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Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Thoughts 'n Tips #51 - April 11, 2017

Impressive places that every first time visitor to Italy must see - handluggageonly.co.uk
Vietnam's coffee culture: What to know and where to go - Intrepid Travel: The Journal
Seven holidays that are cheapest if you book now - The Telegraph
The 30 Cheapest Places to Travel in 2017 - Forbes


Impressive places that every first time visitor to Italy must see - handluggageonly.co.uk

A first time trip to Italy is an incredible experience, it's a country steeped in history, culture and mountains of delicious pasta and gelato on every street corner... and trust me on the latter, if your not rolling back to your hotel in a pasta-induced haze, your not doing Italy right!
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Seven holidays that are cheapest if you book now - The Telegraph


The marina at Playa Blanca, Lanzarote  Credit: ALAMY
From European rail holidays to cut price river cruises, these are the holidays that are best booked now. This article is updated each month with new suggestions and tours.
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Vietnam's coffee culture: What to know and where to go - Intrepid Travel: The Journal


Mention Vietnam to anyone, and the conversation might conjure up a few things - beautiful scenery, the tragic war, the chaotic, thrilling big cities. But as someone who has spent much time travelling through Vietnam, there's only one thing for me that stands out as synonymous with the country, and that's the burgeoning coffee culture that has taken hold.
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The 30 Cheapest Places To Travel in 2017

Time to start packing your bags: 2017 is shaping up to be a banner year for budget travel.  The dollar is enjoying historic highs - meaning your money goes further in many destinations around the globe - and according to American Express Global Business Travel Report, airfares are expected to fall in 2017.
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Wednesday, 25 March 2015

An unexpected incident

When travelling, I enjoy going in all types of stores. I get to see the things the locals can buy - similar and different to home. I also enjoy seeing the prices of things, and comparing them to home.
This morning, I was in a Lidl store in Naples and I caused an incident. I was walking by the wines, looking at the types and the prices. Even their most expensive bottles were a fraction of the price I am used to in Canada.


I took a photo so I could possibly post it here, and also share with friends at home. Well! I guess you don't do that at Lidl. The manager, who was nearby, flipped out. No explaining possible. I guess I am part of the competition...even though the Italian that I speak is with a Canadian accent.

I have done this before in Lidl stores, as well as other stores in Europe and wherever I travel.

I guess some people just aren't open to the idea of sharing cultural experiences, which I consider this to be.

Even at home, I often take photos in stores, so I can remember items and prices for future reference. It would be harder for me to survive if I could not do this.

(N.B. For the record, this photo is not from the Lidl store. Heaven forbid that I would cause a bigger incident.)

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Heading to Naples Finally! (photos)

At long last, after an unexpected 25 hour layover in Frankfurt, and a change of flight in Munich we are headed to Naples.

Looking out the window, these are a couple of photos of the mountains in Italy. Being from eastern Canada, and after this winter, seeing snow covered mountains, almost caused me to panic.

A little further on, the mountains are looking a little 'better'.

















Seeing Mount Vesuvius on the horizon, and the Mediterranean (just out of the picture) is a sure clue that we are approaching Naples.

Monday, 16 March 2015

News and Tips #20 - Monday, March 16, 2015

In this issue:

-8 Ways You Can Enjoy an Adult Spring Break
-Italy's 10 Beautiful Coastal Towns To Visit Before You Die
-6 of the World's Most Amazing Train Journeys
-Worried You're Missing the Boat on Travel to Cuba? Relax. | Toravelpulse
-61 Travel Tips to Make You the World's savviest Traveler | Nomadic Matt's Travel Site
-Top 5 Auckland day trips | Man vs World
-Cruising for All Tastes - NYTimes.com
-Top 15 long haul destinations for over 50s | Travel News Travel | Daily Express


8 Ways You Can Enjoy an Adult Spring Break

Tired of winter? Want to escape to somewhere warmer?

You're not alone. The crazy cold winter much of the U.S. and Canada has suffered through has sparked many warm-weather travel dreams.

But the last thing you want is to select a spot for your getaway - and find that the young spring break party crowd...
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Italy's 10 Beautiful Coastal Towns to Visit Before You Die

Along with exquisite cruising, unique history and an enviable climate, Italy also boasts a never-ending list of postcard-perfect coastal towns. Each with its own panorama of breathtaking ocean views, the towns are easy on the eye from sea-level too, with row upon row of coloured houses blanketing the dramatic cliff-faces; there's no surprise that these towns are a hit with tourists. We look at ten of these gorgeous spots,
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6 of the World's Most Amazing Train Journeys

A spot of luxury travel...

