The gorgeous sunset at Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Growing up in California, I have visited and lived in many “cities by the sea.” As such, sunsets over the ocean are a Cali treasure that I happily don’t take for granted. As a result, I get great satisfaction while traveling to places offering views of multicolored skylines kissing cool ocean blue. I love when the water and sky get together and make magic happen.

Italy is a peninsular country that has a rich history indelibly tied to its marine surroundings. Sea merchants from around the world have used Italian ports to do their business while adding to the culture of the region. Bridges have been constructed over the multitude of water ways and boats of innumerable fashion have been designed to carry a cargo through the waterways and canals.

All of these elements mean something extremely important to this traveler: Italy provides some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen.

There are two particular sunset spots that come to mind when I think of this past week’s journey through Florence and Venice; one in each city.

Ponte Vecchio is a bridge running over the River Arno in Florence. When standing in the middle of the bridge and looking NorthWest up the river while the sun sets, you get an incredible view of other Florentine bridges and the reflection of lights from the multitude of homes and hotels built right along the waterline. The cloud formations over the Italian peninsula look like you’d imagine a fairytale city would appear. The entire mise en scene is unanimous in its goal- to provide your eyes with splendor.

Sunset off the docks on Murano Island in Venice

In Venice, there is water everywhere, so it would seem difficult to choose one spot from which to appreciate the sun setting on the grotto. Alas, I was fortunate enough to have the spot choose me instead of seeking it out myself. The visage appeared while I was returning to Venice aboard a water taxi from Murano (the smaller island famous for its Venetian glass factories). As we were waiting for the water taxi at the “Museo” taxi stand, we were flanked by two shores of gondolas, shops, and… wait for it… a lighthouse. A picture can’t capture the beauty- so go see it for yourself.

In fact, use my Murano Sunset example as inspiration. Feel free to borrow these suggestions, but remember there are islands, seas, rivers, and oceans all around. Go find a spot that others haven’t listed in a travel book already! In fact, if you’ve already got one that you know about… share it by leaving a comment below with details. I’d love to compile a list of alternative sunset spots around the world.

In the mean time, I’m off to watch the sunset in Prague!

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1. Florence is still a Favorite
2. Drooling for Italian Fashion

It should come as no surprise that Italian people are stylish. Many a famous designer label has started from the mind of an Italian: Valentino, Versace, Prada, the list goes on. What may be surprising however, is that everyone is stylish. I mean, babies wear clothes I’d never dream of drooling on.

Italian fashion, at least in the winter of 2009, is simple. Women wear a tailored winter coat over skinny jeans tucked into gorgeous leather boots. And yes, those boots are healed and yes, the women don’t hesitate to march on the cobblestones. This leads me to believe that Italian women officially have the most durable ankles in the world.

Men wear equally stylish winter overcoats above tailored and pocketed slacks just grazing the tops of their leather loafers. By the way, this is what they wear to work, but also what they wear to coffee shops. Looking good is a part of life and is not reserved for the uncommon special occasion.

While it’s amazing how beautiful (and thin) the women and men of metropolitan Italy are, there is something lacking as well. I’m not just talking about body fat; I am talking about color.

I arrived in Italy after traveling in Nepal and India for a month. In these countries, colorful Kurtas and Saris adorn every woman and real men wear pink not because it’s the new trend, but because it’s what’s clean. The people of Nepal and India are unabashedly colorful. The people of Italy could teach you a lot about the grayscale.

My other observance is that individuality seems uncommon in Italy. The woman with the blazing red overcoat was a rare treat, as was the man who had Converse paired with his $200 jeans and blazer. “Go designer or go home” seems to be a mantra worth mentioning. But if everyone wears the latest season, then where does one person begin and the other end?

In my case, I prefer to be around those who mix and match. The ones that throw on a pair of flip flops to meet me for a good vanilla latte and whom I might see a week later at a party looking fly and fancy free. Don’t get me wrong, I’d certainly like to own a pair of those fancy Italian boots one day. But I’m only going to bring them out on a special occasion or when I just want to dance in front of a mirror and imagine I am walking in Florence again.

