Before we traveled to Turin we knew very little about the city other than that it was known for its car production.

Little did we know that Turin is also a foodie’s heaven, something that we discovered during our time there. Not many people seem to know about this great gastronomical treasure of northern Italy – it’s almost as though it as been forgotten of.

The locals claim that the reason is because they don’t brag and tell everyone about how great their food is, they just know it’s the best…

Europe’s Largest Open-Air Market

In Turin you will find the largest open-air fruit and vegetable market in Europe.

Full of life, the bustling market starts in the morning (around 8am) and goes on until 2pm. This is where the locals go to buy their weekly food shopping, and a great place to soak up the Italian atmosphere.

Selling seasonal fruits and vegetables by the kilo, you can easily buy a whole week of greens for €6, and it’s the perfect place to put together a cheap pic nic lunch before heading over to one of the parks nearby.

Giandujotto

If you’re a chocolate fan, prepare to be in for a real treat! What was originally an attempt to “thin out” chocolate to make it more affordable turned into one of the most delicious chocolate treats ever: the Gianduja.

A mixture of chocolate and hazelnuts, the Gianduja comes in bite sized treats called Giandujotto, and can be bought pretty much anywhere in Turin. They’re seriously some of the most amazing chocolate treats I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate in my life..!

To give you an idea of the flavor, Gianduja was the inspiration to the more famous (and cheaper) Nutella spread we all love so much – which in Turin they throw into almost everything, from coffee to snacks.

Bicerin

We’ve written before about Turin’s obsession for chocolate, and the Bicerin is one of its proudest inventions. A hot chocolate/coffee drink, Bicerin is a unique drink of Turin, and a must-try for cool evenings.

Zabaglione

Another warm drink typical for Turin is Zabaglione, an alcoholic type of egg-nod, where the egg is whipped into a foam, and you basically eat the drink with a spoon.
It’s sweet, a little sticky, and has a strong alcoholic liqueur flavor.

Biscotti & Bagnati

To go with their hot chocolate coffee drinks, the Savoy family that ruled Piedmont invented bite sized biscuits to dip in their hot drinks.

These delights made especially to be dunked come in many different flavors and varieties, some of the most famous are Baci di Dama, Canestrelli and Savoiardi – better known as ladies fingers.

Our favorite were Torcetti (in the lower left corner), but there is really an infinite variety of specialities waiting to seduce you and be enjoyed in Turin’s small, traditional patisseries.

At Caffé al Bicerin (famous for their Bicerin) you can order a plate of assorted traditional biscuits for €6 to go with your drink – they’re definitely worth it!

Ferrero Rocher

As if the fact that Turin invented eating chocolate wasn’t enough, one of the most famous gourmet chocolates in the world – Ferrero Rocher, was also invented in Turin.

Wine

The Piedmont region of Turin is famous for their wine, especially of the red sort.

One of the perks of Italy, and especially Piedmont, is that wine can be bought everywhere, and surprisingly cheap.

In some of the cheaper restaurants such as “Brek” you just grab a jug of the size you want and pour wine from a tap lie it was water!

Two glasses can cost as little as €1,70, not to mention the prices of bottles from a wine shop of supermarket.

If you like wine that is a little tangy, you’ll love Italian wine.

Aperitivo

Turin claims to be the inventor of so many things it’s almost a bit of a joke; one cafe even claims the fame for “bite sized sandwiches”, and prize them accordingly…

The city is apparently also where “aperitivo” was invented, a sort of “happy hour” thing when you buy a drink and get a buffet or snacks for free.

Unlike “happy hour”, drinks aren’t usually cheaper, but you get free food included. For a proper buffet expect to pay €9, but if you just want to enjoy a refreshing Aperol Spritz with some peanuts and chips you can get a drink for as little as €4 (at least from our favorite local hangout, Roger Bar at Via Torquato Tasso 9).

Slow Food Movement

The invasion of fast food joints popping up like a plague across Italy in the 80’s gave birth to a new food revolution – the Slow Food Movement.

This new movement began in the Piedmont region (in a town called Bra close to Turin) and was aimed to reclaim the meaning of eating in Italy, and offer the public good food carefully made with love, rather than pre-made reheated burger patties.

While the Supermarket/Restaurant Eataly is the most famous, there are many great slow food restaurants all over Turin.

