Trip 2… Florence Day 4
“I have wandered all my life, and I have also travelled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment”
This quote from Hilaire Belloc gets it so right; travelling is the ultimate way to find fulfilment, well for me anyway. It wasn’t always like that though. When I first started this journey, I was worried that I couldn’t do it all on my own in a new place so I’m pleased that I proved myself wrong and can now safely say - if you’re lost and don’t recognise yourself, traveling solo can help you reconnect with yourself while you connect with the world around you. Not only will you find yourself but you’ll gain so much self-confidence. I would highly recommend having a solo trip every so often. For myself - I could do this forever!
It was the last day of the trip - time to pack up and head back to the UK. As I was slowly packing everything I had bought on my trip, I took a moment to look through all the Polaroid photos that I had taken along the way. I felt incredibly proud of myself and will be forever thankful to my past self for biting the bullet and experiencing solo travel.
I made the most of my last free breakfast in Florence: Cereal, full English, even PANCAKES!! Watching them being made right in front of my eyes in a machine was quite cool! Eating in front of a window that opened out to a view of the Duomo was possibly the best final breakfast I could imagine. After finishing and gaining enough energy for the day before me, I returned to my room and booked one more museum - Accademia Gallery.
For this trip, I would love to thank Get Your Guide, as well as Skyscanner, Trip.com, and also JULY for finding me the best deals for flights, hotels, great check-in suitcases, and even guided trips throughout this journey. Making it nice and easy to book this whole experience on a budget too!
One last look at the beautiful view from my balcony then it was time to check out. I left my suitcase with the concierge and off I went.
While walking around admiring the artwork, I came across a musical instrument museum - I HAD TO GO!!! In the first beautiful room, I was surrounded by cellos, violins, guitars, mandolins, double basses, hurdy-gurdy, flutes, and clarinets. Turning into the other room I saw historical harpsichords and pianos. I was loving every second of this experience; looking at the details and seeing the history of each instrument up close, made me long to get back to playing music. All the instruments are in pristine condition, I would have loved to play them!
I had to drag myself away though, there was so much more to see in the museum before my train departed for the airport. The biggest reason this gallery is so famous is because of what was around the corner. There I saw it - The statue of David, all 100% of him standing in the center at the bottom of the long corridor, basking in the glorious sunshine, standing tall, head held high. There was a sea of people swarming around him, taking pictures of him and with him in the background and I was going to be one of them! I wasn’t going to miss out on taking photos of one of the most well-known statues of all time!
Again, I couldn’t stay long; I didn’t have a lot of time, more and more people were crowding in, and I wasn’t sure how much more of the museum I had left to view. So onwards I went, through rooms filled with statues of just heads, full-body statues, animals, and even cupids. Accademia Gallery - 9/10 - Highly Recommend!
After going back through, past David, and finding the exit, I emerged in a small, cute bookshop. After having a quick browse, I checked the time and I realised I actually had more spare time than I thought. There was one final place on my list; Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. Even though it looked similar to the Duomo Cathedral, exploring the smaller back streets and a new direction in Florence drove me to this decision and I was glad I did; it gave me a glimpse of an area less touristy than other places I had seen.
I wanted to get some last-minute souvenirs for my family back home so headed back to the most familiar area of the city where I came across a small stationary shop that went underground and was filled with notebooks, bookmarks, magnets, artwork, books, postcards and so much more. The perfect place for gift-buying. I bought postcards of Florence but also ones of Rome and Venice that were of the same style and were places I had previously visited. They would make a perfect framed set. I also got the obligatory fridge magnets for my grandparents, and some bookmarks for my family who are massive bookworms!
I will always remember the experience I had at this hidden shop. It was tucked away just around the corner from where I had been the day before, at Piazza della Signoria. I then grabbed a sandwich and wandered back to the carousel, where a jazz band played upbeat music. Perfect.
The last thing I wanted to do before leaving was to visit the beautiful gelato shop with the chocolate waterfall and get some gelato. I highly recommend Venchi Cioccolato e Gelato - their chocolate isn’t too rich and the gelato was top-notch. I sat by the Duomo, cherishing the final memory of my trip. 9/10!
As I took a deep breath and looked at the Duomo Cathedral one last time, I knew it was time to begin the long journey back to the UK. I will always be grateful for this experience and what it taught me.
Having collected my suitcase, I took the tram back to the airport, admiring the outskirts of Florence and reflecting on everything that had happened in the past few days. I also updated my family about my return home. At the airport, after going through security and duty-free, I bought a cute little keyring as a last-minute gift for my step-sister, and a hot chocolate and donut for myself before boarding my flight to Amsterdam.
