How to do Florence…in 48hrs

Where to Stay

Airbnb is the perfect option for Florence. Staying in an Airbnb allows for an authentic Florence experience, creating the feel of living like a local. The city is perfectly compact meaning you don’t have to being staying in a hotel or hostel in a central location, you can get very reasonably priced places to stay all just a short walk to the city centre. The apartment I stayed in with two friends was newly furnished, equipped with a sofa bed, a double bed, and I was particularly impressed by the well equipped kitchen. This allowed for cooked breakfasts, and evening meals to save money.

Where to Eat

Panini Toscani – Hands down the best sandwich shop in the world! This isn’t just a sandwich shop, this is a sandwich experience. Every panini will contain ham and cheese, but while this may seem simple, there is nothing simple about it. Upon entry to the shop you will be greeted by an old man who runs the shop. He will invite a small group over to a chopping board at the end of the counter. With the most soft spoken Italian accent he will take you through the cheese and ham selection they have, giving everyone a small taste and explaining the origins of production. You then select your ham and cheese choices, and are then invited to choose your additional fillings. All of this for less than five euros, there really is no better way to have lunch in Florence.

Gelateria La Carraia – Everybody thinks they like ice cream, but you don’t truly know ice cream until you’ve been to an authentic Italian gelateria. Sitting on the river bank La Carraia lays claim to being the first ice cream shop in the world, their Ice cream is made in store, giving it the rich creaminess you come to expect of italian ice cream. As you wait in the inevitable queue trying to decide from the long list of flavours proves a challenge and this decision will change a number of times before you get served. If still undecided they are happy to give you a little taster. This is a great spot as you can enjoy your ice cream sat in the sun overlooking the river.

Il Mercato Centrale Firenze – The options available at Il Mercato Centrale are endless, with such a wide range of culinary delights there is something here for everyone. The surrounding streets are swamped with small market stalls selling clothing and other small items. Inside you’ll find all the food. It’s extremely modern, with outlets lining the perimeter of the building, then loads of chairs and tables and a big bar in the centre. I went for one of the woodfire pizzas. You can see one chef rolling dough, one putting on all the toppings and another rotating them in the oven, as fresh as pizza can get!

What to See

Explore the Art Galleries – Florence has a rich history of art and this tradition has been maintained to this day. There are enormous greek statues located around the city, and Michelangelo’s David is a must see. Just around the corner is the Uffizi Gallery which houses some of the best art in the world. Make sure to either prebook your tickets or get there early, or risk being stuck in a long queue (two hours at the least). Finally check out the Palazzo Strozzi, a smaller gallery hosting different exhibitions through the year. When I visited there was a Kandinisky to Pollock exhibition. The current exhibition is on Ai Weiwei.

Religious Landmarks – Grab a ticket to see all the key religious landmarks in central Florence. For just €15 you have access to the Cathedral, Dome, Bell Tower, Crypt and the Museum over a 48 hour period, so you can either do them all in one day, or spread them over a couple of days. The architecture of these buildings is like none other. The scale and design of the buildings will leave you in awe. Make sure you’ve had a big breakfast to give you the energy to climb the steps of the Dome and the Bell Tower. The effort is worth it as you’re rewarded with wonderful panoramic views over the city. The crypts and the museum are a great way to learn more about the history of Florence.

Explore Florence at Night – One of the best ways to see Florence is at night. On a warm summers night the vibe of the city is so chilled and the mad rush of tourists has died down which makes for a much more enjoyable time. Start by heading up to the Piazzalle Michelangelo. It’s slightly outside of the city centre and quite a long walk up. You get a perfect view over the city, the best way to see the sun set in Florence. Then head back down into Florence to cross the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The bridge is hundreds of years old, and lined with shops. At night it’s nice and quiet, a great place to relax with friends. Head down through the city centre to find some nighttime food and drink. We spent our night dancing in the square whilst listening to a jazz band, the nighttime makes for a truly remarkable experience.

By Thomas Rofe

How To Do Prague….in 48hrs

 

Where & What to Eat –

Traditional Czech Food – The food in Prague is just what you’d expect, all very heavy, very hearty and very meaty. This means lots of stews and lots of bread. Be on the look out for Beef Goulsh, a staple of any restaurant. Portions are always really generous. The side dish you’ll want to lap up your stew is dumplings. The dumplings are huge and will often look like a main dish on its own. Whilst tasting great, I often struggled to finish them.