Truffles

The Piedmont area is not only one of the best wine growing areas in Italy, but also the best for growing the exotic (and expensive) Truffels.

Every year Turin holds a truffle festival where the best chefs from around the world travel to the city to seek out the best truffles for their restaurants.

If you’re interested in visiting Turin and sample their amazing food, Co-op Travel offers some great holiday packages to Italy, where you can easily make Turin part of a day-trip.

Next time you travel through northern Italy make sure you stop over in Turin for a day or two to sample their great food!

Thelma and Louise is one of my all-time favorite road trip movies, and every time I watch a clip from the movie I want to take to the road on a new adventure.

There is something about the freedom of being able to turn off on a new unknown road or stop over for a break whenever you feel like it that makes road trips so appealling – all the opportunities for spur of the moment trips.

But if you’re going for a long trip that will last at least a couple of days, you will need a little more planning – other than the usual packing list with clothes and toiletries, here is a list of the essentials when packing for a road trip…

Rags, Wipes and Tissues

You would be surprised to find just how grateful you will be that you brought that rag along in the last moment, or that you remembered to bring the wet wipes and a toilet paper roll.

The only thing you can be sure will happen is that at some point of your road trip you will spill something, you will need to wash your hands and you will need to find a toilet – and the last one will not be the most hygienic..!

Crucial Contact Numbers

Be sure to have contact numbers for your insurance agency for auto and homeowners, in case something happens and you need to reach them. Also have other numbers handy such as a family member, police and emergency numbers.

Don’t rely on your phone but jot the numbers down in a notebook - if you need insurance, look at WorldNomads, and if you’re road tripping with a caravan take a look at the Caravan Club website as items in your caravan may not be covered by regular insurance.

The Travel Outfit

I always marvel at how classy the girls in old 50’s movies look when they step out of their convertible cars in high heels and wrinkle free skirts. It’s yet a mystery how they manage to pull that off, and I don’t suggest anyone taking on the challenge.

Instead, dress comfortably, and wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. If you are lucky to have a convertible, however, there is one thing you could learn from the classy 50’s girls: the head scarf – without it your hair will be a mess and surprisingly greasy already after a few hours – trust me I made that mistake once myself.

Many Small Snack Packs

Bringing snacks on a road trip is as obvious as bringing car keys for the trip to actually work – but there is a risk that you will run out of snacks before you even hit the high way.

To avoid this, repack all your snacks into smaller bags so that you can store some away for later during the day.

Picnic Bag Essentials

The best part about road trips is that as lunch time approaches, you can stop over by a lake or other resting area along the way and have a picnic.

Don’t bother bringing real plates and cuttlery, but stick with paper plates and plastic cups and cuttlery instead – do bring a proper knife and cutting board though, and a bottle opener.

GPS and a Map

Whether it’s an app on your iphone/blackberry, or an actual GPS device in your car, knowing exactly where you are and which roads you should be on is one of the best ways to make sure that you stay on track.

Even if you do decide to take a different road than the one your GPS has chosen for you, it will be easy to get back on the right track later on.

However, DO NOT use Apple’s own map, we’ve all heard of how dangerously wrong it can be (read: Apple Map Fails).

We use an app called “Pocket Earth” which has been incredibly useful! Bring along a normal map of the areas you will be driving through as a back-up, since you can never trust technology to 100%.

Road Trip Music

The number one essential is of course to have some good road trip songs, preferably tracks you can sing along with.

One of my favorite ways of finding good road trip music is via sharemyplaylists.com, where others put together and share their playlists.

Simply search for “road trip” playlists and you will find some great music for the road!

App it Up

After enough sing-along road trip songs you will want to entertain yourself with something different, and for that there is no better and more travel-friendly thing than apps. But aside from games, also download some other useful apps like the weather so you know what to prepare for down the road.

Electricity Power Inverter

To prevent running out of battery with your phone, laptop and everything else you bring along, invest in an electricity power inverter.

These devices turn the charge from your car’s battery into electricity to power most small electronic devices like laptops and phones.

Just plug it into your cigarette lighter and it covnerts in the direct current (DC) from the battery to the alternating current (AC). An alternative is to bring a portable charger that you have charged up before hand, and recharge it again when you stop for the night at a caravan camping station.

