Trip Over to Florence
David – Florence’s Favourite Son
Our day out in Florence was inspired by David, Florence’s favourite son – Or is Michelangelo her favourite? I’m not really sure. Michelangelo wasn’t actually from Florence, or Firenze, as it is known in Italy. He was born in 1475 in Caprese, about 100km away. But David, on the other hand, was created in Florence by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504 – so I’m going to stick with David being the favourite son.
Michelangelo was originally commissioned to create one of a series of statues of prophets to be positioned along the roofline of the east end of Florence Cathedral, (also known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Il Duomo di Firenze or simply the Duomo). But David was placed instead in a public square, outside the Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of civic government in Florence, in the Piazza della Signoria where he was unveiled on September 8, 1504. He was placed with his eyes looking in the direction of Rome, with a warning glare. I actually think his stare, (and stance), is a very cool look of, “Don’t even think about it, I’ve got this…………..”
In 1873 the decision was made to move David inside, out of the weather, to the Galleria dell’Accademia, I did go there to see the original, but wasn’t allowed to take photos there. I have noticed online that many others have, but they were very strict the day I was there. The original is huge, just over 5mt tall. He is heavily guarded these days to protect him from further attacks, like the one in 1991 when someone took to him with a hammer, damaging the toes on his left foot. He does suffer from a few hair line fractures possibly caused by movement in the ground he stands on. He holds most of his weight on his right foot throwing off his centre of gravity. Maybe someone needs to create something for him to stand on that absorbs the natural movement and vibrations in the earth, after all, he is getting on a bit.
A replica was placed where the original stood in Piazza della Signoria, apparently the same size, but doesn’t seem to be, maybe because of the vast space he stands in as opposed to the original with a roof over his head. I have tried to find out who created this replica, but have been unable to. Maybe that was part of the deal, remain anonymous or you don’t get paid. From where I am standing, anyone who can create a replica of David from a chunk of marble is a very talented individual (or team) indeed. In fact, anyone who can pour something into a mould, get it out, stand it up, and it looks like David also has skills beyond anything I’ll ever have.
Having left the comfort of the Savoy Hotel in Piazza della Repubblica, after breakfast, we walked up Via Calimala to the Mercato Nuovo to see Il Porcellino, the bronze pig. Again, a replica of the original marble boar created by Pietro Tacca in the early 1600s. Rubbing the boar’s snout ensures that one day you will return to Florence (and keeps it polished to a high sheen!)
Taking a detour via the Piazza della Signoria, to see (replica) David, and up past the Uffizi Gallery we arrived at the River Arno and walked through the arches under the Vasari Passage and across the Ponte Vecchio. Turning left we walked along the river until we got to the path to climb up toward Piazzale Michelangelo up on the hill on the south side of the river. From there you have amazing views over Florence and beyond to the surrounding hills.
As we climbed up the path way, we stopped a few times to take photos (really, to catch our breath…) It was amazing to be looking over the rooftops of Florence and seeing the Tower at the Palazzo Vecchio rising up into the sky. Further away was the imposing dome and tower of the Duomo, and around to the east, the Torre della Zecca left rather unceremoniously as a traffic island after its past as a major lookout tower on the old city walls protecting the nearby bridge across the Arno. The Tower of Saint Nicholas still stands there proudly, it was also part of the cities defensive walls, originally built in 1324, having survived the 19th century destruction of most of the walls to make way for the urbanisation of Florence, you can climb its 160 steps for a view over the city. Fortunately we were very happy with the views we had from the path leading to the top of the hill.
Along the way there are little make-shift market stalls selling “designer” handbags, and various souveniers, most involving David. On bags, on cushions, as key rings, you name it, you can get it with a little David on it.
There were many people on the path stopping to ask us to sign petitions for various things, mainly to prevent drug problems. How my signature would help this situation is beyond me. Always just decline this, and move on. They are all pick-pockets, once you have both hands busy holding the clip-board and the pen, writing your name, address and email address, they will be checking your bag and pockets. They will tell you that they are in Florence studying art and this is their holiday job, or that they are volunteers to the cause – they are lying to you, don’t let their perfect English and passionate description of what they are doing fool you, all they want is your wallet. Some of the time it must work, or they wouldn’t do it – please don’t let it be you.
