Travel with Julie

10 Things That Make Me Happy in Tuscany

Ever since Frances Mayes introduced us to her fairy tale Tuscan life, I have had a love affair with Tuscany.  As difficult as it was, I have narrowed down a list of 10 things that make me utterly happy in this extraordinary place:

1. Dining at La Bucaccia in Cortona.  With its history, location, and charm aside, this restaurant holds a very special place in my heart because of its owners: Romano, his wife and chef, Agostina, and their daughter, Franscesca.  The ambiance is unlike any other in Tuscany, and the food is beyond superb. Romano's exuberance will entertain you all the way from antipasti to dessert.  My favorite dish?  Hard to say.  I usually set the menu aside and ask Romano to "surprise" me.
2. Shopping for Tuscan paintings at the Rotini Art Gallery in San Gimignano.  From beautiful landscapes to abstract modern art, Rotini features top local artists.  Well known, and well trusted, Rotini will provide framing and shipping to ensure the safe arrival of your treasured piece.
3. Visiting the Abbey of Sant'Antimo (near Montalcino) to hear the monks chanting. Twice daily, the monks assemble in the church for prayers. It is especially beautiful and most sacred during the evening prayers when the sun has set and the hills have silenced, as if in total reverence of the moment.
4. Sampling pecorino cheese in Pienza.  The entire town smells of cheese!
5. Visiting and cooking with friends Carla, Mama Gina, and Gioa in the beautiful Vopaia trattoria, La Bottega. Carla whips up the best ribollita, white beans with Italian sausage, and wild boar sauce I've ever eaten. And although there is a slight language barrier between us, it never dampens lively spirited conversation!
6. Spending a lazy afternoon in one of my favorite wineries and catching up with old friends, and making new ones:  Paola at Poggio Antico; and Carla at Casalvento.
7. Shopping the Florence markets: San Lorenzo and Mercato Nuovo.  I absolutely adore the silk scarves and leather handbags sold here. And the prices can't be beat!  If only I could squeeze more into my luggage!
8. Sitting unders the stars in the courtyard of my favorite agriturismo, Livernano -- an utmost serene and ethereal experience. 
9. Attending an opera performance in St. Mark's Church in Florence.
10. Driving through the countryside with no destination in mind. The rolling hills, sun flower fields, vineyards, olive groves, cypress trees, hilltop villages and red-roofed villas scream romance and photographic perfection.

A Day at the Pool

A staycation isn't all that bad when you can spend it in the pool with your favorite four-legged friends! Watch the video here!

Travelogged Blog Carnival

First, what is a blog carnival?  It is a kind of blog event; similar to a magazine.  A blog carnival typically collects links pointing to blog articles on a particular topic.

Second, I'm excited that one of my posts (10 Things That Make Me Happy in Rome) was selected for Travelogged Blog Carnival.

Be A Safety-Conscientious Traveler in Europe

With numerous European trips under my belt, I can honestly say that I have never once felt threatened or unsafe. Maybe that is because my 6'1'' husband (who looks fierce even when smiling) is with me. Or, maybe it is because I try to be keenly aware of my surroundings. Nevertheless, here are a few things to watch for while visiting European cities:

• Gypsy thieves.  Along Trajan's Forum in Rome, three ragamuffins approached my husband. Two tried to distract him by ranting wildly in Italian. The other touched him in a way that implied she was searching for a pocket.  He swiped the girl's hand away and shouted NO very firmly. They ran away.

• Metro bag snatchers and pickpockets.  Thieves look for unsuspecting people in the subway and on trains.  Seconds before the doors close, they can snatch a bag and jump off the train.  On crowded trains (which many of them are in tourist areas), thieves can masterfully pickpocket those standing around them.

• Fake police.  These are costumed people claiming to be police officers.  They flash fake badges and then quickly put them away, asking to see identification.  They then attempt to steal passports, money, and other belongings. 

• Scam artists.  On our first visit to Rome's Colosseum, men in gladiator costumes invited us to have our picture taken with them.  One posed while the other snapped the photo with our camera.  Then, they demanded 5 euro for the photo.  Another example:  a girl in ethnic attire approached us in Paris asking if we spoke English.  She then handed us a notecard detailing a tragic story that ended with a plea for money.  

• The overly helpful stranger.  In Paris, a stranger stopped my husband and stooped to pick something up off the ground.  The man handed him a silver ring (akin to a wedding band), rattled something off in French, patted him on the arm, and then skedaddled off.  Because my husband's ring was still on his finger, we assumed the ring had been lost by someone else.  It wasn't until later when the same exact scenario happened a few blocks away that we realized it was a pickpocket scam. 

• The distressed tourist.   Usually an English-speaking person claiming that he/she has been robbed and desperately needs money for a hotel room, flight, or something else. 

These are just a few of the clever tactics scam artists and thieves attempt to pull on trusting tourists.  The best plan of attack is to keep your belongings close, be cautious of distractions, and don't let anyone give you anything that you don't want. It is a good idea to know how to say "Police" in the local language.  If at anytime you find yourself in a threatening situation, do not hesitate to yell for the police.

Women's Travel Stories Take Me Around The World

It's no secret that I love to travel.  The next best thing?  Reading about travel.  My current read is The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008, edited by Lucy McCauley. A collection of travel tales written by women writers, this book will introduce you to people and places around the world.  And while you are not with them physically, you will experience the soul, humor, and heart of each person and place in every word.

I am loving this book so much, I have The Best Women's Travel Writing 2009 waiting in the wings!