Looking for Pirates and Treasures

With this ost I want to begin the exploration of the places connected with Pirates. It's clear, the first step has to be in the direction of their capital. Ane the capital of pirates was Île de la Tortue, island Tortuga in Caribbean sea, a part of Haiti.

«На Тортуге» на Яндекс.Фотках

The name means "Turtle Island" and is so because the same island is similar to a tortoise.
Because it was the major center of Caribbean piracy, the island is very famous now among the tourists that like to visit it. Well, this means probably the prices have to be "special", but I did not find information about it in other sites and do not know anybody, who just visited this paradise.

By the way, the first photo is from the other Turtle Island, in Venezuela. But I thought, the landscapes have to be similar. More or less.

What is interesting, the Franch governors had nothing against the corsars because thought, they protect the territory from other, maybe more dangerous enemies. And maybe they were right.

Many persons go there looking for treasures of the pirates. I did not find notices that somebody found them. It means, we can be those fortunate, if we go there! :0)

«сундук с сокровищами» на Яндекс.Фотках

Jewish Culture/Music/Etc Festivals 2010

 Posters for last year's Quarter6Quarter7 Hanukkah festival in Budapest. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

                                                                                            

A number of Jewish culture festivals of all sorts take place around Europe in the spring and summer (and beyond). Some are dedicated just to music. Some to film. Others are much broader. As far as I know, there is no central web site where you can find information on all of them. I will begin to post information here on dates and venues. I ask my readers to please send me information to include!

The culture festivals and other smaller events make good destinations around which to center a trip. Some, like the annual Festival of Jewish Culture in Krakow, are huge events lasting a week or more, which draw thousands of people and offer scores or sometimes hundreds of performances, lectures, concerts, exhibits and the like. Other festivals are much less ambitious. Some are primarily workshops but also feature concerts. Many of the same artists perform at more than one festival.

 The list will be growing and growing -- and again,  I ask my readers to please send me information and links to upcoming events. Thanks!


ALL OVER EUROPE -- 11th annual European Day of Jewish Culture. The first Sunday in September -- Sept. 5. Events take place in nearly 30 countries. The theme this year is Art and Judaism.

AUSTRIA

April 22-27 -- Vienna --  Stay Jewish! (Film Festival)

October 14-November 14 -- Vienna -- Yiddish Culture Autumn (web site under construction)

November 6 -  21 -- Vienna -- KlezMORE festival (this year's program is not up yet)

CROATIA

Aug. 23-31 -- Opatija -- Bejahad 2010


CZECH REPUBLIC

July 8-11 -- Boskovice -- Boskovice Festival. Mainly jazz, but also an emphasis on Jewish culture, given the importance of the well-preserved former Jewish quarter, cemetery and Jewish museum in the restored synagogue.

July 29-31 -- Trebic -- Seventh edition of the Trebic Jewish Culture Festival, held in the Czech Republic's most extensive preserved former Jewish quarter

FRANCE

April 9 - July 18 -- Paris -- Radical Jewish Culture exhibit (and concerts), Jewish Museum

June 13-28 -- Paris --  6th Festival of Jewish Cultures

July 5-9 -- Paris -- Klezmer Paris festival Lots of workshops from an all-star international team of  musicians and teachers.

November 6-13 -- Lyons -- International Jewish Music Festival 

Nov.21-Dec. 13 -- Paris -- Jazz'n'Klezmer festival, 9th edition.

GERMANY

March 5-14  -- Fürth -- Fürth International Klezmer Festival (12th edition)

July 3-August 2  -- Weimar -- Yiddish Summer Weimar

October 17-31 -- Dresden -- The 14th Yiddish Weeks Dresden

November 20-30 -- Munich -- The 24th Jewish Culture Days, Munich (devoted this year to Jewish Berlin)

HUNGARY

April 2-4 -- Budapest -- Mini-Israeli-Film-Festival, Kino cinema club

August 5-8  -- Bank Lake -- Bankito Festival

August 26-Sept. 6 -- Budapest -- Jewish Summer Festival


 ITALY

 March 11 -- Barletta --  Festival Musica Judaica 2009-2010

April 17-21 -- Ferrara -- Festival of the Jewish Book in Italy


April 23-May 23; Sept. 26-Oct. 31 -- Casale Monferrato -- OyOyOy Festival

October 9-13 -- Rome -- International Festival of Jewish Literature

October 23-27 -- Rome -- Kolno'a Israeli Film Festival

NETHERLANDS

April  18-25    -- Leeuwarden -- Yiddish Festival Leeuwarden (takes place every other year)

Oct. 28-31 -- Amsterdam -- International Jewish Music Festival

POLAND

April 9-11 -- Warsaw -- Festival of New Jewish Music

April 20-25 -- Warsaw -- Jewish Motifs International Film Festival

May 23-28 -- Wroclaw -- 12th Simcha Jewish Culture Festival (note -- other events take place May 5-9, with the gala re-opening of the newly restored White Stork Synagogue)

May 15-23 -- Warsaw -- "Otwardatwarda" festival

May 23-26 -- Warsaw --  13th Jewish Book Fair

 June 13-19 -- Sejny -- Musicians' Raft

June -14-16 -- Bialystok -- Zahor Festival of Jewish Culture

June 19-20 -- Chmielnik -- The Eighth "Meetings with Jewish Culture" festival

June 22-26 -- Piotrkow Trybunalski -- Days of Judaism

June 26-July 4 --Krakow -- Festival of Jewish Culture --20th Edition!

