A GOURMAND’S SECRET GUIDE TO DINING OUT IN FLORENCE - Best Gelato

By Indira Jansens

Best Gelato:

Most tour guides and websites tout the wonders of Vivoli as the Best Gelateria in Florence. But I prefer Carabe near the Accademia to the over the top sweet and heavy concoctions over at Vivoli.

Carabe is located a few steps from the Accademia, so you can grab a bite before venturing on to see the statue of the David. During the summer, they serve their famous Sicilian style Granita with natural flavors like Caffe, Limone, Blackberries, Almond, Peach and Cantalope!

Don't mix too many flavors like lemon and Almond, they'll look at you as if you're mad!

Americans, how dare they!

Indira Jansens is a freelance travel writer and caterer based in Hollywood. She may be reached via email: indirajansens@gmail.com

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A GOURMAND’S SECRET GUIDE TO DINING OUT IN FLORENCE - Best Crostini

By Indira Jansens

In Italy, many of the specials and menus will be composed around the seasonal produce. In the spring, there might be fried zucchini flowers, and in the fall, porcini mushrooms, truffle dishes and desserts featuring chestnuts. It’s best to eat these seasonal delicacies as they crop up in osterias and ristoranti in the form of antipasti, primi, secondi and dessert!

I've composed a Best of List in Florence. Some of the foods are strictly local, and some are well known.

Best Crostini:

Crostini are antipasti/appetizers, and can be served as arrangements with two or three different toppings. The bread is rustic Tuscan bread that is lightly brushed with olive oil, then lightly toasted. The most traditional one is the Crostini alla Toscana, made from chicken liver, capers and herbs.

Fuori Porta, in the San Niccolo quarter serves up the best Crostini or more aptly called Crostoni, due to their massive size. The 'toppings' range from Asiago and Prosciutto to Truffle and Wild Mushroom spreads and countless more. They also have wonderfully simple pastas, as well as a remarkable wine list from many regions of Italy and France.

Fuori Porta is situated cleverly at the base of the steps that lead to Piazzale Michaelangelo. Take a brisk walk up the steps to the Piazza to work up your appetite and take in panoramic views of the city, then celebrate the feat with a nice Barbera and some Crostoni!

Indira Jansens is a freelance travel writer and caterer based in Hollywood. She may be reached via email: indirajansens@gmail.com

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A GOURMAND’S SECRET GUIDE TO DINING OUT IN FLORENCE, Some Vital Tips

By Indira Jansens

A Dining out experience in Florence can either leave you with an idiotic grin and all your five gustatory receptors indulged or it could leave you incensed and broke. Florence boasts of numerous eateries where simplicity and the quality of the ingredients rule, making the city among the top European destinations for its world class museums, Old World charm and culinary institutions. But many locales that have become famous by word of mouth, or with the help of guide books have unfortunately turned into smug and instant vacation killers. Especially when one has only a mere day or two in the city, every meal, snack and drink should be unforgettable and outstanding!

Some vital tips regarding your dining experience in Florence:

* Don’t be baffled by the classifications. There are several different categories of eateries in Italy. From the most formal to the most simple are: Ristorante, Trattoria, Osteria, Tavola Calda. Expect the prices to be in that descending order. However, this does not necessarily mean that a Ristorante is any better than an Osteria! There are also the “Bars” that are not Bars or Pubs in the traditional sense, but they serve caffe, pastries and panini. Another to note are Enoteca (s) that are wine bars that usually serve along side wines and prosecco by the glass, plates of cheese and salumi. There are many others, but usually end with ‘teca’ or ‘ria’, for example paninoteca (sandwich shop) or pizzeria (you guessed it!).

* Tipping is optional, but at more formal eateries, some tip is always very much appreciated by the wait staff. I always try to leave something as a gesture, the amount depending on the total bill.

* Try not to frequent the eateries that have signs like ‘menu turistico’. The locals wouldn’t dream of it, why should you? Even if it means walking out of the historic center, take a chance and be adventurous.

* Speaking of adventure, try some of the local cuisine. Traditional Florentine dishes are not for those who are of a delicate disposition, but they are delicious and can give you some material for the postcards you’ll be writing to all your friends and family!

