Greencaviar Travel

Italy has long been known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and delectable cuisine. With several visits to this picturesque country under my belt, I thought I had seen it all. However, my recent adventure to Southern Italy, specifically Taormina, left me in awe and completely enchanted. It's safe to say that Taormina has claimed its spot as my new favorite city in Italy. I had originally planned to trek up the iconic Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, but the scorching heat convinced me otherwise. Little did I know that this change of plans would lead to an unforgettable experience. As the bus wound its way up the rugged mountain roads towards Taormina, I couldn't help but be captivated by the breathtaking scenery. The journey itself was an adventure, with each turn revealing a more awe-inspiring view of the Sicilian landscape. The Mediterranean Sea stretched out endlessly on one side, while the imposing figure of Mount Etna loomed on the other, its presence...

I cannot be in Milan and not see Leonardo Da Vinci's “The Last Supper.” So I set aside a day to do the art/museum hopping thing. Although some familiar tour operators offered something called “The Davinci Tour” with guaranteed tickets to see the “Last Supper” for 79 euros, I didn’t want to join a tour group and be rushed; I wanted to enjoy and savor Leonardo’s masterpiece. So the next day, I headed into the town center and looked for the Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie. I hopped on the usual Metro yellow line from my hotel without studying the metro map that the concierge handed me. I figured the metro was easy and assumed that everybody in Milan would know where the famous painting was. I asked a fellow passenger, where the stop for the Maria Delle Grazie Church and she told me it was the next station which happened to be her stop. As we emerged from the metro, she continued to give me direction to the church. As it turned out,  it was not the church I was looking for. ...

I could have spent a week hiking in Cinque Terre , but my plans to travel the Mediterranean got changed because of an unforeseen circumstance. Today, I finally got around to spending a day in Cinque Terre . And it was one very hectic day. Cinque Terre or Five Lands as the name implies, consists of five villages: Portovenere, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Manarola and Monterosso Al Mare.  They're hidden in tiny coves along the craggy stretch of the Liguria coastline. Because of very high cliffs and rugged terrain, Cinque Terre was inaccessible and had been isolated and virtually unknown to outsiders for centuries.  Today, Cinque Terre is one of the most visited places in Italy. Like most people, Cinque Terre has been on my travel bucket list for years. Pictures of Cinque Terre are among the most posted on social media or popular on Instagram.  And for good reason: Cinque Terre has the most gorgeous scenic landscape, with century old churches and multi-colored d...

Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world and visiting some of the popular tourist sites is sometimes a turnoff because of the crowd and the waiting in line.   However, my visit to the hills of Tuscany was the most pleasant and enjoyable.  It was not only the eating and wine sniffing, swirling and tasting part of this wine-hopping excursion that gave me a full sensory experience, but the drive along the winding country road amid a postcard-perfect landscape unfolding before me was serendipitous. It was a riot of green. The scenery confirmed what the flight attendant told me about the weather in Europe during my flight to Italy, “spring arrives late in Western Europe this year.”         Passing the Chianti region, we headed to the wine town of Montepulciano and hiked up the highest hill town in Tuscany at 2,000 feet above the Val di Chiana.   We stopped for a photo-op of the valley below us. The views extend into the lake and th...

On my previous visit to Rome, I was with a tour group and got separated with the group while visiting the Sistine Chapel, so I was rushed and not able to appreciate what we came for to see.   This time I’m staying at my high school friend’s apartment in the northern part of Rome so I’m able to experience the true exuberance of life in this Italian capital:   the swirling traffic, the metro, the new bus route caused by a road closure due to a sinkhole, the home-cooked meals, two-hour lunches and very late dinners. However, it does not mean that as a tourist you would not be able to enjoy and get the feel of the city.   You just have to plan your visit because Rome, with its extraordinary museums and millennia of history, can be overwhelming.     So, when my friend asked why I wanted to go to the Vatican museum again, my answer was because I was rushed the last time.   So let me start with the museums. MUSEUMS When in Rome expect to find the...