China: Law School Adventures

The most interesting thing I’ve done with my life recently is venture to China with a few of my law school classmates for a two week study tour of Xi’an and Beijing.

Last summer I had the once in a life-time experience of studying law at Cambridge and I had gone back to a meeting to talk about my experiences to new students who were considering going to Cambridge this summer. I discussed my time with them but I also learned about this incredible opportunity to go to China and earn up to 3 credits of law school credit while doing so.

My first thoughts were “no way, I could never afford that…but wouldn’t that be the coolest experience, like ever?”. I still (of course) put my name on the information sheet anyway, but the more I learned about it the more I realized that I could totally make this work (all we paid for was airfare and credit hours to the university) so it really wasn’t that expensive, and plus I got 2 credit hours out of the way for the next year and memories to last a lifetime.

Here I am in front of the university in Xi’an, this was the law school building and where we had our lectures from Chinese law professors. We learned about Chinese Company Law, Chinese Civil Law, Chinese Constitutional and Administrative Law, Chinese Civil Procedure Law, and Chinese contemporary economy. We also had a session where former Chancellor and current law professor Harvey Pearlman had a comparative session on US and Chinese law. Overall, the classes were crazy interesting and really a great opportunity to learn about another country’s legal landscape.

The coolest part of this trip was the opportunity to see the Chinese court. We toured Xi’an Intermediate People’s Court and got the chance to converse with judges in the court (pictured here in the light blue shirts). This was by far a highlight of the trip and of my law school career. It was an amazing opportunity for cultural exchange and conversation, even though there was a language barrier the conversations we had are something I will remember forever.

One of the highlights of this trip was the food and the cultural experiences. My top favorites being the fish spa, the delicious yogurt from the street market, dumplings and the hot pot dinner we did.

There is always something fun about a challenge, we had a VERY short amount of time to climb to the top of the Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, and we accepted the challenge and ran up to the top. Worth it.

Seeing the terra cotta warriors was also a highlight of the trip. For sure a must see if you get to Xi’an, downright amazing are the only words to describe this. Something you’ve gotta see for yourself to completely understand how amazing it is. Definitely a must see world heritage site.

Study Abroad: London Packing List

the run down.

Here’s the down and dirty what you gotta have to start off your time in the world’s most fantastic city, London. Almost everything is easy to purchase, but its nice to have at least the essentials when you first get there while you get used to everything.

the essentials.

1. laptop
2. cell phone (either get a pay as you go plan or turn off data and only use for emergency calls)
3. power converter
4. British Pounds (if you plan on changing dollars to pounds make sure you bring NEW bills that aren’t old otherwise they aren’t happy to change them)
5. credit cards with chip (an preferably no foreign transaction fees)
6. any important medications and toiletries
7. any favorite american food that you CAN’T live without (totally personal preference, I only brought some initial snacks so I wouldn’t starve if I couldn’t find a Tesco)
8. Passport and any documents you might need (don’t forget your ID/Drivers License!)
9. rain boots
10. A good coat

things you’ll need.

1. an oyster card (the tube is necessary my friends)
2. good walking shoes
3. I promise you you’ll need rain boots (wellie warmers are also nice to have on those cold english days)
4. layers of outerwear, make sure you have at least one waterproof outer layer.
5. The rest is pretty much up to you! Study abroad is what you make it 🙂

random tips.

Go exploring immediately, unpack the essentials and go out and be a tourist for a few hours. Figure out where the closest tube station is or bus stop. Find a Sainsbury’s or Tesco or what not (a food source). Explore the neighborhood you’ll be in all semester, check out the local pubs and restaurants.

