Hostelling International: Ostello Tasso, Florenz
I liked the vibe of the Tasso a lot. But there are some cracks starting to show in the sleek facade of this backpackers' homestead. And location could also be an issue. Location & Getting There The Ostello Tasso is a bit
Exploring Tuscany: Leaning towards Pisa
I touched down in Pisa mid-July. The flight from Bordeaux was cheaper than into anywhere else in Italy. I was not even going to stay, instead move straight on into Florence, but then I thought it would be foolish to
Hostelling International: Hostel Santa Monaca, Florenz
The Hostel Santa Monaca has everything a great hostel needs: attentive staff, great location, good beds at a low price (for Florence). There is just one big thing that breaks the deal: Tuscan summers. Location & Getting There The Santa Monaca is
Hostelling International: The Hostel Pisa in Pisa
Location & Crowd The Hostel Pisa is almost perfectly located: it's a 20 minute walk (!) from the airport, 5 minutes from the train station, and yet only 20 minutes from the famed leaning tower on the other end of the
Taormina, Sicily, to Tarn Region, France (via Rome, Barcelona & Toulouse)
I had only been on Sicily for two weeks when it became necessary for me to go back to France to visit friends in the Tarn region. My initial instinct was to catch the ferry from Palermo to Genova and
Puglia to Sicily (via Taranto & Messina)
Taranto to Messina by bus (Onbus / Autolinea Scoppio) After six weeks and three longer journeys in the country I think I have the hang of the Italian bus network. It seems like each route is awarded to one company, usually
Rome — Tipps & Tricks for your visit
The first settlers came here more than 14,000 years ago. But since Rome was founded -- as legend will have it on 21 April 753 B.C. by the brothers Romulus and Remus who had been drinking from a she-wolf as
A day in Rome — When in doubt it’s a church, and other things I learnt
I had not planned to go to Rome now. But my first Italian WorkAway starts only on Friday. I am leaving Berlin on Wednesday. So I might as well start here. Coming in via Fiumicino airport I get a first taste
Happy hopeful — How to be an optimist
In honor of my birthday I was going to muse about travel & age today. But then two things happened that made delving deeper into the idea of being an eternal optimist more appealing. The first thing that happened was that
Is it cave? Is it a house? No, it’s Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Movie buffs might recognize Matera as go-to location for films about the death of Jesus Christ, most recently Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of Christ'. And though Christian faith did in fact have great influence on the development of the city,