Travel Tip Tuesday | Destination Specific Travel Tips

The Internet offers up a wealth of information on pretty much any topic known to man. Google the words 'Travel Tips' and you'll get a whopping 185,000,000 hits.

Narrow your search by typing 'Destination Specific Travel Tips' and guess what? The number increases to 201,000,000 hits!

You could spend countless hours weeding through all THAT information, or do what I do.

Go to Twitter.

Yeah, that's right. Twitter.

So, I put it out there. In Twitterville. For the experts to weigh in.

And here is the result.

Destination Specific Travel Tips. Courtesy of Twitter.

@Margit11 : When in Frankfurt,Germany have a look at the Palmengarten, a beautiful, huge Botanical Garden right in the centre of town.

@CiaoLaura : Traveling around Italy by train? Be sure to validate your train ticket in one of the yellow boxes on the wall at the station – if you don't, you risk a fine once on board the train. (Note - Eurostar trains do not need validation; however, it will not do any harm if you do accidentally stamp these tickets).

@Travelwriticus : Use the panorama lift at the Karlskirche in Vienna

@karenbryan : If you need to refuel your rental car at the Pisa airport, which is unmanned and doesn't accept credit cards, my advice is to leave lots of extra time and carry a good supply of 20, 10 and 5 euro notes.

@santafetraveler : Traveling to SantaFe? We are high and dry. Drink LOTS of water and be sparing with alcohol and caffeine until you adjust.

@wheninrometours : Always use the Via dei Fori Imperiali ticket booth to buy Colosseum tickets in Rome. Never a line!

@italylogue : Do drink the tap water in Venice. It saves you and the city some money and saves the environment (no pesky plastic water bottles floating in the canals)!

@BetsyM : Before boarding the subway, in Chicago, study the map well. Most lines make a loop through the downtown area, which tends to confuse non-locals. This means at some points, the subway will only run one direction. So you might have to board a south-bound train in order to go north, be
cause you're catching it in the middle of the Loop. Also, during rush hour, some trains cut out several stops and run "express." Express trains are marked, so double check before you board. Lastly, on purchasing transit cards: Machines do not give change. If all you have is a $20, you will have to buy a $20 worth of credit. And even if you have enough credit for multiple people, two people can not share a card. If using the same transit card, the turnstile will not let one person in immediately after another.

@MissExpatria : Learn the foreign terms for any of your allergies and how to ask about it. Also, have "I am allergic to-" written down on a card.

@travelchic74 : Never put Paris metro ticket next to Blackberry case (with magnet inside). Makes the tickets not work!

@Journeywoman : There's an amazing little 'hole in the wall' shop in New York City's Chinatown that sells only dumplings –five sizzling fresh, hot, dumplings for $1. The shop with a sign' Fried Dumpling' in NY over the door is situated at 106 Mosco St. It's bare bones but very clean and minimalist. They have four or five stools at a small counter (if you're lucky enough to get a seat). The dumplings are served in square styrofoam boxes with a plastic fork. This is one of the greatest deals in the City. Also, what makes it fun is how the woman serving the dumplings demands the $1 up front before serving up the wonderful treat. Cash only!

@EffieDelimarkos : Stroll the back roads of old Monterrosso al Mare in Cinqueterra and stop at La Smorfia for some of the best pizza north of Naples.

@JennMartino : Explore the myriad of museums that Paris has to offer on the 1st Sun of every month, when all museums are free.

@quirkytraveller : Visit the American Bookshop, The Globe Bookstore, in Prague to meet locals and travellers – great coffee, films and Bohemian champagne!

—

Now, it's your turn to weigh in!

Have a Destination Specific Travel Tip to share? Please leave it in the comments.

And if you visit any of these good people on Twitter, please tell them who sent you.

***

And speaking of visiting, now it's time for you visit Cherrye for your double-dose of Travel Tips this Tuesday!

Along the Via Giulia in Rome

Next time you're in Rome, if you are looking for an off-the beaten-path location, take a few moments out to stroll the Via Giulia.

Via Giulia is one of the oldest streets in Rome. It runs parallel to the Tiber River, which separates the River from Trastevere.

