5 Steps to the Perfect Staycation - www.afriendafar.com

How to Plan a Staycation

June 4, 2015January 28, 2016Leave a comment

Have you ever just really, really needed a vacation, but traveling to a far-flung place, or even just a few hours away, was just not in the budget? Wanderlust always gets the best of me, but more often than not, a “quick weekend away” can really, really add up! Last fall, my husband and I planned the “ultimate staycation” in Atlanta. We took a Thursday and Friday off of work with relaxation and exploration in mind. Since we knew that we’d end up napping on the couch all weekend if we didn’t have a plan, we set up some ground rules, and they made our long weekend incredibly exciting! We saw our city of over a decade with entirely new eyes! How’s that for wanderlust?

Follow these tips to plan the perfect staycation!

1. No cooking! We set this rule so that we’d feel pampered all weekend and try out new restaurants. This was especially fun for breakfast! We tried new breakfast restaurants, new doughnut shops, and new coffee shops all around our neighborhood! [Ok… If you love to cook, set a rule to try new recipes. We just didn’t want to clean the kitchen…]

2. Eat at new restaurants! We didn’t eat at any restaurants that we had been to before. Atlanta is a huge city with an amazing culinary scene, and we had so many restaurants that we’d been wanting to try. We knew it’d be way too easy to just go to our tried and true spots, so we cut those out entirely.

3. Have a Progressive Dinner! Have you had a “Progressive Dinner” before? If not, it’s typically where you visit multiple people’s homes for different parts of a meal during the holidays. We changed it up to restaurants for our staycation, and it made Rule # 2 even more exciting! Be sure to add it to your plans!

First, pick a restaurant with great cocktails and small plates for your appetizer course. We headed to H. Harper Station, which we’d heard so much about, and noshed on their bacon caramel popcorn while enjoying an old fashioned. Then, head to another new place for your next course! We tried out The Pinewood in Decatur for dinner, and their fried chicken with cheddar and herb waffles changed our southern-food-loving lives! If you still have room, head somewhere with exciting desserts next! It was off to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream for our first taste of their amazing ice cream flavors. We hit up 3 new restaurants, had a much longer date night than normal, and had an amazing time!

4. Go where you haven’t been! We are rarely tourists in our own cities, which means that there are so many neat places that we never explore. We checked out historic sites like Oakland Cemetery. We did a tour of the Braves stadium and clubhouse. We found some new shopping destinations, and some great outdoor areas like the Chattahoochee Nature Center and new sections of the Beltline.

5. Don’t forget to rest a little, too! It is a vacation, after all!

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

There are Pirates in Hydra- Square with Bougainvillea in Hydra- www.afriendafar.com #greece #hydra

The Idyllic Greek Isle of Hydra

June 3, 2015January 23, 2016Leave a comment

As much as I loved visiting Santorini, staying on Hydra felt like a true relaxing vacation. My sister and niece joined us at this point of the trip, and we chose this particular island for its proximity to Athens and the donkeys. More specifically, this is the only island in Greece that does not allow motorized vehicles and thus uses donkeys for its main form of transportation, to carry both people but mainly goods including bricks and refrigerators as we witnessed.

HYDRA

When we first arrived on Hydra, it was later in the afternoon so all the day trippers and tour groups had left for the day, and we had the town mostly to ourselves to wander around. We kept seeing May Day wreath decorations as is tradition in Greece to protect against the evil eye. As I’ve mentioned in many a post before, I love going for walks and exploring new places! After walking from our hotel to the harbor, we stopped for drinks and a snack at the harborside Pirate Bar. Then we moseyed along the harbor looking at all the boats, old cannons, and anchors and up to the windmill featured in the Sophia Loren movie, Boy on a Dolphin.

Instead of going back the way we came, we followed a local going up a hill path. At the top we found a beautiful little church, and we were greeted with stellar views of the harbor below. I was once again reminded why I venture off the beaten path. I also made a friend with a pirate. There was a little boy who lived nearby who came out to play dressed up with his eye patch, hook and sword. He kept pretending to stab me, and then I’d play dead. At one point he dropped his eye patch into some bushes and tears almost ensued. He only spoke a few words of English, and I only learned a few Greek words. I tried to reach the patch but proceeded to make it fall deeper into brush. Thankfully my husband saved the day and was able to retrieve the lost toy!

