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Want more Rome photos? Check out my other Piazza Navona photo post or my selection of Roman street signs, shrines, architectural elements, doors and windows.
Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Tweetly.
First, a little shameless self-promotion!
You might notice a little something new over to the left, on the sidebar, just a skosh down under my photo- yep, right there. It's a little badge. Seems that My Mélange has been nominated for Best Travel Blog for the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards!
Now, I am not gonna beg- well, maybe a little- but I could really use your vote.
It's pretty simple. All you need to do is click on the badge and it brings you to a sign-up screen. You just need to sign up (only takes a few minutes and it's free!) and then you can cast your vote!
And I have also been nominated in the Best Photography category as well!
I am so excited. And seriously, even though I have no chance in hell of winning, what with all the other great travel blogs out there- I'd love the proverbial honorable mention!
Ok, enough about me, let's move onto the real reason we are here…
The Weekly Tweetly.
This week on Twitter…
Thanks to EarthXplorer, I now have a new photography site to play with. Rollip is a site that makes your photos look like old Polaroids! Awesome!
Ron Dubin's photo of a government building in Peru, led me to this stunning beauty of the Hotel Negresco in Nice.
Simone of ARoadRetraveled has a fab video tour of the new pedestrian-friendly area in NYC from Broadway to Times Square.
Jeanine of JCreatureTravel wrote about her favorite not overrun by tourist spots in Istanbul. She is the epitome of an adventure traveler.
ParisienSalon waxed poetic about the delicious Hammam/Spa in Paris – Les Bains du Marais. Oh la la, I love their products!
And for those who may be headed to Chinon, France Le Tasting Room has done a review of a tiny, charming and reasonably priced bed and breakfast.
That's all for now. (This is when I send subliminal messages, "don't forget to vote")
You may remember a while back that Joe from Italyville sent in a contribution for Travel Photo Friday. Thing is, he put a little spin on the photo by holding up a sign proclaiming My Melange Sent Me.
And then came the idea to have other travelers send in their photos with a homemade My Melange Sent Me sign.
And those fun results were posted in the MMSM Roundup and collected in a special group on Flickr. And then came another entry from Tracey.
Well, months have gone by with nary an entry…until my crazy friends (who also happen to read this blog from time to time) went to Italy!
Mind you, I had no idea that they knew about this- nor did I know they printed the signs and had any kind of plan to take the pictures and submit them.
Here we have Elke and son Kai, getting gelato in Rome.
And then we head to Florence, where Elke and hubby are standing in front of the famed Il Latini before going in for dinner.
And here they are again, after dinner and ahem, undoubtedly too much vino! Notice the placement of the sign.
And last but not least, this is a personal joke. I was complaining about all the grafitti in Rome on my last visit- so of course, they thought it would be fun to take a picture near some grafitti in Florence.
Yes, funny. Very funny! HAHAHAHAHAHA. Knee-slapping. Side-splitting. Really.
Seriously, grazie millie mi amici, for the nice surprise and carrying on the My Melange Sent Me concept!
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Want in? Are you traveling anywhere soon? Print out your own sign and snap those photos! Send them along to mymelange (at) yahoo (dot) com.
Can't wait to see where My Melange Sent Me will pop up next!
The Paris métro is by far the best subway system I have encountered to date. Not only because the lines diagonally cross the city- making travel more efficient, but also because the métro stations in Paris are pristine in comparison to many others. And you can depend on them. Other than the occassional stirke- they are spot on with their schedule.
But one of the other things I love so much about the Métro are the themed stations. Each station has a different theme. And while I certainly have not set foot in all 200 plus of them, I have visited my fair share.
My favorite so far, also happens to be the deepest. The Abbesses station in Montmartre.
Featured in and made famous by the movie, Amélie, it has a spiral staircase that takes you down- all 118 feet – to the platform. Though you can take an elevator, you'd seriously be missing out by NOT taking the stairs, where the walls are decorated with painted murals and grafitti all the way down.
The Abbesses station also houses one of the only two remaining original Guimard Art Nouveau entrances.
So, next time you're in Montmartre hop the Métro from the Abbesses station into the city center. For a view and a grueling walk up that spiral staircase, you and your burning thighs, soon won't forget!
We have all done it at one time or another. Well, if you have been to Paris, that is.
Maybe more than once. Maybe for just a few minutes, if you were lucky. Or maybe for hours, if you happen to be unlucky.
I happened to be of the unlucky variety on my first trip.
I stood like a head of cattle, in a line that moved about an inch per hour, just to make it all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
And though it took me about four hours – it was worth it.
Currently, the only way to avoid the long lines for the funicular, was to book a rezzie at the Jules Verne restaurant, located on the 2nd level, but that would end up costing you a pretty penny. And let's face it- not everyone wants to dine there, nor can afford the hefty pricetag!