It is a wonderful road that showcases the best of the Renaissance. In the sixteenth century, it became the most fashionable street for new construction for borghesi and for the Florentine community. Today it's known as one of Rome's elite shopping streets, noted for its antique shops.

In the 1540's Michelangelo had a plan to have the gardens of the Palazzo Farnese, which is currently home to the French Embassy, to be connected by a bridge to the Villa Farnesina, the Pope's Villa in Trastevere. The arch in the following photos, known as Passaggio Farnese, is what is left of the plan, which never came to fruition.

You've already seen some lovely pictures of homes along the Via Giulia in my post about my collections of Roman courtyards and Roman doors.

Here are some of the other favorites, including the archway over Via Giulia, just dripping with ivy and adorned with my favorite element- the fleur-de-lys, and the grand Palazzo Falconieri, seen as you get closer to the Ponte Sisto.

And of course, as we cross over the Ponte Sisto, you can see St Peter's Basilica on the Trastevere side of the Tiber.

Hope you enjoyed the stroll.

What is one of your favorite strolls in Rome?

The Weekly Tweetly | 9-27-09

Another exciting week on Twitter. Well, aren't they all exciting?

Last week, we had a travel theme going. This week, I'm gonna try to shake it up a bit. We have travel, photography, France, Italy and food. Lot's of food!

Here's your Weekly Tweetly…

Matador has a great piece entitled, 7 Facts about Expat Life in Bolivia. Whether you're planning to live there or not, it is a useful and interesting read.

Thinking of traveling to Portugal? Isabelle's Travels offers up some very helpful travel phrases you'll want to know.

A Taste of France shares a classic favorite recipe of mine, Bouiliabaisse, which hails from the Marseilles region of France.

Who doesn't love figs? Figs with honey and gorgonzola, figs with melon, figs with prosciutto. YUM. ItalyMONDO! has a great article about Sweet September Figs. Enjoy!

Do you dream of Paris, as I often do? Ron Dubin offers up his Bar Barge on the River Seine photo. I'd say there is no better spot for a cocktail.

Michelle of Bleeding Espresso is running her 2nd Annual 'O' Foods for Ovarian Cancer Event. Her recipe contribution is the simple, but delicious Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino.

And if you have never heard of the Indie Travel Podcast, well, you must be living under a rock! In their latest episode, Craig and Linda Martin cover Queensland Adventures.

—

And as usual, if you happen to click over to these sites, comment or find them on Twitter, don't forget to mention who sent you! And you can always follow me. I'm @MyMelange.

See ya next time for the next edition of The Weekly Tweetly!

Cul de Sac

One of the best wine bars in all of Rome, happens to be tucked into a little alley, just steps from the Piazza Navona. It’s called Cul de Sac.

You can enjoy excellent wines of the region and other areas of Italy both by the glass and by the bottle.

The inside is nothing fancy, and who needs fancy when you have all that wine? But the hard wooden seats will leave you begging for an outside table. You’ll have to get there early or get lucky to score one of those.

Cul de Sac serves up a huge selection of salumi and cheese, antipasti items, pastas and desserts – more than you’d expect for a simple wine bar.

The food, wine and atmosphere are well worth the price. But grabbing an outdoor table, facing Pasquino , the talking statue, while the Roman drivers converging on the little square manage to skillfully avoid collision, is priceless. The lasagne and pesto pasta are not to be missed!

Cul de Sac
Piazza di Pasquino, 73 Rome
+39 066 880 1094

Traveling to Rome? Click here to find out how I can craft your foodie adventure or here for a selection of culinary excursions.

Travel Tip Tuesday | 5 Resources for Solo Travelers

Traveling alone can be very exciting. I love and have written about traveling solo. My first trip to Paris was a solo trip and I would highly recommend it to anyone. There are so many wonderful benefits to it.

But for those who have never done it, the thought can also be very frightening. Lots of fears, concerns and questions will come up.

But have no fear- there is so much information out there for solo travelers! Sites that cover safety, dining, or assessing whether solo travel is right for you. Even solo travel deals. You just need to know where to look.

That's where I come in. This Travel Tip Tuesday, I have put together a list of some of the best resources available to those who are already experienced, or those who are considering taking the plunge!

