Top 5 Tuscany

We visited 11 towns and villages in Tuscany, Italy, this spring:
Siena
Florença
Monteriggioni
Montepulciano
Monticchiello – Pienza
Pienza
Montalcino
Sant'angelo in Colle – Montalcino
San Gimignano
Montefioralle – Greve in Chianti
Greve in Chianti

However, visiting so many towns in such short time was only possible because we rented a car, which is what I recommend because the weather tends to be hot most of the year. Even though it was very hot (nearly 40 degrees Celsius), we saw lots of people crossing Tuscany by bike.

As some friends ask me what towns they should visit in Tuscany, for there are hundreds of them, I tried to make a list of my favorite ones (and my friends' too).

I wanted to keep the list at 5 cities, but it is impossible to leave Siena out. So, I'll put Siena as the "base", which was what we did.

Siena - It was near Siena where we stayed at a hotel for two nights. The old town is medieval and beautiful and small enough to be seen in one day, or even half a day if you're in a hurry. I must confess that I had tears in my eyes when we got to the Piazza del Campo, that concave square where the Palio di Siena takes place. You must remember such event from the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun".

1. San Gimignano - I can't quite explain why this town had such an impact on me, after all it was (by far!) the most crowded city we visited. Buses full of U.S. American tourists stopped in front of the town and we couldn't hear Italian for blocks. However, the city was all decorated with flags and had a square with a fountain in the middle, which made it look like a medieval movie.

2. Montefioralle - This village belongs to the city of Greve in Chianti, and it was the place that had the biggest impact on my friends. We stopped there without even knowing what it was, we thought it was a castle. Turns out it is just a village, but at the time it seemed almost abandoned, because there was absolutely nobody on the streets. It was very interesting to walk for hours without seeing one tourist.

3. Monticchielo - Another charming tuscan village that gave us the gift of spending hours sighing and taking good photos. This village belongs to the city of Pienza. There was a restaurant at the entrance of the village that was crowded and the food smelled delicious. We didn't eat there, but it looked worth the try.

4. Montepulciano - This city is a bit bigger if compared to the other towns in Tuscany. Montepulciano was where we spent more time tasting wine and other delicacies. Local producers offer free tastings of almost everything you can imagine: wine, cheese, even bruschetta! I suggest you spend a little more time here, as it doesn't only offer you good photos, but also flavors and interesting conversations with the locals.

5. Monteriggioni - When you get to this village parking lot, you see an aerial photo of the city in a billboard. It is, literally, a mini village surrounded by a wall. I was so shocked by how small it was  that I counted all the buildings in the village, and was even more shocked when I realized they weren't many more than 10! Entering the city you see a small square with a fountain in the middle, and you feel taken straight to the set of a movie about the Middle Ages. Even quite small, there are 3 or 4 restaurants there.

Tuscany is amazing! It is one of the most beautiful places I've been to, and making this list nearly broke my heart. I almost regretted having decided to select half of the cities we visited, for all of them were charming and special in their own way. So, forget the sequence I put them, all these 6 towns are worth every kilometer and every drop of sweat to get there.

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For the Portuguese version, go to Diario Lirico de Viagem

ROME

Italians are famous for their exaggeration, and Rome is the culmination of most of it.

Rome is an overdose of cars on the streets, of honking, of traffic swearing.

Rome is an overdose of handsome men. They are vain and impeccably well-dressed, and have neatly combed hair, much more so than their girlfriends or wives. Please, dear reader, notice that not all exaggeration is bad.

Rome is an overdose of smokers, and people wearing formal suits at the height of a 40-degree-Celsius spring.

Rome is an overdose of ruins, as countless as they are ancient; they are so banal that many of them don’t receive any kind of care, not even a protection fence. It is an overdose of History, of thousands of years, of mentions to a civilization that originated mine, and yours…

Rome is an overdose of faith, of churches, of crucifixes, of rules to enter those churches. You can’t wear shorts, or show cleavage.

Rome is an overdose of good food. A real overdose, given that the usual is to have 3 courses, and they are all plentiful. It is an overdose of flavors, of complex dishes, the ones that take hours to be prepared and need ability and attention. Observe, once again, that not all exaggeration is bad.

Rome is an overdose of red wine, consumed in room temperature, even if the temperature of the room is 40 degrees Celsius during that lunch, on a weekday.

Rome is an overdose of crowded buses, which do not arrive on time. It is an overdose of tourists.

Rome is an overdose of waiters and clerks who are arrogant, who do not like tourists. It is an overdose of people that do not speak English to the poor tourist who cannot understand Italian. It is an overdose of police officers and security guards who give the wrong direction… On purpose?

Rome is an overdose of good and bad things, even because it’s not fun to be dull or middle ground. Dull and bland are synonyms of bad food, and an Italian would never accept bad food.

Rome is an overdose, just like this text. Blame it on my last name.

...

For the Portuguese version, go to Diario Lirico de Viagem

The Colosseum

Castel Sant'Angelo 

Baths of Caracalla

Via Appia Antica

Pantheon

Inside Pantheon

Piazza Navona

Saint Peter Square

Plane Kit

There are the pretty things, and there are the useful things.
Today, I'm going to talk about something which is not pretty, but is extremely useful.
I'm very sensitive to the air conditioning, it dries up my throat, my lips, my eyes, my nose...
On my first long plane trip, in 2008, I suffered as never before on those 22 hours of air travel to my destination. To every hour I suffered I thought: - Why haven't I brought some eye-drops? or - Why did I check my cocoa butter in?!
On the very first trip after that, I created the Plane Kit, which remains almost unaltered since 2009.
On my most recent trip, I added an item I have only heard about recently, thermal water.
So now I think my kit is good enough to be shared with you all.