Or of course, some tour companies would lump an Eiffel Tower ticket in with a package of other sites.
But, this Travel Tip Tuesday, I have some good news to share. Especially for those independent minded travelers who just want a regular old ticket up the Eiffel Tower.
You will soon be able to score an on-line ticket, which will allow you to bypass the lines! Reportedly, by the year's end.
And the even better news, is that an on-line ticket won't cost you a penny more than the standard waiting-in-line version.
Finally, the French seem to be getting their act together in making it easier {and quicker} for travelers to visit La Tour Eiffel.
I for one think this is a great move for all parties.
Less time waiting on-line = more time for shopping, eating and drinking = better ecomony for France!
C'est bonne!
Keep checking the Eiffel Tower website for the launch date. And while you're at it, have a fun time looking at all the panoramic photos and videos from the Tower, by day and by night.
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And speaking of good, I am sure Cherrye has great travel tips today, too. Head on over and find out!
All around Italy, you will find evidence of Italians deep-seeded faith in the Catholic religion. Shrines, and beautifully painted murals of the Mother Mary are as ubiqutous in Italy as homemade pasta.
But, much more beautiful. And colorful.
Here are some photos of my favorites in Rome.
I love the soft focus colors and the pastel palette. They are religious frescos for all to appreciate- not just someone museum-hopping or church-going.
Just more examples of why I love the living museum called life in Italy! And they don't charge admission.
Welcome to another edition of The Weekly Tweetly.
First, a little news about…me!
and Linda Martin for the honor of having three of my articles included as well as a nice mention on the podcast about using the experience of dragging my luggage up and down the footbridges in Venice as my inspiration for traveling with only one bag!
And Ron Dubin included my 7 Reasons to go Carry-On in his Weekly Bzzzzz!
That's quiet enough of the shameless self-promotion! Now on with this weeks Weekly Tweetly.
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Keith from Velvet Escape has started his own Guest Travel Tip feature on his site. I'll be looking forward to tuning in, and so should you!
Prosciutto lovers have something to celebrate! Nancy aka ItalyTravelista shared a link announcing the Festival del Proscitto di Parma. Where is my melon when I need it?!
Isabelle from IsabellesTravel shared a great travel tool, used to track your flights.
Eurocheapo clues us in to the new swimming pool in Rome, located right near the Colosseum. I so could have used that during my trip in May!
And I saved the best eye candy for last! SoulTravelers3 shares a colorful picture post entitled Colors of Italy. Bellissimo!
And if you happen to click through and comment on posts or follow them on Twitter- please let them know that I sent you!
See ya next Sunday for another edition of…The Weekly Tweetly!
According to the old Roman tradition, days of the week dictated which dishes were served in Roman establishments.
Thursday happens to be Gnocchi night. My favorite.
And just in case you don't know what gnocchi (pronouned nyoh-key) is- they are delightful, fluffy pillows of pasta, usually made with potato.
And though many trattorie have steered away from this tradition, there is one that I would highly recommend- not only for gnocchi night, but for any night during the week.
We visited La Piazzetta on a Thursday in Rome and we were not disappointed.
They had three different kinds of gnocchi on offer. We sampled two.
Gnocchi in a delicious tomato basil sauce.
And with butter and sage.
Both were excellent!
Whether you go on Gnocchi Night or another night during the week, make sure you partake in their elaborate antipasti table, which would make any vegetarian happy.
The romantic setting, tucked behind a row of hedges just off the busy via Cavour, was the perfect location for an evening passeggiata after our filling meal.
The Colosseo, all golden and backlit, was just a short stroll away.
La Piazzetta
Vicolo del Buon Consiglio 23a
39 06 699 16 40
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Do you have a favorite Roman trattoria that follows the traditional daily menu? Please share in the comments!
By now you are surely sick of me telling you about Carry-On Travel. But, seriously, it is one of my passions.
I’m so passionate in fact, that I consider it my personal goal, being the Queen of the Carry-On, to convert as many of you to Carry-On Travelers as I possibly can.
I have helped in the past by offering packing tips, how to use products that have double uses and how to pack liquids in your Carry-On bag.
But perhaps I haven’t done a good enough job of convincing you WHY you should convert to Carry-On Travel.
Today, that is my mission.
I give you – 7 Reasons Why You Should Go Carry-On.
Because you like to avoid back pain. Ever had back pain? Well, then you know it ain’t fun. Not something to look forward to and certainly something that could ruin an otherwise well-planned (read expensive) vacation. Too many heavy bags lugged to and fro, bending and twisting just the wrong way might cause you to pull a muscle. Or at least make it darn uncomfortable while traveling.
