Although the city changed from French rule to British rule in 1763, only a mere 1.5% of the population is considered an Anglophone — 95% of Québec’s population speaks French as its first language. Québec City is the seat of Québecois government and about 95% of the people conduct the government in French. With a total of 550,000 people living in the city, appx. 50,000 were provincial government and 30,000 were Federal and government subcontractors…so a LOT of these Québec City residents are fluent in French.

Sure, Québec is French Canadian, but there’s no doubt that these parts were settled by the French not too long ago. Many things about the walled city are similar to Arles, a walled city in “its motherland.” In fact, Grande Allee looks almost identical to a road in Arles. And, FYI: this street is DEAD on a Monday night at 11pm in May…although rumored to be hopping on weekends in the summer.

Even though you surely won’t need as much time to explore this small city as you would in Montreal, the drive up is absolutely, 110% worth it because of the pretty Canadian countryside you pass on the way up and also for the authenticity it offers– despite feeling a bit like a tourist trap.

After wearing shorts in Montreal (in May), just a few hours north (and, granted, a significant cold front coming in), it was literally FREEZING in Québec City. I mean, WTF? All I packed was flip-flops and we’ve only got 1 day in this city…so, as much as I wanted to stay inside, explore we must. The #FWP of a self-proclaimed “adventurer.”

Inside the walled city, the atmosphere is a little more lively, with at least a few stragglers walking along the streets and several bars filled with who I would assume to be fellow tourists. The Saint Alexandre Pub was filled with people at 11:45 pm on a Monday night. We highly recommend it for a little atmosphere– and a break from the numbing cold.

The post Québec City – A Photo Gallery Walking Tour first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Turns out, though, that planning a day trip to wineries is a little harder than we thought. Mendoza’s wine regions stretch out over more than 350,000 acres and there are three separate regions within Mendoza. So, with just one day set aside for this, we quickly realized we couldn’t see it all. First, we had to pick a region (we went with Maipú) and then we had to choose a plan. We had the option of paying for a tour that picked up and dropped off at our hotel but, for a fraction of the cost, we could make our own private tour if we were a little more adventurous.

We found “Mr. Hugo’s” bike rental and decided to go that route as opposed to the all-inclusive (and much more expensive) bus tour. For a much, much, much more affordable cost, we could find our own way out to Maipú and we thought it’d be more fun to take the local bus anyway. We took a city bus for 8 pesos to Maipú. The trip is pretty short– only take about 40 minutes total from the city center:

The best news is that the bus drivers know exactly what’s up. They let us know exactly when we should get off the bus and then pointed us (and the two other English-speaking tourists on the crowded bus of locals) toward Mr. Hugo’s.

1- Mr. Hugo’s

Update: Mr. Hugo’s appears to have closed. Instead, try Maipú Bikes (Website / TripAdvisor) which has fantastic reviews and is just a few blocks up the road from the old Mr. Hugo’s.

Mr. Hugo himself welcomed us and we watched as a whole boatload of Americans chugged champagne from the bottle then finished with beer before riding off into the sunset 11 am sunshine. I think the 50 – 70-year-olds all took the all-inclusive & more expensive bus tour choice, so you’re mixed in more with the party crowd on the DIY bike tours. That was fine with us and really more of what we were after anyway, but just something to consider when deciding which route to choose.

We rented bikes for 70 pesos each (looks like it’s up to 100 pesos/bike now because of inflation… still, that’s roughly $5-$7 USD). Mr. Hugo gave us a small paper with a suggested route showing all the wineries around (the drawing isn’t to scale, so some wineries had more space between them than we thought).

We started biking around 12:30 pm and took a total of 4 hr 15 mins of which about 1 hr 15 mins was spent actually biking and the remaining 3 hours we enjoyed eating and drinking in the various wineries and the biergarten.

Here’s a map of some of the highlights:

2- Museo del Vino

Website / TripAdvisor

Our first stop was “Museo del Vino” which is very close to Mr. Hugo’s. Spanish tours are 70 pesos/person but English tours require a reservation (which we didn’t have) and were 100 pesos/group. The good news is that the actual museum is free and it has lots of cool artifacts and old machinery in the wine production department:

They have a nice tasting room and sell glasses for 38 – 328 pesos and tasting for 90 – 220 ARS.

3- Vinoteca La Botella

Website / TripAdvisor

Next, we biked to La Botella for a free tasting advertised on Mr. Hugo’s route. The free wine was obviously pretty bad and was just used to get you in the door, but then we also tried the tasting of three (better) wines for 20 pesos each.

From there, we biked down the main road looking for the Trapiche winery but it was very hard to find! At many times, the road doesn’t have a proper bike lane, but cars and trucks do seem very cognizant of cyclists and pedestrians and move way over, so we always felt pretty safe.

4- El Patio Cervecero Beer Garden

Website / TripAdvisor

Finally, we stumbled across the “Biergarten,” but don’t be dissuaded, as we almost were. It’s really just a cafe with pizzas, empanadas, 3 types of draft beer and wines by the glass. We weren’t really feeling a biergarten on our winery tour, but it had a cool, relaxed vibe and was a great stop for a cheap and quick lunch. The English-speaking staff and free wifi make it fantastic. (3x empanadas for 8 ARS each and 550 mL for 32 ARS. Glass of red for 25 ARS.)

Our weather couldn’t have been more perfect: the leaves were changing and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Perfect fall weather – crisp, not humid at all (and a nice reprieve from the weather back at home with humidity ramping up for our springtime).

We also noticed that there were plenty of others who had rented bikes and were following the same route as us, but we think in peak tourist season, this place would be crawling and quite possibly over-crowded.

5- Trapiche

Website / TripAdvisor

On our ride back to Mr. Hugo’s, we finally found Trapiche! We rode into the perfectly manicured winery that was by far the largest and most well-maintained stop of our day. They waved us right in and actually offered us a free tasting and tours (I guess because it was nearing the end of the day?).

The tasting room overlooked the vineyard, so the view was the best we’d seen all day. Of course, the wine was delicious. This was probably our favorite stop of the day because of the view and the enormous facility.

BOTTOM LINE: Overall, our bus trip to Maipú and the DIY winery tours using Mr. Hugo’s bikes was just what we were after– we didn’t want to blow the bank on a day of the fanciest wineries but just wanted to get the experience. Although the bike trail is usually along main roads and you’re biking with traffic, we still had a great time and were thrilled to have great weather to enjoy the day.

The post Cycling Winery Tour – Mendoza, Argentina first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Here’s a map of the route that has a lot of the highlights you’ll want to check out as well as practical info, such as the bus station, airport, grocery stores (to stock up on cheap Mendoza wine!), etc:

Stay

We stayed at the Park Hyatt Mendoza and would highly recommend it. It is in the perfect location and quite luxurious. Find our full review here: Park Hyatt Mendoza Review – Mendoza, Argentina.

1- Plaza Independencia

Start your day at off at Plaza Independencia, the true center of the town. Here, you’ll find plenty of locals, anyone from school kids playing to couples basking in the sun to retirees just hanging out to pass the time. On the weekends and some evenings, you’ll find local vendors selling art and trinkets.