 July 13-17 -- Kazimierz Dolny -- Klezmer Music Festival

July 23-25 -- Poznan -- 4th Tzadik Jewish Culture Festival

August 11 -- Lublin -- Shalom. Meetings with Jewish Culture

August 12-14 -- Rymanow -- Shabbat in Rymanow

August 28-Sept. 5 -- Warsaw -- Singer's Warsaw Jewish Culture Festival

October 4-6 -- Slupsk -- Meetings with Jewish Culture 

ROMANIA

May 24-27 -- Timisoara -- Jewish Culture Days


May 26-29 -- Bucharest -- Czech Nine Gates Festival

June 19-22 -- Sighet -- Sighet Jewish Festival

September 2-5 -- Bucharest -- World of Yiddish Festival

RUSSIA

March 29-April 4 -- Moscow -- Yiddish Fest


SWITZERLAND

March 6-April 25 -- Geneva - Printemps Sefarade

U.K.

Feb. 27-March 7 -- London -- Jewish Book Week

June 21-24 -- London -- Cantors Convention

August 8-13 -- London -- KlezFest

Ukraine

July 25 -- L'viv -- LvivKlezFest

October 3-10 -- Kharkov -- Days of Jewish Culture

Ann Demeulemeester Zipper Belts Spring 2010

Zipper belts from Ann Demeulemeester runway spring 2010.

Fall/winter 09, I got the 14 buckled belt and fell madly in love with it. It's like a masterpiece of art - something that you would see on a runway more than in practical life - but I've worn it anyway and received complements, like "Fantastic belt that you have on" every time.

I decided to have an Ann D belt collection. Here they are! zipper belts from Ann D spring 2010 arrived a few days ago. It's so exciting! I love them! I haven't actually worn them yet but will soon. These belts are easier to understand, more practical in daily life and are another fabulous creation from her.
Thank you Ann D for a wonderful gift of 10 silver rings. I love them too!

A Cold Night.
This winter in Dallas has been colder than years before. Some like it, some don't. I do. It's cold enough for me to layer my clothing and still look stylish. I would be sick if it's long, extremely cold winter like some places up north. Last night, I went out to dinner with my husband. It was very cold, but I felt like wearing this Rick Owens fur vest anyway.
Worn with Rick Owens Lilies jersey dress, Janis Javitt necklace, Guiseppe cut-out boots.
Hi everyone, I hid when my mom was taking pictures. I just wanted to come out to surprise and say Hi to everyone. Can I tell you something? My mom didn't know I was behind her, until she saw the picture! hehe...


Berry Pie.
There are many requests to post the recipe for berry pie. Here it is: roll out Pillsbury pie crust (for sale at grocery stores like Tom Thumb) dough on the baking pie pan. Fill it with 6 cups of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries already mixed, with 2 0r 3 tablespoons of sugar (you could use more sugar if you want - up to 1/2 cup), 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 tablespoons corn starch, 2 tablespoons cooked tapioca (you can skip the tapioca, it won't make a big difference), and dot with a little butter as in the picture. Then, cover the pie with a top dough. Now, you seal the edge of the two doughs together (cut away any extra dough at the edge if it's necessary). Make sure to cut-out the top dough a few holes for steam to exit during baking. Bake 350 degree for 50-60 minutes or until it looks nicely golden. Let it cool before serving. Now, you enjoy the most healthy pie ever.
With my experience, using more blackberries and blueberries gives the pie more natural sweetness than raspberries, which give the pie more sourness. You could skip one kind of berry if you like. I've been baking this pie almost every other day for breakfast, alternating with my healthy apple pie ;-) since Thanksgiving day.
Thank you for your visiting and for your comments. Wishing you a fabulous day!!
Hugs...Hanh ;-)

Poland -- old Jewish cemetery in Przemysl returned to Jewish ownership

An article in the Jerusalem Post on the return of a descrated, centuries-old Jewish cemetery to Jewish ownership. Nothing remains visible at the site except the broken frame of a gate.

The cemetery, located in the city of Przemysl, near Poland's border with the Ukraine, dates back to the 16th century and served local Jews, as well as those in nearby towns such as Jaroslav, Pruchnik, Kanczuga and Dynow, for hundreds of years.

But the Przemysl municipality, which took over the site following the end of World War II, resisted calls to return it.

At a meeting last week, however, Poland's government-backed Regulatory Commission, which resolves claims regarding Jewish communal property, instructed city officials to turn the cemetery over to Jewish control.

The decision marks a triumph for the Warsaw-based Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, and especially for its president, Monika Krawczyk, who led the effort in recent years to recover the graveyard.

