Perfect one day trip from Florence to Pisa

Hello there! We have just come back from Italy, and I couldn’t wait to share with you all the adventures hoping that maybe it would inspire you to book a flight and go see it yourself. Today I would like to share with you a detailed itinerary of the trip to the city of Pisa. When I was choosing the places to see in Italy, I added the leaning tower of Pisa just to check it off my bucket list. After I saw it with my own eyes, I can tell you that it’s a must-visit in Italy, because no matter how many photos you see, how many postcards you get, the pictures are not able to show you how majestic and stunning the tower and cathedral are.

Anyway, we started the day with a traditional Italian breakfast we grabbed at the railway station. Then we found our train and it took us an hour to get to Pisa.

To get from Florence to Pisa:
1. It takes about an hour to get from Firenze SMN to Pisa Centrale.
2. We spent 34.80 EURO for 2 round-trip tickets with Trenitalia.

Once we arrived at Pisa Centrale railway station, we walked to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and stopped by a small grocery store to buy some refreshments (it was a really hot August day).

From Pisa Centrale to The Leaning Tower:
– Leaning Tower of Pisa is only a mile away from the railway station, so we walked to see more of the city.
– There is also a bus that can take you from the railway station all the way to the tower.

What we did and saw:

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa
2. Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
3. Campo Santo
4. The Baptistery
5. Borgo Stretto
6. Santa Maria Della Spina
7. Walked along the river Arno
8. Ponte di Mezzo
9. Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo
10. Had lunch at one of the restaurants, and enjoyed gelato far from touristy areas on the way back.

We took at least a couple of hours to walk around Pisa, so we could take a closer look at the life of the city. Even though the Leaning Tower of Pisa was our primary reason for visiting this place, it was really nice to see more than that. Because, in the end, people, their lifestyle, culture, and habits are what makes every place so incredibly unique.

P.S. If you’re coming by car, you definitely have to drive to Marina di Pisa and treat yourself to some beautiful views and their specialty seafood!

XX,
Gena.

Milan for a day

Hello there! Today’s post is about one of the most touristy places in Italy – Milan. When I was planning a trip, I honestly wanted to stay here at least for 3 days, so we would have enough time to explore everything. But, there were places like Florence and Bologna where I have never been as well. Long story short, all I was trying to do was finally check Duomo Milano and “Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci off my bucket list. There are so many things to do/ try in Milan that I’m sure you may need at least a week for everything. However, if you have only one full day in Milan, here are a few suggestions:

1. Plan wisely: you came all this way to see beautiful Milan, and you only have limited time to do it. So, pick a few main attractions and make reservations in advance. For example, our trip to Milan was in August, so I tried to book a couple of tickets to see “Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci in June. There were no tickets available anymore.

ACCOMMODATION
We stayed at the hotel called “Barcelo Milan” just outside the city center and were pleasantly surprised! If you also like getting away from touristic areas, I highly recommend it!

FOOD
Milan is not cheap, and I didn’t have luck finding authentic places where only locals would dine like it happened last year in Rome. However, here are a few suggestions where both locals and tourists eat.

Breakfast:
– Pavé
– Bar Pasticceria Rovida
– Maria Marinoni (conveniently located next to train station)

COFFEE:
– Caffé Napoli Brera
– Starbucks Reserve (Even if you’re not a fan of Starbucks in the USA, trust me, this one will surprise you).

GELATO:
– Gelateria Toldo
– Gelato Giusto.

LUNCH:
– Piz Milan (really good & cheap pizza)
– Pasta Fresca da Giovanni (the best pasta but opened only a couple of days per week).

APERITIVO:
– Café Madeira
– Yguana Café.

TRANSPORTATION:
1. Use Google Maps to make the routes;
2. To get from the airport to the city center, you will have to take a train or bus. You can purchase the tickets for any of them in the airport, just make sure you have cash (preferably) or debit card to use.
3. 24-hour pass for the bus, metro, and tram costs €4.50 and can be purchased at only Newsstands or Tabacchi stores.

What to visit:
– Duomo Milano (get the “fast pass”, so you can skip the long line and see everything in less time)
– La Scala Opera
– Brera&Braidense National Library
– Navigli Canals (in the evening)
– Santa Maria Delle Grazie for “Last Supper”
– Museo Leonardo Da Vinci
– Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II
– Museum San Siro Milan (my husband is a soccer fan, so he had a blast there). 