1. Journeywoman. This site is amazing. Evelyn Hannon really offers up a wealth of information geared toward women travelers. But, there is an entire category dedicated to solo travel. From solo packing tips to safety, solo cruising to solo travel to Paris and India, this on-line travel mag is one major resource. If you can't find it here- than I'd say it just doesn't exist. And, ahem, I'll just casually mention that I am a contributor.

2. Solo Traveler is a blog that is a constant feed of updated solo travel info. This blog should be called all solo travel, all the time! Janice, along with her handful of contributors, really crank out the timely and useful information. I am especially fond of the Solo Travel Tips and Solo Travel Deals categories.

3. Gray of SoloFriendly has traveled to 5 countries and 16 U.S States and has gone solo for a good part of it. She created the website to help other travel solo by sharing her experiences on going it alone (hence the friendly part). She also has destination specific info on Las Vegas, Disney World, Montréal and Burlington, Vermont, as well as an abundance of other solo travel resources to visit.

4. SoloTravel.org is your guide to single and solo travel. At least that is what they say. They have a wealth of city and country guides. Prague and Madrid have mini-guides and Australia, Thailand and Peru are just a few of the countries represented. Be sure to check out the Solo Travel Humor section for a lighter look at solo travel.

5. When all else fails, sometimes you just need to pose a direct question and get an answer. If you've looked through all of the above resources and have a very specific, direct question try the Solo Forum over at TripAdvisor. You can also search the archives to see if your question has already been asked and answered before.

What are some of your favorite Solo Travel resources? Please share in the comments.

—

And speaking of sharing- let's see what My Bella Vita is sharing this Travel Tip Tuesday!

Flea Market News

Bonjour mes amis!

Some Flea Market News…..

Fall Sale is currently running in my Flea Market. Need to make room for new stock! Any items listed with *SALE* in the title have been reduced.

And I have listed some great new items, like

Vintage Paris Postcards
Vintage Michelangelo Postcards
Vintage Plan de Paris book
Italian Mosaic Pin
Italian Souvenir Coin Purse
Mother-of-Pearl items
Vintage Beaded Bags
Linen Cocktail Napkins

Have fun looking! Details on purchasing are listed within the item descriptions.

Merci!

Scroll down for the most current post….

The Weekly Tweetly | 9-20-09

Hey! Welcome back for another edition of The Weekly Tweetly- interesting and informative things found on Twitter this week.

You'll notice a recurring theme here this week! Travel.

We've got America, Italy, France, Wales and Barcelona. Along with a few travel tips mixed in.

And speaking of Travel- have you seen the Twitter list of Travel Insights 100 yet? It's a great list of travel folks and you can choose to follow all or some of them in just a click!

Here's what you came for….

My friend Christine, aka Miss Expatria, who now splits her time between France and Italy, talks about her first trip back to America in three years.

Think Spring and Summer are the best times to visit Italy? Think again. Jessica Spiegel states her case for why Winter in Italy should be an option.

Sticking with seasonal travel and places I love, Julie Blakely, writes about Autumn in Paris.

Want better treatment when traveling? Peter S Greenberg offers up Tips on Looking and Acting like a Local.

You may remember a post I did about the Abessess Métro station in Paris. Well, Linda has her own post about another Paris Métro Station with Style and Substance.

Chris Around the World offers travelers 5 Tips to Avoiding Blood Clots.

I have never been to Wales, but Liz from Travelogged is visiting. Her story and lovely photos make me want to add it to ' The List '.

Nomadic Matt is on the road again. This time, it's Barcelona, one of his favorite cities in Spain. Matt shares some of what Barcelona has to offer as well as some budget travel tips!

And last but not least, Wendy Perrin of The Perrin Post shares 21 Twitterers to Follow for Amazing Deals and Help Snagging Them!

—

That's all for this week. As always, if you happen to tweet and/or comment on any of the blogs listed here- I'd appreciate it if you'd tell them who sent you. And you can always follow me on Twitter.

I am @MyMelange.

See you next week for another edition of The Weekly Tweetly!

Five Favorite French Brands

A big part of trying to live my expat life, while in my home country is surrounding myself with some of the best products I can find. Both French and Italian.

This week, I thought it would be fun to tackle France and discuss some of my favorite brands from France. Rather than discuss specific products, I think it's better to talk brands- just because I often enjoy several products from the same brands.