Hungary -- Update on Jewish Heritage Travel's Hungarian edition

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I've been informed that the Hungarian language edition of "National Geographic Jewish Heritage Travel" will be launched at the Budapest International Book Festival in April. (I hope this is true, as the pub date has been postponed already a couple of times...)

For anyone in Budapest around that time, I am scheduled to give some sort of presentation at the Book Fair at 5 p.m. on April 23....The Hungarian edition is being published by the Hungarian branch of the parent publisher, National Geographic.

Each year the Budapest Book Fair honors one country, and this year it will be Israel, with special guest Amos Oz. He and I are to be among about 100 foreign authors from two dozen countries, as well as some 400 Hungarian authors who will be highlighted as part of readings, signings, talks, etc.

The Book Festival takes place in the Millenaris exhibition space.  It draws about 50.000 to 60.000 visitors annually and features tens of thousands of books.

Lollypop

Seeing kids licking their lollypops is so innocent and cute. It reminds me of being a kid and loving lollypops and popsicles. It's nice to look back, and to have lovely memories of those sweet times. What was your favorite flavor? Mine was strawberry.

Alexander McQueen Flats.

Since I haven't owned many pieces from McQueen, and because of what happened to him (everyone is sad and shocked), I have started looking for more pieces to own from his line. I just wear flat shoes when I run errands, take care of my kids or travel through an airport. These are my new additions to my shoe collection.I love the silver skulls tied at the heels. Wishing you all a happy Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!!!Thank you for your visiting and comments!!!

Big hugs...Hanh;-)

Ps: don't forget to enter the giveaway gift contest that was posted in the previous post. It'll be fun! Good luck!!

What is Kizhi?

«Кижи» на Яндекс.Фотках

Some days ago I began to write about the antique Russian church architecture. You can remember these 2 posts The Golden Ring of Russia, Russian Churches Of XII Century
where I told about very interesting examples of wooden churches and wanted to write some posts about them.

The first place is entire island -national park, Kizhi, in Karelia Russia, in front of Finnland, where you can see not only churches but different types of houses too. The church on the photo is made without nails, the pieces were made so, that they take one other.

Unfortunatelly, the church is not every day open for tourist to protect precious icons. But the visit is interesting in any case for the walk you can make through the park. And you can visit houses of the population (with guide) too.

Interesting is that all that buildings are real. They were disassembled, taken on the island and assembled once more.


«Церковь во имя Покрова пресвятой Богородицы .» на Яндекс.Фотках

Tuscan wines

Dear friends,

Today I want to tell you about the wines of Tuscany… the wines of my homeland that are classified among the best wines of the world year after year.

Tuscany has an autochthonous grape called San Giovese and many Designations of Origin where this grape tends to be mixed with others such as Cabernet or Merlot.

Although there are many Designations of Origin I will tell you about the most famous and some of their best red wines which are four: Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Morellino di Scansano.

The most famed and world renowned area at international level is maybe Chianti, which is the zone of vineyards between Florence and Siena. Chianti wines tend to be excellent wines although you have to pay attention at the time of buying as the region of Chianti also has many producers who buy grapes in other places and produce cheap wines of poor quality to which they call Chianti. It is the reason why you will always have to check it is Chianti Classico wine.

Another much smaller and exclusive Designation of Origin is the one from Montalcino. The town is nowadays the little "Saint Tropez" of Tuscany where some of the wealthiest men from all over the world tend to spend some days of holidays. In Montalcino all wine cellars are extremely elegant, refined and constructed with an almost null environmental impact. Montalcino is a little jewel that protects its scenery from tremendous urbanization which unluckily has been carried out in some areas of Tuscany. Montalcino today leads the fight against the unrestricted urbanization and has managed to create its wealth producing exquisite wines and keeping its scenery, focusing on luxury tourism.

Another great Designation of Origin (DO) is the one from Montepulciano. Montepulciano is a little DO but quite bigger than the one from Montalcino. Excellent wine is produced in Montepulciano, mainly the high quality range of wines called Vino Nobilae (noble wines) from Montepulciano (do not confuse it with the Montepulciano wines from Abruzzo). The Nobile wines of Montepulciano are also exquisite; they are generally stored for 2-3 years in French barrels before coming onto the market.

The last Designation of Origin I want to talk about is the one from Morellino di Scansano. The Morellino wines also are very good wines which are reaching the excellent levels of Brunello. The Morellino wines are produced in the area of the Maremma, therefore they are vineyards that grow in very mild areas because of their nearness to the sea. In this zone, more precisely in Bolgheri the Sassicaia wine, one of the best wines worldwide, is also produced.