This was my day in Milan, Italy. I hope your adventure will be as amazing as mine was. And, the last but not least: no matter what your “must visit” list looks like, there is one thing I learned about Italy – you always find something else to see on the way to another museum or basilica. That’s just how the things are here. No wonder we are never able to stick to the plan – we end up somewhere else sooner or later, and manage to see a lot of places that were didn’t plan to see. I think that’s the beauty of traveling to Italy!

XX,
Gena.

Best of Italy in 7 days

Hello there! My husband and I have just come back from Europe and I am ready to share the first part of it – beautiful Italy. Last year we visited only Rome and Naples, so the plan for this trip was to explore a little more. The adventure turned out to be pretty busy because of the complex itinerary. However, when you fly from far away, and you have been saving your “vacation” days for this one trip, you try to see and do as much as possible. So, if you’re considering visiting this part of Italy, today’s post is for you.

 Our itinerary included: 
– 1.5 days in Milan, Italy
– 2 days in Florence 
– 1-day trip to the city of Pisa
– 2 days in Bologna
– 1-day trip to Modena
…and the train from Bologna, Italy to Munich, Germany.

Arriving in Italy:
Milan is among the cheapest airports in Italy, so, after I determined the places I would like us to visit, we booked the flight from Austin, TX to London Heathrow Airport, and then another one to Milan, Italy.
P.S. if you have plenty of time in London and travel with a carry-on, you can always save some $$ if you fly from the airport other than Heathrow International’s Airport. Low-cost airlines like Ryanair and Wyzzair offer really good deals.

Getting around Italy:
One of the reasons I really enjoy visiting multiple places in Italy is their railway system. There are two major companies operating in Italy railways: Trenitalia and ItaloTreno.
Last year we had our first experience with a privately operated company called “ItaloTreno”, and we excited to use it again as well as give “Trenitalia” a try. The difference between these two companies: the level of comfort, traveling time and price.

Traveling time for our itinerary:
– it takes 2 hours to get from Milan (Mi Centrale) to Florence (Firenze SNM) with ItaloTreno;
– 35 minutes to arrive in Bologna (Bologna Centrale) from Florence (Firenze SNM) using ItaloTreno;
– the train from Florence (Firenze SMN) to Pisa Centrale will take anywhere fro 47 minutes to an hour with Trenitalia.
– the trip from Bologna (Bologna Centrale) to Modena (Modena Centrale) will take about 30 minutes.

How much does it cost?
Both trains are relatively cheap comparing to, let’s say, “Amtrack” in the USA. For example, if you book with “ItaloTreno”, a round trip ticket Bologna-Florence during high-peak travel season costs €12.90 per person. “Trenitalia” will be even cheaper but may take a little longer to arrive.

Accommodation in Italy:
When in Italy, we stayed at the hotels and B&Bs. Try to book in advance and stay outside of the city center, so you can also experience the non-touristic areas and find the best cafes and restaurants. However, you may need to take a bus to get to the main attractions.

Local transport in Italy:
– Italy has really amazing public transport network including buses and metros. The tickets can be purchased at newspaper stands and Tabacchi shops. One way ticket costs up to ‎€2, and you must validate it when entering the bus. After that, it is valid for 75 minutes and can be used in any bus or metro. An important thing to remember is that services are limited during the weekends. There are always options like 24-48 hour pass and tickets that are good for any 10 rides that can save you an additional $$.

To get to/from the airport:
– Since the airports are far from the cities, you will have to use a train to get to the center and it may cost you anywhere from €11 to €13 per person.

FOOD:
– In order to avoid getting into touristy traps with frozen pizzas and poor quality of food, I would highly suggest trying to find the places where locals (or both tourists and locals) eat. Make a list in advance, ask a friend who lives in Italy or your apartment host for recommendations.

And the last, but not least:
– plan ahead of time;
– investigate where you can withdraw the money with the lowest interest rate based on your bank;
– don’t try to do too many things at once: it really easy to overload the trip and go for quantity over quality;
– always validate your bus/train ticket. The fees are really high, and Italy doesn’t forgive mistakes.

To read “WHEN IN ROME: 10 TRAVEL HACKS”, press here.