Finally, unless you haven’t already thought of it, make sure you have an emergency toolkit in your car with an orange flag and flares in case you need help, a spare tire and a flashlight.

Do you have any tips of packing essentials for a road trip?

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The summer is coming up so you may well be searching for your holiday accommodation, but where do you begin to look? Well, you may be one of those people who couldn’t imagine a holiday stay in anything other than a hotel … if you are, think again.

For the past 6 months traveling through Europe we’ve only stayed in a handful of hotels, and instead aimed for staying in apartments whenever possible – it’s now our preferred way of traveling, and here are a few reasons why …

The Cost

The first advantage, and everybody’s favourite one, is that apartments cost much less to rent than a hotel room! With cheaper rates you’ll have more spending money for actually seeing the city and there are less hidden costs than you’ll encounter in most hotels.

And not only will you find apartments are cheaper, but you are often paying less money for a lot more space.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the longer you stay in an apartment, the better the deal (not always but most often). Staying for a month can cost the same as the two week deal on the same place.

Location

By renting an apartment you are likely to have much more choice when it comes to what part of town you’d like to stay in. Whereas hotels in a city tend to be concentrated to one little area, you’ll find holiday apartments all ove town.

So if you are really keen on a particular area of the city you’re planning to visit, then you probably won’t struggle to find an apartment there.

Cooking at Home

Unlike a stay in a hotel, with an apartment you’ll have your own kitchen to use at mealtimes – so whether you just want to make a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal at breakfast or are planning a huge feast one evening, you will have a kitchen there ready for whenever you need it.

In hostels they often also have a kitchen, but you would have to share it with 20 other people which can be frustrating.

Another added bonus of cooking at home is that you’ll save even more money. Restaurants can be quite pricey in some holiday locations so it’s nice to have the option of eating on for some of the nights.

Meeting the Locals

You are a lot more likely to meet some interesting locals during your stay in an apartment. Perhaps when waiting for the lift or when crossing paths at the front door, you’ll be sure to bump into some locals during your stay.

It’s the locals that really make a city what it is, so it’d be a lot more fun to meet them than to meet some tourist with a giant map and bag full of souvenirs at the hotel.

Amenities

The last advantage is that many of the holiday apartments out there have handy amenities that you often won’t find in a hotel.

Things like washing machines, televisions and ironing boards – that you had always assumed are were simply not meant to be a part of the holiday experience – are now there and waiting for you in your holiday apartment!

Convinced? Well, if you’re now ready to try the holiday apartment experience then start looking through apartments and book the one that seems perfect for you. GowithOh is one apartment rental site with 17 cities and counting and worth a look for first-timers – and after your first stay in an apartment, you’ll never look back!

What do you think about staying in apartments when you travel, is it something you would consider doing?

India is a country full of life, delicious food and colorful places – some, however, are more colorful than others…

The Rajasthan state of India is especially colorful, with several cities nicknamed for its bright painted buildings, as well as others known for its delicious sweets and romantic atmosphere…

Jodhpur – The Blue City

Looking out over the city from the ramparts of Mehrangarh fort it’s easy to see why Jodhpur is known as the Blue City: most houses are painted in different shades of blue – especially in the north side of the town called Brahmpuri.

This is something the locals are very proud of, but if you were to ask them why the houses are blue, they usually respond by saying it keeps the buildings cool during summer (the city is also famous for its sunny days, giving it a second nickname: the Sun City).

The real reason, however, is said to be that the area is infested with termites, and the insects damaged and destroyed the traditional building techniques where the exteriors were coated with lime wash.

They realised that by adding copper salt into the lime washes, the insects stayed away. Under certain conditions, copper solutions produce blue compounds, hence the blue buildings.

The Brahmin class could afford this copper solution, which is why some believe that they painted the buildings blue to emphasize their royal connection, as blue is associated with wealth and royalty - who knows, maybe it’s a bit of both?

Bikaner – City of Sweets

If you have a sweet tooth, like me, you would love Bikaner. Famous for its Indian sweets, this is a city where you can truly indulge in sweets and snacks all day long.

Make sure you try the Kesar Kulfi, Gujiya and Bhujia while you’re there.

Other reasons to visit Bikaner is its old havelis (Indian mansions) and to go on camel safaris in the desert. The camel safaris here are less touristy than in Jaisalmer, and the city is known for the best riding camels in the world.

