Soaring! - Minimalist Travel for the Over 60 Single Woman

Travel and Packing Tips for Solo Female Travelers

Month: November 2017

Rome Part 1 – Colosseum, Forum, Capitoline Museum, Borghese Gallery

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On November 25, 2017

In Destinations

Roman Forum

This fall, for my first trip to Italy, I took a Road Scholar tour to Rome, Florence, and Venice. I typically travel on my own, but I wanted to focus on the art and the architecture, and I knew I didn’t have enough background to do it justice. To have experts leading the tours and giving us the background on what we were seeing was amazing.

In Rome, we stayed at the Hotel Tiziano. What a great location! No more than a 30-minute walk to most of the places we wanted to see, but right on the bus line and a block from the taxi stand if you wanted to ride. There were also plenty of great restaurants in the area, as well as small grocery stores and other shops. The hotel has an old world feel, but with everything we needed.

Our first stop was the Colosseum and the Forum. As we approached the Colosseum, I was overwhelmed by the sense of history that was everywhere we went in Rome, and especially this site which was an important part of Roman life. Walking around the site, with the help of our terrific tour guide, I could imagine the activities (many horribly gruesome) that were held there. But I also marveled at the advancement of the construction from the series of elevators that carried animals from the underground areas to the main arena, to running water toilets, and the areas for food and other concessions.

Colosseum

Interior of the Colosseum. See the remains of the elevator shafts in the center.

Between the Colosseum and the Forum is the Arch of Constantine, one of three surviving arches on the site commemorating significant military victories. The carvings on these arches is amazing especially considering the Arch was erected in 315 CE.

Arch of Constantine

The Forum was much larger than I thought it would be. There are ruins of many building and meeting areas. I can see that it was the epicenter of Roman lives at the time with areas for a marketplace, government offices, political events, and many other aspects of Roman history.

Roman Forum from the Capitoline Museum

Roman Forum from the Capitoline Museum

Adjacent to the Roman Forum is the Capitoline Museum. The collection dates back to 1471 and the focus of the exhibits are sculptures and other art closely linked to the city of Rome.  The first picture is the Statue of the Capitoline Gaul which depicts a wounded Gaul in the last moments before succumbing to his wounds. This is a very moving piece that is so different from the typical victorious and triumphant soldier. The Great Hall (second picture) contains a number of works of Greek sculptures. The ancient Romans had a great fascination with Greek art and many Roman artists incorporated Greek styles into their own works. Finally, the third picture shows busts of the ancient Roman and Greek philosophers.

The Capitoline Gaul – Capitoline Museum

Great Hall – Capitoline Museum

Hall of the Philosophers – Capitoline Museum

The Borghese Gallery, adjacent to the Villa Borghese and its beautiful grounds that are now a park, is a must see.  It is the gallery of Cardinal Scipione Borghese (nephew of Pope Paul V)  that was collected in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds.  It highlights works from Caravaggio and Bernini, with works from other renowned artists to include Tiziano, Raphael, Rubens, Botticelli, and Canovas.  Some of my favorites were David, Apollo and Daphne, Rape of Proserpina, and Aeneas, Anchises and Ascanius, all by Bernini.

David – by Bernini -1623-24

Apollo and Daphne – by Bernini – 1622-25

Rape of Proserpina – by Bernini – 1621-22

Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius – by Bernini – 1619

 

See Rome – Part 2 for the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basilica, and Local Sites.

Graffiti in Florence

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On November 19, 2017

In Destinations, Other

I’ll admit that I’m not much of a fan of graffiti, but I do understand that the concept of graffiti dates back to historic times and is often an expression of social and political messages. While some communities commission graffiti artists to cover sides of buildings and fences with their artwork, some of the graffiti we see in the U.S. today is not as welcome.

That said, I was fascinated by the graffiti in Florence, Italy that seemed to my uneducated eye to be more artistic and contained, albeit still defacing the buildings. I thought I’d share some of it with you.