In my next posts, I will be talking about each and every place we visited in Italy and will share all the tips and tricks we learned along the way. So, make sure to subscribe!

XX,
Gena.

Niagara Falls, ON for a day

There is no place like Niagara Falls! I am not sure whether it is just me or everyone falls in love with the beautiful nature’s creation as fast as I did. So, if you haven’t been there yet but hoping to go, I would love to help you to plan your perfect first-time visit to Niagara Falls, ON.
This year all I wanted to do on my birthday was to visit Niagara Falls. I am 4th of July baby, so it was also a great way to celebrate by doing something different.
We had high expectations for this day trip but we were aware of the crowds, lack of parking, possibly bad food and extremely high prices. First of all, let me assure you that there were not as many people as we expected. Well, at least on the Canadian side. But the traffic on the Ambassador Bridge was really heavy during the day, so I was glad we stayed in Toronto.
Spoiler alert: everything we hoped to see was bigger, better, more powerful. And if I had to pick a day to visit Niagara Falls, ON, again, I would choose the 4th of July for the reasons mentioned below.
When I was planning the trip, I found out there were so many activities happening at Niagara Falls, ON: from famous boat cruises and Journey Behind the Falls to White Water Walk and Helicopter Tours. Everything sounded so good, and I was tempted to visit vineyards around Niagara Falls. However, once we arrived, we realized that all we wanted to do was stay and enjoy the view for as long as we could. I highly recommend avoiding planning too many activities when you visit Niagara Falls for the first time. A simple itinerary will do.

Driving to the park in Canada:
Niagara Falls is only 80 miles away from Toronto, ON and it took us about 2 hours to get there on the 4th of July. There was no much traffic, but the speed limit in Canada is 60kph (37mph), so you have to be aware of that when you plan your day.
Entrance to the park is free but you have to find parking.
Parking is not free, but very well organized, clean and secure. You may expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $25 per day. We parked just across Niagara Falls and paid $25. It was very reasonable for 14 hours we spent there, and the fact that we didn’t have to walk a lot to see the Falls.
What we did:
Hornblower Niagara Falls Cruise was the only “must-do” for us. All other activities were optional. It cost us almost USD 54 for two 20-minute ride tickets. It was so worth it that we want to do it again next time to go! I highly recommend making reservations in advance. Your ticket is valid one day from 8.30 AM to 8.30 PM and also includes access to the funicular.
Other than that we enjoyed walking around Queen Victoria Park making stops every 5 minutes to observe Niagara Falls.
Dinner at Skylon Tower:
We ended the day by having delicious dinner at the rotating restaurant with breathtaking views at Skylon Tower. Surprisingly enough not only the food was delicious and service excellent, but you also get access to the observation deck, and free entrance to the tower. My husband made a reservation in advance and requested a table next to the window.
Fireworks at Niagara Falls, ON:
Is there a better way to end a perfect day than watching fireworks both on Niagara Falls, ON, and the USA? The most spectacular 10 minutes and the pictures don’t do the judgment.

Where we ate:
Breakfast: we started the day with the best bagels at Schmaltz Appetizing in Toronto before.
Lunch: there are plenty of restaurants at Niagara Falls, as well as food court. We had a dinner reservation, so we decided to go with something simple for lunch. The meal at the food court was really good and reasonably priced.
Dinner: rotating restaurant in Skylon Tower.

What to take:

• if you’re visiting during warmer months, a really good sunscreen, umbrella, and water bottle is a must. It’s really hot and humid there.
• if you’re planning on taking the Hornblower tour, keep in mind that your shoes (and your hair) will get wet, so waterproof shoes or a pair of sandals is a great idea.
• if you’re staying the whole day, an extra t-shirt would be a plus. We took clothes and shoes to change for evening activities.
• if you’re arriving by car and need parking, you can pay with a credit card, CAD and even USD everywhere at Niagara Falls.

XX,
Gena.

Toronto,ON: activities and first impression

Hello there! We’ve just come back from Canada, so I’m excited to share with you my thoughts on the most multiculturally diverse city on the planet – Toronto. Two years ago we visited Canada for the first time during our anniversary trip and enjoyed our time in beautiful Montreal and Ottawa in fall. It was really cold, so we hoped to come back during the warmer months.
I wanted to explore Toronto but also visit the place that has been on my bucket list since I was a little girl – Niagara Falls. Our itinerary included:

• the flight from Austin, TX to Detroit, MI;
• a road trip from Michigan, USA to Toronto, ON;
• a day trip to Niagara Falls, ON;
• 3 days in Toronto;
• road trip to Guelph and London, Canada;
• 2 nights in Detroit, MI and catch the flight back home to Austin, TX.

