Today started with a sunrise walk around Florence, included a visit to a walled Tuscan hill town, and ended with a delicious dinner and sunset walk.
Florence 2026: Day 6
Italy
Florence 2026: Day 5
Today I was off to explore the Chianti region of Tuscany, specifically a little town called Greve-in-Chianti. This was one of the days I was most looking forward to on this trip. Not Greve itself, but the little borgo of Montefioralle, about 2 kilometers away, up in the hills above Greve.
Florence 2026: Day 4
Fiesole is a small town just 5 miles outside of Florence, located in the hills above the city. Comprising a couple of churches, a central piazza, and an archaeological area (along with a couple of more commercial streets), it makes a perfect half-day trip outside the city. Despite the dreary weather and overcast skies, this was the type of day I was picturing in my mind. Less busy, plenty of opportunities for walking off the beaten path, and views of the rolling hills of Tuscany.
Florence 2026: Day 3
Tuscany. Just the name evokes images of rolling hills, vineyards, and roads lined with cypress trees. Today was my first day exploring one of the many tiny villages and hill towns that dot the Tuscan countryside. Colle di Val d’Elsa wasn’t even on my radar and didn’t appear in any of my searches for “quiet Tuscan hill towns”. Instead, I found it by accident on YouTube, where I watched a video of a couple exploring the town in mid-August (prime tourist season) with nary another person in the video. My kind of place. (As it turns out, it may have been a little too quiet for my taste.)
Florence 2026: Day 2
I told myself before leaving for this vacation that I would do what I felt like doing each day. And if that meant “sleeping in” (for me), resting in my room, wandering aimlessly, or being “on the go” all day, I would do it. I woke up at 6:30AM, after a glorious 10+ hours of sleep, and decided I would spend the morning relaxing and then slowly visit a couple of sights this afternoon.
Florence 2026: Day 1
Florence, Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance. It’s no secret that I’m not exactly a history buff, but Florence is also the gateway to Tuscany and my train ride(s) through Tuscany to and from Cinque Terre two years ago left me knowing I’d be coming back to visit the area in the future. And that future is now. After a tough few weeks, I’m looking forward to spending some time exploring the quieter side of Florence, traveling through the Tuscan countryside, and visiting some of the iconic hill towns.
Italy 2024: Day 7
People think I’m crazy for going all the way to Italy for six days, but you know what? We only have so many tomorrows, and I’m determined to make the most of all the ones I have. And six days in Italy is better than no days in Italy.
Italy 2024: Day 6 (Florence)
If you’re expecting a long, detailed blog about my day in Florence, you’re going to be disappointed. You see, it started to rain shortly after I arrived and that kind of derailed my plans for the day…
Italy 2024: Day 5
Just call me “Chef Laura”. My last day in Cinque Terre found me strolling the streets of Vernazza, sipping rich Italian hot chocolate, indulging in a local sweet treat, and making a homemade pasta dinner.
Italy 2024: Day 4 (Manarola and Riomaggiore)
I’m pretty sure today was the best day of vacation so far. The weather in Cinque Terre has been picture perfect this week. Clear blue skies, 70+ degrees… perfection. So imagine my surprise to wake up this morning (after another 10 hours of sleep!), pull open the curtains, and see cloudy skies. I didn’t let the lack of sun deter me from my plans, though, and the weather forecast showed sun later in the day.
Traveling with Laura 