They even hold a camel festival each January with camel performances, races and of course special sweets made from camel’s’ milk.

The festival begins with a procession from the Junagarh fort, where the camels are decorated in typical Rajasthani attires and colorful saddles – finally, it’s also worth checking out the Karni Mata temple we wrote about last week in our article about “Indian festivals you don’t want to miss”.

Jaipur – The Pink City

Jaipur has been nicknamed the “pink city” because of its distinctly colored sandstone buildings, and of course there is also a story behind why they’re all pink.

In 1876, Maharaja Ram Sing decided to paint the entire city in pink, the traditional color for hospitality, as a gesture to welcome the Prince of Wales to the city.

The tradition continued, and today all residents in the old town are obliged by law to preserve the pink color – there are plenty of hotels in Jaipur, and if you’re planning to stay overnight you will have the opportunity to see the city in the sunset when the colors are even more intense.

Udaipur – City of Lakes 

Nicknamed Venice of the East (like many other cities in the east), Udaipur is commonly considered to be the most romantic city of India – the charming old & new town has three interconnected lakes; the Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola and Swaroop Sagar Lake.

Add forts, palaces, lush gardens, the Aravalli Mountains and temples and you can understand why people think it’s so romantic.

Jaisalmer – The Golden City

Finally, you have Jaisalmer, or The Colden City, as it’s often called, referring to the yellow sandstone buildings the city is made up of that take on a distinct golden glow in the afternoon sunlight.

The Rajmahal Fort and temples of Jain and Laxminath are the main attractions in Jaisalmer, along with the nearby desert and its camel safaris.

The interior of the Fort is amazing, but when the sun sets the best way to see it is from the outside, as the walls turn into honey-gold by the sun rays, adding to the desert fairytale ambience of the city.

Which of these places would you most like to visit?

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Some say that Turin is Italy’s most overlooked city, and until the Winter Olympics in 2006 few people thought of it as anything else than an industrial car city – they couldn’t be more wrong!

Although Turin justifiably is known for its cars, there is so much more to the city than Fiat or Ferrari.

And since we’re not very interested in cars – we will give you a car-free guide to Turin and show what we think are the city’s real treasures …

Eat, Drink & Eat Some More

While you can find good food all over Italy, Turin specializes in the food that we love most; wine, cheese, chocolate and truffles.

Turin is said to have invented the solid form of chocolate, but is more famous for its hot chocolate drink called Bicerin.

Turin has a love story with chocolate like few other cities, and a must-try when you’re there is the Giandujotto, a hazelnut chocolate praline that was the inspiration to the worldwide favorite Nutella chocolate.

If you’re not a chocolate fan there are still plenty of other foods to taste, such as the world famous truffles – every year during the truffle festival the world’s best chefs visit Turin to seek out the best truffles.

Also make sure you spend an evening at a bar and order an aperitivo (a drink with snacks or a small buffet included), a popular tradition in Turin.

For a more detailed guide on what to eat in Turin, stay tuned for our “food guide to Turin” next week.

The (Fake) Medieval Castle

Located by the river front, Turin has a stunning medieval castle – only it dates back to the 19th century…

That’s right, it’s not actually a medieval castle, but a mash-up of inspiration from all the surrounding medieval buildings in the Piedmont area, built in 1884 for an international exhibition.

The replica of the 15th Century Piedmontese Castle and Village gives you a great idea of what life was like in Piedmont during the medieval times.

Each room is furnished and built as a replica of a room in the various castles in the area, so in a way you could say that you get “the best of all the castles in one” – the Valentino Park which the Village is located in is really lovely to spend some time in as well, with a botanical Garden and food stalls.

Visit: The village is free to enter, a castle tour costs 6.00 € – FREE with Turin Piedmont Card.

Reggia di Venaria

Reggia di Venaria is one of the latest additions to Turin’s attractions, as it opened to the public only a few years ago – the beautiful palace where the Savoy family once lived is quite spectacular, and after years of neglect and decline it has been restored to its former glory.

Built in mid 1600′s to celebrate beauty, hunting and leisure pursuits, it was a true show-off palace for the Savoy family that once built it.

We spent several hours in the palace, gardens and cute medieval town and still didn’t see everything there was to see, so it’s definitely a half-day trip in itself..!

