What to do in Pisa

Everyone has heard of the "Leaning Tower of Pisa," but does anyone know anything else about Pisa? If you are interested in taking a trip to Pisa, or want to know a little bit more, keep reading.

Pisa, which is a small city north of Rome, Italy, is famous for its Leaning Tower. The tower, which has been leaning since it was being built, is now permanently at the angle seen above, due to major engineering support. The towers top three tiers, however, were made a little more straight during the towers construction, as an attempt to "correct" the lean. To the Italians, the tower looks like a banana. The tower was built for the building behind it, the Duomo. The tower isn't anything habitable, but merely the cathedral's bell tower. Once you go in the tower, it is a hollow cylinder, with the staircases in between the walls. Today, you can walk up the tower, and you will definitely feel the lean on your way down and up! 

So interested in going to Pisa? Here are some tips:

• If you are staying in a major city, i.e. Rome, Napoli, Firenze; a train ride is fairly cheap and easy. From the train station, you keep walking straight, across a bridge, and after 20 minutes, you will find the Field of Miracles. 
• The Field of Miracles is the major attraction. There you will find the Leaning Tower, Duomo, and Baptistery. There is an office, in a yellow building, where you can buy tickets to visit the three major attractions, including a walk up the Leaning Tower. There are also lockers where you put ALL your things (minus the tickets) an hour before your time slot for the tower.
• Plan to stay for 4 hours. After seeing all three sights, you have nothing else to do, trust me, you will find yourself sitting and doing nothing. Try to have a small amount of time given to Pisa, it can all be done in less than 4 hours!
• Wear good shoes. As in all my posts, wearing comfortable shoes is great for the distances, and heights, you will be walking.
• Finding a place to eat is easy, walk down any of the streets off of the field, you will find plenty of restaurants. 
• Take pictures. Everyone wants a picture of them leaning, holding, and pushing, the tower. Make sure to leave some time to do these pictures!

Here's my kicking picture... it took awhile. So there you have it! Pisa is a nice place, but you don't need a whole day! Have fun and don't forget to take some pictures!

Ready for the Beach

Tank | Similar Shorts | Similar Sandal | Similar Scarf

Alex & Ani Elephant Bracelet

Later today I am going to the beach with my family to watch my younger brother play rugby. So I decided to get on some sandals, denim shorts & a tank to get into the summer spirit. Since, its not too sunny out, I needed a scarf to keep a little warm, especially since I have no hair to keep my neck from getting cold! I am getting used to wearing shorts, I didn't bring any to Rome, though it started to get really hot, and I haven't worn them much in the US since I love wearing skinny jeans all the time! Oh well, time to get dressed for summer before its over and school starts again... I will post some pictures of the rugby game, if it doesn't rain!

Update: Here are some rugby pictures!

Stripes & Scarves

Similar Jeans | Similar Tank | Similar Scarf | Semi-Similar Wedge

| Similar Cardigan |

I hope you all had a great 4th of July! I loved spending time with my family and lighting sparklers and seeing the fireworks! Not to mention all the yummy food! Now it is back to reality, and off to work. Here is my outfit, with my cardigan, in case the store gets really cold. Have a great Friday!

What to do in Tivoli

Tivoli, Italy is the best day trip I took from Rome. It was a great and beautiful get away from the busy city. In Tivoli there are two amazing gardens that you must visit. The first is Hadrian's Villa, Emperor Hadrian's beautiful home just outside of Rome. The second is Villa d'Este, a beautiful water garden where all the water features run on gravitational pull. From Rome, Tivoli is about a half hour train ride. Once in Tivoli, there are buses you can take to get you to the center where Villa d'Este is located, as well as a castle which I was unable to visit. In the town center there is a remarkable view of Italy, and you can even see the dome of St. Peter's. To get to Hadrian's Villa, we took a taxi since it is a little bit farther out of the center, down windy roads. Tivoli is so beautiful, and like other day trips you may take, you want to go on a nice and sunny day to experience the gardens natural beauty. 

Here are some tips:

• Bring extra money- you will need a taxi to get you to and from Hadrian's Villa, and even into the town center if you do not wish to wait for the bus
• Wear extra comfortable shoes- Hadrian's Villa is huge, and you will be walking miles to see these beautiful gardens
• Bring a camera- you will be surrounded by beautiful scenery, you need documentation
• Relax and take it all in- Tivoli is a perfect get away where you can relax and take in the beauty-- no wonder the Pope's vacation home is there!

Tivoli is so beautiful, I hope you have a chance to visit. It is an amazing get away! Have a great day!

Happy 4th!

DIY Tee | Similar Zara Jeans | Keds

Happy 4th of July! My favorite holiday is here! I love hanging with my family and eating hot dogs and hamburgers and seeing the fireworks at night! Though it is rainy today, I am still in the 4th of July spirit and wearing the American flag shirt I made last year. I hope you all have a fun and safe 4th of July!

Pixie Cut & Jeans

White Tank | Similar Jeans | Keds | Necklace

Yankees Bracelet | Elephant Bracelet

I got a pixie cut... Last Tuesday I decided to cut off all my hair and donate it for the 4th time. So now I have a really really short pixie cut... I am getting used to it, but I think I still like having longer hair. At least I tried it. Anyway, since it is hot, I decided to wear a tank and jeans. I also got a new Alex & Ani bracelet with, you guessed it, an elephant! It was a great idea to have a tank on, until it started storming outside and I had to run outside to get the car... so fun, it was like I was on some movie set. Have a great 3rd of July everyone!

What to do in Pompeii

One of my favorite day trips from Rome was Pompeii. Pompeii is south of Rome, near Napoli. This trip was organized by our school in Rome, and over a three days, we saw Naples, Pompeii, Palerno, Sorrento and Paestum. From Naples we took a bus down to Pompeii, which was not a very long ride. However, if you are staying in a city like Rome and plan to go to Pompeii for a day trip, taking a train is your best option. 

Like Pisa and Tivoli, which I will write about soon, Pompeii is a good day trip. Obviously, you can stay longer, but there is only one thing to see in Pompeii, which are the ruins of Pompeii. If possible, plan your trip on a day when it isn't raining, you will be walking a ton, and through the streets of the ruins, therefore no coverings. When you arrive, you start on the outside of the city, and you pay for your admission and there are also maps to help you navigate your way through, and out, of the ruins. Having a scheduled tour might be your best option, unless you have been there before, since they can guide you through the city and tell you what things are. Trust me, you may not know some stuff. From ancient sidewalks, fast food joints, and brothels, going in without knowledge of these things will not let you enjoy Pompeii to its full potential. 

So here are some tips:

• Plan to travel on a day without rain
• Wear comfortable shoes- you will be walking a lot
• Go on a scheduled tour, or have a guidebook with you
• Take lots of pictures
• Don't be afraid of the stray dogs

Pompeii is a very fun and stress-free trip,  you go into the ancient city, and walk out, and that's it! You can easily spend hours wandering around, but I would say you need at least 3 hours to tour Pompeii. 

And the dogs comment, there are stray dogs that live in Pompeii, don't be afraid of them, they won't hurt you! 

Pompeii is a great adventure, and was on my bucket list! It i amazing to see how well preserved the city is after the damage of the Mt. Vesuvius (pictured in the background of the title picture). If you like to see and feel history, this is a great place to visit, and it will only take several hours. I guarantee that it will be interesting, fun, and you may even learn something. If you have any questions or comments about Pompeii, please leave a note below!