Florence typical trattorias and outside trips
Overlooking the Arno, there is a traditional Tuscan trattoria called the Antico Ristoro di Cambi, run by the Cambi family that will welcome you with a warm ambience. The tuscan vegetable soup (ribollita) and the fiorentina T-bone steak are amazing. (Close on Sunday, Via S. Onofrio 1r; ph: +39 055 217134; av. prices 25€; wine 8€). Situated Oltrarno, the cheap trattoria la Casalinga is usually packed up. Situated between Pitti Palace and S. M. Del Carmine, serves ribollita and other typical dishes at fair prices. (Via del Michelozzo 9r; ph: +39 055 218624; av price 20€). For Florence’s best bargain meal visit Salumeria, Vini, Trattoria (via Ghibellina 27; Ph+39 055 679 390, closed on Sat and Sun). Le Volpi e L’Uva, Piazza de’Rossi 1, to sample some of the best wines the region has to offer. The owners, Riccardo and Emilio, can advise a plate of salami and cheese to accompany your choice of wine.
South of the river there is tiny Vini (Via dei Cimatori 38) a simple wine counter (one of the last in the city) founded in 1875. Just stand on the pavement with the other customers and enjoy the wine.
For a good glass of wine or a nice meal try GustaVino (Via della Condotta, 37/R; ph: +39 055 2399 806; gustavino.it): very nice modern atmosphere and affordable prices at an average of 30€ per person.
A nice idea is a trip out side one of the hottest Italian cities during summer months. What about the Tuscany Countryside for which we are so famous?
Florence surroundings such as the hills of Chianti, the Careggi, Fiesole and Settignano are literally covered with wine and olive trees. It’s easy to find a nice cool spot to have a picnic or to unwind form the city traffic!
A very nice walk you should experience as a first-time visitor is the one which leads to Fiesole. If walking is not your thing, you can easily catch bus n. 7 from the main train station and reach the top of the hills in less than 30 minutes. The view is one of the best over the city and you will be find yourself surrounded by fine buildings of artistic and archaeological interest such as the Dome, the Roman Theatre and the S.Francesco church. Poets and writers have wrote odes and poems to these hilly places. If you are in Florence on the second Sunday of the month, go to Fiesole as it hosts a characteristic antique market in the central square. If you are a wine lover, you should also get a car or a motorbike and explore the beautiful Chianti region just south of Florence. This is a stunning area scattered with wine-growing estates spread out around ancient castles, ‘magioni’ and country villas. There is also the possibility to see this region by public transportations like buses or local trains that will bring you to Siena in about a hour, Arezzo, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca and more destinations. They all are an hours’ journey, although you might need to dedicate a couple of days to Siena if you wish to visit it properly.
There are also very affordable accommodations in Florence. From youth hostels to Bed and breakfast (B&B), family run hotels or charming villas. You can check the following list of selected ones. Hostel Veneto right behind the Dome, Soggiorno Prestipino Hostel near to the Santa Maria Novella railway station, International Student House hostel, the Armonia Hostel or the renowned Camping Michelangelo just a throw from the centre. But if you wish to experience a traditional accommodations in Florence you should try cheap lodging providers like B&B s (bed and breakfast), residences or guest houses that spread all over. Beatrice Hotel, Hotel guelfa, Il Ghiro Guest house, B&B Tourist House, A Montebello B&B, B&B Cinque Sensi, Leopolda Hotel, Soggiorno Prestipino, Nella Hotel, Giappone B&B, Collodi Hotel, Hotel Palazzo Lucchesi, Alamanni Hotel, Gemini Studios. For nice resorts and country houses in the Tuscany hills try Borghetto di San Filippo, Hotel Borgo Sant’Ippoloto or Villa dei Bosconi.
read moreFamily Fun and Finery on Oregon’s Coast
It’s a place of incredible romantic possibilities, with unbelievably pristine beaches and rugged shorelines, and plenty of hidden spots perfecting for long walks hand-in-hand, finding yourselves all alone. With such gushiness-inducing qualities, it’s no surprise you’ll soon wind up reproducing.