A Day at the Beach

Our second day on Hydra we took a local boat taxi to Vlychos Beach where we spent a relaxing afternoon laying out and swimming. The water was quite chilly but was still fun. We took a break from our time in the sun to lunch on fresh fish, potatoes and Greek salad at the nearby Marina Tavern. As nice as it was to relax on the beach, my favorite part of the day was our walk back to Hydra town along the coast. Everywhere you turned there were stunning sea views and we went through the cute little town of Kamini before reaching Hydra’s main harbor. It was a perfect (half) day at the beach!

Planning Practicalities

Where to Stay: The lovely Pension Erofili is close to the harbor and has a fantastic courtyard and delicious breakfast spread.

Ferry from Athens: The only choice is Hellenic Seaways, if you’re doing it on your own.

Where to Drink: The Pirate Bar as previously mentioned and The Hydronetta Bar for sunset.

Where to Buy Baklava: Flora’s Pastry Shop also has other sweet treats including ice cream.

What to Pack: Check out our Greece Packing List post to pack for a week in a carry on.

Where to Shop: The Hydra Trading Company (expect an entire upcoming post dedicated to this gem of a shop).

Are you ready to add Hydra to your Greece itinerary? Have you been to Hydra? Tell us in the comments below!

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Santorini is a Dream

June 2, 2015January 13, 201611 Comments

Friends, as I may have mentioned before in my Packing List post, Greece has been at the top of my list for quite some time. Santorini in particular had caught my imagination and my eye since it seems to be one of the most photographed travel destinations anywhere. Even though I’d done my planning and preparation for the trip, nothing could make me anticipate just how much beauty this Greek island possesses. I found it to be true in Santorini that even though it’s been hyped up it exceeds expectations and is so worthwhile to visit. I only wish we’d had more time to explore the island but isn’t that usually the case?

Oia

Oia (pronounced e-ah) is the perfect little village you see depicted in the postcard picture views of Santorini. While nearby Fira also has caldera views, Oia is built on a slant down to the caldera and has the famed whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches. It’s perfect for wandering around and taking a ton of photos because everywhere you turn there’s beauty. As you walk along the caldera in the direction of the windmill, there’s a crowded lookout perfect for taking in stunning views. If you want a space here at sunset, make sure you show up early.

Speaking of sunset, I’d read how it’s an event in Santorini, but nothing prepared me for the actual experience. First of all, we didn’t stakeout a viewing area very early since we were enjoying a leisurely dinner, so we checked out two different places. I didn’t love the first spot we went to, and it was madness getting through the throngs of people both coming and going. On top of that, we heard two heated arguments about photography and the sunset which made me glad that even though we did plan on seeing the sunset we didn’t have all these high expectations. I was happy with the second spot we ended up at for the sunset. After the sun dipped into the Aegean Sea, there were cheers from the crowds of people watching.

My Trip Details

Accommodation: Pelogos Hotel near Oia
Transportation: We flew to and from Santorini, but many people take ferries, and it’s a common stop if you’re on a cruise. On the island, we took taxis and buses. If we’d stayed for longer, it would’ve been nice to rent a car or ATV to explore more of the island.
Snack Break: Lolita’s for gelato
Dinner Recommendation: Karma and order the Soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs)
When to Go: High season is July-August so if you want to avoid crowds and high prices then go during shoulder season in April-June or September-October. We found May to be a perfect time to visit because of the weather. Plus, we were glad there weren’t even more tourists.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Quote of the Week

June 1, 2015Leave a comment

“Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.”
― Jack Kerouac

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Perfect Shopping Outing in Athens

May 28, 2015January 23, 20163 Comments

I had an absolutely stunning stay in Greece! It’s such a beautiful place, and we had a fun time exploring a country that’s been on the top of my travel list for quite some time. I highly recommend a trip to see a couple of Greek Islands as well to explore the ancient sites of Athens and surrounding areas.

One of our favorite outings in Athens was a joint shopping and dining adventure. Before the trip, we’d read multiple places about visiting the Melissinos “The Poet Sandal-maker of Athens” shop for handmade, leather sandals. The store is located near Monastiraki, not that far from the Ancient Agora site we visited earlier in the day. The Poet’s grandfather opened the shop in the 1920s to make sandals for the working and upper class, including for theater productions, and later his son, the Poet’s father, sold them to tourists in the 1950s. The sandals became extremely popular when celebrities, including Sophia Loren, Jackie O., and John Lennon bought them. Even today celebrities still buy the sandals and signed photos of various ones are displayed in the stop!