Here is an attached video telling you about the typical products of Tuscany among which is wine obviously¡

Well friends, if you are in Tuscany never forget to drink a good red wine as there is too much to choose from¡

Best,

Giovanni

Fashion Blog World's Inspiration

Hello everyone,
Hope you're doing well. I just realized that I haven't had a giveaway gift for this year. Therefore, let's start it now. The "Fashion Blog World's Inspiration". I know there are many of you that are very inspired. The idea of this contest is just for fun. It would be lovely to share your style here at Life-in-Travel, and I'm excited to know more about your sense of fashion. Everyone (including international contestants) can enter this contest giveaway gift, just send me at lifeintraveling@gmail.com a picture of your outfits with your name and what you're wearing. Please, summit your one or two photos by March 3th. I will choose around 20 faces and let all the readers rate it. The winner will get $125 giftcard from the store of your choice, or cash. Have fun with your fashion creation and GOOD LUCK to you all! ;-)

Comme des Garcons runway spring 2010. Me, wearing Comme des Garcons jacket (love all the different textures, prints and fabric which make the jacket interesting. Cool styling, too), Yohji Yamamoto gray top, Club Monaco black turtle neck, the Row legging, Christian Louboutin ankle boots, F21 cuffs.

Changing the style of the collar.

Christian Louboutin ankle boots.
Wishing you a wonderful day!!! Thank you for reading!! Again, GOOD LUCK on the contest!!
Big hugs...Hanh ;-)

Poland -- Women's lives and history in Bialystok Jewish Cemetery

 Tombstone of Esther, daughter of R. Alperik,  in the Bialystok cemetery. The epitaph (trans. by Heidi M.Szpek) reads: "Here lies a proper, God-fearing and upright woman, [in] secrecy she performed her many righteous deeds. Our beloved and precious mother, Esther daughter of R. Aperdik. She died Tuesday 11th Tishri 5669. May her soul be bound in the bond of everlasting life. [In Russian] Estera Wolkomirskaya.. She died 24 October 1908." Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

Just in time for Purim (which falls this year on Feb. 28), the scholar Heidi M. Szpek has published another fascinating article in the online Jewish Magazine on the Jewish cemetery in Bialystok.  It focuses on the women named Esther whose tombstones are found there, and what we can learn about their lives from the epitaphs and carvings.

She was important, upright, modest, and extraordinary in the performance of good deeds. She was kindhearted, pleasant, precious, and God-fearing. She was a girl, a young woman, not yet a mother, a mother, and an elderly woman. She was a martyr, a Rabbi's wife, the descendant of a prominent rabbinic lineage, the crown of her children's head, and an Eshet Hayil – a "woman of valor". Such are the virtues and character of not one Esther but of the 38 women named Esther as remembered in the extant Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian and Polish inscriptions on the Jewish tombstones in the Bagnowka Jewish Cemetery in Bialystok, Poland.

Of the over 2000 extant inscriptions, nearly half remember women (including girls). Among these women, the name Esther is rivaled only by that of Chayya and Sarah. Each time I translate the inscription of an Esther I contemplate whether Bialystok's Esthers emulate their namesake, the biblical Esther, or the rich legends of Esther preserved in rabbinic literature. ( Read full article in the online Jewish Magazine. )

 Szpek is a Professor of Religious Studies and Philosophy at Central Washington University (Ellensburg, Washington) who is currently writing a book on the Jewish epitaphs from Bialystok (I linked to another of her articles HERE). She has worked with Tomasz Wisniewski (who has posted photos and translations of the epitaphs on Bialystok Jewish tombstones on his web site www.bagnowka.com)

In her Esther article, Szpek illustrates how the imagery and inscriptions tell how women died in childbirth, or how young girls died before marriage. (For more on imagery on Jewish women's tombstones see my (Candle)sticks on Stone project.) But she also notes that women in 19th and early 20th century Bialystok fulfilled roles that went far beyond the home life of wife, mother, sister and daughter:

 Women were also nurses, social workers, administrators for Linas Hatzedek, which gave aid to the poor and sick, and for the Bialystok Relief Society. Women were students and teachers; they served in the administration of the Bialystoker Youth Society, one organized and served as 'mother' of the Bialystoker Orphans. Women were youth athletes, founders of the Maccabi Sport Club, and actresses in the Habimah Players. Women were needleworkers at the "Ort" workshops in Bialystok, active Zionists in Poale Zion and embraced the socialist ideals of the Bundists. They sat on strike committees as early as 1901, and continued to march against unfair labor practices in the 1930s. Women managed their late husbands' estates, served as leaders in the Bund, even dying in the tragic Sabbath Nahamu in July 1905 when the Tsarist Army rose up against the protesting Jewish Bundist workers.

Read full article in the online Jewish Magazine

Purim is Judaism's most joyful holiday, and Esther, of course, is its heroine. The Jewish bride of the ancient Persian King Ahasuerus, she (with her uncle Mordechai) foiled the plans of Ahasuerus' wicked advisor Haman to to annihiate the Jewish people. The story is told in the biblical book of Esther. The  scroll -- the Megillah of Esther -- is often kept in a decorative contained and is read out in the synagogue, in full, on the holiday (giving rise to the Jewish expression "the whole megillah" meaning a long and detailed account, i.e. chapter and verse.)

Another Esther figures in Polish legend -- in the 14th century King Kazimierz the Great was believed to have a Jewish mistress named Esther (or Esterka). There is an Esterka street in Krakow's old Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, and her name is associated with castles and other sites.

