Make sure you find a good spot for Bistecca a la Fiorentina (huge ass steak from Chianna Cows). I had some bad versions (in Florence) and an awesome version (in Tuscany), so always do the research. Also recommend checking out Santa Maria Novella's main perfumery. Its just a perfume/colgone store but its pretty old school inside. https://www.italyperfect.com/blog/florence-santa-maria-novella-pharmacy.html
We had a pretty average steak last night. Just picked a spot that looked good and we were disappointed. Since then I've seen lots of bistecca restaurants with dry aged beef in the windows that look better than our spot, so we will read up and try again. So far even the bad food here is pretty good though.
Went here out in Tuscany. It was awesome. Wine, fresh made pasta and the steak https://www.poderetorricella.net/it/il-ristorante/
Moon and Turtle. Pineapples. Hilo Bay Cafe. Three great meals. Two days. Amongst the best restaurants on the Big Island (been to all three multiple times$.
Checked out the pharmacy today. Really cool stop but I was irritable from not getting my coffee and breakfast first. Going back later this week.
they have weird things you can't get at their stockists in the US I believe. Stuff like licorice and stuff. Stuff is extremely expensive. I used to get the poupourri and my wife HATES the scent I got there (Spanish Leather or something). I bought the Russa there when I visited, its a more neutral scent. That spanish leather is really aggressive.
Sand to a beach. Could be worse you could have been married in your 20s and took her. I thought you had been there? It's always been known for an epic party spot. I brought a gf to Rio when I was 30. Regretted most of it and split shortly after.
I'm looking for a good gift for my wife since she couldn't come this trip. I was thinking something leather but might go for a unique scent or something there instead. No matter what I get I will probably screw it up so might as well make it unique
I did a Barcelona/Madrid/Valencia trip where we went to the big Tomato fight. At the time, the logistics of taking a plane and figuring out the hotels, etc was too daunting. People that I met in those cities did say it was really really expensive in Ibiza, I guess I'm not travelling in peak season so things may seem cheaper. (stuff is really expensive still, the famous Cafe Mambo to catch the sunset has a minimum food and beverage spend of 100 euros per person).
That's my problem with leather, I feel like most of what I see is a scam or outrageously expensive. I have no idea what is good and my fashion sense is terrible for those type of things.
Hit up the Pizzale Michelangelo today and the view was stunning! Got some wall hanger photos for sure from there. Doing the Florence walking tour tomorrow with skip the lines for the Academia and Uffizi. Then a Tuscany Day tour on Wednesday. Probably try and get into the Duomo on Thursday or Friday when the weather turns and the holiday crowds are hopefully better. Not sure about this weekend, might train to somewhere for a day trip.
Are you going to check out the Leaning Tower of Pisa? It was better than I thought, just watching people pose with it was funny. I thought Sienna was a bit overrated. Are you going to Venice at all? We daytripped there from Rome and it was doable.
Considered all that, not sure. I've been to Rome twice and Venice once already. Siena will be on our Tuscany Day trip. I heard Pisa was overrated so I kind of wrote it off but it was still in the back of mind and it would be easy. I really want to see Cinque Terre, but would rather spend a few days in that area. Verona and Lake Como area are intriguing. Maybe Bologna or San Marino? Figured I talk with people on our tours the next few days to see what they thought.
We're going to Denver in September for a wedding and are getting the opportunity to rent a brand new Tesla ($80 per day!) thru Turo. We had a fantastic experience with Turo when we went to Hawaii. I'd recommend them to anyone!
Did the Tuscany day tour yesterday. Fantastic fun. Siena was just ok, kind of a cute slower place than Florence but thats it. The real fun was a wine tasting and lunch at a Chianti winery. Had some amazing wines and got super tanked, also some 20+ year aged balsamic which was crazy good. Then spent the last part of the day in San Gimignano, which was awesome. Anyone who goes to Tuscany needs to spend at least an afternoon in San Gimignano, such a cool city. Felt like we walked into the middle ages. Been taking it easy today and got some good shopping in. Bought my wife some nice italian leather bags so she will let me travel again without her (she works a lot). Our tour guide gave us a good recomendation on where to go and turns out in the main district they are legally required to sell the real deal so you just have to find what you like and negotiate a good price. Had a Lamprodotto sandwhich for lunch, which is made from the 4th and final stomach of the cow. Its a local favorite and it was much better than it sounds. Worth a try at least. Thinking we will day trip to Bologna on Saturday.