Once on the plane, I looked out the window for take-off, then put on my headphones, and settled back, preparing to return to reality. I listened to music on Spotify and played Zelda TOTK, which made the flight feel like it lasted only 5 minutes. During a quick stop at the Amsterdam airport, I grabbed a meal from McDonalds, and then took the final flight back to the UK. I informed my family of my arrival time, and they headed to the airport, eager to see me.
Despite the second flight being only 40 minutes long and the plane being nearly empty, I got stuck next to a not-so-nice lady coughing for the whole journey! It wasn’t a great finish to the trip. The UK was dark, cold, and windy. When I walked towards passport control, I found the doors closed and the lights off, so someone had to be called to let us back into the airport. Very strange!
After passing the baggage claim area, I headed down the long corridor and turned around the corner. That's when I saw my family holding a "WELCOME HOME!!!" sign. They surprised me and jumped for joy, just like a dog welcoming its owner back from a long day at work. I felt loved and happy to see people I knew again. On the way home, I crashed in the back of the car with a big grin on my face, reliving the memories of the last few days.
Would I go to Florence again? Absolutely! I would rate my experience 9/10. Visiting in January was great as it wasn't too crowded with tourists, but sadly some sites closed early or were completely closed for the season. I hope they don't replace the original shops of Florence, keeping its charm. It would be such a shame for it to become overrun with tourist shops.
Would I change anything if I could go back? Nope. It was amazing and not too overwhelming for a first-time solo female traveller.
On to the next adventure!!
Ciao for now!
E x
Trip 2… Florence Day 3
“Life is about adventures you take and the memories you make.
So travel often, live life with open eyes and an open heart.”
When you go to another country for a few days on your own, it can be like marmite; you’ll love every single second of it or you count down the minutes before heading back home. In this situation, I would have to love the marmite. Exploring something new, going anywhere I want, enjoying everything to its full potential, being more confident in myself, and meeting new people.
Day 3 is the last full day of my solo travels, so I wanted to plan accordingly but also not be too restrictive so I had plenty of time to explore off the beaten track. First book some tickets for nearby museums and tours. The top of the list of things to see was the Illusion Museum in Florence! Museum Afternoon Tour 1 - BOOKED! As the earliest ticket was in the afternoon, it gave me all morning to explore somewhere new. I had heard about one of the most famous art museums - Uffizi Galleries and HAD to go see it for myself. Museum Morning Tour 1 - BOOKED! After cramming yet another fulfilling breakfast, I set out and started my exploration with a spring in my step!
Going around to the other side of the Duomo, I come across a long road full of shops I recognised from home. Whilst walking away from the Apple store and H&M, I turned a corner, and what did I see? A horse carousel! A classic-looking ride that reminded me of the carousel I went on as a kid in Brighton when my mum asked the restaurant owner to switch it on just for me - which he did! Further along, the road opens up into a glorious square with Palazzo Vecchio dominating the space with its tall towers and impressive statues. The fountain of Neptune stood on one side and Loggia dei Lanzi on the other. Being in the presence of such imposing architecture and rich history was awe-inspiring.
I arrived at the Uffizi Galleries a bit too early, so walked straight through and came across another iconic structure - the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Now overrun with shops, I imagined how it would have looked when it used to be houses on top of other houses, and how the people used to live. Still a wonderous site to see, with rowers gliding down the river with the sun beating down on them with full force. I breathed deeply, fresh air filling my lungs. My God, I love Italy - even in winter!!
One word sums up the Uffizi Galleries… WOW! I took so many photos here; it’s a good job we live in a world where everything is now digital because I can’t imagine how many rolls of camera film I would have gone through if I went old-school. I would highly recommend visiting 9/10 (I didn’t get one of those walking tour headsets and, would recommend getting one or a map of the site if you can. Also, give yourself more time than you think you are going to need. There is a LOT to see, and you are going to be in the gift shop for a while deciding between all the souvenir options: Books, postcards, accessories, bookmarks, the list goes on! I bought a pencil case, magnets, and bookmarks.
Time had got away from me, meaning I had to rush to the illusion museum. Luckily this was only a five-minute walk from the Uffizi Galleries. Tucked down a little side street, just about wide enough to fit a single small car down, I came across the banner outside the door. Getting in was very simple; they even gave you a locker if you wanted to store your belongings somewhere while fully experiencing the illusions around you.