Lucky you. Oregon’s coast is perfect for families as well. Those hidden spots put you and the little ones right in the middle of some of the best nature can show off. Then there are the myriad of kid-friendly lodgings, restaurants and towns which pull out the stops for the kidlets or bring out the kid in everyone.
Still, you don’t have to sacrifice the finer things when you bring the kids.
On Oregon’s north coast, the tiny town of Manzanita is endowed with a mysterious, woodsy vibe just above its vast expanse of crystalline beach. Here, the San Dune Inn provides a vast array of freebies like bikes, game equipment, popcorn and movies. Stay at this charming, unassuming place just blocks from the beach and you’ll find stuff for volleyball and other games suitable for the sand, as well as beach balls, bikes and simple sandcastle-making gear like buckets. They have an enormous selection of movies, and their choice of board games is a kick as well. It’s a kid’s dream come true.
Head northward, and you’ll encounter dozens of sandy and rocky beaches perfect for playtime. Drive about 12 miles and you’ll find the ritzy resort town of Cannon Beach. Near a famed Lewis & Clark landmark, Fultano’s Pizza sits and emits wonderful smells of Italian cuisine. With an outdoor patio here, you can still see some of the sights available at the end of Second Street, and enjoy exceptional – even gourmet quality – cuisine at a family pizza joint price.
Fultano’s delivers to local hotels, and they feature slices for lunch. They have a special thin crust recipe that’s especially tasty, crunchy and yet still tender in a way that manages to combine both those latter qualities seamlessly.
There are many of the standbys, as well as gourmet varieties like the Margherita (garlic and herb olive oil, three cheeses, red onion and more), a Greek-themed specialty, a Goat Cheese pizza, and specialties with Teriyaki Chicken, Linguica, BBQ Chicken and a variety of seafood selections. One item features a distinctive sausage with mashed grapes for the sauce, providing a subtle, sweet tang. The sausage is spicy and zippy, making a nice balance to the slight sweetness.
One must-try is their pasta (about $10). They have a homemade tomato sauce that is one stunning, mother-of-all sauces, and their meatballs are a serious delicacy. Still, even with its decent wine and microbrew selection, this is a place that welcomes the kiddies nicely. 200 N. Hemlock and Second Street. (503) 436-9717.
Drive north again, to Seaside, and you’ll find a beach town full of things to do for children – most notably Broadway Ave. with its almost dozen arcade businesses, ice cream vendors, kooky gift shops, bumper cars and other attractions. See www.seasideor.com for more.
One highlight is Seaside Helicopters, which whizzes you around above the town for about $25 per person. It’s thoroughly spectacular, as the helicopter takes you over the headland of Tillamook Head and Cannon Beach as well, allowing you unforgettable glimpses of the sea and these landmarks from this unusual vantage point. You even get to see “Goonies Rock” – where part of the cult film was made. Hwy 101, S. Seaside. www.seaside-helicopters.com. (503) 440-4123.
Down on the Central Oregon Coast – about 100 miles south – it’s a vast playground for kids and adults. Lincoln City is filled with miles of super clean beaches and tons of shops and restaurants.
Just south of Lincoln City, you’ll find another haven for families in a very unique resort called Bella Beach. Really, it’s a collection of rather upscale, gorgeous beach cottages that are vacation rentals or for sale. There are about 40 rentals available inside this pretty place, and more are still being built.
The philosophy of Bella Beach is to create a place with a “neighborly feel,” and indeed they’ve succeeded. Set in the midst of a Central Coast wooded area, there are the rustic architectural themes common to places like Manzanita or Cannon Beach, where garages are tucked away behind the buildings and front porches are the emphasis.
There’s a playground for the kiddies, and the homes vary from hideaway lodgings for two with oceanfront hot tubs, to larger accommodations for bigger groups. Bella Beach also offers up accommodations for groups as large as 60, if you happen to have a business retreat or reunion of some sort.