Some kids that insisted on being in the photo

2- Peatonal Sarmiento

From the central square, head east towards the city’s pedestrian mall. Here, you’ll find tons of restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating. Although we found them to feel a bit touristy and expensive, it might just be worth it if the weather is nice to post up and people watch along the lively walkway. Along with restaurants, there are also cute coffee shops and boutique stores, so it’s well-worth a walk.

You might even see an impromptu tango dance!

3- Pasaje San Martin

Make sure not to leave the area without popping into the Pasaje San Martin and the historic shopping gallery’s exquisite stained glass skylight.

4- Plaza Espana & Plaza Italia

After a coffee and snack (we’re partial to alfajores), make your way towards two of Mendoza’s other large squares. While there’s not all that much to see here, it’s just nice to have a seat and take in the city and begin to appreciate how much area has been set aside for parks, squares and green space in this city that hugs the Andes.

Mendoza’s downtown is interesting in that it has one large square in the middle (Plaza Independencia) and 4 other squares spaced equally apart in 4 corners:

The 4 squares were designed to pay tribute to the founders of the city and create a natural retreat for its residents.

Plaza Italia is a memorial to the Italian families who resettled in Mendoza’s Cuyo neighborhood. One of the park’s landmarks is a statue of Romulus and Remus being suckled by the Roman wolf– a well-known myth in Italian culture pertaining to the founding of Rome. Additionally, the fountain is embellished with Italian-style stones and offer a perfect place to enjoy the weather and passerbys.

Plaza Italia

Plaza España, another one of the squares, has a statue portraying two ladies: the older, more experienced one representing Spain and the younger, more lively woman representing Argentina.

Plaza España

5- Avenida Arístides Villanueva

As you begin to head west towards the Parque General San Martin, you’ll walk right along Mendoza’s nightlife hotspot. Simply called Arístides for short, this street is lined with bars, pubs and restaurants that are packed on the weekends with locals and tourists alike.

The Arístides neighborhood has no shortage of quirky painted buildings and graffiti

6- General San Martín Park

Following Avenida Arístides westward dumps you straight into the General San Martín Park. While the park is host to a zoo and football (soccer) stadium, this is really just an excellent place to relax and kill some time in the afternoon. Make sure to check out the few statues (there are apparently over 34 covering the grounds!) and cafés housed in the park.

Entrance gates of General San Martín Park

If you’re up for a walk, be sure to scale Cerro de la Gloria (Glory Hill), a small hill that will give you a good vantage point of the whole city. It also hosts one of the bigger and more impressive monuments in the park: the memorial monument to the Army of the Andes.

Memorial Monument to the Army of the Andes

La Fuente de los Continentes (La Fontaine de L’Observatoire)

 7- Mercado Central

Once you’ve seen enough greenery, head straight down Avenida Emilio Civit from the park gates back towards the city. Once you take a left on Avenida Belgrano, you’ll be walking along Mendoza’s one and only tram line.

Before long, you’ll reach the Mercado Central. This old-fashioned market is still a beehive of locals that have stopped in to stock up on meats, cheese, produce and fruit.

Mercado Central: also the premiere place for all your chicken feet and neck needs

There’s also a sizable (and quite cheap!) food court that we ate at a few times. We snagged a few empanadas from Harry’s Fast Foods, one of the vendors for about $0.50 each.

8- Avenida Las Heras

After a small snack in Mercado Central, spend the rest of the day walking up and down Avenida Las Heras.

The streets are lined with stores selling just about anything and everything, but we suggest checking out the leather goods if you’re in the market for a nice jacket or boots. We decided not to buy a leather jacket because we thought we may find a cheaper selection in Buenos Aires, but immediately regretted our decision: this street in Mendoza offers a better and cheaper selection, so be sure to buy here if you’re at all in the market!

And, lest we forget, don’t skip out on having an espresso and alfajor at every café along your stop, especially here (we recommend Havana’s)!

9- Dinner at Ocho Cepas

For an out-of-this-world dinner experience, head to Ocho Cepas (just a block or two from the Park Hyatt Mendoza). Before arriving in Argentina, we read that, while there’s plenty of cattle in the country, almost no restaurant knows how to cook a good steak; they seem to always overcook it. However, we did not find this to be the case at Ocho Cepas and enjoyed some delicious steaks that were cooked absolutely perfectly.

The post Self-Guided Walking Tour: Mendoza, Argentina first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

After flying Etihad Airlines into Abu Dhabi, we decided to spend our entire time in Dubai. Originally, we planned to spend a day or two in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but ultimately decided to spend all 3 days in Dubai to get a better feel for the city and try to stop over in Abu Dhabi in the future. Looking back, we’re glad we made that decision as any shorter and our time would have felt rushed.

We ended up staying at the Park Hyatt Dubai (overview here), and headed into the city to explore the main sites and attractions in the stifling summer heat (with daily highs averaging at 102°F in June!). We thought we’d be able to hang since we’re used to Charleston summers, but it was so hot that we spent most of one afternoon in the mall just to escape the heat!

Check out what we did during our 48 hours in the “City of Gold” below!

Map:

Day 1, 8 am: Explore the Souks of the old city

First things first, we were up bright and early with jet lag, so we found ourselves eating breakfast at 6am at the hotel and then off to the city center (about 20 min. away) by 8am – a much earlier start than usual for us. We were dropped off right by the Deira Spice Souk first and found that the city was just beginning to wake up with pedestrians and people headed out for the day. It was fun to stroll through the spice souk and see all the brightly colored powders and spices available for sale from vendor after vendor. Although it seemed a bit touristy (and vendors were definitely hawking their wares), it was also reminiscent of days of old and you could get a glimpse of the old Dubai before all the modern high rises and shopping malls were built.

From there, it’s just a short walk to the Dubai Gold Souk, which was also quite the treasure chest of jewelry and anything made of gold imaginable. While I didn’t buy anything, it was fun to see all the gleaming gold necklaces, bracelets – some bigger and gaudier than I’d ever seen before! I really thought these must all be fake because they are so fabulous that I cannot even imagine the price tag on these jewels. Yikers.

All the gold!

While the souks were definitely a must-see, we didn’t feel the need to purchase any spices or gold and these stops were just more to say you’ve seen them. Although it is definitely a tourist destination now, there are still signs of local life if you look hard enough. The souks are even more interesting when you learn a little of how Dubai quickly transformed from a small fishing village to one of the world’s most bustling cities.

Dubai Creek is right next to the souks and old fishing boats still line the shores

From the souks, we crossed Dubai Creek via a ferry and began exploring the area known as “Bur Dubai.” We stumbled upon the Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque because we noticed everyone walking there for prayer. I think it may be the most beautiful mosque I’ve ever seen in real life – the blue tile with turquoise accents stands out among the bleak off-white buildings surrounding it. We did not go inside out of respect for the daily prayer time but just stood outside in awe of the building’s intricate beauty.

The Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Bur Dubai

Beautiful tiles on the exterior of the Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque

From the mosque, we continued aimlessly walking (and stopping under any shade we could find!), and walked through the Bur Dubai Souk, which has plenty of textiles and souvenirs for sale. There was plenty of activity but we didn’t buy anything at this souk, either – we’re always a bit put off by the sellers hawking their goods so heavily that we feel uncomfortable just looking.

Souvenirs and treasures galore at the Bur Dubai Souk

Day 1, 1 pm: The Burj Kalafi and The Dubai Mall

Feeling a bit “souked-out,” and very, very, very hot, we determined it was a good time to head to the world’s largest mall, creatively called “The Dubai Mall.” Although the mall is huge, I honestly wasn’t too impressed with it because it just feels like… a mall. Other than its sheer size and that it keeps going and going with what feels like miles of stores, I guess there’s not much you can do to make a mall not feel like a mall. There is a 3-story aquarium, but otherwise, it was just your average mall.

3-story aquarium inside the Mall

Full-size ice skating rink in the middle of the mall

We typically would not have spent much time here, but I think we walked every inch of the place just to enjoy the air conditioning and while away the early afternoon hours when the sun it at its peak.

Of course, being the world’s largest mall, they had an equally proportionate food court. However, because we were visiting Dubai during the month of Ramadan, many of the restaurants in the city were closed during daylight hours. Interestingly, the mall’s food court remained open but they had set up partitions at the food court’s entrances to block people from seeing in. Signs at the food court stated that there could be fines for taking food outside into the mall, and there were even guards stationed there so that anyone leaving the food court would not be able to bring any food or drink into the mall. It was really an interesting time of year to visit Dubai!

The Burj Kalafi, the world’s tallest building, is easily viewed from the outside of the mall, so we built up our courage and finally left the AC to at least take a photo with the Burj Kalafi in the background. We were so hot and the sun was so strong that we literally took the fastest picture we could and walked back in the mall. Sad, but true.

Standing in front of the world’s tallest building!

And… an awkward selfie stick photo just for fun

Day 1, 7 pm: Dinner at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Because we were visiting during the month of Ramadan, we were very interested to find out more about the “holy month” and found out about a special dinner put on by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. This group hosts cultural dinners three nights/week during the month of Ramadan, which cost 120 AED per person (~$33 US)

Cultural Dinner at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

We actually booked our reservations for the dinner through Urban Adventures (a tour company we’d used a lot in Vietnam) and, when we arrived, were met with a local tour guide, Mohammed, who hosted just the two of us. While we could have just booked reservations straight through the Center, we were happy to have our own guide to eat with us and explain even more in depth about the holiday, the city and the traditions.

A feast set out to break the Ramadan fast with our newest friends

An appetizer of the most delicious dates!

Dinner is served

It turned out that our guide, Mohammed, is Pakistani. He said that his grandparents came 45 years ago to Dubai and his family has been there ever since; he was born in Dubai but still is not a citizen. Citizenship is only for the “people from this land.” He said that even tour guides who were born here must apply for work permits every 2-3 years.

Looking back, this is probably our favorite thing from our trip to Dubai. We weren’t eating with a family, but the group that hosted the dinner for tourists were really interesting in sharing their culture with us and teaching us more about the region. The food they prepared was homemade and so delicious – you could tell that the families who hosted us were eager to befriend us and share with us a little about their holiday.

At the dinner, they explained to the group about the holiday and the traditional foods eaten during the evening hours. After dinner, we were taken to visit the inside of a mosque and then encouraged to try on traditional Emirati attire. It was truly a night to remember.

Dressed in traditional Emirati attire!

After dinner, Mohammed took us around the city for a quick walk through some of the highlights.

Outside the entrance to the Dubai Museum

We were able to hop on another ferry to cross the Creek again. The ferries, similar to the souk, tell of a time passed. The locals hop on the old wooden boats to churn across the water in just a few quick minutes.

Ferry to cross Dubai Creek

Day 2, 8 am: Dune Bashing Safari in the Desert

More details on this in a follow-up post… but, this is a must-do activity when you’re visiting Dubai! The surrounding desert seems to be right out of a movie and is a terrain that is so different than one I’ve seen before- even so different than the desert around the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is a beautiful, other-worldly terrain and an adventure not to be missed!

Day 2, 1 pm: Lunch at the beach

We’d heard a lot about weekend brunch parties in Dubai and that they are over the top in every way. Unfortunately, though, they cease to exist during Ramadan, so we weren’t able to enjoy one. Instead, we decided to see what the beach was like and took an Uber to Al Mamzar Beach Park.

Entrance to Al Mamzar Beach Park

Al Mamzar Beach Park

There were a few options, including the nice resort beaches (like Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa and Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Club), but those are only free to hotel guests and others have to pay pretty hefty day-trip fees (some are up to 550 AED/person– ~$150 US). If you’re really into the beach, it’s worth considering staying along the Jumeirah stretch at a hotel on the beach. However, we weighed the pros and cons and decided we didn’t have to stay at a resort on the beach and instead just went to one of the public beaches for a small fee (5 AED/person– ~$1 US).

Unfortunately, we didn’t fully think through riding in the Uber to get to the beach and ended up wearing our swimsuits under regular clothes. After walking from where we were dropped off through the park to the beach, we were already exhausted and sweaty. The beach was nice, but nothing too special and we decided after a little while that we were really feeling our hotel’s pool scene more than the public beach.

Taking in a little too much sun at Al Mamzar Beach Park

BOTTOM LINE: We found Dubai to be a huge, bustling city that still clings to a culture of its own. We enjoyed our time there (despite the heat). The people were so friendly and it was intriguing to see the celebration of Ramadan throughout the city. I’d love to visit again, but next time probably spend some more time in Abu Dhabi or another area of the UAE.

The post 48 Hours in Dubai first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Just to give you an idea of the behemoth that is Jakarta, it currently ranks as the 2nd largest metro area in the world with 30+ million inhabitants:

That being said, a trip to Jakarta can be as brief as you want to make it — we stayed for 2 nights as part of a stopover from Bali to Singapore and felt that we amply covered the highlights.

1. START: We have the tour starting at the Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta’s upscale, luxury shopping mall. We stayed at Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection property by Starwood and thoroughly enjoyed it (full review here:Keraton at The Plaza, Jakarta – Hotel Review – Jakarta, Indonesia).

View from our room at the Keraton

We listed most of the Western hotel chains on the map for 2 reasons: they are often bookable with points and Jakarta is the type of city where you might want to skip the Airbnb and go with the comfort and security of a global, Western brand.

2. From the Plaza Indonesia, you’ll walk down one of Jakarta’s major boulevards in the central business district, Jalan MH Thamrin. The thoroughfare participates in Jakarta Car Free Days, which means it is closed from 6:00am until 11:00am to traffic every Sunday. As you head north down Jalan MH Thamrin, you’ll first see the large fountain and traffic circle that divides the road:

Jalan MH Thamrin on a car-free Sunday

3. After about a 10 minute walk, you’ll approach Jakarta’s first modern department store, Sarinah. Built using Japanese war reparation funds, the multilevel store opened in August 1966. The Sarinah project was conceived by President Sukarno, who named it after his childhood nanny.