Tredlnik – A staple of Prague street food is the Tredlnik. A cylindrical sweet pastry, that is covered in sugar, often filled with nutella. You’ll smell a Tredlnik stand from a mile away! They’re massive and so filling, especially for the price, Tredlniks make a great snack to share with a travel buddy.

Muj Salek Kavy – A trendy cafe at the north of the city is great for a lunch stop. They have a great selection of simple and filling lunches that will keep you going until dinner. They also have some of the best desserts in Prague. The coffee as well is some of the best in the city. Throughout your time in Prague keep your eyes peeled for other coffee shops as the coffee revolution has certainly hit the city, with baristas ready to make some of the best latte’s you’ll ever have. Admittedly, this is the place that converted me to an avid coffee drinker.

 

What to See –

Old Town – The Old Town square is in the centre of the city and really shows off the great architecture of the 15th Century. Take a trip up the Old Town Hall Tower for great views across the square. (Be prepared for a lot of steps)! Then head back out into the square on the hour to see the Astronomical Clocks clockwork show. You won’t struggle to find it as every hour hundreds gather to watch. The clock is the oldest functioning astronomical clock in the world, dating back over 600 years.

Charles Bridge –Take a stroll along the Charles bridge. The bridge was the only way across the river for hundreds of years making it essential for local trade. Today the bridge is stocked with tourists looking at the 30 statues that line up the bridge. You will find a mass of people around the St. John Of Nepomuk Statue, where it’s custom to touch the statue for good luck.

Prague Zoo – If you’re prepared to spend half your day out, just a short bus ride away you can find the Prague Zoo. The Zoo is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. With admission prices only approximately £6 per person (and even cheaper for students), this is something not too miss. You can easily spend hours walking the grounds observing a real range of animals, including elephants, tigers, giraffes and even polar bears. One of the most horrifying experiences of my life was walking through the Prague Zoo bat enclosure and having the bats fly into your face.

Karlovy Lazne – Ah the famous 5 storey nightclub: each floor hosts a different style of music, meaning in the space of a few hours you can continually change the vibe of the night, by being in one place. From cheesy pop music to hip hop. Get a feel for each room, then either stick to your favourite music, or follow the crowds to maintain a good atmosphere. Overall the club is pretty standard, only really made popular by the gimmick that it has lots of floors.

Bubenska 412 – This I believe is the most ‘off the beaten track’ activity you could do in Prague. If you find yourself north of the river, head over the Bubenska building. The building is filled with small firms from across the artistic spectrum, from architects to film companies. You’ll have to sweet talk the guards to get in. Head up to room 412 and you will find the graphic designers ‘Artbureau’. They make coffee for those in the building in their spare time, and for a small donation are happy to make coffee for visitors as well. I had a great chat about their design work with Skoda while enjoying a great coffee. The building also homes a constantly moving elevator, known as a Paternoster.

By Thomas Rofe

 

How To Do Barcelona…in 48hrs

Where to stay –

Casa Gracia is by far the nicest hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The place was clean and modern, the staff were incredibly helpful and they have great communal areas, all with a full kitchen, a spacious courtyard and free coffee (what could be better than that?). The hostel is conveniently located near to a metro station, but key areas of the city are easily accessible by foot. We even managed to get a balcony over looking the main street, which was perfect for winding down on a hot evening.

Where to Eat –

Breakfast in Demeritas – A great local cafe for breakfast. It offers the best coffee I had during my time in Barcelona, as well a a good selection of foods. The quiet location means that you’re able to sit peacefully out in the sun. The interior is very warming. You’ll find a number of locals working on laptops or meeting with friends. A few were already drinking bottles of Estrella when I arrived for breakfast.

Mercat de La Boqueria – The most famous market in Barcelona: It’s existed for just over a 100 years and is the perfect place to get lunch on a hot summers day. There’s a such a wide range of foods and drinks too choose from, you’ll almost certainly have to return to make sure you get to try everything you want. I personally recommend the the oysters and the ‘Vidal Pons’ juices.