Where we stayed:
We usually prefer Airbnb apartments when traveling outside of the USA. They tend to be unique: I love seeing the way people decorate their places around the world.

What we did:
When we started planning the trip, we realized that the city had a lot to offer, so there were only 2 possible outcomes:

1. We could take time and do a few things during this visit while making Niagara Falls the highlight of the trip.
2. We could try to do as much as possible and see most attractions.
   And, for the first time in our lives, we went with scenario #1:

• We spent an entire day walking around Toronto, exploring its famous Distillery District, Old Town, Uptown, Downtown, Chinatown, etc.;
• Had breakfasts and met people from all over the world in the famous St.Lawrence Market;
• Visited a few museums and parks.
• Took a trip to Casa Loma.
  Toronto Islands, CN Tower, and Elgin&Winter Garden Theatre Center were also on the list, but it was really hot in the city during those days and we were exhausted after spending 14 hours at Niagara Falls.

If you are a FOODIE:

• the best bagels were found at Shmaltz appetizing.
• Germany-inspired meals and selection of international and domestic beers made my husband happy at WVRST.
• I finally tried Japanese Soufflé Pancakes at “Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes”
• Hopes to have good Montreal-inspired poutine were dashed at “Poutini’s House of Poutine”.
• St. Lawrence Market was on our “must visit” list foodwise: delicious bagel from “St.Urban Bagel” for me and Peameal Bacon Sandwich from “Carousel Bakery” for husband, as well as really good Italian coffee from “Pasta Mia” located on the lower level of the market.
• We met the sweetest ladies and tried amazing Walnut cakes and Korean pancakes at “Hodo Kwaja”.
• Had the absolutely delicious 100% mango smoothies at “Real Fruit Bubble Tea” .
• Visited local brewery called “Bandit Brewery”.
• We also did some grocery shopping at the store called “Metro”: it turned out the prices were lower than here in Austin, TX. (still can’t make peace with that).

First impression: bitter-sweet.
Let me explain: when you come to Toronto, your expectations are pretty high. That’s probably because of people constantly talking about how beautiful and modern it is. So, when you plan a trip, all you see is pretty pictures of Downtown, so you’re prepared to see something you have never seen before.
Overall, Toronto is a beautifully diverse city that has its charm and is loved by so many Canadians and tourists. It’s full of kind people, good food, and quite unique neighborhoods. However, the quality of the roads, lack of organization in museums and places of interest, as well as the amount of construction work around the city makes the experience bitter-sweet. If you are used to life with A/C 24/7 everywhere in the USA (and, in particular, in hot Austin), you will also notice that many places use only fans. Not a bad thing – just something I was not aware of.

Bottom Line:
Every time we travel to a new place, we try to find something special about it. We were trying to think about that one thing that would make Toronto one of a kind. Eventually, we came to the conclusion that diversity is what makes this city unique.

XX,
Gena.

One day in Detroit and why it has to be on your bucket list?

The view from Detroit People Mover

Hello there! Today’s post is about one of the most underrated cities in the USA – Detroit. Let me be honest: this place has never been on my bucket list simply because I couldn’t understand what was so special about it. I knew it wasn’t safe – well, at least that’s what I heard. But, to be honest, life in Mexico City taught me not to judge the city by one neighborhood.
I wouldn’t mind visiting it as a part of a trip to Toronto, but even after some research Detroit still didn’t seem to be anything special to me rather than the city on the border with Canada. I didn’t have any expectations. I knew my husband really wanted to visit it, so I made the itinerary that would allow us to spend at least one full day there.
Well, how little did I know! The city with identity, history, voice, beautiful streets, high buildings, home of my first Ford car, etc.! On top of that, I met really nice talented people that created a strong community I wish we had here in Austin, TX.
Without further ado, here is our one-day itinerary for Detroit, MI.
What we did:

