Thursday 30 May 2019

Italy By Train: Easy 21 Day Rail Itinerary For 6 Destinations

I recently travelled for 3 weeks around Italy by train and have put all my first-hand experience and research into this epic 3-week rail itinerary just for you. Start in Milan and travel to La Spezia, Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, and Venice before wrapping up back in Milan. There are more highlights than you can count... this was my best rail journey so far!
Read more at our travel blog.

Tuesday 28 May 2019

1 Day In Milan: Da Vinci’s Last Supper, The Duomo & The Golden Triangle

We spent 1 day in Milan at the end of a whirlwind rail tour around Italy, and crammed as much site-seeing as we could into 24 hours. This 1-day itinerary visits Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, climbs the Duomo, and even squeezes a little time for shopping in The Golden Triangle. Be warned, this plan isn’t for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is Milan.
Read more at our travel blog.

Saturday 18 May 2019

The world's most famous fresco... "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Located within the unassuming Santa Maria delle Grazie (a church and Dominican convent) in Milan, Italy, this 15th-century fresco is amazing for so many reasons. ⠀ ⠀ da Vinci was supposed to only take 1 year to complete this, but took 4 because of his extreme dedication to perfection. ๐ŸŽจHe even developed new artistic techniques to create the fresco - not all of them worked, resulting in the painting deteriorating quickly several decades after completion. The most recent restoration work commenced in the 1970's and it took over 20 painstaking years to complete.⠀ ⠀ This hall was bombed during World War II resulting in 2 of the 4 walls being damaged.๐Ÿ˜ฉ Fortunately this was one of the walls to survive.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ But what is often overlooked in photos of this scene is the amazing perspective Leonardo used. The mural takes up the entire width of a wall, and gives the viewers a sense of realistic depth, as if the walls on the left and right continue into the fresco. We take this sort of idea for granted today. But in the 15th century, perspective was a radical concept. The lighting of the characters in the fresco even reflect what the original windows of the room would have looked like. Leonardo da Vinci is a genius, but it can't fully appreciated without a knowledgeable guide. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took a tour with @WalksTours which included this church as well as rooftop access to Milan Cathedral. Two of the best things to see in this city. Oh, and getting into the Santa Maria delle Grazie is no easy feat. Only a limited number of online tickets are available, and sell out months in advance.๐ŸŽŸ️ So if you don't go with @WalksTours then you chance of seeing this marvel are very slim.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ #takewalks⠀ #italianart


Thursday 16 May 2019

2 Days In Venice: A Survivor’s Guide To Canals, Islands & Crowds

I visited Venice to see if it lives up to the hype and to explore the epicentre of the Venetian Empire that thrived during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Here’s my handy 2 day itinerary that covers Venetian museums, icons like Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace, and then spends a day away from the maddening crowds touring nearby islands Murano and Burano.
Read more at our travel blog.

Finish this: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is...⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took an amazing day trip from Florence to Pisa & Lucca with @WalksTours. It included a wine tasting ๐Ÿฅ‚ and lunch in the Tuscan countryside. I didn't expect to enjoy climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower as much as I did. When the builders realised it was leaning during construction, they tried building the top portion to lean in the opposite direction. So when we were walking up, we reached a point where it gets really bizarre, feeling like walking up and down at the same time. Totally trippy!⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ No surprises, but I was super dizzy ๐Ÿ™„ by the time I reached the top of that spiral staircase. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Pisa Cathedral next to the tower doesn't get anywhere nearly the amount of attention that it deserves. That is one of the most beautiful churches I've seen anywhere in the world, and it's worth the daytrip for that alone. Oh, and it's leaning too if you look carefully.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ "What we need to do is always lean into the future; when the world changes around you and when it changes against you - what used to be a tail wind is now a head wind - you have to lean into that and figure out what to do because complaining isn't a strategy." - Jeff Bezos⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ #takewalks


Friday 10 May 2019

2 Days In Rome: The Essential Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Rome is called “the Eternal City” for very good reason. It’s impact on the world has been, well, pretty eternal. Visiting Rome in any short timeframe is destined to be a challenge. I recently had only 2 days in Rome to explore the essential big-ticket attractions like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and Trevi Fountain. Here’s how to do Rome like a pro.
Read more at our travel blog.