We recommend a visit to satisfy all of your souvenir shopping needs — the goods were all reasonably priced and seemed to be of good quality:

And, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can go all in and purchase your own Batik wardrobe to fit in with the locals:

4. Once you’ve made your purchases, continue north on Jalan MH Thamrin towards the National Monument (MONAS); you can’t miss it.
The National Monument is a 433 foot (132 m) tower in the center of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia. It is the national monument of the Republic of Indonesia, built to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence. Construction began in 1961 under the direction of President Soekarno. MONAS was opened to the public in 1975. It is topped by a flame covered with gold foil.

Despite visiting on a rainy day, Merdeka Square was filled with domestic tourists and plenty of street vendors trying to make a buck. You can even take a carriage ride.

If you end up here on a nice day, there’s an observation deck at the top that is worth a peak.

5. Next stop: the Istiqlal Mosque. This religious site is Southeast Asia’s largest mosque which isn’t surprising given that some 90% of Indonesia’s 250 million people identify as Muslim, making Indonesia the most populous Muslim country in the world.

By: Anthony Cramp – CC BY 2.0

By: a_rabin – CC BY 2.0

6. Leaving the mosque, head north again towards the metro station called Juanda.

View of neighborhood bordering the trainline

Grab a ticket from the counter and head north to Station Jakarta Kota.

Jakarta Kota is a popular rail hub with tons of traffic:

7. Wander through the crowds at the transit hub onto the streets and witness everyday life for many Jakartans:

8. Continue north towards Fatahillah Square (Taman Fatahilah):

Formerly known as Batavia City Square (or Stadhuisplein in Dutch), it is the best and most famous place in the city to revel in the colonial Dutch history of Jakarta, or Batavia as it was called by the Dutch from 1619–1949. It is currently home to the Jakarta History Museum, Wayang Museum (puppetry) and Fine Art and Ceramics Museum. The plaza is named for Indonesian national hero Fatahillah.

Check out this map of Batavia from 1780!

9. No trip is complete without a visit to Cafe Batavia. Set in a 200-year-old building on the northwestern corner of Fatahillah Square, Batavia Cafe is the second-oldest building in central Jakarta after the Fatahillah Museum. Come visit Cafe Batavia and step into 19th century Jakarta during the colonial era!

From here, we took a cab back to the hotel, but beware! Jakarta is famous for its traffic, so, while the cab ride was just 5 miles and cost only $3.50 USD, it took us nearly an hour!

Other notes & recommendations:

• About 1 mile north of Fatahillah Square, you’ll find Sunda Kelapa Harbor. This is the old port and hosts a few wooden sailboats that can be worth a look.
  

  By: Cuncun Wijaya – CC BY 2.0

• Close to the starting point near The Plaza is a store called “Alun Indonesia” where you can find handmade crafts from the region. You can visit them on the web here: Alun Indonesia.
  
• Lara Djonggrang Restaurant “While many Jakartan restaurants lack atmosphere, that accusation could never be levelled at Lara Djonggrang – as you enter it’s easy to think you’ve stumbled across some lost temple. One that serves perfectly executed and creatively presented imperial Indonesian cuisine from across the archipelago. They offer Makassar-style squid and crab, Alor-style tamarind shrimp, and lobster cooked like they do in Aceh, with two kinds of chilli. There’s a good wine list and staff are well informed and efficient. Prices are quite affordable considering the quality. Oh, and the bar is in fact created from an actual 200-year-old temple, which was set to be demolished until it was deconstructed and rebuilt here.”
• Flea Market at Jalan Surabaya “This particular spot in Menteng is prominently known as a must-go-to place when visiting Jakarta.  The Jalan Surabaya or Surabaya Street Market stands attractively as one of the few surviving ‘theme markets’ which still retains its authenticity and pride after all these years of the ‘modernization’ wave. It is no surprise that the market still has its faithful customers and still attracting new ones. People constantly come here to either buy or sell anything considered as ‘antiques’.For those who are not aware yet, the Jalan Surabaya Market is an ‘antique’ market, or in  harsher tones ‘flea market’. It sells various items that usually attract collectors, historians, those who simply want an extra touch of authenticity in their living room. On the contrary, those trying to get rid of stuff that are not really considered hip since last century also finds the solution in Jl Surabaya. The Market started its business around 30-40 years ago and in the beginning consisted merely of several stalls selling China Porcelains. It then experienced expansion in terms of size and variety.  It enjoys a 500-meter length in the pleasant residential area and a colorful variant of stores for customers and sellers to choose from.” More info at: StreetDirectory.com Jalan Surabaya Market: The Hunting Spot for Antiques.

The post Walking Tour: Jakarta, Indonesia first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Can’t get much better than a Bangkok sunset

After visiting a few other Asian cities and countries by now, Bangkok is still at the top of our list and we think it’s a great city to get your feet wet- there’s plenty of tourists and enough English speakers that you won’t feel overwhelmed.

This was our second time actually staying in Bangkok for at least a night, so we were excited to finally get some more time in the city and grab some more of the street food that we’d been dreaming about for the past few years.

Bangkok is different from Yangon (Myanmar’s capital city) in that there’s MUCH more Western faces, people aren’t as innately friendly (probably because there are that many more Western faces, we’re not a shock value to them anymore) and, although things are still cluttered, it just seems like they have it more together and more organized… with clear walkways compared to things just laid out all over the sidewalk. Bangkok’s infrastructure is stronger and newer than Yangon’s, too – the sidewalks are in better shape (rusted railings and huge,deep holes in sidewalks in Yangon) and Bangkok has actual bus stops and a nice sky rail. But, there’s not as much culture on the streets in Bangkok as far as clothing goes: everyone is wearing Western clothes, T-shirts, jeans (not longyis) and there’s LOTS of short shorts, dresses etc. Skin is in.

Here’s our itinerary for our 48 hours. Granted, we’d already seen most of the highlights on our first trip, so we looked at this time as a way to check out areas we hadn’t explored yet and to hit our top favorites from the last time, too.

First Day:

We landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport and took the Makkasan Airport Rail Link from the airport to the Makkasan stop, then took another train to the Nana Nua station, which is a 5-minute walk to the hotel – the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11. We’d stayed at the Aloft Bangkok in 2011 when it had just opened and we were eager to stay there again to see how the booming area had changed in the past couple of years. Turns out, the area had changed a lot and there were much more hotels and restaurants than we remembered – we hardly recognized it. The Soi 11 street is very upscale with lots of ethnic food options (including an Australian bar and German, Mexican, Japanese and Indian restaurants). Actually, it was quite hard to find some Thai food on the street, to the point that we returned to our room to order green curry room service. Lolz.