Visit: Shuttle bus return ticket €5. An all-inclusive ticket of Reggia di Venaria, gardens and exhibitions costs €20 – All of this is free with the Turin Piedmont Card.

National Museum of Cinema

To tell you the truth, neither of us are big fans of museums so we don’t usually make an effort to visit many of them when traveling – the Cinema Museum, however, is actually really cool, and even Nathan was glad he went to check it out.

Located in Turin’s most iconic building Mole Antonelliana, it’s an interactive museum where you can walk through different rooms, each dedicated to its own film genre; from romance, comedy and Loney Toones to horror and sci-fi, all very creatively designed.

At the top of Mole Antonelliana you can get one of the best views overlooking Turin, and the lift taking you up to the viewing point is a pretty neat experience alone!

 Visit: Museum and lift €12 – FREE with Turin Piedmont Card.

Sassi-Superga

One of our favorite things to do in Turin was to take the old 1930′s cogwheel train from Sassi (a suburb across the river in Turin) up the Superga mountain to the Basilica of Superga.

The cute train is well preserved in its 1930’s condition and slowly climbs the mountain through green forests until it finally stops at an altitude of 672 meters.

The bright yellow Basilica proudly sits on top of the mountain overlooking Turin, river Po and the snowy alps, and there is a cute little cafe just below the Basilica terrace that makes a great Spritze to be enjoyed under the cherry blossom trees on the terrace.

Many football fans make pilgrimages to the top of this hill to pay respect for the city’s historic football team Il Grande Torino, who were on the plane that tragically crashed into the Superga mountain in 1949 – the team used to go under the nickname “the invincible”.

Visit: During weekdays a return-ticket is €6, weekends €9 – FREE with Turin Piedmont card. The Basilica is free to visit unless you want to go up to the dome (also free with the card) for a 360 view.

A big thanks to the Turin tourism board for providing us with Turin Piedmont Cards to help explore the city.

Lanzarote is a beautiful volcanic island off the coast of western Africa, belonging to Spain - it’s known as the island of eternal spring thanks to its year-round mild climates, which is also one of the reasons people love to go there.

But there is much more to Lanzarote than great weather. Here are some of the best things to do in Lanzarote…

Explore The Unique Landscape

Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape is incredibly unique and was declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 1993 by UNESCO.

With a huge number of endemic plants that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, the flora and fauna in Lanzarote is a gem worth exploring.

One of the most fascinating areas are the cliffs of Famara in the northerns parts of the island – this area has more botanical endemism per square kilometer there than in the whole of Europe.

16 million years ago the first parts of the island surfaced here and a little later a second island emerged in the south, where today you find the mountain range Los Ajaches – what remains of these upheavals is a huge cliff: Risco de Famara. The cliff is about 15km long and on the average 550m high.

There are a handful of viewpoints offering incredible views, the most famous being “Mirador del Rio”, an old artillery position which Lanzarote’s late artist and architect Cesar Manrique turned into a surrealist restaurant.

Go Surfing!

Surfers from all over the world travel to Lanzarote’s beaches to enjoy the great surf, especially during autumn and winter – the sea is calmer during the summer, but for beginners it’s a great time to test it out.

There are even special surfing packages and hotels in Lanzarote catering for surfers, offering surfing lessons as part of their hotel packages.

Scuba Dive & Snorkel

Lanzarote is not only amazing on land, but the underwater world is just as beautiful - Scuba Divers and snorkelers can enjoy the corals and exotic underwater scenery of groupers, rays, moray eels and other colourful fish with visibilities of up to 40 meters.

7 Wonders Of Lanzarote

There are seven spots that are said to capture the essence of Lanzarote, combining art with nature, culture and history.

These are:

• Cueva de los Verdes
• MIAC – San José Castle
• Cactus Garden
• Jameos del Agua
• Mirador del Río
• Fire Mountains – Timanfaya
• Museum-House and Monument to Fertility

You can visit them all individually, or buy 7 or 14 day passes (€26 and €30).

Hang Out On The Beaches

As I said earlier, Lanzarote is nicknamed “the island of eternal spring”, and is a popular place for cold Europeans to escape their rainy hometowns year-round.

Summers aren’t scorchingly hot, and winters are generally nice and mild, and since flights to Lanzarote are especially cheap during the off-season it’s a popular warm escape that’s closer to home than Asia or South America.