No rickety tea carts or sweaty suits here, just six of the most awe-inspiring train journeys in the world.
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Worried You're Missing the Boat on Travel to Cuba? Relax. | TravelPulse

I've been a regular visitor to Cuba since 1999, and for the last four years I've taken multiple annual trips to the island. From U.S.-based acquaintances who have yet to travel to Cuba, I often hear a version of lament: "Oh damn! I need to get down there soon, before everything changes."
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61 Travel Tips to Make You the World's Savviest Travel | Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Most people aren't born savvy travelers. It's something that only comes with on the road experience. In the beginning, you make a lot of mistakes. Travel savviness is a process born of missed buses, foolish behavior, cultural unawareness, and countless tiny errors. Then, one day, you begin to seamlessly move through airports and integrate...
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Top 5 Auckland day trips | Man vs World

If you've got a free day in Auckland and you've already seen everything the city has to offer, you should hit the road (or water) and explore the surrounding area.

If you happen to be looking for inspiration - and you're reading this, so most likely you are - I can recommend these awesome Auckland self-drive day trips...
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Cruising for All Tastes - NYTimes.com

The efforts of cruise lines to meet consumer demand has exploded into an expansive array of vacation options, from intimate yacht-like departures to floating family-friendly theme parks. The 63 cruise company members of the Cruise Line Industry Association estimate passenger volume will grow to 23 million this year, up nearly a million over 2014.
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Top 15 long haul destinations for over 50s | Travel News | Travel | Daily Express

Desperate to escape Britain's miserable weather a growing number of over-50s are seeking brighter shores in far-flung destinations across the globe. A new study has found the most lust after trips.

Sadly nine out of ten Brits regret not travelling more with loved ones when they were younger, however, over-50s are proving its never too late with many jetting to all four corners of the globe.
Read more..


Friday, 2 January 2015

Resolutions for travel in 2015

Here are my travel resolutions or goals for 2015.  As with any resolutions or goals not all will likely be achieved.  Stay tuned to this blog to see how I do.

I would like to further my ability to speak Italian.  I have been learning Italian especially during my travels in Italy.  It is a beautiful language.  I am able to carry on basic conversations in Italian with another person, get the general gist of group conversations and the news on TV.  Being part of a conversation with a number of people is still a challenge.

Living in Canada, I have learned that winter is a part of our life, but it would be nice to get a break from it.  Florida is a possibility as it is accessible by car and plane.


However, for a more long term winter break Nicaragua has caught my attention, and I would like to see first-hand what it has to offer.  From my reading so far, it seems to be a Central American country on the verge of development.  It has a lot of history and culture to enjoy and learn about.  The cost of living and lifestyle both seem to be to my liking.





I always enjoy visiting Italy.  Most of my time has been spent in and around Rome and Naples.  I would love to add Florence, Tuscany and Venice to my list of places visited.  A culinary course in Tuscany, for even a day, would be amazing.

As a possible add-on to a trip to Italy, I would love to return to Spain.   There is so much to see and do.  Of particular interest, due to my interest in architecture, is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.





I would also like to visit the Netherlands, and if time permitted bike around parts of the country.





Closer to home, I would love to return to Newfoundland.  I was there a few years ago, but my time was limited and I only saw the area about 100 km radius of St. John's.  The Viking settlements in the north are of particular interest to me.





As well, while there, I would like to take the ferry to St. Pierre et Miquelon.  These are two islands that are a self-governing territory of France.  Only 25 miles off the coast of Newfoundland they provide the opportunity to experience 'la vie francaise' closer to home.

Two of my goals can be done together.  I would love to see the Northern Lights in the far north.  I have seen them many times around my summer home in Ontario.  As well, I would like to visit northern Canada.  For years the remoteness and beauty of the Yukon especially has intrigued me.  However, visiting The Northwest Territories could also meet this goal.



Something I am looking into is to use some of my areas of expertise in education and combine that in a travel setting.  I am not sure what it will look like.  I call it travelling and giving back.

As you can see, there are many possibilities for my travelling this year.  That does not include any opportunities that pop up along the way.  In 2014, my trip to the Turkey and the Middle East was planned and started within 8 weeks.  My list also does not preclude returning to many of the places I have already visited that I would like to return to.  So many places, so little time.