One aspect of travel that I love is sharing adventure stories with others. It’s as if you are inviting friends over for a dinner party where everyone brings their own dish of travel to share. Hearing about their favorite restaurant they ate at or how they saw something other tourists miss out on is invaluable knowledge that you can use to create your own adventure recipe. There are a thousand travel resources available, which I consider a lot like cookbooks, you can thumb through the recipes, but it’s a little overwhelming. (Besides we all know our family and friends have the best recipes!)
More often I will seek out resources within my personal and professional network. A photograph can inspire me to travel to a place I may not have considered before, so when I saw that Mozi Magazine, a photography magazine, would be coming out with a travel issue I was very excited. All the more excited when I found out that Recipe to Travel was selected to be included. Narrowing down images and writing a narrative to go along with them was tough because I wanted to share Italy in a way that would inspire someone else to travel there. The issue is packed with helpful photography and travel tips as well as other adventure stories.
If you would like to purchase it (digital and print available) head over to their site.
Curious as to what I decided to submit? Here are the images (not all were included due to space in the layout) and narrative that accompanied them.
Rome had several things on my “must-see” list. A tour of Colosseum at night was what I was most looking forward to during my trip to Italy. Unfortunately, this was cancelled due to a power outage caused by lightning. To make up for it, I was able to get a tour of the Colosseum the following day. The sun was just rising over the amphitheatre as it opened for the day. Having access to the Sistine Chapel before it filled with other tourists afforded an extended time to view the incredible ceiling. I also walked up the spiral Bramante Staircase, which is usually closed to the public but was included as part of the tour. The Vatican museums are endless; a perfect place to spend a day surrounded by art. I made the climb to the very top of St. Peter’s dome, not for the faint of heart, but worth the view of St. Peter’s Square below and Rome beyond. A visit to the Vatican Scavi, the necropolis beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, completed my top to bottom experience of the Basilica. I was looking forward to the unique concrete dome and hoping for a light ray through the oculus of the Pantheon. Nearby is the famous Trevi Fountain; make sure to have a coin ready to toss in!
In Florence, Michelangelo’s David was a must-see even if I did have to wedge myself among the crowd. The Medici art collection at the Uffizi Gallery is vast and if you wait for a few groups to pass by, you’ll have a chance to see famous artworks, such as The Birth of Venus, up close. A great day trip from Florence is the Square of Miracles in Pisa where I learned a lot about the famous leaning tower. Venice is a unique city on the water, a maze of alleys and waterways that you inevitably become lost in. I decided not to climb the brick bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica and enjoyed the view from the ground instead. An after-hours tour of the Doge’s Palace, which housed their government, included crossing the Bridge of Sighs connecting the interrogation rooms to the prison. I had photographed the bridge outside earlier, so I seized the opportunity to capture the opposite view through the small window. During the St. Mark’s Basilica visit, the Venetian guide signaled a guard to illuminate the gold mosaic ceilings. It’s majestic beauty took my breath away.
The internet was helpful to research places to stay, eat, and book exclusive tours. When it came to food, it was important for me to feel at ease knowing where I might eat since I’m picky. I researched options beforehand, previewing menus and reading reviews for suggestions even though I didn’t always stick to those spots. I lived happily on pasta, pizza, and gelato (including a goal to try every flavor at Carapina, which was my favorite). After some trial and error I became accustomed to utilizing local transportation including buses, taxis, subways, and trains. I also spent a little time in Positano, Pompeii, Verona, and Milan, enjoying the wine tours of Tuscany and Piedmont. There were more than a few hiccups along the way, however it was filled with many amazing moments. I’ll never forget the rain coming through the Pantheon oculus, hearing the bells of both St. Peter’s and St. Mark’s, and seeing a double rainbow after a wonderful day of wine tasting. It was an epic adventure.
1 Comment
Julia
November 15, 2016 at 9:42 pmFantastic images and article. I haven’t been to Italy, but seeing your images gave me a taste of how beautiful it is.