Useful links on Tuscany

Holidays in Florence and Tuscany Vacation Resources

Florence and Tuscany Directories | Florence Hotels | Florence & Tuscany Bed and Breakfast | Florence Apartment Rentals | Florence Restaurants | Farm Holidays in Tuscany | Wedding Planners in Tuscany | Other Useful Links

Florence and Tuscany Touristic Directories

• Castellitoscani.com,The Castles of Tuscany - A trip through castles, fortresses, walled town and other medieval treasures of this Italian region with history, photos, maps, touristic itineraries in the heart of Italy.
• Apartments to Rent in Florence - Web site dedicated to those who are looking for an accommodation in a flat, a studio, a loft, a student room or apartment, a tourist home or villa to let in the historical center of Florence, in the charming hills around the city, in the residential area or close to the Florence University campus...
• Holiday Apartments Rental Tuscany, Farm Holidays in Tuscany, Italy - A selection of charming private villas, farm holidays resorts, country apartments, lofts for your pleasant holidays in the historical city of Florence and Tuscany countryside.
• Bed and Breakfast in Florence - Locate bed and breakfast inns of Florence, Italy thanks to our useful interactive map! Florence bed and breakfasts, Italy, bed and breakfast inns directory. BedandBreakfastflorence.com - The Florence Bed and Breakfast accommodations directory - Bed and Breakfast Lodging, B&B Vacation Travel!
• Studentsville - Florence Study Abroad Guide - We tell you everything about studying and living in Florence. Museums and monuments, accomodations, restaurants, discos and pubs...
• Florence Rooms to rent- Housing in private apartments and rooms, rent your room or apartment in Florence. With more than 300 rooms and aparts in town, is the easiest way to find an accommodation in Florence ...
• Hotels in Florence, Italy - Florence Hotels Directory: the best hotels, guesthouse and many other type of accommodation in Florence selected in terms of quality and price.
• Tuscany Bed and Breakfast - Bed and Breakfast Guide detailing B&Bs, Inns, Boutique Hotels. Bed & breakfasts accommodation in Florence and its outskirts, Tuscany, Italy.
• Florence Photos - Discovering Florence, Italy, cradle of the art through high quality photo gallery and all the toruist information you need.
• Tuscan Farm Holiday Homes - Tuscany Farmhouse Rentals - Vacation rentals in Florence and Tuscany offers you the chance to choose the villa, city apartment or country home that mostly suits your needs.
• Florence Museums: On line tickets reservation - Buy Florence museums tickets online and you will have guaranteed immediate access to the masterpieces of Florence without wasting time. Reserve Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery and many other museums without queueing up ...
• Guided Walking Tours of Florence - Customized tours, imaginative itineraries and the assistance of an official guide make for an unforgettable experience. We specialize in history of art, fashion, handicrafts, restoration and gastronomy, and organize visits to historical residences, private collections, gardens and workshops. Avoid entrance queues with us!
• Tourist Apartments to Rent in Florence, Italy - Universal Reservations come from a very long experience in Italian tourism, mainly based on carrying out its activities in the most loved cities in the world, like Rome, Venice and Florence in Italy.
• Welcome to Florence Holiday Luxury Accommodations - Italy, Tuscany, Florence; a country where you breathe art whilst walking along the streets and the sights are an open air museum, where you will be absorbed into the Tuscan atmosphere, filled with colour and typical local products and delicacies.
• Florence Luxury Holiday Apartments - If you’re looking for the key to enter the heart of Florence, you’ve found it. Florencehouse.it Rentals offers a large range of luxury apartments.
• I-Florence therefore I blog - The cool side of the Renaissance, all about living and studying in Florence, events and more ...
• Villas in Italy - For weekly rental, luxury concierge properties, charming apartments in farmhouses and boutique hotels in Tuscany, Sicily, Umbria and Amalfi Coast.
• Find in our websites on Italy: Tuscany Villas with private swimming pool, rooms in Boutique Hotels and apartments in charming farmhouses.
• Italian and culture Language Schools in Florence - Study Abroad in Florence - Italian Language Schools in Florence, Italy, and more: universities, colleges, libraries, biblioteques, arts and crafts, cooking, visual arts.