The beaches are especially beautiful, and some even feature the gorgeous volcanic black sand.

Sample the Local Cuisine

Notable for their simplicity and raw materials, the local cuisine in Lanzarote is very fresh and tasty.

Being an island, naturally they have lots of great seafood on the menus (a local specialty being Sancocho), but vegetables and virgin olive are also part of the local cooking.

The most popular dish in Lanzarote, however, is Wrinkled Potatoes – a traditional baked potato.

What things to do in Lanzarote would you recommend?

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There are many unusual holiday destinations that once were the privilege of pioneers, and those brave or crazy enough to venture onto the rugged shores.

Nowadays the sky is the limit – well, either that or your budget..!

But let’s forget about the budgeting and dream for a bit, after all the stuff that doesn’t come easy is often the most rewarding once you finally accomplish it.

Antarctica

This is where you can check out colonies of penguins, seals, whales, as well as birds like petrels, fulmars and shearwaters – or float about in the ice water in a drysuit.

Antarctica’s bewitching atmosphere of sheer blue cliffs of ice, and the immense silence will surely win a place in your heart.

It’s possible to either fly in or take a ship to Antarctica during the southern summer – be warned though, it doesn’t come too cheap to follow in the footsteps of Scott and Amundsen.

Papua New Guinea

While you are in the southern hemisphere, check out the rugged and untouched wilderness of Papua New Guinea.

The country features great jungle terrain, mountains and beaches that are perfect for hiking, fishing, diving, surfing and local wildlife spotting.

Go during the traditional ceremonies at Goroka and Mount Hagen for local singing and dancing demonstrations – then you can bed down in a local village along with local people: this is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, just remember to be respectful of local customs.

Finnish Lapland

For a journey into a strange and magical world that’s a little closer to home, consider Finnish Lapland: there are plenty of off-beat activities to enjoy in the traditional home of Santa.

There is a unique atmosphere in Finland’s countryside and the alpine trees are some of the oldest in the world here, with one tree in Inari known to be 529 years old.

If you go there during the summer, it’s possible to pan for gold - Finland is the last country in Europe where there’s a profession of gold prospecting still goes on.

Also make sure to tuck into some delicious pies made from berries only available in the arctic region: lingonberries, cloudberries and crowberries – I highly suggest searching out the cloudberries, they’re the most delicious berries you will ever eat!

Intrepid adventurers who adore diverse cultures and untouched beauty should go off the grid to discover some of the most remote places in the world.

What are some other off the grid destinations you would recommend this year?

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I LOVE traditional festivals - they are some of the best and most fun ways to experience a new country and get an insight into its culture and traditions – in India, countless festivals are held throughout the year, and during these events the country becomes even brighter and more vibrant than ever.

Here are some odd, beautiful and funny festivals to check out next time you visit India …

Holi

Of all festivals around the world, the one I long to experience the most is Holi – the most colorful festival on the planet. The festival is held for 2 days in March every year.

Unlike the Songkran festival in Thailand where everyone throws water on each other, you throw colored powder (and colored water) on each other instead!

The photos from this festival are just gorgeous, so colorful – it really is a photographer’s dream!

Diwali

The only reason I experienced the Diwali festival when I was in India was because the taxi driver told us to change our plans and go to a nearby town instead to celebrate “Diwali”.

We had never heard of it before and had no idea what we were expecting, but it sounded like a fun idea – and today I’m so glad we went.

Diwali is actually one of India’s most popular festivals, celebrated all across the country between mid-October and mid-November.

The 5 day long festival is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil, and is also known as the festival of light, bringing attention to our “inner light”.

While I was in a small town, one of the best places to experience it is in Bangalore.

The festival is even wilder and bigger in Bangalore, so next time I have the opportunity to see it again that’s definitely where I will go.

Many others are probably thinking the same thing though, so hotels in Bangalore can book up quickly – it’s better to book in advance so you can be sure you get some place to stay.

Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is a festival in celebration of the Krishna god, it’s full of events and performances; children dress up as Lord Krishna, and people perform dances depicting the different events in Krishna’s life.

The highlight of the festival however, is Dahi Handi, a competition which involves young men forming a human pyramid and climbing on top of each other to reach a pot of curd.

