duomo is the details in the bronze doors. Inside, it feels like a gallery housing several statues and important at works, all under a sixteenth century gorgeous wood ceiling. It reminds me of the Siena Cathedral with its striped marble, gothic architecture and the center marble pulpit. There is also the baptistry, a round white-marble building. Also inside are also some impressive statues.

Lunch was at La Buca. In my travel book, it was dubbed "a popular spot in the heart of Pisa. Buca draws the crowds to its pleasant terrace and the set-price lunch menu, which offers Tuscan cuisine at a reasonable price." Again, so hard to find a bad meal in Tuscany. Everything was delicious. If you ever find yourself in Pisa - go here. Pisa overall was such an incredible trip and my second favorite stop, next to Florence. I have what I think are some of the best photos here!!! Enjoy them below!