Dressed in their white kurta pajamas and traditional Gandhi caps, Mumbai’s fabled army of dabbawallas has been satisfying the hunger of the city’s commuters daily since 1890. A minor miracle of logistics, this carefully choreographed tiffin service is celebrated around the world and has even been studied by the likes of Harvard Business School. In …
It’s a Good Day to Bombay: My Day with the Dabbawallas! Read More »
Deep in the heart of the canals of Xochimilco lies an island. An island with a tragic and terrifying history. An island that will send shivers up and down your spine. Over the years, rumors have run rampant about this tiny island being cursed or inhabited by something (or some things?) darker. If you are …
Drowned, Decapitated and Drop-Dead Crazy: The Island of the Dolls Read More »
Exploring the Black Forest requires stamina, y’all! You have to park the car, get out of the car, walk through insanely picturesque villages and towns, sometimes strolling beside — gasp! — spectacular riverbeds, get back in the car and then drive to the next dazzling destination. Nightmarish indeed! I began a crusade to find the …
Hungry Like the Wolf: My Search for the Best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest! Read More »
Germany is celebrated for many things. From fairy tales and fast cars to castles and classical music, you’re spoiled for choice on where to begin your German adventure and what to include. So spoiled, in fact, that designing an itinerary that covers everything you want to see, taste and experience can be a serious dilemma. …
Castle, castle, fortress, castle. Swoon! Hopping from castle to castle is enough to get any traveler excited. Throw in mind-blowing medieval villages bolstered by staggering cliffs wrapped up by spectacular, sweeping views in every direction and I👏🏻am👏🏻 all👏🏻in👏🏻! Spectacular, sweeping views from National Palace of Peña in Sintra, Portugal.Scattered across lush grasslands, jaw-dropping seascapes and …
Castles in the Sky: Your Fairytale Guide to Portugal! Read More »
Mexico City is having a moment. Sure, the sunny Central American country has been luring tourists for ages with its sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts. But for travelers seeking mind-blowing food, amazing art and architecture, history and religion, adventure-packed excursions and exciting nightlife, you are spoiled for choice in this colorful capital! Street life is …
Topping bucket lists everywhere, Iceland is, quite possibly, the most fascinating country on the planet. A vast volcanic laboratory, Iceland is literally a country in the making. Every day, geysers gush, mud pots boil, volcanos rumble and glaciers cut great pathways through entire mountains. These mighty forces seemingly all come together to remind us of …
Somewhere between Cairo and Paris, it became Sunday, at which point I became acutely aware that my Grand Egyptian Adventure was over. And, in case I needed a not-so-subtle reminder, the cold winds of Western Europe slapped me across the face for good measure as I stepped out of Charles de Gaulle and into my taxi. …
A stunningly beautiful 1930s manor house turned all-inclusive boutique hotel, Giraffe Manor is set within an indigenous forest where critically-endangered Rothschild’s giraffes roam freely. The recipient of countless accolades, Giraffe Manor has enjoyed an avalanche of publicity in recent years, becoming an Instagram icon, so much so that you may recognize the photos before you …
Giraffe Manor: The Most Incredible Bucket List Breakfast on Earth! Read More »
People build statues of heroes. The Greeks built statues of Hercules and Adonis. The British built statues of Nelson and Churchill. The Egyptians, Colossi of Memnon. We Americans build statues of our heroes, too. Like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. Heroes usually only get statues when they’re dead. And, when a …
☄️Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! I hope yours is filled with happiness and joy. x Sandy ☄️.
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#thanksgiving #cheers #florence #italytravel #italytrip #momentsofmine #travelblogger #travelbloggers #travelbloggerslife #travelbloggersofinstagram #traveldiaries #traveldiary #duomo #travelphotography #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #postcard #postcards #florenceitaly #thesandypapers #womenwhotravel #womenwhoexplore
Pink sunrises are my favorite. x Sandy.
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#sunrisephotography #venice #veniceitaly #travelblogger #travelgram #travelling #traveler #traveladdict #moments #traveljournal #traveldiary #traveltheworld #beautifuldestinations #womenwhoexplore #thesandypapers @italycharme @italymagazine @visititaly #visititaly @weareclassicvacations #travelers #travelphoto
🔥 Notes from the road, Firenze, 9 Nov 23, 11:18 a.m.
🔥 Giggling as we zip through another — what do you call those kinds of short, walled underpasses where there’s only room for one car to get through at a time? — at a relatively high rate of speed, I can’t help but wonder if my taxi driver is trying to kill me.
🔥 If so, it’s not working. Do better, Lorenzo! Do 👏🏻 better 👏🏻
🔥 Lorenzo did, however, manage to murder my case. Lorenzo was in a hurry. And, while taking one of the hairpin turns from the A11, I heard my case slam from one side of the boot to the other. A few more turns into the ride, I continued to hear a loud-ish rattle but couldn’t quite place it. I didn’t have anything breakable in my bag. So, I refocused my attention on the faces of the people who watched us pass through the streets of Firenze. Dante’s Divine Comedy indeed. Maybe this is the Fifth Circle?
🔥 Soon enough, my death-defying ride came to an end. Lorenzo ripped my case from his boot, set it along his shoulder, carried it across the street and set it inside the foyer of my hotel. I thanked him, exchanged goodbyes and watched him slip into his car and disappear. Feeling bougie AF, I walked toward my bag — and that’s when I noticed it: One of the four wheels on the bottom of my case had been entirely, completely, wholly ripped away.
🔥 Whatever. I arrived alive in Florence! Conveniently, the House of Dante is just around the corner. I’ll pay it a visit after brunch. Blood orange mimosas are my favorite. x Sandy
“Follow your path and let the people talk.” - Dante.
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🛵 Notes from the road, Florence, Italy, 8 Nov 23, 4:01 p.m.
🛵 Santa Maria del Fiore — the Duomo of Florence — is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. When I’m in Florence, I take every opportunity to walk past her because I simply cannot believe how lucky I am to see something so spectacular. In all the years I’ve been coming to Florence, she’s never looked prettier than she does today. She takes my breath away.
🛵 Especially from Piazza Michelangelo! Beautifully positioned on a hill along the south bank of the Arno River, Piazza Michelangelo offers stunning views of the city. If you’re staying in the city center, it can be reached by bus, car or on foot. If the weather is decent, I highly recommend walking. If the weather isn’t cooperating or you simply choose not to walk, you can easily hire a taxi or take the bus. If you choose to drive, there is a small, affordable parking lot which accommodates around 70 cars. (Please, for the love of God, do not drive in Florence, unless you’re a local. In that case, by all means, carry on.)
🛵 However you choose to arrive and no matter the time you arrive, Florence seen from above is spectacular. You’re looking at the city that gave birth to powerhouse artists, philosophers and scientists! In the space of a couple of generations, Florence gave us Brunelleschi’s dome, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David. This is the birthplace of the Renaissance! Let that sink in for a minute.
🛵 Yes, everything about Florence seems to be wrapped in sugar and stardust. And, in the coming days, we’ll explore her on foot (and Vespa) together. Benvenuti a Firenze, y’all!.
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