Italian Happy Hour at Note di Vino in Florence, Italy

I love a good happy hour. Then again, what's not to love? Cheap drinks. Cheap nibbles. And all before 5 o'clock. On our first day in Florence we strolled aimlessly down the cobbled streets looking for some light fare and a glass of Italian vino. We asked a gentlemen moseying by where we could find just that [...]

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Recreating My Favorite Italian Pastry, Millefoglie Glassato al Pistacchio

In the brisk morning hours in Florence, there was only one thing I wanted to do, go to the local Pasticceria and devour my new favorite pastry Millefoglie Glassato al Pistacchio. Millefoglie is an Italian dessert made by layering puff pastry with either a pastry or chantilly cream. We had discovered this little flaky piece [...]

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Scaling the 463 Stairs of the Duomo | Florence

After loading up on the essential focaccia carbs at the Mercato Centrale in Florence, Peter and I headed to the Duomo, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori. A so-called "friend" had told us that climbing to the top of the Duomo was an experience not to be missed. What he forgot to share was that [...]

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Prosciutto & Pollo at Mercato Centrale | Florence

I was school-girl giddy about going to Mercato Centrale in Florence. This is one of the most impressive indoor produce, vegetable and meat markets in Italy, a foodie masterpiece. It is the principal marketplace in town, where you can buy your groceries, oils, vinegars, etc. or eat a meal on the fly at one of the focaccia or pasta booths. Immediately upon entering the [...]

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12 Hours in Florence, Italy

"If you don't have the time to travel, create a career that gives you more freedom…until then, take a 12-hour vacation." Florence, Italy is a sightseeing mecca filled with picturesque churches, bountiful markets, authentic restaurants and so much more. It can be a bit overwhelming, but you'll be surprised how much you can fit into 12 [...]

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Northern Italy Trip, Day 3 – Florence

Go back to Northern Italy, Day 1 & 2 This post is part of my Bucket List Journey (#3 Visit 21 Countries) After 9 hours of sleep, I felt fortunate to have evaded jet lag and was eager to spend the day in Florence. We popped by the Hotel Orcagna's free breakfast and decided to just down [...]

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Travel to Florence, Italy – Days 1 & 2

This post is part of my Bucket List Journey (#3 Visit 21 Countries) After 14 hours, 3 different planes and a total of 22 hours of travel, we finally landed at the Florence airport. This airport was smaller than most, but the bags came out quickly and it was easy to navigate to Budget Car Rental where [...]

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