It’s a unique experience visiting the shop and trying on sandals that are then fitted exactly to your foot. I also was commissioned by Meagan to bring her a pair back, and thankfully, she chose a lace-up sandal, the Sophia Loren, which was perfect since the laces can be used to fit them. I tried on several before I decided on the gladiator style Cleopatra for around $45. My sister and niece bought the John Lennon and Maria Callas (I just love the fun names!) sandals. Make sure you allow for plenty of time to try on and get the sandals fitted.

Special instructions that went along with the sandals included putting clear nail polish over the nail heads so that when you sweat it doesn’t bleed on you and using olive oil to turn the sandals are darker color. While at the shop for an hour, my husband enjoyed browsing on his phone and petting the dog in the shop. He did a little TripAdvisor research for lunch and found us an amazing deli (though not your typical American deli) for lunch, which ended up being one of our best meals of the trip. More on that dining outing another time! Are you drooling over our sandals yet?

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Why You Should Go to Ghent, Belgium

May 26, 2015January 16, 2016Leave a comment

Before planning a trip to Belgium and Amsterdam, I didn’t know much about Ghent (or Gent in Dutch), but it quickly stole my heart. It’s located close to Bruges and has a similar medieval, romantic feel but is smaller and sees less tourists. Here are a few reasons why I loved my time in this hidden gem of Europe and why you should go to Ghent, Belgium!

What to See & Do

My first outing was to the 12th century Gravensteen Castle with amazing views of the city below. It was a cotton mill in the 19th century and thankfully was restored instead of destroyed for the 1913 World Exhibition. There’s a torture museum there that contains a guillotine! It closes at 6pm every day during the summer, and going later in the day meant that I mostly had the place to myself.

St. Baafs Cathedral is famous because of van Eyck’s 1432 Adoration of the Lamb. According to Charney’s “The Ghent Altarpiece: The Truth About the Most Stolen Artwork of All Time” article, “it’s almost been destroyed in a fire, was nearly burned by rioting Calvinists, it’s been forged, pillaged, dismembered, censored, stolen by Napoleon, hunted in the first world war, sold by a renegade cleric, then stolen repeatedly during the second world war, before being rescued by The Monuments Men, miners and a team of commando double-agents.” The piece is impressive and is an amazing oil painting containing Christian imagery. Additionally, in 1934, the Just Judges panel went missing or was stolen, and is quite the mystery since it’s never been found and is still being looked for even today!

I also took a wonderful canal cruise and would recommend doing so if the weather’s nice. The boats leave from the Grasbrug or Vleeshuisbrug bridge depending on which company you choose to ride with.

Night Walk

One of my favorite things I did in Ghent was simply go for a walk at night with a friend I made at the hostel. It’s a beautiful city during the day but there’s something magical about seeing the buildings all lit up, especially with reflections on the water. The Belfry was one of the illuminated buildings that was especially beautiful. I love wandering a bit and discovering parts of a destination you wouldn’t have otherwise seen.

A few treats

If you’ve been to Belgium, you know that their fries are a delicious snack (or meal, in my case sometimes), and it’s easy to find stands all around town. I particularly like the garlic sauce because it reminds me a bit of aioli and patatas bravas from Spain. But the best treat I had in Ghent was an amazing Brussels waffle and delicious cappuccino at the great coffee house Mokabon on Donkersteeg near Sint-Niklaas Church.

Where to STay & Map to use!

Since this was a solo trip for me, I opted to stay in a hostel and booked Hostel Uppelink ahead of time based on excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. It was definitely the best hostel I stayed in during the trip! It was in a prime location in Ghent right next to the main canal and bridge and was in one of the city’s oldest buildings. Also the staff were super helpful and the place was spotless. Plus, you can’t beat the view of the three main church towers and water out the window!

I picked up a Ghent Free Map for Young Travellers made by locals through USE-IT, and besides helping me get around, it also had great recommendations for what to see, do and eat. I also used the maps for my day trip to Bruges and stay in Brussels, and I liked them so much that I kept them to take home! The USE-IT site lists all the cities that they have maps for, including Barcelona, Budapest, Düsseldorf, and Prague.