Federal Cafe – Hands down one of the best cafes I’ve come across, however, this one’s no secret, the cafe has a big reputation amongst locals and tourists. Expect to find a queue outside the door, the seating is limited and the queue is usually short and fast moving, but trust me the wait is worth it. I found it hard to choose just one thing off the menu, so my light lunch ended up being a mushroom and asparagus omelette, a jam and marscapone croissant and a raspberry smoothie.

What to See –

Nou Camp – Plan your trip to Barcelona around an FC Barcelona home game at the Nou Camp. Wether you’re ambivalent to football, or a die hard football fan, everyone will find enjoyment in a match at the famous stadium. As you make the long walk amongst the hordes of fans, you will be in awe of the enormous stadium, a true modern day amphitheatre. Despite the size, there’s not one bad seat in the house, with a great view from top to bottom. The football is like none other, the exciting play style means you won’t be able to take your eyes off the game. The atmosphere continues way beyond the game as fans take over the streets, chanting and cheering, much to the dismay of locals trying to drive around the area.

Park Guell – Park Guell was the brainchild of famed Catalan artist Gaudi. It was by far my favourite sight to see of Gaudi’s. It’s located on top of a hill so getting there isn’t to easy: A metro will bring you to the foot of the hill, but from there you will be amongst the crowds going up stairs and escalators. However, the view across the city are very rewarding. I recommend getting some sort of guide so that you can better understand the different parts of the park. The general atmosphere is lively with a number of musicians playing, helping bring the park to life.

Barceloneta Beach – Most cities that you visit are unlikely to have a beach, but Barcelona has one of the largest and beautiful beaches. It’s long just perfect for a stroll and good people watching. Like any beach, during peak times it’s likely to be pretty packed, so I found it best to visit later in the day.The surrounding neighbourhood is famous for its seafood where you won’t be short of options to choose from.

Cycling the City – One of the best ways to get a good feel for the city is to rent a bicycle. I recommend Deviant Cycles, they offer great rates on some fantastic single speed bikes. Although you’ll probably want to be confident on a bike to deal with hectic city. I decided to ride up Tibidabo on a single speed which probably wouldn’t be for everyone, but as with Park Guell the views over Barcelona were more than worth it.

By Thomas Rofe

 

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Be a Camp Counsellor for the Summer

With summer almost over there are many different ways you could have spent it: travelling, working, volunteering, doing an internship…the list is endless. Each one of your friends will have different stories about what they got up to, but the one who won’t stop talking will be the friend who spent their summer working as a camp counsellor (aka those like me). There are a million and one reasons why working as a camp counsellor is the best summer job around, but lucky for you I’ve managed to whittle it down to the top ten.

1.The Camp Bubble

Being at camp you become completely isolated from the world, in the best way possible. You switch off your phone (mainly due to the awful signal and wifi). Regardless you focus soley on living in the moment. It provides a refreshing break from the digital world, and helps you to see past the Insta and Facebook updates clogging up your brain.

2.It Becomes Your Summer Home

Camp really does turn into your second home. From the minute you step off the bus, to getting to know the other counsellors during staff week, to the kids arriving, camp feels like home. And the minute you leave, you miss it and already begin counting down the days until you can return back to your summer home.

3.The People

The people you work with at camp are the only ones who can truly appreciate your experience. They live every minute of everyday with you for up to six weeks and are therefore in witness of all your highs and lows. Not to mention Camp Counsellors come from all over the world, and we all know it’s cool to be able to say you have a friend from pretty much every corner of the globe.

Niamh in Philidelphia

4.Travel

With your visa, you get up to 30 days to spend travelling. Working at camp has allowed me to visit New York, Boston, Chicago and Nashville to name just a few! It’s pretty easy to travel anywhere these days, but camp makes it that little bit more accessible, while you’re already out there why don’t you make the most of your post Camp freedom?

 

5.Making an impact

It may sound cliché, but it’s true. This summer, one camper came up to me and told me that every time she hears ‘Fight Song’ she remembers the interpretive dance I did in the bunks the previous year. Simple things such as knowing you helped make a campers summer and become their role model, even if it is only for a few months is what makes me want to go back each year.

6.Be yourself!

At camp there is nowhere to hide- no Instagram filters, no makeup, nothing! You have no choice but to be yourself! Every day you do the simplest things in the goofiest ways just to keep things interesting and fun, which is completely refreshing from life outside of camp.It allows you to relax in an environment that accepts that more unique side of you shall we say.