The sight of the magnificent neo-classical Loggia dominating the Piazzale Michelangelo made it all worthwhile. It was originally built in the late 1800s, the architect’s dream was that it was to house a collection of Michelangelo’s works, but that didn’t happen – sadly, not all dreams can come true. It is now a fabulous restaurant where we enjoyed lunch at a table in one of the arches, eating beautiful meals, drinking nice Tuscan wine, while looking over the gardens, the activity in the square and out over Florence.
There is a bronze (replica) David in the Piazzale, also by an unnamed artist. We had our lunch while David was surrounded by Ferraris, and he wasn’t the slightest bit interested. It seemed there was some sort of Ferrari promotion going on that day, people were taking them for test drives on the winding roads in the area.
After lunch, and some time taking in the view and looking at the Ferraris, it was time to head back down to Florence. At the start of the path there is a fantastic view of a remaining stretch of the ancient walls that once surrounded Florence. We walked through Porta San Miniato, the gate in the wall as we got closer to the river, it has been there since the 1300s and the locals live around it and walk through on a daily basis more than 600 years later. I have a complete fascination for places that so many people have walked through for hundreds of years, and now I am doing it – for some unknown reason, it really impresses me.
It was pointed out by a tour guide, an art student, when we went to see the real David, that his right hand is out of proportion as compared to the size of his head. She explained that this was part of Michelangelo’s genius, as David was originally commissioned to stand high up on the eastern end of the Duomo. See in the photo below on the right there is a sort of balcony looking area – the plan was that David and some others were going to stand in these areas around that end of the Duomo. The art student explained that Michelangelo did this on purpose, making the hand bigger, so then when you looked up at David so high above you, everything looked in proportion. But, the flaw in this is that if that was the case, it should have been the other way around, the head should have been bigger and the hand smaller. So it’s probably best if we just don’t go there, and I wish she hadn’t mentioned it because all I see now is a big right hand, which I hadn’t thought of as out of proportion before. But Michelangelo is still a genius, it was a huge block of marble to start with, and he turned it into a man – that in itself is an act of genius.
Anyway, Michelangelo’s studio, now a museum, is just behind the Duomo, and once David was finished they very quickly realised they had no way to lift this giant naked man with the rippling six pack, weighing more than 6 tons, up into the position reserved for him. So after much deliberation from a committee that included Leonardo da Vinci, it was decided that David should stand at the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio, in Piazza della Signoria, which he did from 1508 until he was moved inside the Galleria dell’Accademia in 1873.
Itinerary for Trip Over to Florence
Flew from Sydney to Rome via Dubai, with Qantas/Emirates.
Stayed in an apartment near Largo di Argentina for a month – rented through Sleep in Italy.
Walked all over Rome, bought a one month transport ticket for buses, the metro and some trains.
We caught the fast train from Rome Termini to Florence, and stayed for 3 nights at the Hotel Savoy.
While in Florence we went on a tour with Viator to Siena and San Gimignano.
Arranged for us to be picked up at the airport on arrival, and taken back at the end of our holiday with a private transfer with Viator.
It`s all about eating.......🎄🥂🎊🎄!!
#christmasinsydney #eatingseason #festivefoodandmood
It`s quite mesmerising watching the man in the clock resetting the time every minute, just outside Paddington Station, London. Sorry about all the camera movement as people wanted to get past me!!
#manintheclock #Paddington #paddingtonstationlondon #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
Went on an excursion through the centre of Sicily to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento near the south coast, then remains of Greek Temples built on the 5th century BC! Then we went down to the coast to look at Scala dei Turchi, the natural formation of step like ridges in the rock. Ottomans Turks found shelter here, giving it the name.
#valleyofthetemples #agrigento #agrigentosicily #scaladeiturchi #Sicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
Continuing my recent solo adventure posts....I flew from London to Malta at the end of March, caught a taxi from the airport to my hotel in Valletta, then had a walk around the area to familiarise myself with my home for the next 10 days, everywhere in Valletta is so interesting, then went to La Pira on Merchants St and tried the delicious traditional Maltese meal of Rabbit Stew.
1. Flying over the French/Italian/Swiss Alps on KM Malta Airlines.
2. Santa Katarina Church
3. A typical Valletta Street
4. Maltese Rabbit Stew at La Pira
#flighttomalta #alps #snowcoveredmountains #streetsofvalletta #malta #valletta #rabbitstew #solotravel #solotrip #solotravelinmalta #seetheworldthroughmylens #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme
I couldn`t enough of the view from the Grand Harbour Hotel in Valletta across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities, staying here for 10 days was a fantastic base to explore Malta from. If you look closely at the roof top terraces in the lower section of pic 1, there is a toilet next to the BBQ, I hope it`s not connected!!!