If you’re on your own like I am, the staff can take the photos for you to get the full experience so you don’t miss out. Just ask and they don’t mind at all. The darker illusions upstairs are related to colour and can mess with your eyes a little bit at times. I would recommend this experience and rate it 7/10. I had the opposite timing issues here and could easily have seen everything within the hour.
After all the museum exploration and all that walking, it was time for lunch. While enjoying a tuna mayo sandwich and a hot chocolate in a quaint corner café, I called home to catch up with family. This little café reminded me of the restaurant I went to the night before, with its pastries and cakes lined up as you go through the door. It was a cosy little tuckaway café in the center of Florence. Friendly staff and great service. Pop in if you’re passing. 9/10 - Highly recommend!
I have a ritual for every time I go on holiday - purchase a piece of jewellery that can only be found in that country and show the country’s colour if possible. Having looked at every jewellery store I had passed, I was starting to worry that I was running out of time to find something. Sunset was coming in the next hour or so, and I had planned to take in the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo. The bridge of shops I had seen earlier was on the way so I headed back to look in the shops to see if there were any jewellers. I hit the jackpot! Both sides of the bridge were awash with jewellers, many of which were out of my budget but, as I walked further down, I saw a beautiful bracelet in a window. It was perfect; silver chain (like the rest of my jewellery), green jewel flowers, and subtle. I had to get it! The lady in the store was very friendly and liked my jewellery ritual when I told her.
Holiday Bracelet - OBTAINED!
Now it was time for the biggest event of this journey. One of the reasons I came to Florence; was to look over the city during sunset. Walking down the side of the river to head to the park, I was starting to reflect on the journey so far and how far I’ve come to get to this point in time. From finding the confidence to book my first solo holiday, to actually being here in this beautiful city discovering its hidden gems and bold art. Florence is now a part of me and will be there forever.
I arrived at the top of the park hill, after going up its twisting path, hoping I would make it in time.
There it was… Florence, in all its glory. The sun’s rays bounced off the big landmarks that I had seen on my journey and turned the clouds magnificent shades of pink and red. I could sit and look at this view for hours! A gem indeed; what a site to see. 11/10 - Highly recommend! Get here early to secure your space as it fills up quickly with others coming to take in the scenery or trying to capture that perfect picture.
Watching the sun slowly setting, determined not to leave until the last moment, I finally decided it was sadly time to leave the site and head back to my hotel and find the final place to have dinner. So, taking the final photos and a last long look at the view in front of me, filing it away in the “Great Memories” part of my mind, I slowly headed back down the hill, and along the river. Crossing a different bridge, I came across a statue of a man walking off the bridge, making it look like it was walking on water with the sunset in front of it, I quickly snapped a photo; you don’t get to see that every day! This trip is getting greater by the minute! I passed an ancient sundial on the floor with a long line of zodiac signs, lit-up galleries, and glowing statues; it all seemed dream-like. Something drew me back to the carousel to see it lit up in all its glory. One last look at it reminded me of that evening from my childhood in Brighton with my mum. Pure magic. No wonder I once sang about the carousel horses. With a musician playing the accordion nearby, it was another picture-perfect feeling stamped into my memory. 10/10 highly recommend!
Dinner was in a gorgeous little restaurant down a side road near my hotel that had great reviews online. Walking towards it down the otherwise empty little street I suddenly felt nervous for the first as a couple of guys were hanging around but once I got in my worries melted away. All the staff were women and they welcomed me greatly into their beautifully rustic restaurant. This time I chose another Italian delicacy - a meat feast Calzone. A great dinner to finish this whole journey on. 10/10 - gooey and delicious.
Being my last night, I had to have my final Gelato of the trip. I can say enough about how amazing Don Nino’s Gelatos and macaroons are. All their flavours looked amazing and I wish I had more time to try more.
Reluctantly, not wanting the journey to come to an end, I headed back to my hotel to pack my suitcase and prepare for tomorrow’s departure from this magical city.
Only a few hours left in Florence, better end it with a bang!
Ciao for now!
E x
Trip 2… Florence Day 2
When visiting a new place, staying in a hotel alone can be worrying. If it’s too quiet, every little sound outside your room has your mind racing, for me anyway. So I invested in a secure lock that can be added to any hotel room door (see below), with this, I sleep like a log feeling safe and secure all bundled up in bed. Having a full itinerary planned for the next day, all sights circled on my map, I set my alarm for 8 am. Nobody likes to wake up to an alarm (especially on holiday) but I had the advantage of being close to the bell tower; changing the alarm sound to bells and letting the real bells take over. Perfect!
