Discovering Dubrovnik All Over Again

Visiting this Medieval gem again only confirmed

my deep love for this city on the Dalmation coast.

  Dubrovnik is a one-of-a-kind beauty with its

white-stone buildings which are enclosed by the

ancient fortress walls that jet out of the shimmering

sapphire waters of the Adriatic sea.

Walk atop the centuries-old walls to encompass

the beautiful views of this ancient Croatian city

with its forts, cliff-side bars and cliffs that jet

out over the sea.  In the Venetian-style Old

 Town you'll be enamored with the secret piazzas, 

   the medieval churches, the limestone streets, and

  all of the shops and cafes tucked into the vast alleys. 

                                                                                        

Dubrovnik never ceases to amaze and surprise me.

 If I were lucky enough to travel here 100 more times,

I imagine I would find something new and intriguing

  that I previously never discovered.  I came upon
this chair at a cafe in Dubrovnik and it reminds
me that I'll never be able to say "goodbye" to
this majestic city.  

TRAVEL M GIRL

Drinking Up The Good Life In Venice

Ahh, Venice!  One of the most romantic and spectacular 

cities in the world.  There are so many reasons to

love Venice and I discovered one more reason...

You can't go to Venice and not end up somewhere 

close to Piazzo San Marco...

Just around the corner from the Basilica

de San Marco and it's bell tower you will find 

a spot to sit and relax with a great cup of coffee. 

And what could be better than enjoying a cup

 of coffee in Italy?  It's called Caffe Florian

where romance fills the air much like

the smell of the freshly brewed coffee.

However, Caffe Florian is not just a coffee shop serving aromatic

  coffees, hot chocolate and tea with light snacks and 

sandwiches.  It's anything but a coffee shop.  Especially

 when you consider it the oldest cafe in Italy and its setting under the 

arcades of the Procuratie Nuove is architecturally breathtaking.

Caffe Florian was established in 1720.  It is full of

rich history and has been luring everyone from 

politicians to entertainers since it opened its doors.  

It even housed the wounded during the uprising 

in the fight for the Republic of Venice in 1848.  

It's not necessarily the aroma of freshly perked coffee that

will grab your attention but rather the beautiful sound of 

music echoing throughout the Piazza.

Have a seat outside for the ambience of the Piazza...

while your senses soak in everything around you.

The people-watching isn't so bad either.

Step inside Caffe Florian and you will find rooms

 decorated from the works of artists, sculptors and

 cartoonists from the time.  Many of the Florian's 

own private art collection are loaned to museums 

around the world. 

You will be hard-pressed to find a

 more opulent presentation from 

the bow-tie waiter to the silver tray.

You will not only feel royal, but you 

will pay royally for that cup of coffee, 

tea sandwich and, yes, even the music!

But, sit back and enjoy...this is Venice after all!

This is one coffee you won't soon forget.

You'll carry the memories of that moment

for a lifetime.  It's worth every penny.

Bere la bella vita!

TRAVEL M GIRL