italy
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Eurail Aventure Part 2
Nothing quite says “Bonjour” than the sound of an email notification in the middle of the night. It’s a factual, causal message from SNCF, telling me that my morning connection to Vintimiglia has been cancelled. Fortunately I’m up early enough to be able to find an earlier departure, though after last night’s magnificent chee and…
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Pisa’s perfect piazzas
It’s our final day in Pisa, and although we’ve seen it from the outside, it’s time to take a trip up the tower itself. Social distancing means visitors are restricted to groups of 25 people at a time, which suits me rather well. I’ve been up towers around the world and one of the worst…
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A foray to Florence
Italy was one of the mainstays of The Grand Tour – a traditional trip through Europe for the well to do in the 17th and 18th Centuries. And within that, Florence was considered to be one of the real cultural highlights. It’s not hard to see why. Just five minutes walk from the main railway…
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Life’s a beach – and then you eat
The temperatures have dropped today to a chilly 28 celsius, so it’s time to head out if Pisa and to the coast. Once again, the train is our friend and in just 20 minutes takes us to the seaside resort of Viareggio. It’s famous for its annual carnival – and while the Pandemic has put…
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A city for explorers
Pisa is ideally situated to as a base to explore the region of Tuscany and beyond. And Italy’s state run railway means there are good connections to the rest of the country. There are no advanced fares or special deals, which makes booking tickets on the TrenItalia website a hassle free experience. One thing to…
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A tower, two churches and a cemetery.
During these socially distanced times, welcoming thousands of visitors each day to a series of major tourist attractions is a balancing act. And in Pisa it seems to have been achieved rather well. Yes, there are queues for the tower, and you may have to book a specific time slot to visit some of the…
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A Pisa the action
For most, travel in 2020 has been, at best, haphazard – or non existent. The global Coronavirus pandemic has hit everyone in different days. But at the risk of making a massive statement of a first world problem, trying to get away anywhere has been an exhausting process. In March I was due to return…
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Rail Rage
Getting out of Rome proves considerably harder than getting into it, thanks to the quirks of Trenitalia, the state rail company. The previously efficient looking Termini station again looks simple enough to navigate. Buying a ticket is a painless process, and the platform for the Leonardo Express is clearly marked. But our impending departure is…
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Pappa Don’t Preach
It’s wedding day and, of course, the bride and groom are the stars. Although judging by the… ahem… (choose your words carefully, you’re dealing with the a large Italian family here) enthusiasm of the photographers, you’d think the guests were all A List celebs. Even during the church service, each and every person is individually…
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Up On The Roof… and under the table
If Rome is impressive by day, by night it’s positively sexy. But in a laid back Italian kind of way. The groom to be, Tim, is hosting a drinks party on the roof garden of the Hotel Diana. At sunset, the view is stunning. This is a chance to meet some of the other wedding…
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