inspired
For our stop in Sydney, we decided to do the Fortress of Louisbourg shore excursion with our cruise line. The journey started by getting on a bus and having an introduction to Sydney as we made our way through the historic north end and back in time to 1744 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.
Charlottetown, the birth place of Canada, is the capital of Prince Edward Island. It’s difficult for me to think of a word other than quiet to describe it. I’ve been to tropical islands and rugged islands. P.E.I. felt like a nearly uninhabited small town island. Driving through Charlottetown we saw tiny villages, harbors, rolling farmlands, and stunning seascapes. It felt like I’d been transported a hundred years into the past.
Visiting French Canada had been a dream of mine for some time. The architecture and vibes of small Parisian neighborhoods is what I was most excited for and Quebec City did not disappoint.
The flight to Quebec was one of the easiest flights I had in a while. We took a red eye to Montreal and from Montreal we had a short flight to Quebec City. I usually get anxiety on planes but this time I was okay. Learning my anxiety triggers definitely helped. I need to sleep the night before, eat (which I sometimes don’t do before an international flight because of nerves and time), and avoid caffeine. The flight wasn’t full either so I didn’t feel claustrophobic and was able to lay down. I didn’t sleep much on the plane, so when we got to the hotel I took off my layers of warm clothes and fell asleep for a few hours.
The hotel we stayed in was the Hôtel Marie-Rollet. I found it on Orbitz the month before for a decent price. The photos made it look like a French apartment which I really liked. It was also located in the center of the city near some of the most famous spots. Location is always important when I am looking for a hotel. I like to be able to walk everywhere in a city.
As soon as we stepped out of our hotel there was a view of City Hall Park. At night, we got to witness a light show they had using the fountains. It was like a mini World of Color. If you are unfamiliar, World of Color is a nighttime light show put on by Disney’s Adventure Park.
Our hotel was lovely, but I couldn’t not mention the world-famous hotel in Quebec. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a beautiful old hotel that could be spotted from miles away. In 2018, the hotel celebrated its 125th anniversary.
The hotel had a cool haunted feeling when we saw it. Probably due to the overcast skies and pointy architecture.
I didn’t get the chance to splurge on afternoon tea at the Chateau Frontenac, but I did get to try the famous Canadian poutine at a nearby restaurant. I’ve been to Canada twice without trying poutine. I wasn’t going to not try it a third time.
I ordered La Classique and my mom ordered La Braisée. I would recommend La Braisée only because it’s more unique in taste.
While walking around the port, we came across a market. Markets are always nice to explore because it gives you a chance to practice a foreign language and see the local fresh cuisine. Also, the souvenirs inside markets are usually handmade or unique finds.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you probably know my favorite thing to do in a new city is simply walk around. I have fond memories of discovering the unexpected beauty behind every turn. Quebec City has a lot of streets and neighborhoods that are perfect for this and not too far from each other. Still make sure to bring a map with you incase you get too lost or want to have the names of what you are photographing.
Once a small village in 1600’s, Quartier Petit-Champlain is now cobblestone streets where mainly tourists go to shop and dine. You’ll see beautifully restored houses that are now galleries, boutiques and bistros. It’s probably my favorite area of Quebec City.
Other great streets to walk down in Quebec City are Rue Saint-Jean, Rue Saint-Joseph and Rue Saint-Louis.
On the very last day of our trip to Quebec, we walked through Battlefield Park towards our cruise. The park was MUCH larger than I was expecting. It was a nice place to stroll, but if running/hiking/biking is a hobby of yours, I would definitely recommend going to this park for a little exercise.
-Ayla♥
It was a few years ago when I went to Russia, so it may be a little difficult to remember some of my experiences and places I visited. A few things have stuck in my head over the years, and some of these photos definitely …
Florence is one of the most amazing cities in the world. It’s hard to believe for it’s size, but it is incredibly rich in history and art. That’s why millions of people visit from all over the world every year. If you find yourself in this beautiful city, I hope you stay long enough to enjoy it and visit some of the amazing places nearby.
Some of these places are right outside Florence, while others are a little further, however, all of them are lovely and can be visited in a single day by bus or train. If you’re interested in reading a bit more on the cities, click the title of each one.
Let’s start off by mentioning the beautiful city of Siena. A place of medieval brick building and a famous square, Piazza del Campo, that hosts many events throughout the year. Try going from Florence on a day when they have one of their events and you won’t be disappointed. I was lucky enough to go during the Chocolate Festival! Also, make sure to visit the Cathedrals while you are there.
Getting There: You can take a bus for less than two hours or a train from the Firenze S.M.N.
Cinque Terre is actually five cities, but they are all small and close together making them easy-ish to visit in a single day. It’s such a beautiful place and perfect if you’re in the mood for something very different from Florence. Plan on leaving early in the morning from the train station so you have enough time to visit them all before the last train leaves in Cinque Terre.
Getting There: Take a train from Firenze to the La Spezia station. From there, get a one-day Cinque Terre Card which allows you to ride the trains from La Spezia to Levanto and stop in between the five different towns.
Fiesole is the closest to Florence as well as the easiest and cheapest to get to. It’s a good town to visit for amazing views and to see something a bit different. The coolest things to visit here, in my opinion, are the Fiesole Archaeological Area and Medici Villa. There are plenty of other things to visit in and around Fiesole depending on your interests.
Getting There: You can take a Florence city bus (Number 7) to Fiesole.
How could we ever forget Pisa? Pisa and Florence seem to go together like tomatoes and mozzarella. If you’re looking up tours to go on in Italy, you’ll see quite a few that combine Florence with Pisa. Some will even visit both in a single day. I personally wouldn’t recommend a tour like this unless you are limited on time and enjoy bus/walking tours. Make sure to read my post on Pisa for more details and lots of photos!
Getting There: You can either take a single train from SMN Florence to Pisa Centrale and walk around once you get there or find a tour bus that will take you (most likely) to Miracle Square and back to Florence after a few hours. If you need help finding tours, I would recommend GetYourGuide which has this exact tour I’m mentioning here.
While in Tuscany, make sure to visit one of the wineries outside of Florence. Even if you are not much of a wine drinker, it is still an excuse to see the beautiful Tuscan Countryside that can be missed when in the city center.
Getting There: Florence has many wineries nearby that you could get to using a bus tour or taxi. You can look through some visitors brochures or ask the staff at your hotel to find one you can go to.
There are other day trips you COULD take from Florence. However, these are my favorites and easiest! Rome is a city you can go to in one day, but one day really isn’t enough. Rome should be at least a weekend. Are there any other day trips you would recommend from Florence? Let us know in the comments!
-Ayla♥
The Huntington Strolling around gardens is one of my favorite things to do. You’ve probably noticed this if you followed my blog a while ago. It’s a wonderful way to spend a few hours of your day relaxing and taking photographs. And that’s exactly what …
