travel blogger Archives - Curious Provence

A Visiter’s Guide to Porto

February 9, 2018 by ashleyt 6 Comments

Before I visited Porto, I kept reading that it is an incredibly romantic city. What qualities a city to be romantic? The first time that I walked on the port, I understood. I think it has something to do with all the small bars, colourful buildings, weather-beaten tiles that adorn the facades, the constant cries of seagulls on the river, the stunning architecture, unique history, high pedestrian bridge that spans the river, cable cars moving slowly above the port distilleries, fishing boats, and more than a few vantage points to enjoy the skyline and surrounding countryside. Oh, and of course, the Fado music.

The architecture of the many churches will amaze you.

Admire the different patterns of tiles on building facades.

I was lucky to spend an entire month coworking and exploring in beautiful Porto with Unsettled. I highly recommend visiting the city for a long weekend break, or even better, an entire week. Especially if you include driving into the Douro wine valley. A landscape most definitely worth seeing if you’re a wine lover or not.

Have a coffee on the port.

Here is my visiter’s guide to Porto, including the highlights of this charming city. You’re a foodie? My Porto Food Guide will be coming soon.

Feel free to add more of your suggestions or experiences in the comments.

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7 Day Iceland Itinerary, the Ring Road

January 28, 2017 by ashleyt 3 Comments

The Best of Iceland Roadtrip (on a Budget)

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. This is our ring road Iceland itinerary.

I am a bit of a glutton and decided to try and drive the entire ring road around the country in seven days, the self drive Iceland dream! It would be better to drive the ring road in 10 days. Despite this, we have no regrets. It might be worth doing a trip like this with a caravan. You will likely find static caravan insurance cheapest online though.

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 finding 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 2 Comments

What to Eat in Florence

Florence is responsible for turning me into a foodie. I arrived there, 18 and naive, only having eaten American-style pizza. I was converted (it was indeed religious!) after my first meal there.

I wandered into a tiny pizzeria, at an odd time of afternoon after flying overnight from Montreal. Feeling adventurous, I picked at random a pizza from the Italian-only menu and ate the entire thing. Of course, I stayed for a year, finding my own little routines of eating cornettos instead of croissants and fettunta instead of “bruschetta.” Florence will always hold a special place in my heart.

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 2 Comments

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 specialties as well as typical specialties 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 specialties of Prato!

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7 Things to See at Lake Myvatn Iceland

October 24, 2016 by ashleyt 4 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 3 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…

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