travel blogger Archives - Curious Provence

7 Day Iceland Itinerary, the Ring Road

January 28, 2017 by ashleyt 2 Comments

Last September, we took Iceland Air‘s brilliant option for a week stopover to visit this mysterious country. Iceland is a destination growing in popularity due to it’s newly (relatively) affordable currency.

I am a bit of a glutton and decided to try and drive the entire ring road around the country in seven days. It would be better to drive the ring road in 10 days. Despite this, we have no regrets.

The scenery in Iceland is constantly changing and a dream for a photographer. The moody skies and colourful grasses in Fall were just heavenly. Many hotels and B&Bs have their own thermal hot tubs to soak in after a day’s driving.

We tend to gravitate towards the less touristy areas. Iceland is perfect for fidning yourself in the wilderness. There’s so much to see!

Here’s our itinerary, prioritizing the best of Iceland on a budget including cliffs next to the sea, icebergs, and countryside. Also keep in mind this is an autumn itinerary. In the Spring, make sure to take advantage of some of the best birdwatching in the world.

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Traditional Foods of Florence

November 30, 2016 by ashleyt 1 Comment

What to Eat in Florence

Regional Tuscan cooking is like any other Mediterranean country, it can change dramatically depending on which city or village you’re in. If you’re visiting Florence, you should try the gastronomy specific to this beautiful Renaissance city. The traditional foods of Florence are very much tied to Tuscan Cucina Povera. These are the most common dishes, and most traditional, you’ll find all around the city. See my article about the Markets of Florence for more information on where to find these delicacies.

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The Gastronomic Specialities of Prato, Italy

November 30, 2016 by ashleyt 1 Comment

What to Eat in Prato

I was invited by CCT SeeCity to Prato to discover their vibrant modern art scene in the form of the new Centro Pecci. Because I’m an incurable foodie, I had to taste as much local cuisine as I possibly could stuff into my mouth at one time. I sought out all the specialities of Prato. It is only then that I feel like I can get a sense of a city. In addition to tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and ribollita, there are products produced right here in Prato.

Prato, located in Tuscany, has a strong regional cuisine. Just twenty minutes from Florence, you’ll find Tuscan specialities as well as typical specialities from Prato. Here, I’ve provided a list of some of the most traditional products for you to try during your stay in Prato. Here are the gastronomic specialities of Prato!

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Access Travel Guides with GPS Technology

November 21, 2016 by ashleyt 2 Comments

A More Informed Way to Travel

I normally lug around travel guides with me. I find that knowing what you’re looking at adds great value to visiting a new place. However, I’ve found a way to access great information while traveling, without even using the internet.

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7 Things to See at Lake Myvatn Iceland

October 24, 2016 by ashleyt 3 Comments

A Rough Guide to Lake Myvatn, Iceland

The shores of lake Myvatn and around are absolutely packed with mysterious crevices, bubbling mud pools, craters and volcanoes. This is also an important area for migrating birds which are sadly only to be found in the Spring.

Even pictures taken from a moving car aren’t bad at Lake Myvatn.

Lake Myvatn is a popular area with good reason. The sites are surprisingly close together and the names of each site are in Icelandic. This makes deciding what to see a bit tricky.

I found that we had to have our noses pressed up against the guidebook each time we passed a sign as the Icelandic names were difficult to remember. Then, we had to read a paragraph in a guidebook to figure out what was at the end of each dirt track. Therefore, I’ve created a very rough guide, with quick informlation, of the 7 sites we most enjoyed on the eastern side of the lake Myvatn.

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Wine Tasting in Les Baux de Provence

June 12, 2015 by ashleyt 2 Comments

Les Baux de Provence Vineyards

Last weekend was the ‘portes ouvertes’ of the 12 vineyards that comprise the small appellation of AOC Les Baux de Provence. They were celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the creation of their small AOC. These vineyards are located next to some of the most stunning scenery. Just another excuse to taste their wines and olive oils…