Oh, Tuscany- Part Five.

For my last post on Tuscany, I wanted to talk a little about one of the best parts of the trip- the food and wine.  Before traveling to Italy, I always pictured the food as being classic pizzas, pastas, and warm Italian garlic bread.  While for some regions of the country these foods are definitely specialties, in Tuscany the food was much more diverse (and better!) than a typical Olive Garden meal.  

Oh, Tuscany- Part Four.

The last day of our Tuscan adventure we planned on touring wineries near Greve in the Chianti region. If you're planning on visiting Italian wineries, you absolutely must make reservations ahead of time.  Not only will this give you a solid plan for your time, it will also ensure that you're absolutely positive which wineries are open and receiving visitors at that time.  I am a meticulous trip planner yet made the mistake of assuming most places would be open and willing to accept call-ahead timing.  

Click through to read about my wine tasting experience at the unique Castello di Verrazzano!

Oh, Tuscany- Part Three.

When exploring a larger region (like Chianti) you can either pick up and move each night as you go along, or you can pick a "home base" and go from there, which is what we chose to do.  Greve is a little town nestled in the Chianti wine region.  Although I'm sure things change during wine season, it was overall very quiet during our time there.  The town square has a few rows of cute shops and an incredible restaurant, but don't expect to find anything open later than 8 or so at night.  

Click through to read more about this sweet Italian wine region!

Oh, Tuscany- Part Two.

We had no plans to go to Pisa, and then all of the sudden, late one evening, there we were.  I'm a pretty compulsive planner when it comes to traveling, but on this trip we focused on being flexible and open to wherever the Italian wind wanted to take us.  So, when we were hopelessly lost trying to find our hostel in Florence one evening, of course the logical thing to do was to get back in the car, forgo Florence altogether, and go in hunt of the famed Tower of Pisa.  

Oh, Tuscany- Part One.

If you want to really see Tuscany, rent a car and give yourself time, a loose itinerary, and plenty of crackers to absorb the delicious regional wines.  We only had a few days in Tuscany, but I'm pretty sure I could have entertained myself for weeks in rustic towns and centuries-old cities of central Italy.

Windsor

   

When I visited my friend Sara, who was studying abroad just outside of London, she insisted on a trip to Windsor to see the castle.  Since I only had two days in England, I was hesitant to spend nearly a whole day on the trip to the castle, but I couldn't have been happier with our decision.  

The day started out with a traditional English breakfast: scrambled eggs, fried ham and a thick sausage, baked beans, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, and fried toast.  As a lover of breakfast foods and of baked beans and tomatoes, I was in food heaven.  Of course, as I chowed down on my manly sized portion, Sara delicately munched on a croissant and a cappuccino... I almost ordered seconds.  

Ever since I began planning my trip to England, I knew I needed a photo with the traditional English guards.  However, somehow I missed out on two key pieces of information.

1. When it begins to get even a little cold out, the guards cover up their classic 

red jackets with long gray coats.  No red-coated guards for me...

2. The guards are downright terrifying.  You try marching right up to a machine-gun-bearing, 

6 foot something, likely war experienced soldier and smiling for a photo. 

Although I wasn't permitted to take photos, you can actually tour a large part of the castle and accompanying church and grounds.  From the displays of knights' armor to the delicate china and elaborately furnished sitting rooms, this place is castle through and through. 

For €10 (and a free pass for the rest of the year), Windsor is definitely a must-see for London travelers.  

Any other castle recommendations?  What places are your favorites?

Madrid, Spain

Madrid was the first stop in my study abroad journey, and had it not been for the jet lag or nerves about the months to come, I'm sure the city and I would have hit it off quite nicely.  Sadly, I don't think I was able to give Madrid the chance it really deserved.  From the countless plazas with restaurants (Which serve sangria on tap!) and performers to the perfectly manicured parks and beautiful white buildings, Madrid really does have a lot to offer.

Next time I'll be sure to plan ahead a little more and scope out more than just the easy spots.  Don't get me wrong, seeing a Spanish castle was super cool; I just wish I had gotten to know more of Madrid than just the tourist spots.   

Have you ever had to leave a city before you ever really got a feel for it?  What are your tips?