Now, don’t judge me but I love a hotel buffet so, having consumed a full English breakfast and (now I can just have ice cream for lunch), I headed out to a bookshop I had spotted on the way to the hotel yesterday. There they had copies of a book I was missing from a Manga series I was reading; of course, it was in Italian but surely this can only help me with learning the language? Otherwise, it will just be a cool addition to my bookshelf to show my other Manga-loving friends. Time will tell.
Using the Get Your Guide app, I was lucky enough to find a ‘Florence: Duomo Cathedral Guided Tour’ for about £12. Starting outside, the tour guide explained the history of the Duomo, the Giotto’s Campanile (the bell tower), and Battistero di San Giovanni; all three were mesmerising. Heading inside, I was left speechless; the paintings on the walls and ceilings, the beautiful floors with their marble designs, I couldn’t stop taking photos of everything (no hiding the fact that I am a tourist!). Near the end of the tour, we got to visit the interior of the dome itself! Be warned, you will come out of there with a stiff neck but it will be completely worth it just to spend time absorbing all the detailed and descriptive artwork. Being in the first building in Italy to ever have a domed roof was truly awe-inspiring.
After the tour, I headed north towards the Piazza della Liberta and Tepidarium Gacomo Roster. Along the way, I saw the ‘EATALY’store and knew I had to pop in; while I was in Rome with my mum a few years ago, we saw a woman carrying an Eataly bag with the catchphrase, “Italy is Eataly”. My mum loved it but we couldn’t find it anywhere, here was my chance to get her a souvenir far better than the usual fridge magnet!
Coming across the Piazza della Liberta, which seemed like a massive roundabout to me, I smiled to realise there was a cute park with a fountain and benches for relaxing on in the middle of all the mayhem. Sadly, the main building I had come to see, the Arco di Trionfo was covered up for repair and cleaning so I continued on my way. Just a little further up was a narrow lake beside the street; so calm and quiet, that you wouldn’t think the manic roundabout was just a five-minute walk away!
The Tepidarium Giacomo Roster, a beautiful glass and steel Art Nouveau-style greenhouse is situated in Florence’s Horticultural Park, and is the largest tepidarium in Italy. Walking through this little quiet garden was a serene experience during which I spotted lots of bronze statues, including Pinocchio, Bambi, and deer. My excitement at seeing the “Crystal Palace of Italy” faded as I reached the magnificent structure; it was closed for cleaning. Oh well; one to keep on my wish list for next time.
I decided to take a seat and rest for a while. The warmth of the sun embraced me on this bright January day as I sat absorbing all the sights had seen today. Time to head back to my hotel to freshen up before heading out for the evening.
Usually this time of day, people would relax for a little bit and then prepare for dinner later on in the evening. However, as I was traveling alone for the first time, I didn’t want to be wandering too far after dark so I wasted no time getting back out and to the Muse di Santa Maria Novella. The nightlife was slowly picking up and shops were starting to close as giorno turned to notte as I took a little detour to Basilica di San Lorenzo, & Medici Chapel. Sadly, at this time of night, the Basilica and the Chapel were closed but just seeing the marble pillars and lit up was stunning.
I headed to the last big point for the day; Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. A masterpiece to behold, set in a large piazza filled with green spaces, and a glorious sunset in the sky. While looking around the piazza the sky suddenly darkened with the largest murmuration I have ever seen, which was then joined by another one that was just as large. I took countless photos and videos of the graceful dancing in the sky as the sunset; witnessing the true beauty of nature, this was the best way to end the day.
When deciding on a restaurant to have dinner in, I decided to keep close to the hotel so that I wouldn’t have far to go as the evening wore on. I came across this cute café restaurant just around the corner; ‘Caffe Scudieri Firenze’. Inside, the high ceilings, luxury-looking style, and happy crowd were proof enough that I had made the right decision. I opted for their Carbonara, a personal favourite of mine, then took my time sipping my drink, enjoying the calm atmosphere and people watching those around me, and the people slowly coming in to have sandwiches and such. The Carbonara was certainly what I needed after a long day walking around, although it was a little heavy on the sauce and Parmesan, I would give it a 6/10. Then came the first hot chocolate of my trip. Florence sure does their hot chocolate differently to the back home; super thick and very bitter, it would take some getting used to! I would give this 7.5/10.