And just in case you think I might forget Italy- no worries. Italy brands will be next week!

Caudalie. I have been using this French skin cares company's products for at least the last 3 years. And I can tell you without equivocation that the stuff really works. The all-natural formula is free from parabens and is loaded with Resveratrol, which is a patented antioxidant taken from grapes, hence the name. Caudalie, located in Paris,is actually a French word, which means the length of time that the wine aftertaste stays in the mouth.

Savon de Marseilles. Know those huge square cubes of pure olive oil soap that come in a light olive green color? Well, Savon de Marseilles has been making them the old fashioned way since 1688. And they are located in the old port town of Marseilles, in the South of France. The soaps are available in both white (made with palm oil) and green (using olive oil) and are very healthy for your skin. I swear by it's moisturizing formula, which totally combats my alligator skin in winter. I love their liquid soaps as well.

Côté Bastide. Yes, ok Côté Bastide is another French beauty product brand, but this one is oh so much more! I love their housewares product lines as well. Creamy ivory earthenware bowls and plates, pure ivory candles, furniture, lighting and linens join the body care line. It is oh so French.

O & Co. Originally billed as Oliviers and Company, this Mediterranean food brand was started in the village of Mane in the hills of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The business originally centered on the olive tree. Now you can get a high quality selection of naturally flavored specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars, grand cru olive oils, seasonings, pastas, earthenware, crackers and spreads, honey, preserves and gifts.

Le Creuset. I love cooking. I think I love good cookware even more! One of the best cookware companies in France is Le Creuset. You may remember when I purchased my own Dutch Oven, which was first produced by the company in 1925. I have since prepared Boeuf Bourguignon, Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic and Italian Beans on Toast. The line now not only includes the Cast Iron cookware, but stoneware, stainless-steel, silicone bakeware and tools. And if it's good enough for pretty much every Food Network show and more recently, the set of Julie & Julia- than I'd say it's good enough for me!

—

So, which of these brands have you tried and what did you think?

Got another brand to add to the list? Add it in the comments!

Travel Tip Tuesday | Nighty Nite-Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite!

I have been very lucky to date, as I have yet to run into the icky, painful bloodsucking pests known as bed-bugs, that hide in the floorboards and come out at night to feast on human flesh.

Miniature vampires of the travel world.

But there are many who have not been so lucky.

And you'll know if you are one of them, because you'll wake up with red, itchy bites and bumps over your body.

In fact, I am getting the heebie-jeebies just typing this.

Once thought to just frequent the 'fleabag' hotels and hotels, the critters are now showing up in posh hotels and resorts.

Other than checking the mattress corners upon arrival at my hotel, and my luggage upon return home- I haven't really thought much about them.

And being an environmentally friendly gal, the thought of spraying any type of repellent as a form of prevention was a no-no for me, because most sprays are full of chemicals.

But I recently heard about a new all-natural product called Rest Easy
- that seems like it might just be a great solution.

First, let me say- I have not been contacted buy this company. I have not been paid to discuss or promote it. And most importantly, I have not yet tried it.

It sounded like something I would try though- and seeing that it is all natural alternative to a chemical repellent- I thought some of you might like to try it as well.

Rest Easy is made with the essential oils of cinnamon, lemongrass, clove and mint. It is designed to kill, or at least keep away, bed bugs. The idea is that upon arrival to your hotel, spray the room, your bed and also your luggage.

And wanna know the best part?

Rest Easy comes in perfectly portable, 2-Ounce Bottles, which can be used as part of your 3-1-1 liquids if you are traveling light!

And that's something this Carry-On Queen is very excited about!

Have your ever been a victim of the bed-bug? Is this product something you would try to prevent them from biting you?

—

Not nearly enough of a travel tip today? Head over to My Bella Vita and get your double dose of Travel Tip Tuesday!

Vermont Cemetery Photos

I am always drawn to old cemeteries. Especially those in beautiful locations and those with very old headstones that show their age.

Old moss filled crevices, the sayings on the headstones, the different designs, from the tall, thin marble slabs to the short, thick stones – always wondering who lies beneath.

On my recent trip to Vermont, I was lucky enough to stay right across the street from one such cemetery and passed yet another a few miles into Manchester.

Here are some of my favorite shots.