Go see the big sites, bring out that camera and go take a ride on the London Eye, see Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Covent Garden, Leister Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Globe Theater ect. Some other fun touristy things to do are:

• London Walks (I recommend the Jack the Ripper and the Harry Potter walks!)
• The London Dungeon
•  Horseback Ride through Hyde Park (Ross Nye Stables is fantastic and located adjacent to Hyde Park and usually takes walk-ups and is a once in a life time experience that cannot be beat!)
• Hop-on-Hop off Bus (only do this if you don’t want to pay to use the tube for a day and want to be identified as a tourist)
• Boat ride on the Thames (some have packages with the Eye and other attractions).

If you plan on visiting any of the palaces (Kensington, Tower of London, Hampton Court or Kew) buy the palace pass- find a friend and buy the “couple/family” pass and it will be even cheaper and you can go again and again in case you go on a day with a few too many tourists. Also, whenever people come to visit you they can get in on the pass as well since it is a “family” pass.

Here’s a link for more information on the pass.

I hope you enjoy your time in London as much as I did and have fun exploring!

 

 

5 Things you Must Do in the Highlands of Scotland

One of my top favorite places to go in the world has to be Scotland, more specifically the highlands. I’ve compiled a list of my top favorite things to do, but there is so much more. These are just some of the interesting things I did when I visited.

1. Hairy Coos

When visiting the highlands you must find these beauties. Our bus tour got so pumped every time we saw one. At one point our driver graciously stopped for a photo op. I love these fuzzy cows! You must find one and take a picture of or with one- which if you drive around the highlands you are hopefully bound to see some!

2. IrnBru

This crazy looking beverage is a must try in Scotland and although crazy sweet, it is strangely addicting and I often find myself wishing we had it in the US.

3. Castles

See all the castles. They are awesome and never get old. Our tour guide called our tour the ABC tour, or another bloody castle tour. Which was true, but it didn’t make it any less interesting. I would do our exact same tour again anytime but would love to see more castles that I haven’t gotten to explore yet.

4. Play with weapons

Do something crazy, like pose for a photo with an ancient sword outside an awesome old castle in the middle of nowhere in the highlands. These kind of awesome crazy things happen, and it is fantastic.

5. Climb a big hill

Go hiking, see the beautiful views, break in those wellies. Every blister is worth the amazing view from the top. We accomplished mountain goat status by hiking up some awesome hills and seeing some ancient homes with fabulous views. Don’t forget to venture through some streams and take some pictures. Also, try to spread your arms in victory better than I did, I suck at it.

---

Other things I enjoyed.

• Lochs
• Haggis
• Rain
• Loch Ness
• Edinburgh
• Everything

Here’s a link to the tour company we used through school!

Be a Traveler not a Tourist: Part 1

go somewhere

So many people go on trips every year (sometimes more) and really don’t get anything out of it. Although I know that everyone has different ways of wanting to go on vacation, I hope that this post can give people an idea of how they can travel, let’s just say “better” than before. Not forcing anyone to do anything they don’t want to do, just wanting people to think about what happens in places where tourism is such a big part of that place. So many people go somewhere typical (which is fine) and just check off the things one should see in that location. Example, I’m going to Rome so I’ll see the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps. Then I’ll go have some pasta and some gelato and perhaps some wine. Check, Rome is done, I’ve seen enough- maybe some day I’ll come back when I have more time. FALSE. Try something different, go outside your comfort zone.

I’ve been on a lot of cruises (which by the way are very cool and a great way to get a taste of so many different places in a very short time) and it is really hard not to just be a tourist on these trips. You are drug around in a group of individuals clad in walking shoes, D-SLRs around everyone’s neck, and of course the lovely walkie talkie contraptions or “whispers” as some guides call them also draped around one’s neck. You look foolish, but you get to see a lot this way. The problem is the only thing you are doing is SEEING a lot, you aren’t diving into the culture head first. The first time I went overseas I just spent a lot of time looking at the sights and I didn’t really get a lot out of the trip other than I saw a lot of cool things, basically all I was doing was following the tour group and seeing what was in front of me. I wanted my next trip to be something I got a lot out of both educationally and emotionally, but I’m different like that, I use travel as a way to express myself and learn more about myself. That isn’t how everyone likes to do things, but I’ve found I really come back from trips feeling overall better about myself if I really immerse myself into the locations I visit.