Florence Hotel

• Three Stars Hotel Liberty Florence - The warm and elegant atmosphere of a Florentine Villa of the beginnings of the 19th Century, this is Villa Liberty, an accomodating, romantic and charming hotel diven into the greens of Viale Michelangiolo.
• Hotel Roma - Florence - Our Hotel is located in the heart of Florence historical center, in an ancient palace of 18th century overlooking one of the most fascinating squares of the city, Piazza Santa Maria Novella.
• Hotel Donatello Firenze - The three-star superior Hotel Donatello is located in one of the greenest and most tranquil squares in the center of Florence a few steps away from the principal monuments of the city.
• 2 Two stars Budget Hotel in Florence - La Noce - The perfect cheap accommodation for your stay in the historical centre of Florence. Located in the heart of the Medicean district of San Lorenzo.
• 2 Stars Superior Hotel - Hotel Accademia Firenze - Elegance and sophistication just a short walk from the prettiest, most interesting places in Florence. The Hotel Accademia is a place where everything is cared for down to the finest detail: Carrara marble, ancient window panes and a warm welcome to make your stay just unforgettable.
• Real Cheap One Star Hotel in Florence - Hotel Regina - One star hotel accommodation in Florence, just a short walk from the prettiest, most interesting places of the historical center.
• Florence Hotel Reservation - 3 Stars Hotel City - Situated within the ancient city walls of Florence, Italy in the historical San Lorenzo District, the Hotel City is near all of the main museums, monuments and shopping areas.
• Hotel Collodi Two Stars Superior in Florence Center - The Hotel Collodi Florence is an intimate, family run two star city centre hotel located within walking distance of the Michelangelo's David, Santa Maria Novella railway station, the Cathedral and the Uffizi Gallery.
• Villa Morghen Florence Hills B&B Resort - Villa Morghen is a hotel/vacation home that offers the pleasure of experiencing Florence while staying in the heart of the beautiful hills of Settignano and Fiesole.
• Together Florence Inn 4 stars Hotel Florence Countryside - Together Florence Inn, a brand-new four star hotel, welcomes you and proposes an unforgettable stay in perfect harmony with nature, art, hospitality and well being.
• Hotel Three Stars Corte dei Medici, Florence center - A lovely Florentine hospitality structure found on the second floor of an antique building in the historical center of Florence in front of the Medici Chapels and the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
• Three Stars Hotel dei Macchiaioli Florence Center - Three stars hotel located in Florence's historical centre, the perfect choice for those looking to spend a holiday in the very heart of the city known as the cradle of the Renaissance.
• Hotel Centro Campi Bisenzio - Cheap hotel in the outskirts of Florence.
• Hotel Abaco Florence - Cheap hotel in Florence center with baroque style rooms and free wireless internet.

Bed and Breakfast in Florence and Tuscany

• il Gattopardo B&B Florence - The Gattopardo Bed & Breakfast is located in the heart of the historical centre of Florence, on a corner of the wonderful Piazza della Signoria. The apartment sits in an ancient “palazzo”, dating back to 1200 ...
• Bed and Breakfast Novecento Firenze - [Florence] - Bed & Breakfast in Florence center, offers short term luxury accommodation, in elegantly furnished rooms very close to the Cathedral with a magnificent view of the city.
• Bed and Breakfast Villa la Sosta - [Florence] - High Class Bed and Breakfast nearby the Florence historical center, located in a 19th century Villa immersed in the green of one of the most charming Florentine residential areas.
• Bed and Breakfast Martin Dago - [Florence] - Charming Bed and Breakfast located in Sant'Ambrogio, one of the most lively district of the historical city center of Florence.
• Ancora del Chianti Bed and Breakfast - [Greve in Chianti, Florence] - In the heart of Chianti Classico, enjoy the best of Tuscany with a rural holiday in a converted farm house with bed and breakfast and apartment, located between Florence and Siena.
• Cimatori Bed and Breakfast - [Florence] - Cimatori Bed and Breakfast is a hidden gem in the heart of Florence right next to the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio in Florence’s famous Piazza della Signoria and Dante Alghieri’s house.
• Farm Holidays Bed and Breakfast near Florence - Savernano - [Reggello, Florence] - Bed and breakfast at the owners immersed in the Tuscan hills, between Florence, Arezzo, Siena and all the tourist attractions of Tuscany. Swimming pool and Tuscan typical products tasting ...
• Soggiorno Pezzati Bed and Breaklfast in Florence - [Florence] - Located in a historical building in the heart of Florence, this family owned Bed & Breakfast has six bedrooms, each with a private bathroom.
• Bed and Breakfast in Florence Soggiorno Alessandra - [Florence] - B&B at the owner located in an historic palace of 15th century in the center of the town, in the heart of the Oltrano, Santo Spitiro and San Frediano Florence districts.
• Casa Rovai Bed and Breakfast in Florence - [Florence] - B&B Casa Rovai offers guests six rooms for rent with Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Firenze. A nice, quiet apartment for bed and breakfast stay.
• Abacus Bed and Breakfasts Reservation in Florence - [Florence] - Abacus Reservations presents: two different places, two different locations, a different style ... Relais Grand Tour & Grand Tour Suites an elegant, charming, place for couples and Mr. My Resort a small luxury resort..
• Bed & Breakfast Florence center Badia Fiorentina - B&B located in the heart of historic Florence, around Palazzo Vecchio and the Dome, in this street, where Dante Alighieri lived, you can still imagine the life of the Florentine 13th.
• Il Bargello Firenze Bed and Breakfast - Bed & Breakfast takes name from the National Museum "Il Bargello" which is located right beside the B&B. Situated in a historical 15th century building, this tastefully decorated B&B can transport you back in time and still make you feel right at home.
• Residenza Vespucci B&B and Suites in Florence - Residenza Vespucci is located along Florence's riverside, on Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, in an historical building which once housed the prestigious Hotel du Sud.
• Residenza Casanuova B&B Florence - A romantic and beautiful b&b with only three exclusive bedrooms for your holidays in the centre of Florence, Italy. Florence italy lodging.
  