* Some of my favorite, that I have grown to love, are: Trippa alla Fiorentina (tripe stew!), Lampredotto Bolito (unmentionable innards!!!), or spit-roasted rabbit or wild boar (as close to divine as the Emperor Augustus might have once enjoyed it.)

* Although traditionally, the Italians eat Antipasto (appetizers), primo (first course comprising of wonderful carb-loaded dishes, yay!), and secondo (usually meat and fish), you don’t have to feel pressured to eat all three. Order what you can handle.

* Don’t fill up on the bread!!! You’ve just ordered the most gorgeous slab of dry aged chianina beef, or a beautiful plate of handmade pasta made by mama. Why are you going to sabotage yourself?

* Don’t be a loud, drunk Turista. Many Tuscan wines can have up to 13.5% alcohol content and it’s really good stuff! Alternate the wine with some San Pellegrino. Trust me, the Tuscans are natural-born winos but they grimace at loud drunk tourists distracting them at dinner. Oh behave!

* Lastly, have fun, enjoy every bite! You will not find this back home, nor replicate the experience!

Buon appetito!


Indira Jansens is a freelance travel writer and caterer based in Hollywood. She may be reached via email: indirajansens@gmail.com

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MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE PRADA! Confessions of an Outlet Addict: Shopping in Florence, Part II

by Gemina Luis

The Mall is the closest in proximity to Florence, 30 minutes by car (without traffic) on the A1 highway. In the same town are the outlets for Dolce Gabbana, Fendi and Celine, but they are not as replete with recent merchandise as The Mall partner shops. On the other hand, Miuccia Prada is such a genius, who can choose?

I Pelletieri d’Italia AKA SPACE AKA The Prada Outlet is housed surreptitiously in what seems to the tourist’s eye as an agricultural packing plant. Do not be fooled by this industrial façade, you have arrived at the Mothership, the Phantom Prada Outlet. It is about 15 minutes from Certosa (The Mall) and 45 minutes from Florence. Prada and her little sister MiuMiu are warehoused in this supermarket-sized edifice, along with Patrizio Bertelli’s previous acquisitions -- Helmut Lang, Church shoes and Jil Sander.

Of course if you’re only passing through Florence and Tuscany briefly, an entire day of outlet shopping might seem extreme. Or perhaps, a day of bargain shopping is the perfect antidote to the overkill of museums. The best plan would be (assuming the starting point is Florence):

1. Grab a brioche and a café latte, heading out of town by 8:30, which would position you in Montevarchi’s Prada outlet by 9:15, and beating out the tour buses filled with hundreds of other eager shoppers. There is a chic café on the premises, with more than decent panini and pastries for lunch.

2. The drive from the Prada outlet to The Mall is very pleasant -- only one stop on the A1 highway, exit Incisa. You will need the rest of the day to shop the numerous outlets at The Mall. I only suggest covering Prada first, because there have been too many trips where we didn’t make our way down to Prada, after shopping the Mall.

Some more tips… if you have time, try to get yourself familiarized with European sizing. This will save many trips to the crowded dressing rooms. Check hours and public holidays before planning the trip or committing to a car rental. The associates at all of the shops speak English fairly well and will be able to answer questions you may have before heading over. Have a buddy system in terms of meeting points, etc.

Here’s another couple of links, something that could come in handy and save you research time. Happy Hunting!

Gemina Luis is a designer, a writer and a natural born fashionista. She is based in L.A.

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MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE PRADA! Confessions of an Outlet Addict: Shopping in Florence, Part I

by Gemina Luis

Once upon a time there once was a sensible Virgo, who considered her tonal shades of heathered cashmere turtlenecks and several bespoke jackets- staples for a decent Fall wardrobe. Then came The Mall, the ultimate designer outlet, in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, Tuscany!!!

Flashback to 2001… My first transaction could hardly be described as momentous. I remained extremely calm, acquiring only a pair of classic YSL black pumps -- originally designed for Catherine Deneuve, resurrected from the archives by none other than Mr. Tom Ford. That is, until I got to the register, a beautiful rounded number of 25,000 lire (approximately 13 Euros in current value). Incredibile!!! To this day, that purchase along with being invited to a Friends Shopping Day at the Gucci headquarters in Scandicci, is the most memorable outlet experience of my shopping career.