1. Looking towards Senglea, the southern most of the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour.
2. Looking towards Birgu, and Fort St Angelo.
3. Victoria Gate, built in the late 1800s, was the main entrance to Valletta from the Grand Harbour.
4. The Grand Harbour Hotel, my home in Valletta, loved it 💖
#valletta #vallettamalta #grandharbourhotelvalletta #grandharbourmalta #3cities #senglea #birgu #fortstangelobirgu #victoriagate #malta #solotravelinmalta #soloadventure #solotrip #adventure2025 #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldworldwithme
The village of Shere in Surrey, where a lot of the scenes in The Holiday were shot. We had a lovely pub lunch, and a walk around the village to St James`s Church which dates back to the 1100s, with other sections added over the next few centuries.
#sherevillage #whitehorsepub #stjamesschurch #englishcountrypub #daytripfromlondon #solotravelinlondon #solotrip #solotravel #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #neverstopexploring #traveladdict
A lunchtime walk in Hyde Park today, the Archibald Fountain has been all cleaned up, the flowers are blooming and the bin chickens are loving it!!
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#archibaldfountain #hydeparksydney #sydneylocal #sydneylife #sydneycbd #binchickens #binchickensofinstagram #flowersinthepark #lunchtimewalk
One of the most beautiful stores in London, Liberty has an amazing history, built in the mock Tudor style from the timber from 2 old ships! Located on Great Marlborough St, off Regent St, near Oxford Circus it`s a great place to start any shopping expedition in London, even if it is just window shopping 😍
#libertyoflondon #shoppinginlondon #beautifulshopsinlondon #londoninspring #londonlife #londonstyle #solotrip #solotravelinlondon #solofemaletravel #soloadventure #adventure2025 #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #flowers #libertylion #glassceiling
After wandering through St James`s Park, I went over to Chelsea to see the Flowers exhibition (no longer on, sorry!!) @saatchi_gallery in Duke of York Square, there were some amazing pieces there. They have some great exhibitions in this gallery, so even though this one is over, there will be others, and having a coffee out in the square is always a good idea.💐💕 Determined to keep busy and nor let the jet lag take hold, from here I made my way over to South Kensington to the V&A Museum....
#saatchigallery #chelsealondon #amazingart #flowers #flowersatsaatchi #solotravel #solotrip #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #artinlondon #dealingwithjetlag #traveltheworldworldwithme #solotravelinlondon
The beautiful little island, Isola Bella, in the bay below Taormina once owned by Lady Florence Trevelyan after she was exiled from England. To get to it you need to walk through the water, only 20 to 30cm deep at low tide, more at high tide, but worth it for the views.
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#isolabella #isolabellataormina #taormina #taorminasicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring
Some of the places I visited on my solo Italian adventure
Top row - Venice, Florence, Siena
Bottom row - La Spezia, Porto Venere, Lerici
For info on where I stayed and how I got there, travelling solo with luggage, click the link to my website in the bio.
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#venice #basilicasanmarco #florence #pontevecchio #siena #sienabelltower #laspezia #portovenere #lerici #Italy #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #madeinitaly #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #italytrip #italianadventure #alianarchitecture #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicitaly
I got out of Heathrow and on to the Piccadilly line in record time, QF1 arrives early, before peak hour, I always stay in St James`s @royaloverseaslondon - location, location, location - it looks over Green Park half way between @theritzlondon and @clarencehouse. I got up to my room, checked the amazing view, quick change and off to St James`s Park - then I know I`ve arrived 🥰🥂
1. The Royal Overseas League, St James`s.
2. View from my room of Westminster Abbey and Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliament.
3. Elizabeth Tower, (Big Ben) my bedside clock!!
4. I also have a view over the roof of Clarence House, King Charles is home, the Royal Standard is flying.
5. Ready to hit the streets of London.
6. St James`s Palace with police on horses strolling past.
7. Buckingham Palace across the lake in blossom filled St James`s Park.
#royaloverseasleague #royaloverseasleaguelondon #westminsterabbeylondon #victoriatower #housesofparliament #elizabethtower #bigben #clarencehouse #royalastandard #londonready #outfitoftheday #mountedpolice #stjamesspalace #buckinghampalace #stjamesspark #londoninspring #solotrip #solotravel #solotravelinlondon #adventure2025
I`m in planning mode getting ready for my next Trip Over The World. Read the new post about my planning process by clicking the link in the bio.