Heading back to the hotel room slowly, taking more and more photos, I came across a wedding photo shoot outside the Doumo - what a beautiful venue for the most romantic day of your life! The site was lit up to perfection, the dress, and the couple impeccable! Wandering away from the happy scene, I noticed there was no queue for the gelato shop on the corner and decided to finish the night off on a sweet note of Fragola & Stracciatella with a macaroon on top.
My first full day on my own in a city in another country was coming to an end; I think I can safely say, I passed! A relaxing day with no problems or worries; enjoying and experiencing the Italian culture and its history. I was hooked! Hooked on solo traveling, developing myself as a person, and discovering myself, my self-confidence was rocketing! I went to bed with a big grin on my face and very much looking forward to seeing what the next day would bring.
Ciao for now!
E x
Trip 2… Florence Day 1
Whenever a trip or holiday means I have to wake up early, I just feel like a little kid again; it takes me straight back to my first holiday abroad and how excited I was to be going to Disneyland Paris. However, when I woke up this time, all packed and ready to go, nerves swirled around with excitement. I didn’t know how to feel; this was a big moment; traveling into the unknown by myself.
With the sun not even awake yet, I triple-checked I had everything I needed for my trip then, taking three deep breaths to steady myself, I bit the bullet, stepped out of the house and headed to the airport. THIS WAS IT. I was about to go to Florence; my first solo trip of what I hoped would be many.
Heading to the airport, stomach-churning, legs bouncing, I wondered if I was doing the right thing; would I be ok traveling alone? NO, don’t think that way. New year, new stronger more confident me.
Once I was checked, having to say goodbye to my parents was possibly the hardest thing of the trip. Mum and I were both crying and we must have said goodbye a million times; she even asked if I wanted her to come with me. Eventually, I tore myself away from the emotional farewell and walked through the gates. No going back now! As I turned the corner, out of sight, the tears came even harder; I’m not usually a crier but I just couldn’t stop! Then a thought hit me and my heart skipped a beat; it’s now all on me, time to toughen up and prove to myself I can do this. By the time I boarded the plane, I was prepared, ready, feeling good. No, it was more than that, I felt pumped.
Forty minutes later we landed at Amsterdam airport - Step one complete. Check!
Amsterdam airport is huge. So much so that there’s even a road under the landing strip! I’d never seen anything like it. Or the amount of shops and restaurants there are there surprised me. I didn’t let myself go crazy though, my only purchase was a little companion toy; a little bunny who will roam the world with me in my back pocket (see pictures below).
Getting the connecting flight was a breeze and, similar to the first leg of the journey, there were not many people on the plane and I could stretch out for the next hour and a half. Bliss. Time for some Zelda TOTK.
“Welcome to Florence.” The time has come, time to start this adventure, to head to my hotel and get settled. Google Maps out, off I go. I head to the tram stop outside and jump on a tram. Before long, we’re in the centre of Florence and there are a LOT of people! Making sure I keep my bags close with me as I alight the tram, I start walking. After about ten minutes, I turn the corner and can see the Duomo Cathedral in the distance. I’VE MADE IT!! Here is my hotel. I check in and then head up to my floor in the mini elevator that turned me and the suitcase sardines in a tin.
Deep breath as I turn the key and open the door to my room. The view from my balcony was majestic! Seeing the Doumo close up from my bed felt like I had got the platinum package! Pat yourself on your back Beth, you’ve done all of this on your own to get here.
I had planned to take some time to unpack and unwind for a little bit but couldn’t take my eyes off the picturesque view; it was time to go and explore the area around the hotel; what were the best local restaurants, shops, and sights? What was the overall feel of the area I was staying in?
After exploring for a while, and having taken so many photos of the Duomo with my Polaroid camera, I came across a small pizzeria down the road that emitted the comforting aroma of wood smoke and melted cheese. I grabbed a takeaway meatfeast pizza to have for dinner deciding, as it had been such a long day, to eat on my balcony instead of in the restaurant (not a very Italian thing to do but I would make up for it for the rest of my trip). Just before heading up with my supper, I came across an adorable ice-cream parlour, with a small queue winding around the corner where I simply HAD to get their macaroon topped ice-cream for my dessert. Pleasing my sweet tooth palette, I ordered (in my best Italian) Fragola and Stacciatella scoops in a tub.
I ate my Italian treats on my balcony overlooking a view that could rival even the fanciest restaurants back home… Buon appetito.
Time to get stuck in and prepare for the holiday ahead.
Ciao for now!
E x
Hotel view with Pizza from Mister Pizza and Ice cream from Don Nino