go somewhere and don’t just follow the leader

Let’s make this silly situation better! Let’s say you ARE on one of these tours and you aren’t off on your own (which I find is always the best way to see anywhere if you have more time and aren’t on a time constraint- if you are on something like a cruise I do think the shore excursions are the best way to get the most bang for your buck ), there are plenty of ways you can still discover what your destination is all about. Most trips give you some free time to eat or shop, take advantage of that! Find a map, wander down some side streets, get kinda lost and then figure out your way back to where you came from- it really gives you a sense of accomplishment to be able to find your way around somewhere completely foreign to you. It also makes you figure out what makes that place tick. Do the places to eat/drink get cheaper as you walk down side streets and get further away from tourist traps and closer to where people actually live? Usually it does. These are also AMAZING places to eat because it is where the locals eat, so usually a more reasonable price and you get the chance to talk to people who aren’t used to having THOUSANDS of tourists encroaching on their space every single day. From personal experience this is when I’ve really learned the most about cultures elsewhere is just by doing this little trick, going off the beaten path. Sometimes you don’t even have to go that far to find places with menus only in the local language (MOST of the time you can get by with English, but I find that it is polite to try to communicate in the local language first before going to English). Remembering you are a visitor to someone else’s home, be polite and be willing to try new things and talk to new people. You never know who will be willing to talk to you or what you will encounter. That is truly the beauty of traveling.

The times that I’ve strayed off the beaten path have been fantastic. I’ve found great hidden places to eat, lovely shops, and amazing people. I’ve wandered around places in Italy, France, Spain, Scotland, England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Monaco, Alaska, Canada, New York, Turkey, Malta, and so many more places. Each destination has something to teach you, my goal each time I travel is to discover what exactly I’m learning from that place. Holland taught me that I CAN find my way around a city I’ve only been in for literally minutes, Greece taught me to see the beauty in simplicity, Scotland taught me to appreciate the beauty of the world around me and England taught me that I can be so much more than I ever thought I could. Traveling really has helped me find direction and meaning to my life and traveling alone has helped even more.

go somewhere ready to try to “fit in”

Do research before you visit another country, learn how to say hello and thank you at the very least. I know so many people that complain about people who visit America or even move to America not being able to speak any English, give other countries the experience you want to have with foreigners, or at least try! Learning languages can be fun and a great family activity to do before embarking on a cruise or going on a trip if you are going somewhere as a family. Duolingo is a great little app that gets you started with the basics  Look into customs such as dress and body language. For examples there are cultures where one finger pointing not something you should do. Always be aware of things like that. Walk with a purpose, don’t feel bad about stopping to take photos, but be respectful of the people around you. Don’t stop in the middle of a busy sidewalk, go off out of the way so the people who live there can continue to go about their daily business.  Always carry currency of the country you are in, don’t expect places to “just take” the dollar because you think they should. (I’ve seen this happen in a few different countries, the end result was never a friendly exchange…).

This blog has mainly covered the basics of how to turn what would have been a straightforward tourist experience into something where you become a traveler and really start to learn about other cultures and places in a more personal and in depth way. Remembering everyone has their preferred way of traveling and I’m not looking to boss people around into changing how they vacation, this is purely food for thought and a reflection on how I like to travel.

Look for more in this series of posts, I hope it helps others prepare for travel abroad (and even in their own country). I’m aiming to help others grow through travel the way I have, it really is a way of life and once that travel bug bites you there really is no better way to learn more about yourself or relax.

DVC Neighborhood Beach Bash Party

If you happen to be a member of Disney Vacation Club and are at Walt Disney World staying on DVC property you can be invited to a Beach Bash party if you happen to be lucky enough to be there during one!