Over the years, I’ve come to recognize my increasingly dangerous habit. Last year, I was able to spontaneously compose ridiculous, albeit fabulous Halloween costumes for my 5 girlfriends, in head to toe Gucci. I thought I had sworn off designer outlet shopping for good, until my recent trip in April.

The Mall had transformed into major destinations for premier designer goods. At The Mall, in addition to the original shops of Gucci, YSL, Sergio Rossi, Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna and Armani, new kids were on the block. Emanuel Ungaro, Bottega Veneta, Tod’s La Perla, Marni, Alexander McQueen, Emilio Pucci, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and more have just joined the queue to make these jaunts even more enticing and rewarding! There are also many more modes of transportation if you don’t have a car.

Check out this link, it has very detailed info and tips for your shopping pleasure! This is not an endorsement of the website, just something I found on the web that I thought I’d pass along, happy hunting!

Gemina Luis is a designer, a writer and a natural born fashionista. She is based in L.A.

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COURIERS ON A PLANE! Fly Around the World with the Cheapest Airline Tickets!

by John Navata

Unless you happen to be wealthy and have a lot of free time, chances are you wish you could fly more often than you currently can. Airfare is, of course, the most cost prohibitive element of long distance travel. Many people find themselves in situations where they know someone they could stay with in another city - so accommodations would be free - but there's simply no way of being able to get there affordably. In terms of discount travel, there are some solutions to expensive airfares that are worth looking into if you are flexible and interested on a short visit rather than a long trip.

One of the cheapest ways you can fly is called courier flying. How this works is: courier companies exist that specialize in delivering relatively small packages quickly - things like important business documents etc. What these companies want is your baggage allotment on a flight. So they will offer extremely discounted fares in order to get your baggage allotment.

If you sign up for a courier flight, your job will be to show up at the airport, meet someone with a package who will check it onto the plane in your space (you won't normally have to handle the package), and take the flight. In most cases you are required to take a return flight as well in a relatively short time (usually a few days, and rarely more than a month), which is why courier travel is more suitable to quick cross-country visits than long term travel.

Here are some samples of the approximate discounts on return fares, obtained through a simple internet search: New York to Paris, $250; Los Angeles to Sydney, $400. In some cases, if you are on their call list, the courier may become desperate with a last minute flight and offer it for free.

Now, with such extreme discounts, there must be a catch, right? Of course: courier flying would be simply too good to be true it didn't come with an extreme lack of flexibility. Courier flying works by placing yourself on a list to be contacted by the companies. You're not likely to receive much notice, and until you board the plane, your fate is entirely in the hands of the courier company: if there is a change or a problem with the package, for example, you're out of luck.

More so than other types of discount travel, courier flying is dependant on you being able to establish a rapport with the company. If you have been flexible and completed flights for a company in the past, you may be able to establish a relationship where they call you first to offer a flight, in which case you'll have some more options.

Regardless, to engage in courier-flying you have to be very flexible, and although it is one of the most extreme forms of discount travel available, it remains fairly restrictive. If you're interested, your best bet is to try one or two courier flights and hope that you can establish a good relationship with the company.


John Navata owns a travel agency in Chicago, IL. Now he is helping travelers on how to save thousands of dollars on hotels, airfares, car rental, or cruise rates. Speak to one of our agents at 1-800-226-6066 Use Promo Code: 75792. We're open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm EST or visit jptraveldiscounts.com.

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BANGKOK, YEAH BABY! How to Get Around

by Jonathan Semenick

To start off it is good to understand what kind of transport you can get in Bangkok. There are numerous different types of public transport, but the usual visitor or resident uses only 7 of these: Meter Taxis, Tuk Tuks, buses, canal boats, river taxis, motorbikes, and Taxis (with no meter).

Lets begin with Tuk Tuks. Aren't they cute, those little three wheeled taxis, colorfully painted and featured so much on anything to do with Thailand. They are very cute until you get stuck in the traffic, behind the number 36 bus at about 2 in the afternoon and suck down a multitude of fumes in 10 minutes than the average smoker does in a life time... you'll say to the kids, isn't this fun....while your kids bury their heads in their Dad's armpit because it smells fresh compared to the air around them.

Okay Try a Tuku Tuk once, don't go too far and then give them up as a bad idea. Out of Bangkok they're much more fun. Tuk Tuk drivers should be haggled with, the price fixed in advance and generally you'll always get ripped off, take a taxi.