The pyramids can be as tall as 40 feet, with as many as eight layers – and yes, many competitors often get injured – the festival runs for two days in August or September every year.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the Ganesh Chaturthi – also known as the Great Ganesha Festival, is celebrated by Hindus around the world.

The best place to celebrate this festival is in the state of Maharashtra, where the festivities last for 10 days between August and September.

Prior to the festival, skilled artisans prepare clay models of Lord Ganesh. Houses are cleaned as devotees prepare to bring the Lord Ganesh into their homes and install the deity.

Throughout the festival, special prayers, devotional chanting and singing are performed – along with delicious sweets (apparently Ganesh liked them!).

On the 11th day, the Ganesh statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing and fanfare to be immersed in a river or the sea.

Karni Mata Festival

Not the biggest festival in India, but surely one of the oddest – the Karni Mata Festival is held twice a year (March-April and September-October) to worship Goddess Durga.

The place to be during this festival is at the Karni Mata temple, a 600 year old temple which is home to thousands of rats.

The rats are believed to be sacred as the soul of Karni Mata is said to reside in the rats.

At 4am the doors to the temple open for worship and blessings, and food is offered to the god. Eating what the sacred rats have salivated over is considered to bring good fortune, and the same goes for letting them scurry over your feet..!

If none of those are options you’re up for, then look out for a white rat, because seeing this rarity is also supposed to bring good luck.

What is the best Indian festival you’ve been to?

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Cinque Terre is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque areas in Italy, and it’s impossible not to be charmed by the colorful quaint villages clinging on to the rugged cliffs along the coast and its warm hospitable locals.

Walking around the villages you can easily picture what it must have been like a hundred years ago when the area was so secluded that the only way to get there was by sea or mule paths.

These mule paths have been maintained and used over the centuries and are now popular hiking paths with the most amazing views of the sea-swept Cinque Terre …

How To Get Around

Monterosso

You can buy 1, 2, 3 or 7 day passes that are valid on all local trains on the Cinque Terre route – that way you can travel back and forth between all the towns as much as you like for the time period the pass is valid.

A 1 day pass costs €10 per person and lasts all day.

There is also a one-direction pass for €8 where you can travel in one direction, but by the end of the day you’ll still need to return to your city and pay a single ticket, so it kind of evens out anyway.

Single tickets cost between €1.80 and €2 between the villages when bought from the stations.

The 5 Villages

Cinque Terre literally translates to “5 lands”, and includes the five villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. While they have many similarities, each village stands out with its own unique attributes and charm.

Vernazza

With a picturesque harbor and stunning views overlooking the village from the walking paths nearby, Vernazza is surrounded by hilly vineyards on one side, and the great ocean on the other.

The cafés are cute and cheap, perfect for a lunch stop.

Vernazza

Manarola

The waves that clash against the dark rugged rocks that the little colorful houses in Manarola cling to really makes the view over the town one of the most dramatic in Cinque Terre.

Completely surrounded by vineyards, Manarola is a good stop to sit down in a Trattoria and taste the local wine – if you’re feeling for something more refreshing, Manarola has the best Gelateria in Cinque Terre called Gelateria Cinque Terre.

Manarola

Monterosso

The largest village and also the flattest, Monterosso has two sandy beaches, a rare commodity in the area, it also offers more budget friendly hotels than the other villages and is often the place travelers base themselves in.

Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore was the village we stayed in, so we naturally spent more time there and loved the cafes and take-away restaurants that lined the steep main street of the village.

We never tired of the view of the houses tightly tucked next to each other on the steep hill.

Riomaggiore

Corniglia

Set high above the ocean on a hilltop, Corniglia is very different from the other villages that are located by the shores – the narrow, winding alleys in Corniglia charm visitors with its tiny Trattorias, Pizzerias and handicraft shops.

The views overlooking the other villages below and a small village even further into the secluded hills are stunning.

The village is so secluded that locals buy their daily necessities from vans that drive up to the village to sell food, cooking utensils and what not from the back of their vans.

Our Favorite

Each town has its own charm and special touch, but if we had to choose our favorite, it would be Vernazza – it’s incredibly picturesque, offers beautiful views, and has a great vibe.

What To Eat & Drink

The locals are very friendly and open, and the cafes and eateries serve fantastic food for good prices – we were expecting over-priced meals since the villages in Cinque Terre are rather secluded and small, offering few options.