Traveling With Food Allergies

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On November 13, 2017

In Lifestyle, Other, Travel Tips

I have Celiac Disease and cannot eat anything with gluten (primarily wheat and wheat based products) without getting quite ill. I also have friends with serious allergies to shellfish and nuts. It’s hard enough to eat safely in your home area with the ability to ask questions in your primary language, but traveling, especially to areas where I’m unable to understand the menu and ask questions in English, can be a challenge.

Fortunately, the internet has a plethora of information to help people with food allergies when traveling. But, it is important for you to be an advocate for yourself, asking necessary questions and making informed decisions about whether you consider the food safe to eat for your dietary issue.

I primarily travel independently, but recently took a trip to Italy with Road Scholar. Road Scholar does a good job of letting you know if they can accommodate for your particular issue, and made arrangements ahead of time for the meals they provided. For the other meals, I turned to the internet to get some guidance.

A simple google search on ‘how to eat gluten free in Italy’ yielded a number of helpful sources. One that I have used before is Celiac Travel . They have Gluten Free Restaurant Cards for many different countries. The cards explain (in the local language) what people with celiac can and can’t eat. You show the card to the server and often they will bring the card to the chef for guidance. The cards are free (with a request for a voluntary donation). Often, useful forums will pop up in the search that will highlight both good and bad experiences with specific restaurants regarding your particular allergy.

Another helpful option is to use Google Translate to translate the menu to English (or another language). For example, the translation might show that the item is breaded and thus should be avoided. Many times, the menu appears online and you can do some advance planning before you get to the restaurant.

My internet search also showed that Italians in general are quite knowledgeable about Celiac disease and many restaurants have undergone training in proper accommodation. For example, in Italy, many restaurants had gluten free pasta that they cooked in individual portions in water separate from the regular pasta. I soon discovered the GROM chain of gelato where I could eat gelato to my heart’s content without concern about cross contamination.

Regardless of your food allergy, it is important to determine what might be your ‘go to’ meals if you have difficulty finding meals on the menu that accommodate your needs to your satisfaction. For me, grilled chicken on a salad without dressing, a fruit and cheese plate, or plain meat and vegetables are usually reasonable alternatives.  Many places I’ve traveled also have a dedicated gluten free/allergy free bakery, where sometimes you can find savory items in addition to sweets.

Restaurant owners, chefs, and servers generally want you to have a good experience at their restaurant. Many chefs are well educated in food allergy accommodations. By doing some advance research and making a list of the items you know you can eat (and not eat), you should be able to find something you can eat in a restaurant. If you can’t, politely excuse yourself and try another restaurant.

In many locations, people have access to local grocery stores and other sources of allergy safe foods if they have concern about restaurant meals. I discovered that in Italy,  the local pharmacies stock gluten free food in addition to the grocery store, because Celiac Disease is a medical condition. In addition, many of the open air markets have fruit, vegetables, and other allergy safe food.

Armed with knowledge about your condition, the ability to translate the menu (or request a menu in your primary language), the willingness to ask questions of the server and chef, some guidance on the ingredients commonly found in the local cuisine, and some flexibility to substitute known safe foods, travelers with food allergies can travel in many counties and eat in selected restaurants with confidence.

Checklist for International Travel

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On November 6, 2017

In Travel Tips

Traveling internationally opens up a whole world of new adventures, but requires some advance planning to avoid glitches. Here’s a checklist to get you started:

√ Passport and Visa – Check the passport, visa, vaccination and other requirements for each country you will be visiting. I find the U.S. State Department has good information for U.S. travelers at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html  You can email the link to your phone so you have it if you need it. The information also includes embassy and consulate contact information. In addition, consider registering for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to alert the State Department where you will be traveling and to get updated information about the area you plan to visit.

√ Cash and Credit/Debit Cards – I typically travel with my primary credit card, a backup credit card, my primary debit card, a backup debit card from a different bank, and a reasonable amount of local cash and U.S. dollars. While most restaurants and many shops will take credit or debit cards, some smaller merchants prefer cash. Most larger international airports and cities have ATMs where you can get local cash when you arrive. If you want to bring foreign cash from home, your bank or AAA can get it for you (check the fees). Also, note the conversion rate or use an app to convert the price of the item to U.S. dollars so you can make an informed decision about the cost of items you want to purchase.

