My Bucket List: Firenze

I’m very fortunate to have visited the historic city of Florence, not once but three times, and it took me this many tries to accomplish the items on my Bucket List. I saw great works of art at the renowned Uffizi Gallery; toured locations featured in Dan Brown’s novel Inferno; and sampled unique Tuscan cuisine. But no visit to Florence is ever long enough.

Skyline of Firenze, or Florence

My Favourite Films for Armchair Travel

I’ve been thinking a lot about movies lately, probably because it’s awards season. And the cold winter weather makes we want to curl up on the couch and escape, preferably to someplace warm. My DVD collection satisfies my wanderlust with sunny scenes from the south of France and intrigue in the shadowy alleyways of Venice. Here are my top picks from the last ten years with links to the movie trailers.

French Riviera

The Tuscan Hill Town of San Gimignano

Thirty miles southwest of Florence in the rolling hills of Tuscany is San Gimignano, the Town of Fine Towers. Our visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site was a pleasant break from the cultural overload of Florence and Rome. Only 14 of the town’s original 72 towers remain standing but they create a dramatic skyline. And while wandering the streets of this picturesque town I sampled award-winning gelato, a traditional Tuscan sausage and one of Italy’s oldest wines.

San Gimignano, the Town of Fine Towers

Travel Theme: Doorways

What a great travel photo theme this week, thanks to Ailsa at Where's my Backpack? When I'm travelling around Europe I see all kinds of interesting doorways. Moving north to south, my first doorway is pretty in pink at the Royal College of Organists building in London. The facade resembles a giant cameo.

Royal College of Organists, London