Because you don’t like to look foolish. Ever see these people- you know the ones; Standing in line with two or three huge bags- struggling to keep it together in the check-in line. Some of them even have one of those carts, with luggage precariously stacked on top like a tiered wedding cake, the top bag teetering back and forth like a see-saw on a windy day. You never know when and where that bag is gonna drop! These same people try to get on a rush-hour bus or train with the same set of bags, not only holding up public transportation and pissing off the driver/conductor, but in the process making themselves look ridiculous. People are pointing. And laughing. And talking about you and how rude you are. Seriously, they are talking.
Because your time is precious. Every moment counts. And you can’t get those moments back once you have lost them. Carry -on means no need to wait on line to check your bags. No need to wait at the luggage carousel on either leg of the trip. Getting the picture?
Because you like your valuables. Checking bags these days is a crap shoot. Lots of complaints and even arrests surrounding valuable items being pilfered from travelers bags are reported. If your bag is always with you, you’ll have much less chance of any of your precious cargo getting stolen.
Because you like your luggage. Good quality luggage is an investment- one that you hope lasts for many years. Bags take enough abuse from normal wear and tear and regular use. Many bags get thrown around and tossed about from check-in, to loading, to off-loading, and on to the carousel. Lots of extra man-handling that need not take place if you were in control of the treatment of your bags.
Because you can make better use of your money. It is no secret that airlines keep raising checked bag fees faster than Bruce Wayne can change into Batman and slide down the Batpole. If you can think of other fun things to spend your money on – like meals, entertainment, a bus pass, a hotel upgrade, a splurge bottle of wine or souvenirs – wouldn’t you rather keep your hard earned money for that?
Because you may have to run for it! When you only travel with a carry-on, you ensure that you can handle your bags, or load, comfortably by yourself. This is of the utmost importance when having to walk or perhaps run at a high rate of speed if you are running late for a flight, bus or train. There is nothing more grueling or futile then trying to juggle lots of bags or a very heavy load and having to get somewhere, fast. And nothing worse than seeing someone attempt it with an unmanageable load, and miss.
Have I convinced you get? Maybe you should tell me what it’d take to convince you!
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You’re only one click away from more Travel Tip Tuesday. Get more tips from Cherrye at My Bella Vita.
We all have those moments during life when we look back and think – "Wow, I would have done that one differently if I had to do it again." And there is always the ever popular "Hindsight is 20/20 vision".
Those concepts can be most certainly be applied to travel.
Here is a list things I coulda, woulda or shoulda done differently. And therefore, I regret.
I regret having that extra glass of wine at Polidor in Paris, which led me to run through the Cluny Museum at record speed. Feeling a little dizzy I burst through the doors out onto the garden and parked it on a bench where I lay down to sleep it off.
Once I made the ever-popular mistake of taking way too many pieces of luggage on my first trip to Italy. Only once.
And on a related note- I regret not taking a water taxi from the airport to our hotel in Venice. Instead we took the Alilaguna, which dropped us at St. Mark's Square with the aforementioned heavy bags. By the time I hauled the luggage over the second footbridge, I was already cursing in Italian and was ready to kill someone.
I regret not booking aisle seats on an airplane sooner. You get another half seat if you spill into the aisle.
I regret driving in Rome without a map. Scratch that- I regret driving in Rome. Period.
I regret making a typo on the names when purchasing airline tickets which resulted in a $1500 duplicate charge to my credit card. I let my Credit Union duke it out with CheapTickets. And on a lighter note, I learned not to book with CheapTickets again. The whole transaction left me less than thrilled!
I regret not tightening the top on my bottled water as I climbed the steps of the bell tower in Florence. The water leaked in my backpack with my 300 page Italy guidebook. One waterlogged guidebook weighing in at ten lbs and expanding to five times its normal size later- I learned NOT to take guidebooks with me.
I regret fearing to travel to foreign countries, not being fluent in the language.
I regret not taking more than two years of French in high school.
I regret believing the copy on the website of a B&B in Newport that said they were just a short walk away from the harbor. If a short walk constitutes about a half-mile, uphill- than that's my bad.
I regret not traveling solo sooner.
I regret not double-checking my flight departure time on the airline tickets for a return flight from Paris, thereby missing my flight home, which lead to arguments, added fees, sleeping at a hotel close to the airport and just a general nightmare.
I regret signing up for the "Free Timeshare Presentation for a Free Dinner" sham in Florida. The dinner wasn't worth the 3 hours of my life and vacation that I'll never get back!
I regret ever thinking that trying to make the three hour drive from Positano to Rome in a rental car early in the morning, the same morning as our flight left at 10:00 am, was a good idea. It really wasn't.
After spending four plus boring hours on the flattest, least scenic part of Canada on the way to Old Quebec City and Montreal, I regret not flying. Next time- I'll take to the skies.
I regret not doing a drive by of Pisa. We were so close, but veered to Chiantishire instead. We should have just driven by for a view and a picture of the leaning tower.
But, what I regret most- is not going sooner.
What are some of your travel regrets? You know you have 'em! Share in the comments!
