Travel Inspiration
There are places to me that will always have a sense of charm. Venice is exactly that place. No matter how many times I come here, it always makes me feel lucky to be able to see one of the most beautiful places in the world. Continue reading “Venetian charm, Italy”
Last weekend, my friend and I went out of town for the day and spent it in Mantua. About 2 hours and a half away from Milan, we woke up early Saturday morning to catch our train ride only to find ourselves a few seconds short. By golly, we missed our train.
Krka National Park had us at hello. I’ve heard of it through reading articles and saw photos which, right away drew me in. I knew I had to go! I booked our bus ride from Split with Splitlicious Excursions for 190,00 kn per person + 150,00 kn entrance fee to the park or 90,00 kn w/ student i.d. The trip also included a stopover in Sibenik town and other mini sites on the way back to Split. We had a fantastic time all around. The best part was swimming in the lake and cooling off. There are walking paths around the lakes which, you can go 2 ways. The shorter route is the most popular as it takes you through the bridge that overlooks the river. You’ll want to stop here and take photos.
We spent about 30 minutes wondering around Sibenik. It was fairly a small and quiet town and not much going on. It was still nice to wonder around and sightsee.
Portofino caught my eye before I even came to Italy. I’ve heard about it’s crystal clear water, how they have an adorable mini cove and that its a celebrity haven destination. Ok, I didn’t come just for that but, it didn’t hurt either. Continue reading “My Sweet Life in Portofino”
Coming from Paris, C and I had the weekend in Milan to rest and prepare for our next big trip. If you didn’t know, Milan is a ghost town in August because everyone shuts down and goes on summer vacation for a month. All of my friends from school went home for the summer but, for those of us that are far from home don’t have that luxury.
Anyway, I’m glad my little C-Bear came to visit me as we made use of our time and we happily spent our days jumping at various locations within Europe. What I find great about being in Europe is the fact that I can be in another country within a few hours.
Basel was one city that both of us have never been to. It’s 4 hours away by train from Milan and yes, we did another 7am wake up call nearly missing our train. Although, I’m happy to say we made it. Continue reading “One Day in Basel”
If someone told me that there’s a small island off of Sirmione Lake Garda with water access and you can swim there all day, I would never have believed it until I see it with my own eyes. Well, it’s safe to say that I was surprised. Continue reading “The Hidden Lake”
Italy is full of surprises. Even though most people flock to the most popular destinations in Italy such as Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast or Tuscany (and people should see them) sometimes we forget there are other towns that are worth visiting. One of those towns is Desenzano. Continue reading “Desenzano Del Garda, Italy”
Mama Mia! It was the first thing we saw upon entering the city center of Riomaggiore. We were hungry and we just had to go for it. V & I stood in the long line and ordered the mix calamari option. Delish! We were so hungry that we had seconds. I will never forget feeling full yet, content at the same time. 
Aside from the calamari, Riomaggiore is downright cool. It’s got neat rock formations, views to die for and beautiful spots to look at. V & I took several photos.
This was my favorite area in Riomaggiore. The water looked inviting and people were relaxing all around the bend.
This was the opposite side of the water front where the flag is situated. You have to walk through the neighborhood to get to this spot. Once you walk down to this area, it’s quite steep and a bit dangerous if you aren’t careful but, the view of the village from here is unique.
The city center is a walk uphill. Be prepared to work out those glutes. From here, you get a nice overview of the village.
Don’t forget to look through the shops. There are some interesting jewelries and knick knacks to see and buy.
They say Manarola is the smallest of them all. It’s true. Although, when you walk along the port through a walk-path that wraps around the ocean front rock formation, it makes Manarola actually look bigger than it appears to be. It’s the best way to see Manarola in its entirety because you get a nice picturesque view of the village from a distance. It literally made me go “wow”.
We walked up to Nessun Dorma restaurant for a quick bite.
You really can’t beat the view from Nessun Dorma. It overlooks the port and the atmosphere is very welcoming. It made me feel as if there’s no where else I should be except here
My friend and I ended up having wine and appetizers. They were delicious! Keep in mind it’s a cash only restaurant. Either come with plenty of cash or go for small bites.
V & I had plenty of time left. We roamed around town, walked uphill and took photos. There are a few spots that are worth snapping. I found the signs near their doors so cute with the lemon details and serif fonts.
At first, I had mixed feelings about Monterosso. We came here on our first day running through puddles with rain pouring down on us harder than any other times I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. It’s one of those moments that I’m trying to forget because the 2nd time we came, Monterosso was beautiful. I remembered it very well, the sun had gone down and the light reflected this nice blue tone. On top of that, the sea was as calm as I could’ve imagined it to be. It almost felt like the storm never came.
Out of the 5 villages, Monterosso is the only one with a proper beach in Cinque Terre. It’s got 2 sides, the new and the old town. My favorite was definitely the old town. You can reach it by walking to the left side upon arriving by train and then pass through a tunnel that will lead you to the old town.
In the old town, you will find lots of different shops and restaurants. V and I ended up buying the limoncino which Cinque Terre is known for specialising in.
Other things to see in Monterroso is sitting by the port and really take in the views.
I remembered the day I stepped out of the train very clearly. I walked through the city center of Vernazza feeling relaxed. Right around a corner was a port. I could hear water splashing in the background as I tip toed my way, slowly getting closer to the sound. While walking, I looked around me and I saw these colorful buildings painted in red and yellow with green contrasting doors. They stood bright against a huge mountain that curved around supporting this magnificent view of the cove. I was mesmerized. The cove was beautiful in its own right. My jaw dropped and it made me put my camera down to take it all in.
We walked along the cove where people were sunbathing, relaxing and enjoying this view. It felt as if summer was already here.
Holding up my strawberry with stracciatella gelato that ultimately sealed the deal.
Everyone has their own preference of which island they like. To us, our favorite was Vernazza which is why we came back on our last day. Vernazza was compact, it offered everything we needed and wanted. Ultimately, it did not disappoint us
A Stint Abroad 