Make sure you notify the bank for each credit or debit card, and ask them to put a travel alert on your card so that the unusual foreign transaction will not be blocked. Although most credit card companies will send a text to your phone when blocking a transaction, if your phone is in airplane mode, you may not receive the text in a timely basis. The travel alert informs the bank that you will be traveling in certain areas and to expect transactions.

Many credit cards charge transaction fees, as well as currency exchange fees for transactions in another currency. When choosing the credit and debit cards you take for travel, you may want to choose the one what has the most favorable fee structure. Also, for all cards, make sure you know the numerical pin in case you need it.

Separate your credit cards and cash so you are only carrying what you need and lock the rest in your hotel safe, if available. Consider the use of money belts or other underclothing document carriers to make it harder for thieves to steal your cards and cash. Carry your account numbers and emergency contact numbers for all cards separate from your cards in case your card is stolen. I email scans of my cards and documents to myself before I leave.

√ Hold Your Mail – The USPS has an easy online feature to apply for a mail hold while you are away, and either arrange for mail pick up or deliver all the held mail when you return.

√ Pay Bills – Pre-paying bills that come due while you are away can save you the hassle of trying to pay a bill from afar and avoid late fees.

√ Prescription Drugs – Many experts suggest bringing a copy of the prescription and keeping the medication in the original bottle. However, be aware that a number of countries have prohibitions about entering the country with certain classes of medications such as those containing codeine, pseudoephedrine, morphine, dexamphetamine, among others. Check with the official travel website for each country you are visiting to determine restrictions and other requirements.

√ Transportation System – Learn about the local transportation system if you plan to use public transportation. Make note of how and where to buy tickets, and the process of validating tickets. Some areas use only kiosks and require a chip id to purchase tickets, and others sell tickets in newsstands and other stores. Many now use an app. Carefully note whether tickets need to be validated and whether validation is done before you board or after. Some countries fine you if you fail to validate your ticket.

√ Health Insurance – Check your health insurance policy to determine whether you are covered out of network and/or outside the U.S. Most regular policies do not cover medical evacuation, but this coverage is available through travel organizations like AAA and insurance companies, and may be part of a more comprehensive travel insurance plan. Note: Medicare does not cover medical expenses outside of the U.S.

√ Travel Insurance – Many travelers choose to purchase travel insurance which can encompasses trip cancellation, various losses due to trip interruption, lost luggage, delays, and certain emergencies. Travelers can cover individual trips or a period of time or limit coverage to certain risks. Talk to your insurance agent or search the internet for more information.

√ Cell Phone – Using a cell phone outside the U.S. is a blog post in itself. Most importantly, learn what service you have to avoid surprises, which can be quite expensive. I don’t travel outside the U.S. for enough days to warrant the cost of a full international plan. Typically, I put my phone on airplane mode when I get on the plane and then rely primarily on wifi to get email, internet, and texts. My cell phone plan allows me to have international coverage for certain countries at $10 per day, should I need full service or want to check for messages mid trip. If you need to make or receive calls consider apps such as FaceTime Audio or What’s App.

√ Luggage Scale – Many of the international airlines have different requirements for weight and dimensions of luggage. Luggage scales are relatively inexpensive and weighing your luggage can save you from overweight bag charges and the hassle of redistributing weight at the airport. For carryon information, Skyscanner has size and weight restrictions for cabin baggage for most airlines. Double check the size and weight (for both cabin and checked baggage) for your specific flight on the airline website.

√ Food – Some countries are very fussy about bringing food into the country. I often take my own food on the plane/train because I must eat gluten free. Knowing about restrictions in advance can avoid problems at the border.

Taking the time to go through this or a similar checklist can help your trip go more smoothly.  With less things to worry about, I have more time to enjoy my trip.

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