Florence– “Fierenze” as the Italians call it, is a movie-esque city shrouded in history and still buzzing with the creativity of the Renaissance. It sits nestled in the hills of Tuscany, and a wander down its storybook streets leaves you feeling miniscule in the shadow of its larger-than-life marble statues and iconic Italian architecture. It’s a distinct and breath-taking rush to gaze up and feel so small, and Florence delivers at very turn. On my first day I spent 14 hours speed-walking in excited exploration of the city’s museums, historical buildings, and shopping. IG-worthy photos at every turn. I felt…
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Venice, Italy. I hadn’t planned to have five open days in Europe, and to be very honest, I wasn’t excited about it. The plans I had for this time had fallen through, leaving me heavy-hearted with the time on my hands. Traveling solo sounded more daunting than exciting, but Italy had been on the bucket list and something told me the magical country wouldn’t let me regret it. I booked flights on a Wednesday and was stepping off the train in Venice six days later. The city actually sparkles. The glimmer of the water, the gondolas, the glint in the…
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I’m sitting in an Irish hotel room after a full Irish breakfast, rain and wind blowing outside, and warm lamplight fills the room. I don’t have anywhere to be until 6pm, and I got my gym workout and computer work done before breakfast. This is the first time on this Irish tour I’ve been able to find all necessary ingredients to sit and be creative. No schedule pressure, work pressure, or appeal of nice weather outside… all is finally quiet, internally and externally. I consider myself an inherently creative person and feel lucky to have a life and career that…
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I’ve been lucky to have experienced this beautiful country several times now, and I’ve compiled the list of things I wish I’d known before my first trip. I also sought the consultation of my dear friend and The Elders lead singer, Mr. Ian Byrne. He had some fun insight and a few points to add. If you’re preparing for your first trip, fear not: the scenery, food, and language are every bit as beautiful as you could imagine! Enjoy! 1. Read up on the history. Learn about the “troubles” and have a base knowledge of the Irish history, particularly the…