Travel Tips

This a picture of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. I loved the way the light played into the gallery in the morning and evening. There of course were the beautiful frescos that adorned the four buildings that met the in the center dome. Sit on the sidewalk of a gallery cafe and just enjoy the people walking by!

This picture is just characteristic of the Venetian architecture. I wanted a picture that showed more than the usual Venetian sites. Everywhere in Venice was absolutely beautiful. Just riding up and down the Grand Canal gave me a sense of wonder and beauty. There is something surreal about trying to act normal in a city that looks as if it merely floats on water.

Surprisingly, Florence was one of my favorite places in Italy. The Arno River was intriguing and I had the opportunity of visiting the two greatest museums in Italy...the Uffizi and the Accademia.

I enjoyed the evening times the most, when I got the chance to watch the sun's lingering rays color the evening sky.

The Cinque Terra is beautiful and serene. It has a special way of slowing time to a crawl and drawing you into its timeless vortex. Hiking its many trails will leave you invigorated and feeling free from all the constraints of modern society. Just remember to save enough time for the Cinque Terre. Once you get there and fall in love with it, it is incredibly difficult to leave!

Rome was incredibly different. There is, as with most Italian cities, the mixture of the old with the new. There is also the very apparent Catholic influence all throughout Italy. However, in Rome, the influences are magnified. You can walk from ancient Roman architecture and then hit an enormous Catholic church. And in the midst of both, you can find haute couture shopping. I think that the Pantheon highlights the influences very well.

The Pantheon was originally built as a Roman temple during ancient times and then later consecrated as a Catholic Church. It is also called the Chiesa di Santa Maria ad Martyres. Nearby to it are the Spanish steps and very famed couture shopping.