Lastly, I’ll mention that I did a day trip to Bruges from Ghent, and the reverse could easily be done. I hope this post makes you consider adding Ghent to your Belgium itinerary if you can!

Let us know in the comments if this makes you want to go to Ghent or if you’ve been and have additional recommendations.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Secret Rome – Why You Can’t Miss This Secluded Spot

May 21, 2015January 18, 2016Leave a comment

Rome is a top tourist destination in Europe, and it’s one of our favorite cities! It’s hard to imagine that there could be any hidden spots in a city so full of tourists, but I have a favorite place to share with you today – a little secret Rome you probably haven’t heard about. My fellow A Friend Afar blogger, Stephanie, told me about it when I honeymooned in Italy, and she had heard about it from a friend, too. It’s the perfect little secret spot where you can escape from the crowds and get the best view of the city! I hesitate to even show you a photo of what you should expect to see there, but if not, how can I convince you to visit??

A Secret Spot in Rome

The Keyhole at the Knights of Malta

Just a short walk from the Circus Maximus is the Villa del Priorato di Malta, where the ambassadors of the Knights of Malta to Italy and the Holy See are located. You can read more about them here, but I bet you didn’t know there was more than one sovereign territory in Rome!

To get there, make your way up the hill through the rose garden, the Roseto di Roma Capitale, which lies just to the west of the Circus Maximus. You’ll be heading toward the Santa Sabina church with a gorgeous courtyard overlooking the city. Local romantics and families were enjoying their picnics when we walked by in the evening. It’s a great spot to take in the architecture of the city, and I highly recommend it just before sunset!

Mosaics mark the path through the rose garden. So very Roman!

Just past the courtyard and on your right, you’ll find a large green, arched door with a large keyhole right in the middle of the handle. It’s on an ornate building with crosses and shields carved into the facade. There’s an inconspicuous address plate with the number 3 right next to the door, but other than that, there are no indicators to help it stand out. Here it is on the map.

This is the gate for the Knights of Malta! You’ve found it! The most enchanting view in all of Rome is just beyond that door! Take a peek through the keyhole, and you’ll be rewarded with the view below.

On the night we visited, there was a beautiful event, possibly a wedding, going on at sunset. The view of St. Peter’s, along with the candlelit walkway, took my breath away.

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

What to Pack for a Week in Greece

May 20, 2015January 13, 20162 Comments

Check out my packing list below from the week I spent on my European vacation visiting Santorini, Hydra, and Athens! Greece had been at the top of my bucket list for a while so I was so excited to finally make it to a place I’d been dreaming about for quite a while.

Packing light is so freeing and makes travel so much easier. I packed all of this (and more) into a small carry-on, and still had room to bring back some great souvenirs!

Here’s what I packed for a week in Greece!

If you’re spending the majority of your time on the islands, you’ll want to bring light and airy clothing. I packed a lightweight scarf for breezy nights on the water, as well. You’ll want skirts, shorts or cropped pants for when your walks take you down to the shore. Hydra doesn’t have any cars, so you’ll need to bring comfy walking shoes and sandals. Also Athens cobblestone are particularly slippery so bring shoes with traction. One last thing: don’t forget your swim suit! This is THE place to wear it!

Greece Packing List

2 pairs of pants – I packed my go-to cropped denim and some adorable, breezy printed pants. It’s still a little cool in the evenings, especially on the water, so these are perfect for sunset strolls. [The printed pair are from Old Navy this season, but I can’t find them online. Here’s a similar pair.]
3 tees – I packed olive green, white, and heather grey. I didn’t want my entire suitcase to be blue, and green is my favorite color!
1 black tank – It’s always classic and easy, and I can dress it up with my jeans and some fancy jewelry.
2 dresses – I packed the blue and white striped dress that you see here, and another blue one that can be worn as a beach cover-up, a dress, or a skirt. So many options! Besides, who doesn’t want to wear blue and white while exploring Santorini? It’s the perfect dress! [Similar: J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Gap] You may recognize it from Meagan’s Florence post- I borrowed it from her.
3 pairs of shoes – I brought my cute Keds, which I’ll wear at the airport and for walking, some brown sandals, and some black sandals. I bought some sandals there, of course, and leaving my older ones behind.
1 swim suit – Are you seeing a theme with my colors? I couldn’t help but to pack items that fit the Mediterranean color scheme!
A Baggu backpack – My trusted Baggu backpack joined me in Cuba, and it was the perfect day bag in Greece as well. Those blue and white stripes – so perfect!
1 floppy beach hat – in navy, of course!
My camera and camera case – Check out my camera strap here. It’s the perfect accessory for any adventurer.

