taking a cheesy photo in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
I scheduled two unforgettable tours while I was in Florence. If you plan to come to Italy, they would both be on my “must-do” list! It just so happens both of these amazing tours were through the same company, Walkabout Florence, which made it even easier to book. Also, the meeting place for the tour buses was a mere five minutes from my hostel! Here’s what I did, saw and enjoyed on the first tour.
In front of the Arno River in Florence
Florence had me at “buon giorno.” I immediately took to the elegant beauty of the old buildings, cobblestone streets and welcoming trattorias. There are gelaterias on every corner, good cheap wine and cute Italian men who openly express their attraction to black women walking around the city LOL.
My first delicious meal in Italy was made by this woman they just call “Mama” – penne alla salmone, grilled prawns & insalata!
I really did NOT like Rome. There. I said it! I had no intention of even visiting Rome in the first place. My plan was to go straight to Florence, but NOOOO, everyone said: YOU MUST DO ROME and YOU CANNOT GO TO ITALY WITHOUT SEEING ROME and so I went there and guess what? I couldn’t stand it.
crazy-looking grasshopper praying mantis I saw on my way to the airport – maybe it was an omen???
“This passport is fake,” the airport police officer says. He emphasizes “fake,” spitting the word out of his mouth like a wayward fly. A wave of panic rises into my chest. I’m at the EasyJet ticket counter, leaving Greece to head to Rome, Italy after an amazing few days on the island of Santorini. He’s looking at me like I’m a criminal.
relaxing on the beach with my book in Perissa (Santorini, Greece)
Wednesday was my last day in Greece (*sniffle*) and right now I’m in Rome, Italy! I left Greece wishing I had planned for two weeks there instead of just one. There’s so much I wrote in my journal about my experience of Greece, but I’ll just share the highlights here as I’m already behind on my travel diaries! (P.S. Thanks to everyone who’s been giving me great feedback about the information I’ve been sharing about my travels. It’s been amazing to hear from ladies who are now planning their own solo trips!)
watching the sunset from the rooftop in Oia (Santorini, Greece)
The best thing I did in Athens was the free 3-hour walking tour. After all that action, my legs were so sore. My dogs were barking! While the tour was no cost, of course the guide expects a tip. I gave the guy $2 euro. It was SO worth it to hear all the history behind the city and the ruins laying all over the place. If you want to do the tour when you come to Athens, I highly recommend you check it out – just meet George in Monastiraki Square at 9:30am!
I’m writing this post from the McDonald’s in Syntagma Square – great for FREE wi-fi!
I definitely packed all the WRONG clothes for this trip! In the U.S., I can usually get by in jeans for both day and evening (plus I typically get way too cold at the mere hint of air conditioning) but it’s so incredibly HOT here in Greece that I realize I’m gonna need some loose-fitting shirts and shorts STAT.
A street vendor selling bread and pastries in Syntagma Square
Note: This is the first post in a new series I’m trying out on the blog to document my travels and inspire other women to plan their own adventures. Travel is a huge part of my ideal life and I know it’s a value that many HBW readers hold as well. Stay tuned for more diaries from my month-long trip to Europe as well as some of the cities I visit during my speaking engagements!
The first thing I notice about Athens, Greece is the graffiti. Lots and lots of graffiti. While riding on the bus from the airport, I see it everywhere – on old buildings, alley walls, even on the storefronts of main street businesses. Does Athens have a gang problem or just a high number of street artists? I have no idea. But driving past all the graffiti makes me feel like if I stood still on the street long enough, I might get tagged, too!
Last night was our FOURTH Happy Black Woman Happy Hour in DC! We had about 35 ladies come out to Masa 14 for our summer gathering. Their rooftop bar was a fantastic space to connect over tasty Asian-Mexican small plates and vodka-spiked strawberry lemonade. (Shoutout to my girl @vivrant_thang for the bar recommendation!) This happy hour was extra awesome as my mom was able to join us again AND it was my last night in the U.S. before my month-long trip to Europe!
I’m almost 30 years old and I don’t own anything.
Three years ago, this realization might have freaked me out. Today though, it’s a fact that allows me to live a life of greater freedom.
Rosetta Thurman is a nationally-recognized author, speaker, mentor and coach dedicated to helping women create their ideal lives.