Then there’s that wondrous beach. Like many of the beaches in the area, the tide line is at a rather steep slope, so waves come in fast and hard, but dissipate quickly to shyly lap at your feet. 866-994-7026 or www.bellabeach.com.
read moreMorocco the most fascinating country
At a crossroads between two continents and two cultures, Morocco reveals itself to artists as an artistic or personal experience conducive to introspection. During one of his travels Jacques Majorelle wrote, “There are scenes of such realism that one forgets one’s time and let’s oneself go at living in the Middle Ages”.
Morocco deserves better than a simple trip to discover its variety and splendour. The following are must sees for those who have little time available or who wish to visit the main attractions.
The Mountain Ranges and passes of Morocco are particularly attractive for their contrast in nature and diversity. The diversity of the land makes it possible to adopt an approach, according to the season, that corresponds to everyone’s capacity. Toubkal (4165m) is the highest summit in Northern Africa and its ascent remains by far the most appreciated. The ochre or bluish massifs of the Anti-Atlas offer the most unusual scenery and have been recently discovered by western trekkers. Possibilities for treks include: Mule-back, mountain bike, or camel expeditions with overnight stays in a mountain hut or bivouac depending on the route and the season.
The north-east trade winds that blow on the Atlantic coast offer highly appreciated spots for surfers. Essaouira is the most well known but there are also Mehdia, Taghazout, Minleft and Sidi Bouzid. Along the coast, you will appreciate the slow, friendly pace of coastal life combined with the excitement of water sports. Windsurfers will enjoy Essaouira and the Dar Bouzza Beach south of Casablanca. And recently, Kite Surfing has gained popularity in these sleepy yet charming towns. Skiing the Atlas of Oukaimden (75km from Marrakesh). For passionate skiers, what could be more thrilling than skiing in Africa! The Oukaimden winter ski resort is located at an altitude of 2,600m and is open from January to April. It offers ski runs for all levels in an area of 300 hectares. The Michliffen ski resort near Ifrane is of more modest proportions, but still offers a great experience in the Atlas Mountains. Outside the snow season, Oukaimden offers hand gliding, rock climbing or trekking.
Morocco is renowned for its beautiful golf courses where regular international tournaments are organised. For amateurs, it is an occasion to combine sport and discovery all year long. With the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains and surrounded by Palm Trees, the serenity of the landscape serve to calm the nerves after that occasional miss hit!
A stroll in the maze of the souks (shops and merchant stalls) can sometimes prove to be a challenge but getting lost in them is a pleasure. Try to barter if you want to do some shopping. It is a well-rooted tradition in the Arab countries but may turn into a nightmare if you are unaware of the usual prices. A preliminary visit to a cooperative or good advice of a local will prove useful to avoid being taken for a fool.
Music is folklore but also tradition and has undergone various influences (Andalousian, African or rural). Music is omnipresent at celebrations and ceremonies but also in the street. Let yourself get under the spell of poetry or jerking the rythm of music that can be enjoyed at festivals (see agenda), parties and in public squares.
The richness of the Moroccan cuisine, reputed to be one of the best in the world, is a sheer joy of the senses. The multiple ingredients of the tagines and the sweetness of the cakes are staples of the Moroccan cuisine that never lacks creativity.
One can enjoy small restaurants and famous tables with a wide range of prices. Places that attract too many tourists are to be avoided for they may leave you with an insipid souvenir of Moroccan cuisine.
Morocco is a land of mountains. It’s high-level grounds cover more than 100.000 km² and include a dozen summits exceeding 4000 meters. In the south, the mountains give way to the great Sahara Desert, which stretches until sub-Saharan Africa. Mule tracks are often the only link between the Berber villages, which lay hidden in the valleys, or between the settlements in each oasis. The only way to visit these regions and to learn about the proud and welcoming population, which has kept its ancestral traditions, is by Land Rover and by foot.
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