My most important packing tip:
Be sure that every piece you take can be worn multiple times or with multiple other items. You’ll have so many more outfit options! Even the bold, printed pants in the picture above can be worn with 3 of the shirts that I packed.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Amazing Cuban Shopping Finds

May 14, 2015January 10, 20162 Comments

As you can probably tell, shopping is one activity we enjoy doing while traveling at A Friend Afar. Honestly, I’m personally not the biggest shopper back home since I’m usually trying to save money for my travels, but I do love finding unique items on my trips. Plus, I firmly believe in supporting local economies and usually have gifts to buy for friends and families back home for birthdays and other occasions! Since part of my trip to Cuba involved learning about local markets, some of the activities took us to an artisan market, a rum and cigar shop, and a textile cooperative factory where the guayabera shirts are made. Check out these Cuban shopping finds below!

Cuban Fedora- Cuban Shopping Finds- www.afriendafar.com #cuba #shopping

El Centro Cultural Antiguos Almacenes de Depósito San José

The most popular artisan market in Havana is located in an old warehouse and gives you plenty of opportunity to buy local handicrafts. I bought my Cuban fedora for 4CUC (a little over 4USD) that I wore the rest of the trip. There’s loads of artwork, leather goods, jewelry, woodwork and guayaberas for sale. It’s a great place for one-stop shopping because you can find most anything. Don’t forget to bring your bargaining chops since it’s expected!

Antique Bookshop- Cuban Shopping Finds- www.afriendafar.com #cuba #shopping

For the love of all things vintage

If you love antiques, check out the bookstore Memorias Librería near the Museum of the Revolution. They have amazing old coins, postcards, and posters. I found a baseball poster from the ’90s when the Orioles came to Havana to play the Cuban team. My best find was one of the oldest advertisements for Bacardi. It dates back to Prohibition times and features the Bacardi’s logo, a bat , carrying Uncle Sam, who’s holding an empty glass, to Cuba across the Straits of Florida. It reflects the period in history when Americans would flock to the Caribbean island for the bar scene in Havana.

Cuba Shopping www.afriendafar.com #cuba #shopping

At the end of our walk on Mercaderes that I wrote about previously, we found ourselves at the secondhand book market where we engaged in “people-to-people” interactions as our tour guide recommended. Basically we just chatted with and made friends with locals while browsing for books, magazines, and movie posters.

Vintage Shopping in Havana- Cuban Shopping Finds www.afriendafar.com #afriendafar #cuba #havana

I ended up buying a vintage camera since I’d been wanting one for a while and thought it’d be special to buy it in Cuba. I had fun bargaining for it and learning about how the operational camera works.

Shopping for Rum and Cigars

Americans traveling to Cuba can now bring back $100 worth of rum and cigars. Through our tour, we were taken to a nice shop where we bought Havana Club rum to make mojitos back home when going through withdrawals and Cuban cigars not available in the US. We were warned to use caution while buying cigars off the street since some counterfeits are sold. By going to a shop, you can ensure that the Cohibas and Montecristos you’re buying are real!

A Few Odds and Ends

Buying Postcards- Cuban Shopping Finds- www.afriendafar.com #cuba #shopping

On one of our walks we stumbled upon a stand selling postcards and bought a few. I still haven’t received the one I sent myself, and I doubt I ever will. Though if I do, I will be so excited! [Update: it took forever but I finally received my postcard months later and was absolutely thrilled!] The others I just brought home with me to give away or keep.

Handmade Cuban Journal- Cuba Shopping Finds- www.afriendafar.com #afriendafar # cuba #shopping

On the way to the beach resort town Varadero, our tour stopped at Matanzas and went to a cool store called Ediciones Vigía where they make handmade journals. My favorite incorporated Cuban stamps, and I bought one for a friend for her birthday.