Check in is available at DVC resorts in front of the lobby area (at the Polynesian at least that was how it was). A charter bus will transport you to the after hours party at Typhoon Lagoon! You will receive a wristband that identifies you as part of the party and you will be transported to the water park for an evening of fun!

The view from our chartered bus as we pulled into Typhoon Lagoon for an evening of “membership magic”.

It was pretty neat to walk around the water park at night, we had never been there before so it was pretty fun just to be able to get into the park without having to pay admission!

There was plenty of time to explore and see the park. Only a few of the attractions were closed but I’m not a big water park person since I wear glasses and don’t really like swimming, so it wasn’t a big deal to me. We enjoyed going around on the lazy river a few times, it was pretty fun to just have the park almost private with only fellow DVC family in the park with us!

They added DVC touches all around the park and kept stores and places to eat open. There also was “light refreshments” which turns out to mean chips and cookies. I heard that they had ice cream later that night but we had just flown in so we left after a few hours when we got tired.

I would recommend getting some dinner before you go unless you want to buy a meal there, then that is totally an option as well.

If you don’t have someone to watch your stuff, you’ll have to rent a locker. Which turns out isn’t really that cheap. Also towels are the same way, so bringing a towel is a good idea as well. I posted prices above- when you return your key we were given the choice to get $5 back or we could have a string bag, we chose the $5 but I’m sure lots of people like the string bag.

Membership Magic giant light up balloons lit the way throughout the park, pretty great way decorate if you ask me!

There was a DJ down by the beach area that was trying to get some dancing going and broadcasting music throughout the park. They had a bar area too for the adults over by free refreshment area. For free beverages they had lemonade and water and I believe ice tea as well.

Hard to see in the photo, but Lilo and Stitch were available for photos! I’d post our family photo but it isn’t all that attractive as we were in bathing suits and towels- LOL! Lines weren’t long and it was the perfect way to meet and greet a character!

Overall, the party was a bit unorganized (granted this was the first one they had held that we went to) and CMs seemed stressed with the extra hours. However, I really enjoyed being able to go into the water park free of charge since we never do the add on for the water parks. The free food was disappointing, but satisfactory enough- beggars can’t be choosers, right? I also wished they would have provided lockers for free use, we had someone tell us they would be free and no need to bring towels. Had we known towels would have been $2 a person we would have brought our own. I liked this “freebie” and I hope they continue to have the beach bash party! Thanks DVC!

NYC: Why I Love City Life

  
The hustle and bustle of a city teeming with life and excitement is something that lots of people don’t care for. They can’t overlook the unsavory smells, the green puddles you step over, the loud subway and traffic noise, and most of all the sheer amount of people you encounter in day to day living. 

But I look beyond all of that and see a place where I can explore more about the world I live in through so many different ways. In the past few days I’ve eaten restaurants with cuisine inspired by Japan, Mexico, Italy and of course right here at home- America. I’ve had the chance to see the city in all its glory lit up at night. I’ve gone to a German pub and an Irish pub and never left the upper east side. Things like this you can’t do in a small town setting. 

The people you interact with are from all sorts of different places and stages in the world and in life. You hear languages from around the world being spoken and you only traveled 10 minutes via the crosstown bus. The opportunities to expand your world view and mindset are endless. 

I love public transportation and those awesome spontaneous conversations with complete strangers. I love being in a place where your feet can get you so much further than a car and a bus or a train is never far away. It makes me feel like I can always go exploring without it being to much of an inconvenience and I never feel trapped because I have endless opportunities to go exploring. Whether it be stopping in a new local pub or exploring a park to find hidden gems, exploring doesn’t have to be expensive or scary and it is always within reach. 

That vibe you get from the city where you never don’t have something to see or somewhere to go. Something is always happening that inspires you to look beyond yourself and see so many more opportunities. Countless museums and art galleries, theater performances, bars and pubs that make you feel as if your living abroad- all these parts of the city help me discover more about what’s important to me. 