Second Day:

We woke up refreshed and ready to hit the town. We took the train a few stops up to Siam Paragon and explored the huge shopping center filled with luxury shops. We’d just been in Myanmar for a few weeks, where the luxury shops haven’t yet arrived, so it was fun to walk through the fancy mall that had air conditioning for a little while. Maybe a lot has changed in 3 years or maybe our few weeks’ stint in Myanmar had us price shocked, but everything at the mall is surprisingly upscale and surprisingly expensive. Still, it was so refreshing to see Western brands – we found the Neutrogena sunscreen we were looking for, Gatorade, Vitamin Water and even Cetaphil face wash (for $30 U.S.).

From there, we walked in the area a while before catching a cab to Wat Pho, one of the largest temples in Bangkok and known for its huge “Reclining Buddha.” We’d visited Wat Pho before but the golden temples are part of Bangkok’s charm and we wanted to explore it after spending the past few weeks exploring Myanmar’s own golden Buddha temples. Wat Pho is also one of Bangkok’s oldest temples, built around 1700 – before Bangkok was the capital of Thailand. There are more than 1,000 images of Buddha in the temple and it’s definitely a must-see on any trip to Bangkok. The highlight of Wat Pho to me is the Reclining Buddha – it’s hard to even take a picture of it since it’s just so large.

Inside the ubosot of Wat Pho (I had to put on one of the long skirts they had outside for visitors)

The giant Reclining Buddha

More of Wat Pho

From Wat Pho, we headed around the corner to a lunch stop where we split a few bites to eat before continuing on to a rooftop restaurant/bar that we’d been wanting to check out.

Eagle Nest is only about a 5-minute walk from Wat Pho, so we headed that way and were early enough in the afternoon to get a prime spot right on top. The rooftop is right above the Chao Phraya River and just across the river is another one of Bangkok’s famous temples, Wat Arun. (Wat Arun is one of my favorite temples because you can climb it, but we didn’t get a chance to re-visit it on this trip, just able to take in its beauty from across the river.) This rooftop bar is probably my new favorite place in Bangkok so I’d highly recommend checking it out and catching the sunset there – it is located on the top floor of the Sala Arun Hotel – just enter through the lobby and take the wooden staircase up to the top.

Enjoying the evening at Eagle Nest

The views of Wat Arun from Eagle Nest’s rooftop deck

More views from Eagle Nest

Of course, no visit to Bangkok is complete without a walk down Soi Cowboy, one of the most famous streets in town thanks to its “colorful” storefronts made even more famous in The Hangover 2. It’s not some place I’m interested in hanging around all night, but it is fun to people watch as you walk down the street (and make a game out of guessing how many of the women dancing in bikinis are really, actually men). It did seem like security had been more enforced all over the city, with lots of security on the train stations, etc., so we weren’t too surprised to see that Soi Cowboy now had barricades on each end, making it look much more like a Beale Street in Memphis than anything.

Being tourists on Soi Cowboy

We’d worked up an appetite after walking down Soi Cowboy, so we slowly made our way back to the hotel and stopped at each of the street food stalls along the way to sample all the delicious offerings, from pad thai (35 THB) to spicy chicken with steamed rice (100 THB) and more.

Bangkok’s street food is arguably the best food in the world

Last Day:

On our last day, we explored a little more around our hotel’s area to see more of the changes that were taking place in this growing part of town.

We ended up eating lunch at Thai Chili Culture, a restaurant just around the block from the Aloft Bangkok, and having our final red curry and som tom salad of the trip. It was, as expected, all very good, but it’s proof that Bangkok can be surprisingly expensive. Total for the salad appetizer and one curry entree was appx ~$20 USD. Not as cheap as we’d remembered!

Goodbye for now, Bangkok!

Som Tom Salad…if you haven’t tried this, you haven’t lived.

One last red curry before we left…

The post 48 Hours in Bangkok first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Always our first stop in any city…? Coffee!

Even though the main square of the town (Plaza de Armas) was closed while we were there, our favorite part of being in Santiago was just walking around the city streets and watching life happen. Like I said, there’s plenty of restaurants and shops but not too many “tourist attractions” that you feel like you need to visit – so it’s nice to just walk around and explore on your own.

Here’s a map outlining some must-see sites as well as the location of hotels that will allow you to stay for free using just points:

CERRO SANTA LUCIA

We got off at the subway at the Moneda stop and headed towards the nearby Cerro Santa Lucia. This little hill (an easy 15 min. hike up to the top) is in the center of Santiago and provides fantastic views of the mountains that are so close to the city that they feel like they are closing in on you. This is the smaller of the two hills in the city (the other is a little ways outside of the center, Cerro San Cristobal), but provides excellent 360 degree views of the city with the added bonus of not being too hard to climb. The hill just springs up out of nowhere (the surrounding area is flat!) and I just couldn’t get enough of the snow-capped Andes off in the (nearby) distance.

Headed up Cerro San Lucia – first stop: this beautiful fountain

Climbing Cerro Santa Lucia

Can’t beat the views from the top of the hill

Castillo Hidalgo is on top of Cerro Santa Lucia, built in 1816

On our way down, we tried the Mote Con Huesillos

Although there’s not much to do along the way, there is a beautiful yellow fountain on the way up and an opportunity to try a decidedly Chilean drink: the Mote Con Huesillos (700 CLP). It’s a chilled peach nectar juice with cooked wheat kernels and a whole, sugar soaked peach. It was delicious and very, very sweet. At first, we thought it was apricot-flavored and were pretty skeptical — mixing odd juices with odd fruits and ever stranger grains and/or beans– we just weren’t sure about it. Once we dove in, it was super flavorful and quite filling given all the wheat kernels.

Feeling tired? There’s an elevator to ride down from the top of the hill.

From the Cerro Santa Lucia, we walked down Calle Mercedes to Lazarita Calle. We checked out a few of the cool restaurants and then made our way down the road to Boquena to hunt down La Fuente Alemeda.

LA FUENTE ALEMADA

This diner-style restaurant was packed elbow-to-elbow with limited actual seating. Seats lined the bar/counter area where you order from a waitress.

Headed into La Fuente Alemada for their popular lunch

The kitchen at La Fuente Alemada is right in the middle of the restaurant.

Here’s our delish sandwich from La Fuente Alemada

We went with the popular Lomito Completo, complete with mayo, sauerkraut and salsa (3,800 CLP). Our gigantic sandwich came out within 4-5 minutes, and we dove right in. It’s more like a meat sandwich with a giant mayo salad on top. Most of the locals had guacamole on theirs, making me immediately envious. Can’t deny the freshness at this place, though.

SOPAIPILLA

From the restaurant, we crossed the river down Pio Nono and found a sopaipilla salesman– a very enthusiastic one at that. Sopaipilla is a very traditional Chilean snack made of zapallo squash and dough, then grilled. This guy literally insisted that Jeffrey jumped behind the grill and man the helm.

Awkward family photo?

…That’s more like it!

We then bought our (very overpriced?) sopaipilla. He threw on some salsa picante and other mustard-based sauce and we gave it a try — and it was tasty but tasted more like fried dough than squash. Maybe the squash is just minced in together with the dough?