Since coming home, I discovered and started following Alma Shop on Instagram (@almacubashop). I wish I would’ve found out about it before my trip so I could’ve visited, so I’ll just have to go next time. If you’re in Havana and want handmade goods, including Majagua wooden bowls, hand-painted bags, and colorful totes made from recycled plastic pallet ties, check out the store. A portion of Alma’s profits are donated to organizations helping Cuba’s stray animal population, which is very needed.

Thanks for reading my Cuban blog post series [Cuba Packing List, Highlights of Havana, Good Drinks & Eats in Cuba]! Let me know if you have any questions while planning your Cuban adventure in the comments below.

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

A Favorite in Firenze: Shopping for Leather Goods at the Florence Leather School

May 13, 2015January 18, 20164 Comments

Florence is famous for so many things to do and see: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo de Firenze), Michelangelo’s David, the masterpieces in the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio, red tile roofs, and for those of us searching for a special souvenir, leather.

Il Duomo di Firenze

I could spend all day in the Uffizi (and I have!), but I want to tell you a little about my favorite place to find local artisan leather goods: The Leather School, or Scuola del Cuoio. I love stopping by the Scuola del Cuoio for so many reasons. I love its history, its location, and the variety of artwork being produced inside.

History

The Scuola del Cuoio was established shortly after World War II. Franciscan friars of the Santa Croce monastery partnered with the Gori and Casini families, prominent leather artisans, in order to assist war orphans by providing training in the leather artisan field. The friars’ old dormitory, donated by the Medici family during the Renaissance, was turned into the classrooms.

The school’s workshops opened for business in 1950, and some of its first customers were the U.S. Air Force and multiple American Embassies in Europe. It’s fascinating thinking about the school’s history and philanthropic goals while visiting the workshops and courtyards!

[Photo Source: “Santa Croce (Florence) – Facade” by Diana Ringo – via Wikimedia]

Location

By now you’ve learned that the school is located on the grounds of the Basilica of Santa Croce. It’s a beautiful church, the largest Franciscan church in the world, and it was finished in the mid-15th century. My favorite part of the Santa Croce, however, is not the same detail that I admire in other Italian churches from it’s time period. It’s not how it’s decorated that draws me in every time; it’s who is inside! The Santa Croce is home to elaborate marble tombs to world-famous Italians like Michelangelo Buonarroti and Galileo Galilei! I love a little history with my travels! Ok, I love a LOT of history with my travels, so the Santa Croce always captures my interest!

The tomb of Galileo Galilei in the Santa Croce

Leather Goods

The handbags created at the Scuola del Cuoio are high quality works of art. If you’re looking for a lifelong handbag, these are a great choice. The leather quality is amazing, and the stitching is strong. They have a classic look and will age beautifully. A bag like the one below would be the perfect travel companion for many years worth of adventures.

A handmade bag of the highest quality of leather is a pretty expensive “investment piece” for most travelers, especially those that have dedicated their budgets to seeing instead of owning. My favorite affordable options are the passport cases that can be monogrammed and the python bracelets. Whenever I wear my stack of python bangles, I think about my honeymoon.

: Woven Leather Tote

: Passport Case – Get it monogrammed!

: Python Bangles

: Carry-on Weekender

[Product Photos from Scuola del Cuoio]

Not in the market for a handbag?

Florence’s charm extends far, far beyond the shopping crowd and the art galleries. One of my favorite activities in Florence is to just get lost, mosey around side streets and along the river, and then finally settle in at a cafe where I can watch the city go by.

The Famous Ponte Vecchio

Take a leisurely stroll from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, through the Piazza della Signoria, and then along the Arno river to the Ponte Vecchio for a beautiful sunset view of the city. Be sure to grab a gelato or a waffle with nutella along the way. You can never go wrong strolling down cobblestone streets in a beautiful city with a delicious snack! And sometimes that steaming hot waffle dripping with nutella makes for the best memories, too!

The author taking her own advice – on her way to the Ponte Vecchio with a nutella-covered waffle in hand. (She may have already eaten it.)

I was serious about that waffle. The fist pump proves it.

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

A Friend Afar

Travel Tips from Friends Who Know

Category: Destinations

How to Plan a Staycation

Follow these tips to plan the perfect staycation!