Coming from a small town I may just be envious of the big city life, but I will never stop being astounded at how much there is to see and do in these wonderful global cities like NYC and London. Never stop exploring my friends. 

Disneyland: The World of Color

The World of Color is a nighttime show in Disneyland Resort’s California Adventure Park. Projections on water screens, fire, fountains and lights make this show fantastic. If you’ve been to Las Vegas and seen the Bellagio fountains you kind of have an idea of what is in store, but in true Disney fashion they’ve taken the fountain and light show up a notch.

Dancing fountains towards the end of the “old” world of color show.

If you’d like to see the World of Color I would recommend either booking a dining reservation that includes a viewing area or getting a fast pass upon park opening for a viewing area. Then when you go to redeem your fast pass, be sure to get there early to get the best spot in line for your viewing section. (The fast pass kiosk is by the grizzly river rapids fast pass kiosk).

The ending of the “old” world of color with “World of Color” lasers. We saw the last old World of Color show before the 60th celebration show kicked off!

Keep in mind, this is a water show so the closer to the water you are the wetter you will get! We were front and center for the last old show and we got pretty wet!

The fountains after the show ends.

We were in Disneyland just as they were beginning to kick off the 24 hour event and the kickoff celebration for the 60th, so we got lucky and were able to see the brand new show after they showed the press the night before (and a day before it was officially set to start).

The new show features a projection screen on the Mickey Fun wheel as well as uses California Screamin’ to project things on as well! One of the beginning scenes with Walt Disney.

The new diamond anniversary show is a tribute to the rides and to Walt’s dream and some of the movies that have made Disney the huge success that it is.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one of the first movies to be featured in the show.

The show rotates around the notion of staying “forever young” and having a child like outlook on life. Huge water screens, fireballs and beautiful projections and lights (including the mickey ears that light up along with the show) make the entire experience unforgettable.

Of course Frozen had to make an appearance in the tribute to all of the movies during the show.

Next the show commemorates Disneyland and all of the wonderful rides that make the park special. From the haunted mansion to the Tiki Room and everything in between.

The beginning of the “Disneyland” section.

Splash mountain was one of the rides featured in this part of the show!

Pirates featured fire shooting out of the lagoon, so hot you can feel the warmth!

This new show is just as fantastic as the old one was, it was an amazing experience to see it for the first public show. Everyone was singing along with the songs and the new Christina Perri song- “Forever Young” put a lump in your throat and made me wish I was still a kid again. If you happen to be in Disneyland in the near future be sure to check out The World of Color.

(All images are my property, if you would like to use one for any purpose please leave a comment)

Downtown Disneyland

Downtown Disney in Disneyland is a tad different from Downtown Disney in Disney World. Serving more as a walkway and a smaller scale entertainment district. Live music can be found nightly, we saw a few musicians during our stay. If you stay at the Grand Californian Hotel you have easy access to downtown Disney and the shopping and dining it provides.

Need a snack that reminds you that you are at Disney? Look no further than a scrumptious churro from the California Churro cart!

The smell wafts from Wetzel’s pretzels around the midsection of Downtown Disney, also a good snack option!

There are quite a few options when it comes to snacking in the downtown Disney district, but there are also a few great options when it comes to sitting down and getting a real meal that prepares you for a long day in the park the next day or helps you recover from a day of walking you already got in!

Catal- a great restaurant with lots of options for everyone, a bit pricey though.

In the past we’ve eaten at the Napa Rose, Catal and ESPN zone as well as eaten snacks from Trader Sam’s. If you are looking to spend some money go ahead and splurge on a fantastic meal from Napa Rose (located just outside the California Adventure gate inside the Grand Californian Hotel). If you aren’t wanting to spend quite that much money, go for Catal, food is still very good but at a more reasonable price point (still an expensive meal though). If you are looking for a bit more reasonable still, try ESPN zone. You can catch a game and have some decent food, mostly Applebee’s quality food (hotdog, hamburger, chips and dip, cheese fries ect.) and this price point is a lot better than the establishments mentioned previously. There are still more options I haven’t mentioned, Jazz Kitchen, Earl of Sandwich, La Brea Bakery, House of Blues, Naples Ristorante E Pizzeria, Napolini, Rainforest Cafe, Taqueria and Tortilla Joe’s are also options.