So here is the list:

1. Inflatable travel pillow - I prefer the inflatable type of travel pillow simply for size purposes. This type, when deflated, takes up much less room in your carry-on if compared to the "fluffy" types;

2. Moisturizing cream - It will be useful for your hands and your nose;

3. Thermal water - I have just recently become familiar with thermal water and its refreshing, moisturizing, and even healing properties. On my most recent trip, I used it not only as a moisturizer but also to "wake up" before breakfast;

4. Moisturizing nasal spray - If you have a sensitive nose, the kind that bleeds in dry places, you'll need one of these;

5. Eye-drops - Essential for people with sensitive eyes which easily dry up;

6. Cocoa butter - Let's be honest, who can do without such heavenly gift from the cocoa fruit?;

7. Plastic zipper bag - Anyone who has ever flown knows it: to carry liquids with less than 100ml in your carry-on bag they need to be properly packed in a transparent bag with a zipper. You'll need one to carry all the items from this list. Mine was a gift from TAM airlines;

8. Foam ear plugs - Essential for a good nap on the plane, they block not only noise from the turbine, but also from other passengers;

9. Fluffy socks - Some airlines offer these socks so the passengers can take their shoes off in long trips. It's good to have some at hand in case the plane you're in do not have them;

10. Eye mask - If your eyes are sensitive to light, or if  you can't sleep with the lights on, this item belongs to your basic needs list;

11. Refreshing towels: Some air companies remember to hand these in before every meal, but as some don't, I always carry some extra ones with me. The ones from the picture were gifts from TAP.

This Plane Kit makes my travels less uncomfortable. I hope it works for you as well.

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For the Portuguese version, please go to Diario Lirico de Viagem

7 THINGS I LEARNED (traveling)

Brazilian blogs Escriba Encapuzado and Vida de Escritor asked writers to write about 7 things they learned with the writing and publishing process. As I don't have much experience in publishing, I decided to write about 7 things I learned in life, and when I was done, I observed those were all things I had learned while traveling:

1. "Truth" or "reality" are mere points of view that, even plural, can be true and real. Therefore, my truth does not invalidate yours;

2. Keep on walking is neither a privilege, nor an option;

3. No language in the world is complete and can express everything one feels. Thus, the more languages I know, the more feelings I can express. However, neither the languages nor the feelings are easy;

4. In every trip I take, the discomfort will be proportional to the delight;

5. Distance is immeasurable. It doesn't matter if 215 or 11.000 kilometers separate us, if we can't touch each other, one meter is way too far;

6. As awful as an alcohol hangover is, it is never worse than a moral hangover;

7. Learning is not optional.

...

My contribution: 7 Coisas que Aprendi, Ana Raspini

For the Portuguese version, go to Diario Lirico de Viagem

I THINK ABOUT DEATH ALL THE TIME, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING!

Every time a long trip approaches, I start to think about death.

Actually, I think about death all the time. I find it hilarious when someone says “if I die…”, like that, using “if”, as if there were an alternative. It seems like people believe that if they say “when I die…” death will get closer to them, simply because they admitted that they are mortal. Simply for thinking they can die. As if death depended on us.

I think about death a lot, but that doesn’t mean I’m melancholic, or depressed. Death is a deadline and I want to be sure I did my homework before the deadline arrives. We are all going to die eventually, and we must be sure that “when” it comes there won’t be too many regrets to make things even worse.

However, as I said in the beginning, when a long trip approaches and, especially, if it involves air travel, I intensify my thoughts on death. I’m afraid of flying, yet it is not stronger than the desire I have of traveling. That’s why I keep traveling. But I am afraid of plane crashes and the possibility of being in one of them.

In this time of the year, in the weeks that precede a trip, I start to mentally say goodbye to people, to places, things… I think that that could be the last time I drink some Mate tea under the sun on the couch in my living room, that could be the last time I pat my cat while he squeezes his eyes, that could be the last time I hug my mother.

But, as the title says, thinking about death so intensely can be a good thing. The mental farewell before traveling only makes the return happier and more intense. It is so good to hug my mother after a trip, with so much to tell her. Having a Mate tea in the living room after unpacking is one of the best sensations in the world! Patting my cat, that is exceptionally affectionate with me because he missed me is so comforting…

Writer Margaret Atwood once said: “I no longer feel I'll be dead by thirty; now it's sixty. I suppose these deadlines we set for ourselves are really a way of saying we appreciate time, and want to use all of it”.

Atwood knows what it is to live with mental deadlines. It is not scary, or a symptom of a pathology, it is a sensible way of acknowledging your own mortality and knowing exactly what you want to do before it comes. For, my dear friend, it will come.

Atwood is 75 and is still writing. Recently, I turned 30 and I’m going to visit another country on my bucket list…

Let the next deadlines come!

...

For the Portuguese version, go to Diario Lirico de Viagem

SONGS FOR TRAVELING

A collections of songs to inspire your trip, before leaving for the trip or while on the plane/train/bus/car/bike:

Engenheiros do Hawaii - Infinita Highway

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/engenheiros-do-hawaii/12889/

Kleiton & Kledir - Vira Virou

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/kleiton-e-kledir/219077/

My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/my-morning-jacket/448065/

Sara Bareilles - Chasing the Sun

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/sara-bareilles/chasing-the-sun/

Mumford & Sons - The Cave

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/mumford-sons/1590711/

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - The Zephyr Song

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/red-hot-chili-peppers/63396/

Angus and Julia Stone - Bella

Lyrics: http://letras.mus.br/angus-and-julia-stone/1130384/

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