Due to the early starts of fall, my first day of exploration in Rome was mostly grey and drizzly, but I was still fascinated. Rome feels like an open-air museum and has so many different styles of architecture to offer. You can just walk down a street and suddenly be faced with ancient Roman ruins or an old renaissance building.
This was originally posted in October, but DanVenture Travels post about having to be away from home struck a cord with me and allowed for a change in perspective relating to COVID-19. A lot of people (including me) have been kept from visiting their loved ones or even returning home due to travel restrictions. And it might be small price to pay to keep the pandemic in check, but it can be a burden nonetheless.
My love took me here initially in December 2019 as a surprise date. It's a tiny shop with 4 tables. The menu has a lovely selection of teas, desserts and cakes and so far, everything I have tried has been lovely.
After Venice, I headed south to the eternal city of Rome. What stuck with me most during this visit were the interactions I had with other travelers.
Heading into Venice with a train is kind of fascinating in itself. There is nothing but water around you for miles, but you can see the lagoon city growing in the distance. And once you actually step out of the train station, it is like your stepped back in time and into a different world.
Living abroad and/or with a significant other from a different cultural background, you sometimes see yourself and your upbringing through a different set of eyes. Things that you might not otherwise question and usually take for granted can very suddenly be open for interpretation and reflection.
I stumbled across this beautifully and important blog post by Alyssa at road4080. I feel her frustration and she is hitting a nerve with me, too. Personally, I also rather take some precautions and limit myself now. Unfortunately, not everyone believes that and we have the numbers to show for it.
My train route to Venice involved a train change in Milan and in theory, there would have been enough time to get to the connecting train. But, as you know, life (and travel) does not always go as planned.
I started the first leg of that journey on September 9th, 2008. I had prepared to spend the 11h30 hours of the train ride reading and doodling. But somehow things came differently.
I did not have high expectations, I am not the greatest cheesecake enthusiast to begin with. But the first bite changed my mind and knocked Junior's cheesecake off my personal 1st place.
Barcelona is truly a city I fell in love with. I can't pinpoint it to one thing. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's the vibe. Maybe it's the architecture. Maybe it is the international scene. Maybe it's being so close to the seas and the beach. Maybe it is the laidback attitude of it's inhabitant.
After my breakdown the night before, I felt peaceful for the first time in months. This gave me the opportunity to wander around Granada while waiting for my actual day to visit the Alhambra. It was lovely exploring the streets, but it was especially memorable to climb up the hills and get an amazing view of the city.
Wandering Explorer Travel 