Sorcerer’s hat as you enter Disneyland Hotel! Decorated for the diamond anniversary.

The second part of downtown Disney besides the food is the shopping! For a Disney lover this is heaven! From the World of Disney to find anything and everything Disney related to Anna and Elsa’s boutique that has everything Frozen inspired. A little miss matched store to get some crazy awesome socks, a build-a-bear workshop with Disney inspired creatures and outfits and a ride-makerz for kids to build their own toy cars. Boutique style smaller shops have Disney everything from Alex and Ani to Douney and Burke.

Every Lego imaginable can be found in the cute Lego store located in the heart of Downtown Disney.

Custom is the name of the game at Disney, choose your own Legos and even make your own Lego person!

Overall, there is more than enough to do in Downtown Disney. I love just sitting down and people watching while sipping on a Starbucks drink (also located in Downtown Disney in addition to a Jamba Juice as well if you would prefer). Everyone should be able to find a Disney inspired item to take home to remind them of their trip. I hope this was informative and I can’t wait to make a follow up blog when I visit downtown Disney again later in the summer, but this time in Disney World!

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar: Disneyland Hotel

Prop outside of Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar

Many people ask what there is for adults to do in Disney parks, the answer is quite simple, there are TONS of things for adults to do- especially if you like to eat and drink.

One of my favorite things to do on the Disney cruises (or any cruise really) is to eat and drink fruity drinks. After doing some exploring online before our recent Disneyland vacation, I discovered that Trader Sam’s is one of the coolest places for Disney-loving adults 21+ (kids are let in anytime before 8pm).

The bar is a mix of Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise inspired. If you were wondering, Trader Sam is the headhunter that you meet at the end of the Jungle cruise, this is his trading post. The tiki bar is actually a pretty small room with a handful of bar stools around the bar in addition to a few high tops and regular tables. I’d say about 35-40 people would fit in the room at a time. We must have lucked out because we just walked into the bar around 4 in the afternoon for an early meal with no wait after having just gotten in for our vacation.

There is a relatively extensive drink menu as well as a smaller food menu with a bunch of tasty options for bar snacks, we ate a plate a piece for our dinner.

Part of the drink menu at Trader Sam’s

There are a few drinks that you can order that come with a souvenir tiki mug or a glow cube, they are denoted in the menu. These items cost a bit more than a regular drink because you get to keep your mug that the drink comes in as well as the glow cube if you happen to get a drink with one in it.

Nonalcoholic drinks are also offered, one even comes in a souvenir sipper! We chose to order the Krakatoa Punch- basically a Mai Thai and they were quite generous with the booze.

The coolest part of this bar is when you order a drink and it is delivered to you. The lights dim and sound effects happen and the bartenders make a sort of announcement of the drink you ordered, I’ll leave it at that, you must go and experience it yourself if you haven’t yet! Kind of like rainforest cafe for adults.

Now let’s show some food:

Sweet and Spicy wings with slaw

Flat bread with Ham and Pineapple

Pulled Pork sandwich with sweet potato fries

Overall, it was a great adult Disney themed experience and I would recommend a visit if you end up going to Disneyland and have some extra time outside of the parks. The Enchanted Tiki Bar is located in the Disneyland Hotel at the end of Downtown Disney, signs will point you in the right direction!

Look for more Disney inspired blogs coming soon from Disneyland and later in the summer after I visit Walt Disney World! Enjoy!

Cinque Terre: Disney Cruise Line Excursion 2013

Cinque Terre: or the “five lands” is made of five villages in Italy just near La Spezia. The villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Cars cannot reach these towns from the outside, so the villages are not like anything you would experience in a more built up area, it is common for people to go hiking between the villages to visit them all and there also is a train.