The sopaipillo, at long last…

Either way, the highlight was the zesty salesman more so than the actual snack. Interested in trying it at home? Here’s a recipe!

LA PIOJERA

This literal hole-in-the-wall near the fish market is probably my biggest “must do” in Santiago. It’s a dive bar with tons of locals – in fact, we were the only tourists in the whole bar when we went. Jeffrey and I visited, and it was wall-to-wall with locals having a good time.

Told you… hole in the wall

Terremotos for all!

The rowdy crowd at La Piojera

By the looks of it, Jeffrey’s pretty pleased with his first terremoto!

It was fun to be so intertwined with locals instead of tourists, and we ended up meeting a middle-aged couple who spoke great English and wanted to chat with us all night. I wouldn’t eat here but get a “Terremoto” which is Chile’s version of a Hurricane drink. Delicious …and dangerous. Terremotos are made with pipeño (a type of sweet, fermented white wine) topped with pineapple ice cream. Terremoto translates to “earthquake” and its said that the drink has this name because it makes your legs shaky once you drink it! If you’re brave enough, try a “Replica” (or “Aftershock”) next — it’s the same drink but only half the amount.

OTHER STOPS

Santiago’s Fish Market

La Moneda Palace, the seat of Chile’s President

Iglesia de La Merced, built in 1736

It’s not Chile if you don’t see a lama on the street!

Exploring Santiago is a nice respite from a city filled with hoards of tourists. Don’t forget to buy a “completo” – a burger or hot dog topped with avocados, tomatoes and tons of mayo). You can find these in any street stand, restaurant, etc. This street-side meal will really make you feel like you’re one of the locals.

Completos!

Once you’ve visited the hill and, of course, La Piojera, sit back and enjoy the laid back attitude of the locals!

The post Walking Tour: Exploring Santiago De Chile first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

My wonderful host family (without Elisabetta) and plus Jeffrey!

Here’s my host dad, Leonardo, teaching us how to make limoncello… a very delicious lemon liqueur

Peaking in the Middle Ages, the city never lost its medieval appeal. Once a leader in modernizing, it wasn’t built near a river so, while its rival city (and neighbor) Firenze (Florence) led the world into the Renaissance Age, Siena stayed put in medieval times… and the modern world couldn’t be more thankful. Its main square, Piazza del Campo, is a meeting place for locals and vacationers alike. And, no matter if you were born in Siena and never left the city walls or if you’re just visiting for the day, you just cannot grow tired of lying in the sun in the middle of the Campo, staring up at the bell tower in the sky. With gelato.

In mid-March, we found the weather to be pretty comparable to Charleston:  we needed winter coats but it wasn’t unbearably cold. Check out our self-guided walking tour below. If you want to hit all of the major sights in just a day or two, this is the best way to start:

Total distance: appx 1.4 miles Time: You could walk the entire route in as little as 29 minutes (the city center really is pretty small), but I’d say a minimum of 3-5 hours would be good and even better if you try to use all day to see the sites (including stops for pizza, coffee, gelato and shopping!). You can see Monteriggioni on the map, but it’s a bus or car ride away — not walking distance!

A.  START:  Piazza del Campo.  There’s no better place to start than the center of town and the most famous square in Europe. Featured in the 2008 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, this piazza has a lot more going for it than just James Bonds’ old stomping tracks. The shell-shaped piazza is huge and the perfect place for a lazy day of of sitting in the sun or a lazy night of people watching. The perfect time to visit the Campo is during the Palio, the world-famous bare-backed horse race between contradas in July and August each year. 

My host sister, Elisabetta, and me!

Elisabetta, Jeffrey & me

While you’re here: Don’t miss the Fonte Gaia (Gaia Fountain) (you can’t). Found in the center of the piazza (directly opposite of the tower), this fountain, built in 1342, shows the importance of she-wolves to the Sienese culture. For more on she-wolves and the Sienese, see this article.

Fonte Gaia  source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/

Obviously, the bell tower looming over you (the Torre del Mangia) will peak some curiosity. If you’re up for it, climb to the top. It’s fun to see the view and especially to get a bird’s eye view of what’s going on down in the piazza.

Once you climb down, you may want a snack or at least a coffee. For gelato, head left if you’re walking out of the tower and pop into the gelateria appropriately named Bar Gelateria. My favorite combo is the cioccolato and tiramisu. For coffee, try Bar il Palio, located in the piazza behind the fountain.

B. From the Campo, head uphill on Via di Citta towards the duomo:  Duomo di Siena. This gorgeous cathedral stands out from all other cathedrals because of the ‘zebra’ or black and white interior. Italian duomos’ exteriors are beautifully decorated in all colors – so I can promise you’ll be taking tons of pictures of this cathedral’s facade, too. What a lot of people don’t know about Siena’s duomo is that its builders began with a grand plan:  to make it the biggest duomo in the world…or at least Tuscany! But, because of the Black Plague, the duomo still stands partially unfinished.

C. Right next door to the Duomo, be sure to head into the Museo dell’opera del duomo (6 euros/ticket). This museum has some beautiful paintings, statues, etc., etc., but the must-see item is the view! Climb the spiral staircase to the very top and you’ll get a better view than even the Torre del Mangia can offer!

D. Head back up towards the Campo on Via di Citta, the main road in town. Between the Duomo and the Campo are some fantastic ceramic shops. Be sure to pick up a few ceramic souvenirs – I found people back home really love hand-painted vases.

Source: http://www.sienaonline.it/

E. Eventually, you’ll come to Piazza dei Salimbeni, which, to the untrained eye, will look just like another piazza with another statue, but the building in the back of the piazza is Monte dei Paschi, which is the oldest bank in the world. Yep, the world.

F. From there, continue on Via di Citta, then take a few lefts to get to the Fortezza Medicea (the fort). You can enter through the gates and then climb a hill to walk on top of the fort, with a nice view of that part of the town.

The fort was built between 1561 and 1563, built after the final defeat of Siena by its long-standing rival, Firenze. Because Firenze didn’t want the Sienese to try to recover their independence, they (with the help of the Spanish) constructed the fort. The fort was dematerialized at the end of the 18th century and afterwards opened to the public. It’s now a public park used for festivals, concerts and the annual fair that comes to town.

Source: http://www.borghiditoscana.net/

G. Don’t stay too long at the fort because you’ll need to head to Piazza Gramsci, the main bus stop in Siena. Buses will take you to all of the regional cities and it’s great to take a day (or afternoon) trip to several smaller Tuscan towns. My favorite?

H. Monteriggioni, this small, “barely-a-town”-town is another must-see– and it even has a wall surrounding it! Just be sure to check the bus schedule to plan ahead.

Monteriggioni Source: http://www.ijustdrive.us/

My host sisters Elisabetta & Laura outside of Monteriggioni

The tastiest pasta lunch!

Walls of the town

If you have more questions about Siena or want some recommendations for restaurants, hotels, etc., feel free to comment below or email us!

