Florence, Italy

Ponte Vecchio

San Lorenzo Market

Gusta Pizza

Duomo

Basilica di Santa Croce

Rome in a Day, Pt. 2

And so continued our long, long day in Rome.

Piazza Navona

As we left the Pantheon, we made our way towards the next point of interest: Piazza Navona.

Piazza Navona is one of the city’s main squares, which also means tourist traps galore. Rome as a whole is a haven for tourist trappers, but Piazza Navona seems to be the where they all culminate. I’m talking about overpriced cafés, overly friendly street performers, and overly similar street ‘artists.’ All that aside, it is a beautiful piazza nonetheless with plenty of nice fountains and buildings, and it’s definitely worth a visit.

From there, we made our way west towards Vatican City, with a few detours on the way.

Let me get this out of the way–there is a lot to see in Vatican City. If possible, it is definitely best to spend an entire day there, but we only had a day to see all of Rome, so time management was key. Regardless, a good portion of the day was spent at the Vatican, and it’s a holy place, a tiny place, and a beautiful place. Highlights include St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and of course, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Square

Vatican Museums

Sistine Chapel

Vatican City & Rome, as seen from the top of St. Peter’s Basilica

Now, I know what you guys are wondering: ‘Where’s the gelato?!’ Fret not, friends, for Vatican City is also home to Old Bridge Gelateria, some of the best gelato known to man as far as I know. Cheap, creamy, and delicious; it’s no wonder the line almost always goes out the door and down the block, and it’s more than worth it.

Our last stop in Rome was the Spanish Steps at the Piazza di Spagna, just in time for the late sunset. It’s also another popular tourist area, and an even more popular tourist trapper area (do not grab the roses!). Nevertheless, it remains a beautiful place to sit, drink, eat, etc. The climb to the top of the steps treats you to a decent view of Rome’s skyline and a chance to visit the Trinità dei Monti church.

Spanish Steps

Trinità dei Monti

But our trip to Italy wasn’t finished yet… Next stop: Firenze!

Rome in a Day, Pt. 1

Travel isn’t always about immersing yourself in a foreign culture and absorbing the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells that make a place special. Unfortunately, sometimes travel is simply about whipping out the camera and city map and being a tourist, especially when traveling on a tight time frame. This past weekend, that’s exactly what me and my partner-in-travel did.

This weekend consisted of a brief tour of Italy– Rome and Florence specifically. The first stop was Rome, and with only one full day to see the city, our plates were full (with both lasagna and things to do). Let’s get this out of the way first: Rome is epic. It’s a pretty big city with absolutely tons of awesome stuff to see. Stunning ancient landmarks are so common that it’s disorienting when your eyes aren’t looking at something amazing.

Doing Rome in one day isn’t the easiest of tasks, but it’s certainly doable. For us, it required a bit more than 12 straight hours of walking (not an ideal scenario for my worn-out Vans). Obviously, you won’t be able to do/see everything you’d like to in just a day, but you can definitely get damn close. I’ll guide you through the process. First up: The Colosseum.

To actually see this thing in person feels like a dream. Built in 80 AD, the Colosseum still stands today largely intact. It is without a doubt one of the most impressive works of architecture in Rome, and it certainly has the most interesting history. Everyone knows about the bloody chaos that went on in these walls for the sake of spectators’ entertainment. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to catch a gladiator battle, but the Colosseum itself is enough of a spectacle.

Inner Wall

Outer Wall

Just a stone’s throw away from the Colosseum is the Roman Forum. Although we didn’t have a chance to get inside the archaeological center, a great deal of the Forum is still visible from the surrounding streets and pathways. Once a busy public square in ancient times, the Forum remains a popular sight today, with some monuments still intact. If you have the time, definitely pay to get in, but if not, it’s an impressive sight nonetheless.

Roman Forum

Arch of Titus

A bit north of the Forum is another major monument, the Victor Emmanuel II monument. Dedicated to the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, this monument is made of a striking white marble, making it one of the easiest buildings to spot in Rome. Located at the Piazza Venezia, the monument is also home to Rome’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Victor Emmanuel II monument

Piazza Venezia

Next on our list was the famous Trevi Fountain, but not with a quick pitstop for some Italian lunch. All this walking demands fuel (in the form of carb-overload, of course).

With delicious, meaty lasagna in our bellies, we continued to make our way towards the fountain. Upon our arrival at Trevi Fountain, we found ourselves both impressed and infuriated at the same time. The movies will have you believe that Trevi Fountain is a place of beauty and romance, but this is far from the truth. I would instead describe it as a chaotic clusterf***.