7.The office!

Summer camps are often located in beautiful areas. Not many people can say that their office for the summer was a gorgeous lake! From seeing the sun set over camp to the millions of stars that appeared at night, you can’t beat camp for its beauty!

8.Traditions

Everyone looks forward to the camp traditions, you sing campfire songs and practise making the perfect s’more. And not forgetting the infamous colour wars, or as my camp called it Tribal. Two days where everyone goes crazy -the white and green face paint takes over- all making memories that will stick with you forever. I’ve even got my University housemates to learn the chants (they secretly love it but shush).

9. Of course…The kids!

It’s often said that working at a summer camp is the hardest job you will ever love, and i can verify that it’s certainly true. While it’s not fun being woken up at 3 am because a young camper is scared of the thunder, or having to go days without having a shower or even a minute to yourself, it all becomes worth it when you see your campers on the soccer field, or kicking ass in a play they were so nervous about. All the little jokes and the memories make saying goodbye at the end of summer excruciatingly hard.

10.Camp magic!

With all this said, you really can’t understand the beauty of camp until you’ve done it. And camp people will talk non-stop about what they did during their summer, and they’ll probably talk about it all year until they can return! So just let them talk, because once you’ve been to camp, it’s hard to forget!

By Niamh O’Connor

The Allure of Ireland from a Young American’s Perspective

Ireland. It really is as green as they say.

Since I’ve visited Ireland twice, green has become one of my favorite colors; it represents nature and trees and all of the untouched portions of this Earth. One of the greatest features of Ireland are the wide expanses of green fields. There are no McDonald’s or Starbucks blocking the view or obstructing the landscape. The fields are just simply green with the sheep roaming around without a care in the world (a mindset which I would very much like to have sometimes).

As an American, the most shocking aspect of when I visit Ireland is the lack of fast food chains and other corporate businesses along the roads. In the times I have visited I have seen the majority of the West coast and a lot of the Southern coast, but only once have I seen a McDonald’s, even in all of that space! It represents the complete opposite of my home; for instance, I have a Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Dairy Queen all within ten minutes of my house. It’s  indescribable how refreshing it is to visit a place and not see shady billboard advertisements and masses of fast food restaurants clogging up the scenery like plaque in the arteries of a patient with cardiovascular disease!

One of my best friends from college recently visited Northern Ireland and confirmed what I already knew to be true: “Ireland is the greatest place in the world.” She mentioned, similarly to me, how nice all of the Irish are to visitors (we all know we could never get enough of those accents) and how the scenery is just spectacular; all of which I already knew, but it was great for somebody else to go to a place I adore so much and come home feeling exactly the same!

The most memorable part of Ireland out of those that I have explored so far is the Atlantic Coast, or the Wild Atlantic Way. Filled with enormous, magnificent cliffs that take my breath away and for that short moment make me stop and contemplate life, is what keeps me going back to visit the small country in Western Europe. The pub food is delicious and the Guinness is fresh and the people are welcoming, but the cliffs are the most captivating aspect of Ireland to me. The most exhilarating moments of my life have been standing on the edge of those cliffs looking out onto the vast Atlantic Ocean whilst the birds fly over head and the waves crash against the rocks below me. For me standing there breathing in the fresh ocean air, is a moment of clarity and freedom from the hustle and bustle of my home back in Florida.

However, as most people know, not everywhere is perfect and not all of Ireland is sunshine. The abandoned houses composed of crumbling rocks that had disintegrated overtime because the soil could not support agriculture, creates a gloomy scene like those of the British Dramas. An unsettling eeriness was fused when an abandoned village was blanketed with fog one morning, still and quiet as if the ghosts of the starving inhabitants would suddenly appear.

 

I’m a fusion of many backgrounds—Irish, Welsh, English, Scottish, German, etc.—because all of my ancestors were immigrants at one point, but I most identify with and love my Irish heritage. I feel so blessed to have been able to see such a gorgeous place more than once in my young life; I smile just thinking about Ireland because I’ve made  so many amazing, lasting memories with my family whilst traveling there. I hope that my portrayal of Ireland is convincing enough to persuade you to explore its captivating elements, as it is too precious of a place to not be cherished. Words really do not do this beautiful area of the world justice.