In the mean time, I’ll window shop till I drop in Italy and drool upon my own worn out t-shirt instead of that Versace baby bib.

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1. Italian Sunsets

Gorgeous lighting in an alleyway in Florence

In 2001, I went on a high school grad trip to Europe. We spent quite a bit of time traveling throughout Italy, and it was at that time that I dubbed Florence my favorite city on the planet. I admit, however, that I had not traveled too extensively at that point, so the title may have been given prematurely.

Upon returning to Florence this go-round, I was hoping not to have my memory disappoint me. Cautiously stepping off the two hour train from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, I was elated to find that I remembered the city. The cobblestone streets, the river Arno, the Duomo towering over the cityscape. I breathed a sigh of relief when it was confirmed that Florence was as beautiful as I remembered it.

Arriving at the start of the off-season, it is a different experience than the usual summer holiday. The streets are mostly empty. The lines at Uffizzi Gallery are under 45 minutes. There are a limited number of street vendors barking for your attention. It’s less crowded, but it’s also cold and rainy. If you don’t mind walking through puddles, wearing layers, and carrying an umbrella… the beginning of November is actually a perfect time to visit Florence. Think New York Fall weather set in an ancient European landscape.

One thing that has drastically changed since the last time I was in Florence is the exchange rate from Dollar to Euro. As of this week, the Dollar vs. Euro has hit an all-time low and any purchase now costs at least 1 1/2 times the price being asked in Euros. The .80 it costs to use the “water closet” at landmarks means you are spending $1.50 to use the loo. The normal “cheap finds” of the city are just plain expensive, especially when you consider that we’ve just arrived from India- where 5 days (all inclusive) cost us about the equivalent of 2 days of entertainment in Florence (not including lodging).

The view of Florence from the top of the Duomo

The good news is, it’s still worth it to spend the money. I am happy we are only here for two full days, however, because it forces us to choose the sites we want to see with a particular prioritization. We chose the “biggies:” Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Galleria d’Accademia (home of Michelango’s David), the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, Santa Croce Church, and The Santa Maria Novella Church. By far, the climb up the Dome of the Duomo was a highlight for me as the structure was closed last time I visited. 463 steps later, I didn’t feel so bad about all the pasta we’ve eaten since arriving.

Because I am not an Art History major and we have no personal tour guide, we rely on the printed guides we’ve pre-purchased, the ones we downloaded on our Amazon Kindle, and the Audio systems that some of the landmarks provide for an extra charge (of course). It can be daunting to pass yet another frescoe or sculpture and attempt to differentiate between the other 100 you’ve seen for the day. Your knees begin to yell at you when you keep walking through museum halls that look the same.

You can't help buy smile wide in Florence

To avoid artistic fatigue, I recommend doing some research ahead of time to find stories associated with particular pieces that intrigue you. For instance, “Holy Family” (at the Uffizi Gallery) is a painting done by Michelangelo that features Mary, Joseph, and Jesus- but for the first time in artistic history, the child is not seated in Mary’s lap or held in her arms. Breaking tradition intrigues me, so ahead of time, I knew what to look for in the sea of artwork. I could de-prioritize other halls that lacked any draw for me.

Continuing through Europe, we’ll soon run out of any interest in churches. There are millions of them, and though each has a sensational and intriguing history, prioritization is necessary. This is especially true when the average cost of one entry ticket to an Italian monument is 5-10 Euros ($8-$16).

Though there will be many more foreign cities in my future, I will still love Florence. Every angle of every alley way is art. The history and architecture are captivating. The residents enjoy us being here as much as they enjoy exhibiting their national pride. The food is mouth-watering and the fashion is unmatched. I can’t think of anything that’s not to love- except the cost. Grand scheme of my traveling life, I definitely still rank Florence, Italy as one of my world favorites.

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1. Italian Sunsets