Trevi Fountain

Don’t get me wrong; the fountain is beautiful– stunning, really, but at the same time, it is absolutely swarming with tourists. It is a tourist attraction, after all, but this was something else. On a nice day, Trevi Fountain is so packed that it’s hard to breathe. You really have to push and squeeze your way through hoards of visitors and tourist trappers to get a decent look at the fountain up-close. The experience is stressful (a shame considering how awe-inspiring the fountain really is), but if you can get past all that, it’s more than worth it to see the amazing Trevi Fountain. Just don’t expect it to be too relaxing.

Next, we made our way west towards the Pantheon. By far one of the most impressive architectural works in the city, the Pantheon as it stands today was built in 126 AD. How it stands so perfectly intact today is beyond me, but I sure as hell ain’t complaining.

The Pantheon

Used today as a Roman Catholic church, the Pantheon’s design consists of a portico with large granite columns leading into the massive rotunda, which features a large dome ceiling with an oculus to let light in. The light from the oculus and the front door are the only sources of light for the massive building, creating a pretty cool lighting effect. The light shining from the oculus moves around the room in an circle as the sun rises and sets.

Ceiling and oculus in the Pantheon

Interior of the Pantheon

The Pantheon is definitely one of Rome’s top sights. It’s one of the most unique buildings I’ve visited, and it’s a truly special piece of ancient history. But there’s still much more to see in Rome in a day.

Stick around for Rome in a Day, Pt. 2 for the rest: Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Vatican City, and more!

A Humble Hike in Holyrood Park

A sunny day in Edinburgh? Call it a miracle, if you please, but I prefer to call it a perfect excuse to hike up to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park.

Located right in the heart of Edinburgh, Holyrood Park is a truly remarkable example of grassy Scottish highlands. Originally a Royal Park in the 16th century, the park, now open to the public, features several astonishing hills, quarries, crags, and lochs (lakes). The highest of these hills is Arthur’s Seat, summiting at 251 meters, making it the highest point in Edinburgh.

Arthur’s Seat

The hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat isn’t a typical walk in the park, but it’s nothing too strenuous either. Regardless of your skill level, the hike is more than worth it. The beauty of the park never ceases to impress the entire way up, and the panoramic views of the city from the peak are a juicy reward.

On the way up…

Almost there…

Arthur’s Seat

At the top of Arthur’s Seat…

Arthur’s Seat is Our Seat

Me & Edinburgh

Royal Mile

In Edinburgh, things are given simple names. The Royal Mile, for example, runs one Scots mile long and ends on each side at a royal landmark (Edinburgh Castle on the west side and Holyrood Abbey at the east). If you’re a visitor to Edinburgh, you’ll probably be spending quite a bit of time here. Typical Scottish gift shops, whisky shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, etc. can be found on this series of streets that comprise the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, as well as several notable city landmarks.

St. Giles’ Cathedral, High Kirk (Church) of Edinburgh

There’s one easy way to spot a tourist on the Royal Mile, and no, it’s not simply the “I ♥ Edinburgh” t-shirts (why anybody would wear a t-shirt in Scotland is beyond me anyway). Located outside of St. Giles’ Cathedral is the Heart of Midlothian. What was once the location of the Old Tolbooth, where public executions took place, is now the location of… a lot of spit. That’s right, the Heart of Midlothian (pictured below) symbolizes the heart that marked the doorway to the Old Tolbooth Prison in the 15-18th centuries. The public would spit on the heart to show their disgust towards criminals. Keeping the tradition alive today, locals spit on the heart, which is now engraved into the sidewalk, for good luck; tourists walk right through it. I chose to partake in the former option. There’s something oddly rewarding about watching tourists walk through your own saliva. I proudly left my mark in Edinburgh.

Heart of Midlothian

There’s a lot going on in Edinburgh’s Old Town, and the Royal Mile is at the heart of it all. Bagpipes and harps fill the air with delightful Scottish sounds, complementing the hustle and bustle of the busy street(s). A stroll along the Royal Mile is well worth your time, but be sure to make your way off the beaten path as well. There’s much more to Edinburgh than meets the eye, and there’s certainly more to Edinburgh than the Royal Mile.