Apartment and Villa Rentals in Florence and Tuscany

• Suites and Luxury Apartments in Florence Palazzo Alfani - The historic Residenza “Palazzo Alfani” is located the heart of Florence, close to the Duomo “Cathedral” and directly opposite the “’Accademia Gallery” which houses the original of Michelangelos’ David .
• Firenze Loft - Brand new, stylish lofts located in the heart of Florence. The Lofts were elegantly designed from an old textile factory, recently revamped by a space designer and divided into SpaceOne & SpaceTwo and The Penthouse Apartment.
• Dante States - Apartment Rentals in Florence Center - Dante States offers seven newly remodeled and finely furnished apartments in the very center of Florence. The Uffizi Museum, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, and the train station are all within a 5-10 minute walk...
• Florence and Tuscany Apartments to let - Florence and Tuscany offers apartments for rent in the historical center of Florence and city centers of other towns in Tuscany as well as accommodation in bed & breaksfast, villas and farmhouses in the Tuscan countryside.
• Florence Apartment Rentals - Holiday Vacation Homes in Florence, five apartments located in an ancient building few steps away from Piazza Santissima Annunziata, on the back of Accademia Gallery, about 10 minutes walking from the Cathedral.
• Rooms in Florence - We offer beautiful rooms in florence for travelers and student at budget rates. The ideal accomodation to enjoy Florence and Tuscany. Housing in Florence, in the inner part of the historical city center.
• Florence apartment to rent - Apartments San Marco & Allegri are a charming choice for your Florence short term rentals.Centrally located in Florence,both apartments arefurnished and with a nice view. San Marco & Allegri apartments would be your right choice for Florence apartment rentals.
• Residenza la Fonte Holiday Apartments in Florence and Italy - We will help you choose the best accommodation according to your wishes and needs. Our properties range from apartments in the city and on the beach, villas in Tuscany and we can also help you find alternative accommodation to please all your needs and wishes.
• Colli di Firenze - Florence Center Tourist Apartments to rent - A selection of tourist apartments for short or long term stays in the heart of Florence historical center.
• Real Estate Italy - Operating in Italy, mostly in Tuscany, Lazio, Sicily, Sardinia. Our listing is composed by villas, farmhouses, country houses, farms, prestigious properties and apartments in historic centres for sale and for rent.
• Villa Le Farnete, Villa Rental, B&B near Florence - Villa Le Farnete is an elegant 17th century villa located on the outskirts of Florence with panoramic views, offers the possibility to rent the entire villa, bed and breakfast accommodation in rooms, apartment rentals, can be the perfetc location for events and weddings.
• Florent.it - Holiday Apartments to rent in Florence - Our tourist apartment are In the historical center of Florence, in San Frediano district, very close to Palazzo Pitti and Ponte Vecchio few steps from Piazza della Signoria.

Florence Restaurants & Wineries

• Restaurants in Florence, Italy - In Florence there are hundreds of restaurants and the quality is eccellent almost everywhere. In this site we've selected some of the best restaurants in town for the quality of food and wines but also for their price, location and atmosphere...
• Restaurant Giannino in Florence - Restaurant - Winery in Florence. Restaurant Giannino in San Lorenzo, in the heart of Florence, Tuscany. The original Florentine beefsteak!
• Restaurant 'La Reggia degli Etruschi' - [Fiesole] - Located on the hill of Fiesole, very close to Florence in a relaxing and panoramic place. This typical and exclusive restaurant offers its guests the best traditional Tuscan dishes.
• Chianti Real Estate Tenuta Bonomonte - Production and tastings of Chianti Classico wines and extra virgin olive oil in the heart of Chianti hills, in Barberino Val d'Elsa, between Florence and Siena. Farm holidays accommodation.
• Birrificio San Quirico - In Tuscany, in the heart of Val d'Orcia, the San Quirico Brewery produces home-brewed beers of outstanding quality, using carefully selected local raw materials.