On our excursion we took our own little boat and visited a few out of the five cities and we sailed past all but one of the villages I believe.

We opted to go on this excursion instead of into Florence because the day we were in port the museums were all closed and since we had already been to Florence before we opted to explore somewhere new. This is one of my top five places I’ve ever visited and I would love to spend a few weeks here enjoying the beautiful landscapes and the cities carved into the terraces.

Our tour guides took our DCL group from village to village by boat and in the villages we disembarked the boat for we were given a general idea of where to go and what there was to see and we had a bit of an overview of the history of the village and then were given free time to roam around the village and explore a bit for ourselves. I was taking senior photos for my sister since she was graduating high school that next year and what more picturesque place to take photos than in Europe, so we stopped in some picture perfect areas first while my parents went to go try some local cuisine.

Cinque Terre wine and sandwich

The first town we visited (I cannot remember the order in which we visited the villages but they are all so beautiful I’m not sure it matters), we saw a little cafe with some locals eating in it so we dove into the tiny little place to sample their local food. The make a special kind of wine from the terrace grapes in Cinque Terre so we tried the wine there (we completely forgot that you can bring alcohol on board otherwise we would have bought a bottle or two). This was the cafe that our tour guide stopped in to get a snack so we figured there must be good food there, and there was!

Not pictured is the FANTASTIC pizza we got in Cinque Terre as well. Fair warning, pizza will never be the same to you after you try REAL Italian pizza…

A menu on the side of one of the cafes in the Cinque Terre

Don’t forget to try the gelato, again, so many foods you love in America will be forever diminished once you taste the “real” thing in Italy, but it is SO worth it.

Lots of our fellow cruisers just went shopping, there were quite a few little market like areas and pretty much everyone was sampling the food and grabbing a souvenir or two!

The Cinque Terre is quite possibly one of the best places to experience the culture while you are on the cruise. Even though you are still on a whirlwind tour of the villages, you have time to walk down the side streets and stroll into the local cafes, just like you would do if you were a local or had a few days to visit. There is plenty of time to poke into shops, sample the food in a few different places, or sit down and have a proper meal.

The beautiful patterns and vibrant colors of the Cinque Terre make it a photographer’s playground.

Around every corner is a quaint little home, a bike propped up with flowers growing out of a basket in the front. Everything that comes to mind when you think of a little Italian seaside village. You can walk into the local church to get a break from the hot sun, taste some of the delicious meats and cheeses, stroll down the side streets and just look up and marvel at the beauty of the town.

The beautiful, packed into a tiny little village, buildings that just filled you with awe every time you looked up. I couldn’t stop being amazed at how cool this place was the entire time I was there.

I’m an avid photographer and I was just stunned by the beauty of it all and I thought it couldn’t get much better than this (until I got to Greece, and then I was stunned all over again at the beauty of some of these little seaside villages).

A view of one of the villages from our little boat, we slowed down to allow us to take some fantastic images of the town.

An ancient building graces the tip of the peninsula that this village sits on, and is made of stone. Makes for a great photo opportunity. I’d love to get off and visit this village someday as well.

I spent this entire day just basking in the glory of these seaside villages and marveling at how beautiful they were and thinking about when I could manage to get back and visit this wonderful place. I knew that just a few hours here was not going to cut it here, I was taking mental note of where it was I would like to book a hotel for in the coming years.

All in all, if you’ve seen Florence, or perhaps just want to see something a bit off the beaten path, this is the place for you! Plenty of opportunity to sample Italian cuisine, stroll around and soak in the culture, step away from the tourist spots and just relax and enjoy the sea breeze and soak in the warm Mediterranean sun.

Here is the link to the shore excursion! I plan on trying to visit this wonderful place soon,  if my schedule allows!

*all photography is copyright Julianna Zieno Photography and can be purchased*