City of the Week: Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland’s capital city is a beautiful and lively one. Windy roads and dark alleyways pave the way through a city of bagpipes, cashmere kilts, and Scotch whisky. Gothic architecture is not uncommon along with a variety of other alluring buildings, including castles, spires, and cathedrals. Parks, cemeteries, and underground vaults give the city a haunting feel, and it’s got a haunting history to boot, with plenty of witch killing and body snatching. To top it all off, the entire city is easily accessible by foot. To use any other form of transportation is entirely unnecessary for a visitor. Beautiful Edinburgh is one of a kind, and any traveler in the United Kingdom would be a fool not to visit.

Day Trip: Howth

A proper trip to Dublin isn’t complete without a trip to its waterfront suburb, Howth. Located on the Howth Head peninsula, this cool little village features a busy harbor, beautiful hiking paths, and fresh local food. Notable sights include the Howth Castle, Howth Lighthouse, and Ireland’s Eye. To get the full effect, however, a hike to the summit of Howth is a must. In any case, Howth is a charming little village, providing the beauty of nature at a grand scale as well as man-made wonders such as ice cream shops and fish & chip joints. Central Dublin is lively and great, but Howth is awesome in a very different way. So do yourself a favor and catch a train to one of the coolest part’s of Dublin that otherwise might not be getting the attention it deserves.

Ireland's Eye

Temple Bar

Temple Bar is your go-to neighborhood if you’re looking for a fun night out in Dublin. Pubs and clubs are more than plentiful, but be warned: the area is full of tourist traps in the form of overpriced and overcrowded bars, especially on the main strip (you’ll know when you’re there). That being said, there are some truly great spots that stand out, and these are the ones that make Temple Bar and its surroundings so wonderful. My personal favorite was The Porterhouse, with multiple floors, live music, more beers on tap than you can count to, and a friendly staff. During my short visit to Dublin, I already felt like a local there thanks to the great staff. The bartender (one of dozens) not only recognized me, but remembered my drink order! Awesome!

If there’s no live music, it ain’t Dublin. Almost any worthwhile bar in the area (and even out of the area) is going to have some live tunage for its patrons, whether it’s one man playing acoustic covers or a three-piece ensemble rocking out to authentic Irish folk music. Either way, it’s awesome, and it truly sets Dublin apart from any other place in terms of authentic, cheerful nightlife; there’s nothing else like it. There are few things more rewarding in life than watching two Finnish brothers join a rowdy Irish dance competition while the locals riverdance to live Irish tunes. And trust me, this only happens in Dublin.

And don’t think for a minute that the awesome music is exclusive to the bars. The madness continues on the streets of Temple Bar. Check it out:

Trinity College

Talk about a beautiful campus. It’s not too often that a university is one of a capital city’s top attractions, but in the case of Dublin’s Trinity College, it makes perfect sense. Located right in the center of Dublin, Ireland’s oldest university remains a prestigious academic institution to this day, and it’s got eye candy to boot. Remarkable works of architecture comprise the campus grounds as beautiful buildings (new and old) surround alluring courtyards, statues, trees, etc.

Notable Trinity alumni include the likes of Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, and Jonathan Swift, to name a few. University staff members wander the campus wearing cloaks, the style of which depends on their position. It’s almost haunting. Regardless, the big attraction at Trinity College is the Book of Kells, located in the Old Library. If your not a student of the college, it’ll cost you to get in, but it’s worth checking out (you can’t actually “check it out” of the library, obviously) the Book of Kells as well as other impressive, ancient collections in the beautiful library. Fun Fact: the Old Library was digitally recreated inch-for-inch in Attack of the Clones (The university wouldn’t let George Lucas actually film inside).

The Old Library, home to the Book of Kells

The Arts building, supposedly designed to resemble the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Uh...

Every student's least favorite building: The Exam Hall

City of the Week: Dublin, Ireland

I wasn’t sure what to expect when visiting the Irish capital, so let’s just say I was blown away when I arrived in a city so full of life, lovely lads & lasses, and live music. To put it simply, Dublin is awesome. Awesome people, awesome culture, awesome bars, awesome music, awesome food– awesome city. The city’s distinct yet equally intriguing neighborhoods have been, and remain today, home to a variety of interesting characters. Many artists and authors, both natives and foreigners, have drawn inspiration from the city, including James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, W. B. Yeats, and Bram Stoker. Surely the rowdy pubs were lovely places of inspiration for them as well. Irish porters, stouts, and whiskeys are all phenomenal, but there’s much more than the drinks that makes Dublin such a great place. The city (and the country as a whole) has had a long and bloody history, but today it stands proud as the capital of the Republic of Ireland. This is Ireland at its best, and its best is simply amazing.