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#tripplanning #tripplanningtime #malta #sicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme
Manoel Island, just next to Valletta in Malta, was the Royal Navy Base prior to 1964. Fort Manoel is apparently being renovated to make it safe to visit. But all the other buildings that were used by the Navy have just been left to fall apart. It is the strangest place, all the buildings would have been functional, but have just left derelict for the past 60 years.
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#manoelisland #Malta #derelictbuildings #valletta #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
A short train trip from Syracuse, then a walk up the hill to Noto. A town with more churches per square inch than I`ve ever seen!!!!
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#noto #notosicily #sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
Having arrived in London really early, my hotel room wasn`t ready, so I left my luggage there and went to the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the Naomi Campbell exhibition while I waited. Love it when a visit to London coincides with a great exhibition @vamuseum
#naomicampbell #vanda #victoriaandalbertmuseum #London #londonfashion #londonstyle #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme
All the decorations are nearly down as Sydney marches into 2025, walking through @theqvb on my way to work is a beautiful way to start the day, especially as it`s been soooooo hot and humidity, or raining lately, a bit of air-con helps!!!
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#sydneyafterchristmas #qvbsydney #queenvictoriabuilding #queenvictoriabuildingsydney #shoppinginsydney #dailycommute #walktowork #streetsofsydney #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneystreets #sydneycbd
All the wildlife came out to see the end of 2024, before their habitat gets taken over by human wildlife all looking for a fireworks watching spot for the big show at midnight on Sydney Harbour. Further around Cremorne Point the "No Alcohol" signs were all being put up, Porta loos were being put in place, home owners were putting up signs to ask people not to climb on the fences and garden walls - the price you pay to live in this beautiful area, one night of hell to start off every new year!!
#cremornepoint #cremornepointwalk #seeeverythingdoeverything #sydneywildlife #sydneynorthshore #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneycoastalwalks #lizards #kookaburras #sydneybythesea #sydneyharbour #sydneyferries #boatsontheharbour
Strange weather, but at least we don`t have a cyclone to contend with.....
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#sydney #sydneylocal #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneylife #sydneyweekend #nativeplants #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #outonthewater #sydneyharbour ##cremornepoint
The Greek Theatre in Taormina built in 300BC, still standing and still showing plays and operas. The views from the top of the auditorium out over the sea and the town are amazing....I think I took about 200 photos!! Slightly excessive, but I couldn`t stop 🥂🤩
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#taorminasicily #taormina #greektheatretaormina #teatrogrecotaormina #sicilytravel #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
Martin Place Christmas tree in Sydney CBD, seems to be a slight change from the usual covered in red and green beach balls, this year I think there are less of them, and a few pink ones have been introduced!! Come on Sydney, can we please have a new design? 🎄🥂🎅🎄🥂🎄
#christmasinsydney #christmastree #martinplacesydney #martinplacechristmastree #sydney #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneycbd #sydneychristmas #sydneylocal #sydneyaustralia
We`re all ready for Santa here in Sydney 🎅🎄🥂!! Best wishes for tomorrow - hope you`re not on the naughty list!!!!
#christmasinsydney #christmasready❤️🎄🎁 #waitingforsanta #merrychristmas🎄
Different story today, they forecast sun and it happened 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞 finally!!
#stleonardspark #northsydney #blueskyandsunshine☀️ #walkinthepark #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyweekend
Up in the north western corner of Sicily, I visited an area called Segesta to see a temple built in 400BC, a Greek/Roman theatre (they`re still working on the finer points of its beginnings!). Then to Trapani to see the salt pans, apparently they usually have pink flamingos, but it was too windy for them....
We then went up to the medieval walled city or Erice, the views over the whole area from this vantage point being 800mtrs above sea level were incredible. There is a castle up there from the 1100s and all the other churches, walls, etc from the 1400s.
#trapani #segesta #erice #Sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #neverstopexploring #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
This seems to be all it does in Sydney these days, although there is a fine day forecast for tomorrow 😊 As I walked through St Leonards Park this morning on my way to work, there was everything from torrential to drizzle.