• Visit Detroit’s famous Eastern Market (you can also have an amazing breakfast and a good cup of coffee there. Not to mention good music!)
• Stop by Monument to Joe Louis and The Spirit of Detroit on the way to RiverFront.
  Because it will allow you to understand the city and its history better.
• Take time at Detroit RiverFront
  Because it’s quite unique, you will be able to sit and collect your thoughts while watching people, ships, Ambassador Bridge and even Windsor, Canada.
• Explore GM Renaissance Center
  Because it’s a really interesting group of seven interconnected skyscrapers.
• Get around Downtown in Detroit People Mover
  Because it’s the best (and cheapest) way to see more of the city.
• Plan a trip to Belle Park Isle (free entrance on Sunday)
  Because you need time to relax and enjoy something THAT beautiful.
• Don’t forget about Detroit-style pizza at “Buddy’s Pizza”
  Because Italian Pizza in Naples, thin-crust in New York, deep-dish in Chicago, and rectangular pizza with thick crisp crust in Detroit! 🙂
• Treat yourself to some dessert at amazing “Astoria pastry shop”.
  Because this is the biggest pastry shop I’ve been to in the USA!

Other than that there are plenty of museums including The Henry Ford Museum and Detroit Institute of Art. We visited the city on Sunday, so they were closed but we were lucky to walk around Eastern Market.

Where we stayed:
We spent two nights in Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Detroit Metro Airport Romulus and were really happy with our choice. The hotel was very clean, offered free breakfast and the location was perfect – it only took us 5 minutes to get to the airport. How great is that?

Truth be told, I could never have thought that Detroit would so warm and welcoming. Maybe it’s good luck but we met only kind and helpful people everywhere we went. And last, but not least: I wish Detroit was on my bucket list and I visited it a long time ago: it just has something special in every street, every corner and every place you go. So, if you haven’t been to Detroit, I would highly recommend it for a weekend trip: I’m sure it will surprise you!

XX,
Gena.

Hierve El Agua from Oaxaca: what you should know?

Hello there! This year we discovered a new destination that easily became one of our favorite places on Earth – the city called “Oaxaca de Juares” in Mexico. My husband has been talking about this state for years – ever since I moved to Mexico City 6 years ago, tried Oaxaca cheese and questioned its unual at that time name, so you can imagine the excitement. Since it was our first trip, we made wanted to make it pretty simple: to explore the city, visit at least a few points of interest, and try the best Oaxaca has to offer. Long story short, Hierve el Agua was on top of the list.

About Hierve el Agua
Hierve el Agua is the calcified waterfalls southwest of Oaxaca de Juarez that was created by mineral water pushed through karstic limestone, depositing the falls onto the mountain’s edge. The waterfalls are white, and the pools are full of calcium carbonate, magnesium, and just enough sulfur to lend them a yellow hue.

How to get there?
The easiest way – take a day tour to visit several points of interest (the most common would be Hierve El Agua + Arbol de Tule + Mezcaleria).
The best way for a group of people – hire a driver or rent a car.
The cheapest “local” way – take a green and white bus from the bus stop behind the Baseball Stadium in front of Mcdonald’s from Oaxaca City to the town called “Mitla”. After you arrive at Mitla, you’ll see pick up trucks that can take you all the way to Hierve el Agua.
Total time of traveling – 2 hours.
…and what way did we choose?
The “local” way is the best way for us! We just love getting to know the place from the point of view of the people that live there. It also allows us to talk to locals and learn more about the culture.
It cost us MXN280 for a trip from Oaxaca de Juares to Hierve el Agua and back. We also paid 50 pesos entrance fee for 2 people once arrived. It surely wasn’t the most comfortable trip in my life, but it was 100% worth it. In fact, I wouldn’t do it any other way.

While at Hierve el Agua.
Things to remember:

• SPF cream is a must.
• keep in mind that the water is cold;
• bathrooms and showers are availible for a small fee. However, the changing rooms are free of charge;
• food: there are places that serve really good local food and drinks (as well as a couple of small stores) with enough options for vegetarians and meat lovers. The only thing I would suggest is bringing drinking water and snacks for the road.

The way back:
The last pick-up truck from Hierve el Agua takes off at 6 p.m. You arrive in Mitla, and there is a bus station where you should wait for a bus to get back to Oaxaca de Juares. It usually takes 15-30 minutes. There is also a small store just in case you need to get water/snacks.

That’s pretty much it! I hope you enjoyed the post 🙂

XX,
Gena.