Farm Holidays in Tuscany

• Farm Holidays near Florence - Tuscany Farm Stay at Agriturismo Petrognano - Rentals of Vacation Apartments, Country Holiday Homes in the Tuscan Hills, immersed in the Florentine countryside.
• Chianti Hills Farm Holidays Il Belvedere - Independent Villa L'Oliveta - Farm Holiday accommodation in charming apartments and a big independent villa, on the Aretine hills of Chianti, Tuscany, along the Setteponti road.
• Tuscany Villa Rentals - Agriturismo - Farm Holidays Apartments in San Gimignano -Il Borghetto Holiday homes and apartments, located in an ancient villa, the ideal setting for your stay in San Gimignano, Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. Farm Holiday Vacation.
• Chianti Farm Holiday Accommodation Podere San Bartolo - Charming apartments, agritourism, country holiday homes in a medieval hilltop village located in heart of Chianti, Tuscany, between Florence and Siena.
• Villa Prumiano Chianti Villa Rental - Tuscan holiday complex consisting of a large farmhouse and a hayloft, set in a charming and panoramic position, immersed in the vineyards of the Chianti countryside.
• Farm Holiday Apartment and Villa Rental in Tuscany, Chianti, Barberino Val d'Elsa (Florence) - The agriturismo San Silvestro, located in the heart of Chianti, has two cozy apartmens, skilfully constructed from an 18th-century barn, and a small apartment next to the Villa.
• Independent Villa Farm Holidays in Chianti, Tuscany - The farm, made of the big private villa and two smaller cottages, is in the heart of Tuscany, in the Chianti hills, at 500 m. above sea-level, deep in the green of trees and hills surrounding it.
• Agriturismo Tuscany Farm Stay at Colle da Vinci - Farm holidays estate Colle da Vinci, an ancient rural villa restored in the best Tuscan tradition, with 5 independent apartments, swimming pool, in the land of Leonardo ...
• Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Tuscany Farm Holidays - Real Estate in the heart of Chianti Classico, Castellina in Chianti, Tuscany, offers holiday homes and villas with pool to let, tasting of typical products like wine, olive oil, grappa ...
• Casa Vacanze Tuscany Farm House Holidays Tontenano - On the gentle hills of Chianti right in the centre of beautiful tuscany, you can find the farm holidays residence equipped with all comforts.
• Tuscany Private Villa to rent with Swimming Pool - Casa Nova Vinci - An architectural complex dating back to the 16th century. Running alongside is the ancient Leonardian walk which takes visitors from the town of Vinci to the house where Leonardo was born.

Wedding Planners & Events Locations in Tuscany

• Wedding in Florence and Tuscany - Unique Tuscan Weddings: plan with us your perfect weddings in Tuscany, from the luxury ceremony in a castle or villas to all the related services!
• Blanc Ricevimenti Wedding Planner in Tuscany, Italy - Blanc wedding planner organize weddings, ceremonies, blessings, receptions events in Tuscany and in the most romantic locations of Italy such as Venice, Rome, Portofino and Amalfi Coast.
• Forever Weddings in Italy - Forever Wedding Planner in Italy organizes religious and civil ceremonies in faboluos romantic Italian locations: Florence and Tuscany, Venice, Rome, Capri. Forever Weddings sets all wedding services. Forever is the best choice for Your Italian wedding.
• Villa Le Farnete Wedding in Tuscany - Villa le Farnete, near Florence. The ideal setting for your cerimonies: wedding, dinners, business lunch immersed in the scenarios of the Florentine Renaissance.
• Oliveto Castle Reception Wedding Venue & Resort - Oliveto Castle has a long experience in the organization of wedding receptions, typical Tuscan dinners, wine tasting and farm holiday accommodations in the heart of Tuscany.
• Joëlle Marie Events ... unveiling the heart of Italy - Offers freelance, bespoke wedding management and event planning services in Italy for private individuals, agencies and corporate.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Dear friends,


Today I want to talk about a place that to me brings back many good memories and that has a special charm… the town Civita di Bagnoregio also called "la città che scompare"( the town that disappears) which is in Upper Lazio (very close to southern Tuscany) a few kilometres from Orvieto (one of the most beautiful towns in Umbria).

To get to this marvellous place, where it is possible to get only on foot and where cars are forbidden, you will have to cross over a bridge-like structure leading to the highest part of the town where it is possible to relish an incredible scenic beauty, the scenery of Tuscia.

The “tufaceas” hills (soil mountains of a colour similar to dessert sand’s) characterize Tuscia. “The town that disappears” has a curious name as it was built on a “tufo” mountain; little by little the town has lost height throughout the years, although luckily modern technology has permitted this ravishing corner of Italy to survive.

In this town just about 10 people live and there is a pair of bars and 3 or 4 restaurants where the typical food from Lazio is served. The town is really enchanting and keeps its original essence.
So friends if the flight that is taking you to Tuscany lands in Rome I heartily recommend that you stop at this magical place to eat (from Orvieto, which is on the road from Rome to Tuscany, it is only 20 minutes).

Of course, I hope this article might be useful in preparing your Tuscan holidays.


Warm regards,

Giovanni

Fresh Snow

I Woke up in the morning, looked out my window and I was like WOW...Everything is beautifully white. I love to see Dallas covered with white snow. I remember six years ago, it was snowing on Valentine's day and that was perfectly cozy for the day. This time the snow came a couple of days early but it was just so beautiful; I felt like I was in a different city. I took my camera and walked around taking photos. Usually Dallas does have some light snow during the winter, and the weather is very moody and sometimes drops to freezing temperatures. Dallas becomes a frozen town. Here are the photos of fresh snow that I captured yesterday.

On the road.

At the park.
At the small lake. Some Family photos.

My sweet mom.
My big girl.
My little girl.
Snow ball fight.
Here comes the cute puppies: Luna and Goldie.
Take it easy, puppies!
Luna and Goldie wanted a ride on the slide, too!
We built a snowgirl.
Here is the snowgirl! Her name is Peggy.
I arranged these flowers for you to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!! Full of love!! and have a joyful Valentine's weekend with family, friends and loved ones!
Oh, yes, and Happy Chinese New year too!!!
Kisses...Hanh;-)

ps: just add to my link a new blog Ponyarts.