Category Archive for Italy & Western Europe
TOP TRAVEL TIPS FOR ROME, ITALY. BEST ROME PIZZA RESTAURANT, FOUNTAIN DE TREVI, SPANISH STEPS SIGHTSEEING.
Sebastiano and I had a packed schedule while in Italy — photoshoots, events, filmings. But we managed to set aside a day for ourselves in Rome (hey, we deserved it!) We’d like to share our adventure with you, along with tips for enjoying a Roman Holiday. Please Like/share if you found this post fun!
Street-snapped for an Uraguay fashion magazine:
La Carmina wears: Black and white top by Spider (Hong Kong), vest by Gramm (from Closet Child Shinjuku), black and white sunhat from Hong Kong, skirt stolen from Kira DNR’s closet.
Seba wears: Blablahospital Japanese punk shirt. Pants and shoes from Mong Kong, Hong Kong.
Tip #1: Dress up for a day of sightseeing. Putting a bit of effort into your outfits — which ideally complement each other — makes the day (and resulting photos) all the more special.
However, we take some practicalities into mind. Sunscreen and hats, to shield our Gothic pallor from the sun. Comfortable shoes are also a plus, if you’re going to be walking all day long (one of us learned that lesson the hard way!)
Tip #2: Start with a cappuccino. While portions are small, the quality of the espresso and milk foam is A++. Many Roman baristas pour the milk into a pretty design.
Closeup on my makeup: eyeshadow shading with black and red. On “lazy days,” I omit lipstick and fake eyelashes.
Tip #3: Eat. A lot. When in Rome — or Italy, or anywhere for that matter — don’t pass up the chance to try the local food. You can enjoy Italian cuisine while staying healthy; here, we’re sharing a salad and tuna sandwich.
Crazy coincidence — our friend Arina (photographer and Tokyo Decadance regular) stumbled upon us at this luncheonette! We had no idea she was in Rome, and vice versa. Somehow, spooky people find each other.
PS: she’s holding CDs by Surgery, a very cool horror/apocalyptic/Industrial band in masks. I interviewed them for Lip Service; you can see it here.
Tip #4: Strike a balance between well-trodden roads, and off-the-beaten-path. Don’t fall into the trap of being “too hip and underground” for the tourist attractions, or you may also miss out. Seba and I visited the Spanish Steps and Fountain de Trevi, but skipped the Colosseum as it was getting late. (Seba’s never seen it before, but I have. It’s colossal. Ha.)
Tip #5: Have a pizza party. Seba took me to his favorite pizza place, which he and his mom discovered years ago. Oh my goodness, the pie was unlike any I’d ever eaten!
The pizza on the left has “8 tastes” — different flavors in each part, including unconventional mussels and anchovies.
Pizza Ciro (near the Spanish Steps) also serves big, rustic, grandma-style Tuscan dishes. Merely thinking of the place makes my mouth water…
Tip #6: Take a time-out to play. We ducked into a shopping arcade to escape from the heat, and ended up browsing in a bookstore. Naturally, Seba headed straight to the kid’s section and became engrossed in this “choose your own superhero” book.
Tip #7: On that same note, cool down. Vacation should be about relaxing, not herding nonstop from place to place (like those infamous Chinese bus tours). Especially in hot weather, take time to rehydrate with a cold drink.
Tip #8: Spend on something special. I never buy silly souvenirs, but if I come across something one-of-a-kind, I veer towards buying it. Who knows when you’ll next be in Rome? I certainly don’t regret spending 16 euro on Little Prince pajamas!
What a lovely Romanza Vacanza we had! What do you think of my travel tips? What would you suggest for a perfect day of sightseeing?
Song of the Day: Misaruka – Merrow Sin
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VENICE, ITALY ROMANTIC TOURISM: VISIT CANALS, GONDOLAS, VENICE BIENNALE ART ATTRACTIONS. SOURPUSS RED DRESS.
Venice, Italy can be frustrating. You build up a mental picture of suave gondoliers — and get pudgy tourists and Disneyland lineups instead.
But then you duck under a stone arch, and there’s a crumbling Gothic church. Wander off on a side path, and you find a trattoria glowing with candles. The light shimmers from the water, the docked boats creak, and sigh — Venice still has its magic.
Having Casanova as your companion also helps.
La Carmina is wearing a “black heart” dress gifted from Sourpuss, and a wide-brimmed sunhat from Hong Kong.
Sebastiano is wearing a silk shirt stolen from Kira DNR’s closet.
We’re grateful to Hostelbookers for sponsoring our stay all over Italy. The hotel booking website put us in a large room full of character — we could hear the water outside our window. And the secluded location allowed us to avoid tourists the entire time. (More photos from our Hostelbookers rooms coming up.)
Our typical healthy meal: grilled fish, salad, rose wine.
Followed by an indulgence of Italian desserts. Tiramisu is a diet necessity!
The best way to know Venice is by walking wherever intuition takes you. We found an “interesting” clothing store.
Art galleries abound. Seba can’t seem to process Marge Simpson as an odalisque. (It’s too bad we couldn’t attend the Venice Biennale, an impressive gathering of modern artists.
Travel tip: wear a big-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and bring along a can of mosquito spray. And dress up for Venice. The soft, flowing light is ideal for photos, and you’ve got to play along with the city’s romantic mood.
Nothing in the world compares to Venice’s canals.
When the sun sets… indescribable.
Seba felt stuffed, but still, we shared mint gelato.
Our wanderings took us to San Sebastiano church! (The “O” must be for Sebastian-ooo.)
Someone please give his butt a push.
I didn’t realize I was making the “small” hand gesture. Appropriate, for this naked statue.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments — I read and appreciate them all. Next, there’ll be coverage of Milan, Rome, Modena, and more from Florence.
Have you been to Venice, or yearn to visit? Did you feel it was a commercial trap, or did you feel the magic?
Song of the Day: Nana Kitade – Kibou no Kakera (Powerpuff Girls theme song. Pandas are involved.)
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LA CARMINA