But instead we found that the meals were normal compared to other places in Italy, and we didn’t have one boring meal during our stay (coffee was a bit more, around €2.50).

Pesto

Cinque Terre is a pesto paradise, and local diners serve all sorts of food smothered in the green deliciousness. We became huge fans of the “Gnocchi al Pesto” at Te La Do Io La Merenda in Riomaggiore (€6).

Limoncino

Cinque Terre grows a lot of lemons, which is why their dessert wine Limoncino is a local specialty.

Wine

Also make sure you try their local wine, which are grown from the unique vineyards you see all over the area clinging to the ocean cliffs and hills.

Cinque Terre was one of the most colorful areas we’ve ever been and we absolutely loved it! What are some of your best tips for travelers visiting Cinque Terre?

Florence is more than just a beautiful Italian city; over the years it has been the birthplace of many very important people in history, from Donatello to Catherine de Medici.

Although there are probably as many notable people who have hailed from this city as there are places to stay in Florence, let’s take a look at five you will certainly recognise…

Donatello & Michelangelo  - The “David” Sculptures

Florence is known as the birthplace of Renaissance, and was the home of many famous Renaissance artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo.

Both were incredibly skilled artists, and both are famous for their “David” statues.

Donatello revolutionized the 15th century art scene. One of his most famous works is “David,” a bronze statue commissioned for the court of the Palazzo Medici.

It was the very first free-standing nude sculpture made since ancient times and it was like no other work at the time.

Michelangelo is another important Renaissance artist associated with Florence. He too created a “David” statue, which is perhaps even more famous than that of Donatello.

The statue is meant to be a representation in marble of the perfect male form – so why did his creator not make him – how would one say – a little better endowed?

The mystery is said to have been solved, apparently his “male organ” is supposed to have shrunk by the fear of Goliath..!

Where: Although the real statues of David are in Museo Nazionale del Bargello and Galleria dell’Accademia, you can see a replica of Michelangelo’s David at Piazza della Signoria.

Roberto Cavalli – The Fashion Designer

Born in Florence in 1940, Roberto Cavalli is a fashion designer who is known for created the “sand-blasted” style of lighter-coloured denim jeans, which is now a standard style for many denim makers.

He began his career in 1965 when he was only in his 20s, creating hand-painted T-shirts. He went on to become one of the most well-known Italian fashion designers.

Elton John is a huge fan and is said to spend hours in the store picking out clothes. Cavalli’s designs are synonymous with rock-and-roll and they utilize a lot of leather, colour, silk, feathers and much more.

Where: Next to his shop is Caffe Giacosa, a great cafe which Cavalli actually owns (and designed of course!). It has a great atmosphere and delicious food and coffee!

Catherine de Medici – The Ruthless Queen

Daughter to Lorenzo ll de Medici, Catherine was a French/Italian noble woman born in Florence in 1519. She would eventually take the throne as the Queen of France after marrying King Henry II when she was only 14.

Henry’s death thrust her into the political arena. In 1560 her frail 15-year-old son, King Francis II died, leaving her as regent on behalf of her 10-year-old son, King Charles IX. She also played a key role in the reign of her third son, Henry III.

Although she is thought to be unforgivably ruthless, she is considered by many historians to be the most powerful woman in 16th century Europe.

Where: The Uffizi museum (one of the most famous in the world) was once a palace of the Medici family full of art treasures. Today visitors can view the art collected by the family and others at the museum.

Sandro Botticelli – The Painter

Botticelli was born in Florence circa 1445 and went on to become an Italian painter during the Early Renaissance. He studied at the Florentine school under the esteemed patronage of the famous Lorenzo de Medici during what would later be considered the “Golden Age.”

His best known works are “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” (also known as the “Allegory of Spring”). The latter is said to be one of the most written about and most controversial paintings in the world.

Where: Both paintings mentioned above hang at the Uffizi museum in Florence.

These are just five examples of famous people who have hailed from Florence, Italy, but of course there have been many more over the years. This city just seems to have something special and inspiring and when you visit you will see it for yourself.

About the Author: Sarah Sherman is a freelance writer who has spent the last two months making her way slowly across Italy and writing about what she discovers. She has fallen in love with this city.