The post Walking Tour – Siena, Italy first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Although we were excited, every German person we met who found out we were spending a night in Frankfurt was shocked that we’d actually be staying there and not immediately taking the first train out to a “nicer” German city. Red flag, but I guess we’d respond the same way if people told us they were coming to the US only to visit Charlotte, NC — it’s just not a city that tourists frequent very often.

So, with high hopes, we set off to explore Frankfurt. Knowing that it wasn’t a super touristy town (and sort of relaxing a bit since we weren’t even supposed to be there), we focused on eating delicious German food and just walking around the city’s main streets instead of setting off to find the best tourist sites.

The train into the city from the airport was easy to find and cost 4.50 euros (each way) for a 15-17 minute subway ride. Plan on about 45 minutes from airport to city — with the actual train ride + a 15 minute wait in case you just miss the last train + a 10 minute walk from baggage claim to the subway.

Heading down to the train at the airport

As soon as we stepped up into the street from the subway on Saturday morning, the German holiday spirit hit us full force. We had walked right into Frankfurt’s Christmas Market, which seems to span the length of one of the city’s main streets – a year-round pedestrian-only street. Luckily, our hotel was right around the corner, so, we quickly dropped our bags, freshened up a bit and headed back out for some bratwurst.

The Konstablerwache square farmer’s market (Erzeugermarkt Konstablerwache): Every Saturday from 8am to 5pm

Zeil Street

Looking down Große Friedberger Straße

Along with the likes of international stores like Zara, many sidewalk cafes and stalls are selling bratwursts everywhere you look. We looked around for the “best” bratwurst, and finally settled on a bratwurst sandwich from the stall with the longest line. For just 2 euros, the sandwich was served on a light rye roll and you could add your own mustard from the 10kg bucket they had sitting on the counter. Germans love their mustard and we had to wait in a longer line to add the mustard than we did to actually order the brat. Then, 15 minutes later, we passed another popular stall and decided to try some currywurst (sausage chopped up with curry ketchup and curry powder) for 3.50 euros after noticing the food on many locals’ plates. No wonder it was such a popular dish:  it was delicious. The whole street was just a real sausage fest… Do these Frankfurters really eat brats all of the time??

Enjoying a brat from the Konstablerwache square farmer’s market

Bratwurst

Currywurst

But really, at every turn, every German stereotype was fulfilled- much more so than in other parts of Germany. Maybe because of the lack of tourists or maybe because they go all out for the holiday season… either way, let’s just say that you knew without a doubt that you were right in the middle of Germany.

The Lufthansa flight attendants softened their blow of “Frankfurt? Why Frankfurt? That’s terrible!” with an “At least there’s the Christmas Market,” so we were really looking forward to what seemed like a great festival. The main street is decorated with Christmas lights (all over!) and lined with vendors with… you guessed it… mainly brats for sale. Are you supposed to give brats as Christmas gifts?!

More of The Christmas Market

Roßmarkt (Frankfurt am Main)

Old Opera (Alte Oper in Frankfurt am Main): The Original Opera House

It turned out that the best part of the town to explore was the pedestrian-only street, but, after walking around and seeing all we could see of the Christmas Market, we walked around exploring other neighborhoods and, of course, we made a special visit to the main train station.

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof

A SNCF train in from Paris–the Frankfurt-Paris journey only takes 3 hr 49 mins on the high speed rail

Then, Jeffrey found the best rated coffee shop on Trip Advisor, a place called Wacker’s, and we headed there for an afternoon pick-me-up. The place was packed- you could barely find standing room outside!

Wacker’s Kaffee

Wacker’s Kaffee

After exploring the town, we headed out to find dinner and found a little restaurant nearby called Solber Fässje Haxenhaus.

Solber Fässje Haxenhaus

More sausage! And tasty spätzle.

After dinner, we headed back to The Christmas Market because it was the most popular nightlife. We tried some hot wine with whipped cream on top and hung around under the lights with the locals.

Walking along Zeil, Frankfurt’s main pedestrian street

When we left our hotel at 10am on Sunday morning to head back to the airport, the streets were dead. A few shopkeepers were out cleaning up, but everything was closed and no one was walking on the streets. The Christmas Market was packed up and revelers weren’t bumping into you at every turn.

I’m glad our stop in Frankfurt was on a Saturday because I think we got to experience the best of Frankfurt in those few short hours.

BOTTOM LINE: Frankfurt was a fun city to spend 24 hours, but there’s probably not much more to see after the first day. We left thinking that many Frankfurters are just giant caricatures of every German stereotype, from the food to the dress to the decorations in every store/restaurant. Although I’d make Munich or Berlin my first stop on a trip to Germany, Frankfurt has plenty of cool things to see and it was a fun surprise to experience the Christmas celebrations in a new town and country.

The post Bratwursts Galore! Sightseeing around Frankfurt, Germany first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

With appx. 1.5 million people in the metropolitan area, Florence is also the most populous city in Tuscany and a must-visit on any trip to the area. Most visitors stay in Florence and then day-trip to other Tuscan towns. Not that I would suggest that plan… but, then again, I’m biased:  Florence and Siena were equal in size and power in the medieval time. But, because Florence was located on a river and Siena was not, the vital transportation line helped Florence to grow, leading the world into the Renaissance Age, while Siena stayed a charming medieval town.

Florence is perfect for the average traveler because there’s everything you’re looking for:  gorgeous rolling Tuscan hills, a vibrantly colored Duomo, famous Italian leather for sale … and there’s always someone who speaks English right around the corner. The weather in mid-March was mild but still not as warm as our time in Bordeaux, France a few days earlier. Still, the sun always shines in Tuscany.

There’s no wonder that Florence is one of the most loved cities in the world. If it’s your first time or your 20th, here’s a walking guide that will help you explore the city. And, don’t worry, it includes a stop for gelato.

Total distance: appx 2.36 miles (or 3.8 km)

Time: Walking straight from point to point will take you about 46 minutes, but, if you’re visiting both art galleries and stopping for gelato, I think it will realistically take you much longer. You can even make a day of it!

Day of the week:  Museums in Florence alternate opening and closing days so that not all museums are closed on the same day. Some close on Sundays, others on Mondays and a few others on Tuesdays. My personal favorites, the Uffizi and the Galleria dell’Accademia (you can find Michelangelo’s David sculpture here), are both closed on Mondays. And, if you’re interested in shopping at the San Lorenzo Market, its usually open Monday – Saturday (closed Sundays).

A. Santa Maria Novella Train Station
Address: Piazza della Stazione

Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Train Station

Santa Maria Novella Train Station

Florence’s main train station is located right in the center of Florence, within walking distance to most of the main tourist attractions. The walking tour starts at the station because you’ll likely arrive in Florence via a train. If you do, in fact, arrive to Florence’s airport…lucky you! The bus that takes you from the airport to downtown drops you off at the bus station (located on Via Santa Caterina da Siena), which is, conveniently, just a block from the train station…

Stazione di Santa Maria Novella is one of Italy’s busiest train stations and is used by more than 59 million people each year. One of the best things about this station is that you can store your bags/luggage there if you’re just in Florence for a short time. I’ve used this service multiple times and find it reliable and very, very convenient – saving me from lugging suitcases around the city. For hours and pricing, click here.