Most of NSW north of Sydney has completely gone under in floods, so the rain in Sydney is nothing compared to what others are going through 😒
#stleonardspark #rainfall #waterwaterandmorewater #morningcommute #walkinthepark #northsydney #northsydneyintherain
The Snake went up in Sydney`s Queen Victoria Building as soon as the Christmas Tree came down - wonder what`s coming next.....?
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#yearofthesnake #queenvictoriabuilding #queenvictoriabuildingsydney #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd
Flowers are out and about on the Cremorne Point walk!!
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#cremornepoint #cremornepointwalk #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneywalks #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneystyle #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyweekend #sydneynorthshore #sydneybythesea #sydneyinsummertime #yellowflowers #pinkflowers #redflowers #sydneynativeplants
With only one more day in London before my flight to Malta, I headed over to Waterloo Station and caught the train to Esher in Surrey to meet some friends to go to Shere for lunch. Until I resized this photo of the Waterloo Station clock, I had never noticed it has cheat numbers in red for 24 hour clock time!!! The clock is way up in the ceiling at the station, so you`d have to have binoculars for eyes to see those teeny-weeny numbers!!
#magnolias # blossoms #waterloostationclock #outfitoftheday #sherevillage #londoninspring #londonlife #solotravelinlondon ##solotravel #solotrip ##neverstopexploring #solofemalemidlifetraveller #adventure2025 #londonready #londonstyle
The never ending parade in Taormina continues.....
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#taorminasicily #taormina #sicilytravel #sicilytourism #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
Such a beautiful weekend in Sydney, the weather is just perfect!! The sun glistening on the water around Cremorne Point!! 🌞😍
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#cremornepoint #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneylife #sydneylocal #Sydney #sydneyaustralia #sailingonsydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #rockformations #sunglisteningonthewater
A few flowers on trees and hanging over people`s fences on the local streets.
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#neutralbay #neutralbaylocal #neutralbayliving #sydneysnorthshore #orangeflowers #pinkflowers #streetsofsydney #sydneystyle #sydneystyle #sydneynativeplants #sydneyaustralia #sydneystreets #sydneywalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
St Thomas` Bay in Marsaskala out on the east coast of Malta is really pretty, I walked all around the harbour and came across St Thomas` Tower built in the early 1600s to repel the invading Ottomans, they were sent packing once they saw what the Maltese were made of!! There were salt Pans along the way, and as usual for Malta, a lookout bunker on every headland.
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#marsaskala #stthomasbaymalta #stthomastower #maltascats #exploremalta #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #traveltomalta #visitmalta
The southern end of the Queen Victoria Building being watched over by Queen Victoria, and Sydney Town Hall across the road.
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#qvbsydney #queenvictoriabuilding #queenvictoriastatue #sydneytownhall #sydneytownhallclocktower #lightrail #sydneylife #sydneycbd #sydneylocal
After arriving at Venice`s Marco Polo Airport, I caught the Alilaguna Water Transport directly to Rialto, then when I left Venice by train to Florence, I caught the Vaporetto from Rialto to Ferrovia, the ferry stop at the station, then straight on to the train, suitcase in the gap between the seats, and off we went, so efficient. Very easy, even for an old chic like me on a solo Italian adventure!!🥂
For more info on the art of train travel in Italy, click the link to my website in the bio.
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#venice #grandcanal #solotravel #traintravelinitaly #italiantrains #alilaguna #alilagunaferrytoairport #vaporetto #ferrovia #venicerail #venicetrainstation #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #outonthewater #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The things you see just ambling around Valletta, sometimes I take the long route around to avoid more really steep and uneven steps, but this always leads to finding more things to see.
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#valletta #vallettamalta #vallettastreets #malta #maltalife #streetsofvalletta #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
I started the day by walking a couple of kms up the coast, then came back and walked all around the edge of Ortigia visiting castles and forts along the way. At least Syracuse and Ortigia are relatively flat!!!
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#syracuse #ortigia #ortigiaisland #ortigiasiracusa #italianhistory #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #madeinitaly #traveladdict #italytrip
Taormina has to be one of the prettiest towns, there is a festival on that seems to involve a lot of flowers, and there are a few thousand more people here than I was hoping for, but we all seem to be getting along!!
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#taormina #taorminasicily #visitsicily #flowers #italianhistory #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
On the morning commute the sky couldn`t make up it`s mind - all blue sky and fluffy white clouds in one direction, and very grey in the other.....this continued all day leading into the Australia Day long weekend.