Taxis (with 4 wheels) come in two flavours, metered and no meter, although a few non meters actually have a meter concealed behind a panel in the dash board below the radio.... Taxis are great, sit back in air conditioned luxury and watch the Smiths die of carbon monoxide poisoning in a Tuk Tuk. If the driver of a Taxi objects to use his meter then tell him to take a hike, get out, do not be suckered.

Check where you are standing, if it's outside a nice big hotel , then walk up the road a bit and wave down a taxi. Unlike the US or Europe taxi drivers have to pass NO TESTS to become a taxi driver. Within a few days of being in Bangkok you will know Bangkok better than many Taxi drivers.... again if the driver seems to not know where it is you are going, get out....one other thing, make sure you know where you are going and have a rough idea of the route, else a less honest cabby will take you on a tour of the backroads "the short cuts". If you're going a long way, take the toll way, it costs between 20 and 40 Baht, (you pay) and will save you hours of travel time.

Calling a taxi by phone costs ab extra 20 Baht, Taxis at the airport cost an extra 50 Baht. And yes there is a REGULATED taxi stand at the airport outside the main meeting zone. Don't be suckered by taxi and limo touts.

Oh yes then there are the taxis with no meter.... well if you want to use one feel free....it'll cost about the same as a Tuk Tuk but at least you'll get Air Con....possibly.

Buses, once upon a time there were red buses, blue buses, green buses and Air Con buses, then came micro buses and then came deregulation and now there are so many buses that I really don't know what they all are...anyway if you are going to use a bus GET A BUS MAP. Then always use Air Con buses unless where you are going is not on one of their routes or your on such a tight budget that 8 to 15 Baht per person may cause you to have to go without food. Other buses vary from 3 Baht up to 20 Baht. Don't bother asking the conductor about where you want to get off, to them you are a lower lifeform (all passengers are) ask another passenger. A word about getting on and off buses. Do it FAST, buses on occasions don't stop at the bus stop they "slow" in the middle of the road and let off a stream of potential roadkill in the middle of the traffic, okay I exagerate a little but when you get your stop make sure you are already near the door and can sprint for it. Don't expect the people getting on to make way, that kind of common sense tends to fail people using the buses, their objective is to get on fast and get a seat before anyone else...which brings up seats.... don't be fooled into thinking that being a "gentleman" will get you thanks...oh no, you'll see pregnant ladies standing up while young school brats take up the seats, you'll see old ladies burdened by shopping standing while teen sweathearts hog the seats...it's a first come dog eat dog world on the buses and if you take one of the non air con buses you'll eventually see some poor person pass out....then they get a seat.

Motobikes. Yeah.... want to get somewhere fast, take a motorbike taxi, married with kids...get life insurance and a damn good helmet.

The majority of MB taxi drivers will make it their sole intent to scare you to death, to see if they can squeeze their bike through a gap that is obviously closing up faster than they are moving and to see how fast they can go on an open stretch of road...they have no fear (or sanity).... your life is in their hands and you'll soon wish it wasn't.

It is the law in Thailand that all bike riders MUST wear a crash helmet.... some of the helmets you see wouldn't protect a toddler falling off a 3 wheeler.

Thai law says you have to wear a helmet, but as far as the law is concerned...it can be made out of paper.

if you intend to use MB Taxis a lot then get a helmet...I did, it saved my face when the inevitable eventually happened and I slide across the road after beeing side swipped by a pick up truck.

If you can avoid MB taxis, then do. If you are in Bangkok for long enough you may eventually get to learn which MB Taxi Teams (yes they work in teams) are safer than others (or luckier than others).

Check out the bikes they are driving, a scratched up wreck will be a good hint that the driver has kissed the tarmac a few times, a brand new bike , a green horn still waiting for his first brush with death.... if you're on a bike and the driver is driving like a nut, tell him to stop and get off.

I have to admit I have very little experience with boat transport in Bangkok, but from what I am told, if you can take a canal or river taxi, then do, they are fast, generally clean, less polution and of course there are less vehicles to hit. Prices vary depending on how far you are going.

In summary I would suggest that if you plan to travel in Bangkok that you:- get a map, take meter.

About The Author: Jonathan Semenick maintains and manages the Thailand-X website.

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