B. Gallery of the Academy
Address: Via Bettino Ricasoli, 60
Hours: Tues – Sun 8:00 a.m. – 6:30pm, closed Mon
Price: 6.50 euros at the door; more if you reserve online

….Ok, so, maybe the outside isn’t much to look at…  (source: http://bit.ly/1nQoSWq)

From the train station, you’ll head immediately to the Gallery of the Academy (Galleria dell’Accademia), where Michelangelo’s statue of David is housed. Because lines can literally take all day both here and at the Uffizi, it’s best to purchase your tickets ahead of time (even though it costs a small bit more) so you can skip the long wait. You can reserve your tickets to both the Galleria and the Uffizi in advance by visiting the Firenze Musei office, located in the Chiesa di Orsanmichele (Via dei Calzauoli) or online at ItalyGuides.it (for a substantial fee).

source: http://bit.ly/1ibmhaw

The top must-see at the Galleria is Michelangelo’s David, but don’t miss Botticelli’s Madonna and Child. The statue of David is truly astonishing– I was blown away by the size of it!

C.  San Lorenzo Market
Address: Piazza San Lorenzo
Hours: Hours Vary; roughly Mon – Sat 10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.

source: http://bit.ly/1nkZrdP

The San Lorenzo Market is a fun experience in Florence, but I can’t promise that you’ll find anything that you just have to take home. They do have some leather goods, but not any of good quality. But, if you’re looking for an Italia T-shirt, you’ll find plenty of those…

Here I am while studying abroad a few years back…

D. Piazza del Duomo
Price: Access to the Duomo is free; the Bell Tower, Dome and Baptistry all have separate tickets
Hours: Mon – Wed, Fri: 10am – 5pm; Thurs: 10am – 4pm; Sat: 10am – 4:45pm; Sun: 1:30pm – 4:45pm
Dome: Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 6:20pm

Florence’s Duomo and Belltower

At the very top of my list of places to visit in Florence is Piazza del Duomo. What I like to think of as the heart of the city, the piazza is always full of life and, if you climb to the top of the dome (or bell tower), the very best view of the city. If you’re on a really short trip to Florence, the Duomo is a really short walk straight from the train station.

The Duomo’s official name is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, built between 1296 and 1436 with a facade of pink and green marble. Interestingly, the cathedral is one of Italy’s largest churches and the dome was the largest in the world for a long time.  It’s still the world’s largest brick dome.

Once you’ve marveled at the outward beauty, take a look inside. The interior is beautiful, but no real difference from most other European cathedrals. The real draw here, in my opinion, is the dome. Head up and take a look from there…

Climb the bell tower and visit the Baptistry if you must, but I’d skip it. You’ve got gelato to eat!

Next…

E.  Vivoli Gelato
Address: Via Dell’Isola delle Stinche, 7r
Hours: Mon – Sat 7:30am – 12am, Sun 9am – 9pm

source: http://bit.ly/1rocVIA

source: http://bit.ly/1yCvlu2

Throw any ideas of diets out the window and spring for three scoops of gelato. It’ll run you only about 3 euros and might be the most delicious thing you’ve tasted in decades.

Vivoli is widely known as one of the best gelateris in the city where gelato was invented, so it’s literally impossible to go wrong. Vivoli opened in 1932 when brothers began making gelato.

Although it’s hidden on a small street, it’s only a short walk around the corner to Piazza Santa Croce, so not too far off the beaten path. I tried the tiramisu and cioccolato (chocolate) flavors.

After you’ve made the hardest decision of your day and chosen your three flavors, head out of the shop and just around the corner to enjoy your gelato in Piazza Santa Croce…

F. Piazza Santa Croce
Price: Free!

source: http://bit.ly/1uV0nZd

The stone benches in one of the main squares of the city seem like they were made for you to sit and eat gelato. And, this snack comes with entertainment, too! There’s always someone putting on a show in the crowded piazza. It’s the perfect combination of people watching and staring at the cathedral that overlooks the piazza…I could sit there for hours, mesmerized by the beauty of yet another Italian facade.

And, don’t miss that the Basilica of Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world… and, Niccolò Machiavelli is buried here.

G. Uffizi Gallery
Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6
Hours: Tues – Sun 8:15am – 6:50pm, closed Mon
Price: 6.50 euros at the door; 15 euros if you reserve online via their website

source: http://bit.ly/1wkcu4N

source: http://bit.ly/1li8ZIL

Hopefully you can skip the line at the Uffizi and head right in. If not, at least you have some gelato in your belly… (In high season, wait times can be as long as five hours. This is serious stuff.)

The Uffizi is one of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe and is one of the best places to see history come to life in Florence. The building, which was built beginning in 1560, was first constructed as offices for the Florentine magistrates. Over the years, artwork commissioned by the House of Medici was put on display here, and it’s said that artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangeo gathered at the Uffizi “for beauty, for work and for recreation.” 

So, basically what I’m saying is that this place is a must-see for even the most famous artists in the world…

Must-sees in the 45+ rooms:  This obviously depends on your own personal taste, but I’d say da Vinci’s work in Room 15 and Michelangelo in Room 25. One of my favorite artists is Botticelli, and he’s in Rooms 10-14.

H. Ponte Vecchio
Hours: Most stores along the Ponte Vecchio are open until about 7:30pm

View from the bridge

The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) is famous for its picturesque and traditional jewelry shops, but mostly just as an icon of Florence. I love the Ponte Vecchio, but have found the shops lining it to be over-priced tourist gimmicks, but maybe it’s just me…

The bridge itself is a Medieval stone bridge over the Arno River. Back when it was built, shops along the bridge were common. It spans the Arno at its narrowest point and was built in 1117 to replace a Roman bridge made of wood. The current bridge was rebuilt again in 1345.

Two fun facts:

The concept of bankruptcy was (allegedly) started here… When a money-changer could not pay his debts, the table on which he sold his wares (the “banco”) was physically broken (“rotto”) by soldiers, and this practice was called “bancorotto” (broken table; possibly it can come from “banca rotta” which means “broken bank”). Not having a table anymore, the merchant was not able to sell anything.

And, this was the only bridge in Florence not destroyed by the Germans during their World War II retreat in August 1944.

I. Osteria dei Baroncelli
Address: Chiasso dei Baroncelli, 1
Hours: Lunch & Dinner every day: 12pm – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 10pm

source: http://bit.ly/1m2KdYq

Jeffrey had visited this little hidden gem when he visited a friend who had studied abroad here more than 5 years ago. The owner still remembered Jeffrey’s friend and even grabbed a bottle of Chianti and asked us to give it to him the next time we saw him.

Besides the owner’s genuine interest in his patrons, the food is delicious, too (but have you ever tasted bad pasta?). It features typical Tuscan specialties, so there’s a different pasta and sauce for every person in your group. Even if you have a party of 20.

Here’s Jeffrey with the owner, Guiseppe

More Pictures

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