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#morninginspiration #morningcommute #flowersinthestreets #walkinthepark #whiteflowers #pinkflowers #sydney #sydneystyle #northsydney #stleonardspark #stleonardsparknorthsydney #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Today I set off on the #51 bus from Valletta to Mtarfa in central Malta, in search of the hospital my brother and I were born in. I had read is was now a college, but it seems to be all closed up behind locked gates. I climbed up on walls so I could get a photo of those magic words above the entrance, "David Bruce Royal Naval Hospital".
A few days ago I found the house we lived in in Tarxien, not far from Valletta. We moved back to England when I was 6 weeks old, so memories are a bit sketchy!!
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#malta #whereiwasborn #myfirsthome #mrarfa #royalnavalhospital #maltalife #neverstopexploring #backwhereitallbegan ##solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes ##traveltheworldwithme
Blue sky and sunshine, then 24 hours later all hell had broken loose. We had a massive storm, followed by lots of rain.....
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#stleonardspark #northsydney #blueskyandsunshine #raindrops #gumtree #walkinthepark #sydneylocal #sydneylife #sydneystorm #sydneyaustralia
On the way to work this morning, no rain, not too hot, a perfect Sydney day!!
#morningcommute #walkinthepark #qvb #queenvictoriabuilding #sydneylightrail #stleonardspark #stleonardsparknorthsydney #sydneyinsummer #sydneylife
Big day yesterday, out and about on Malta`s buses, so far so good, with my 7 day ticket in hand, went off to Tarxien, Marsaxlokk, Sliema and back to Valletta.
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#malta #marsaxlokk #fishingboats #maltalife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #seeeverythingdoeverything
After a bit of window shopping and a long walk through Hyde Park to Kensington Garden, it rained, it was windy, the sun tried to come out, then it got really cold. I went to the `Dress Code` exhibition at Kensington Palace, the Palace is in the middle of a major conservation project have all the sash windows replaced so the whole building is covered in scaffolding......
#hydepark #hydeparklondon #kensingtonpalace #kensingtongardens #fortnums #oxfordstreet #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
Some of the stations I became familiar with on my solo Italian adventure. Siena had the biggest step up from the platform to the train, but by the time I left Siena I was quite good at handling my luggage so it wasn`t a problem, and Pisa was the easiest and my visit to Pisa was a day trip from La Spezia, without any luggage!! Although I did have to change trains in Pisa a few days later on my way back through Florence to Venice....easy 🤩!!
For more info on the art of solo travel by train in Italy, click the link to my website in the bio.
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#traintravelinitaly #pisa #siena #Florence #laspezia #italybytrain #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #neverstopexploring #madeinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #italytrip #italy #soloitalianadventure #solofemaletravel #solomidlifefemaletraveler #italiantrains #railwaystationsinitaly #traveltheworldworldwithme #traveladdict
Yesterday was perfect, not too hot, no humidity, a lovely walk through St Leonard`s Park to the Metro, then today, foggy, drizzly, bad hair.....yuk!!
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#stleonardspark #morningcommute #walkinthepark #northsydney #sydneycbd #sydneyharbourbridge #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #changeintheweather
Walking all around Valletta, so many steps to go up and down!! Sunrise across Grand Harbour....Upper Barrakka Gardens and all around that area.
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#valletta #upperbarrakkagardens #tritonfountain #malta #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #maltalife
Had a great time exploring the city of Palermo, it`s been quite an adventure!! Off back to London today.....
#Palermo #palermosicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
Went off into the countryside to the village of Shere in Surrey, just a short train trip from Waterloo Station, a fabulous pub lunch!!
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#shere #englishcountryside #whitehorsepub #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #waterloostationclock #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #magnolias #sherechurch
It was hot, then it got very humid, lots of cloud.....maybe rain later, but there was a nice breeze on the harbour. I`m ready for summer to end....
#sydneyharbour #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #lookingforthebreeze #cremornepoint #sydneylocal #sydneyoperhouse #sailingonsydneyharbour #nativeaustralianflowers
Right in the centre of Taormina is this over grown 2000 year old Roman Baths, inhabited by stray cats. There is a sign pointing to it, but it`s a bit of a mess.....then on the other side of the square is an old Roman theatre, also dating back to the 1st century.
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#romanbaths #romantheatre #taormina #taorminasicily #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinsicily
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