Exploring the Places No One is Talking About
Arrival to the Emerald Isle When I was first getting this trip booked I read a lot and one thing that I read that stuck with me was, if you are flying give yourself buffer time in cases of flight issues. Listening to that advice saved us a big headache. We were supposed to fly
When I stared planning this trip I realized that I had no idea where to start. I knew some of the things I wanted to see but honestly the idea of planning the whole trip was a little daunting. There is a lot to see and do when visiting any new country. Many of popular
If you follow the McGee Travel Tales Facebook page you might have seen some clips from our recent trip to Ireland. We had a fantastic time and I have so much to share: places to go, places to stay, and experiences that shouldn’t be missed. We got to see castles and bogs and rolling fields
If you ever get the opportunity to go to Italy take a bus or a train and simply enjoy the beauty of the countryside. Take public transport so that you can take that time to graze out the window and simply enjoy the beauty. These photos are on the way from Rome to Florence at
No series on Italy would be complete without a discussion of the glorious food. When I was there it was to study and I some how got away with taking a pairing food and wine class. There is nothing better than studying wine in Italy. I don’t remember what all of these wine are but
One of the things that I loved about Florence and Italy in general was the street artists. You can find them by following the music or the laughter. In addition to the performers and musicians there are painters and other artisans selling their work in the piazzas. I spent more money than I want to
When you think about the skyline of Florence, the impressive dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore first comes to mind. The masterpiece of the Italian Renissance, a master of architecture and engineering by Brunelleschi. The magnificent dome is not the only thing to rise above the homes in Florence, so to does
If you are ever in Italy in June make sure to be in Florence when they play the Calcio Storico in front of Santa Croce. The home I stayed in during my study abroad in Florence was less then a block from Piazza Santa Croce and it was with curiosity that my friends and I
The East doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni were called by Michelangelo, upon their completion, the Gates of Paradise. Ten panels depicting the Old Testament in images laid in gold. Even if you do not go into the Baptistery itself it is difficult not to stop and stare at these magnificent doors and the
On my first or second morning in Florence my home-stay roommate and I climbed the Bell Tower next to Florence Cathedral (Duomo). The 414 steep steps tried to kill me. The view is worth it at the top. The structure is beautiful, white, red, and green marble. Building began in 1334 and was completed in
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