Your chance to ๐ŸŒŸwin big.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I've been using the Everyday Backpack from @peakdesign for several years and it has never let me down. This shot was taken in Meteora, Greece in March. I love the #peakdesign timeless styling and dedication to detail. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ They're about to launch their 9th #kickstarter campaign and it's going to be massive. But they're not pulling back the curtain to say what it is just yet. The big reveal is 21st May. However they're giving away this new product to 3 lucky winners. For your chance to win, just follow the link in my bio - @travelwithbender. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ This new project has been their toughest yet. All I know is that's got to do with photography and is been 4 years in the making. Can't wait!⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I hope you win... good luck! ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ #findyourpeak


Wednesday 8 May 2019

The Academy of Athens is said to be the most beautiful neoclassical building in the world. And I have to agree. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜ Wow, just wow.⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We explored the modern architecture of Athens on the "Beautiful Neoclassical" tour with @fantasytravelgr. Our guide Katerina, alongside tour developer Athina, led us past the Greek Parliament building, University of Athens, National Library of Greece, Numismatic Museum and more. The final stop was a guided tour of the National Historical Museum - something every visitor to Athens should see. Exhibits range from the War of Independence, to WWI and WWII.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took another tour with @fantasytravelgr to discover the "Museum of Ancient Greek Technology". I was blown away by how much advanced technology the Greeks had 2000 years ago! We saw automated doorbells, rapid-fire crossbows, wine pouring robots, mini cinemas (with sound effects) and complex mechanical clocks. This museum does not receive the recognition it deserves. A lot of painstaking time has been put into each exhibit by studying ancient manuscripts and designs. You can't miss this place on your next visit to Athens.⠀ ____⠀ ⠀ @thisisathens


How To Spend 4 Days In Athens: Best Historical Sites, Discount Tickets, Museums & Restaurants

There’s something about Athens that is simply timeless. The famous Classical period ended over 2,300 years ago, yet when we think of Athens, we still imagine Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato teaching philosophy, the invention of democracy, and massive advancements in medicine, science, and the arts. These things shaped the very foundation of our modern western society, and they all happened in Greece. With this first-hand, expertly crafted itinerary, your 4 days in Athens will cover the most significant historic sites and get maximum value out of your Athens City Pass.
Read more at our travel blog.

Tuesday 7 May 2019

The famous Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion, Greece. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Completed in 440 BC and dedicated to the ancient Greek sea god, this temple is perched on a cliff 60 metres (200 ft) above the raging sea. Impressively, 16 out of the 38 columns are still standing today (only 4 were re-erected in the 20th century).⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took a half-day tour here with @athenswalkingtours. The day of our trip was particularly windy and cold, but that didn't dampen our spirits. Getting up close to this amazing ruin was well worth it.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ "I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." - Leonardo da Vinci⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I'm a big foodie. So in Athens we also tried a Greek cooking class with @athenswalkingtours. It was fantastic! Our teacher, Fofi, lead a small group through the process of making spanakotiropita (cheese and spinach pie), Greek salad, tzatziki dip, roast lamb, dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), zucchini balls, and a yoghurt desert. At the end of the evening we got to enjoy our efforts (delish!) to the sound of live Greek music on classical guitar and bouzouki. Opa!⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ @thisisathens


Monday 6 May 2019

San Diego Zoo Discount Tickets – Cheapest Prices In 2019

I’m not going to convince you to visit San Diego Zoo. If you’re reading this, you’ve already done your research. You know you want to go. Now it’s just a matter of finding the best San Diego Zoo discount tickets. After all, why pay full price?
Read more at our travel blog.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I have been looking forward to visiting Delphi for many years, which was once considered the centre of the world in ancient times. Within the temple, the Pythia (high priestess) would provide prophecies once a month after getting high on natural ethylene escaping from a chasm in the earth's crust. Ancients considered that Apollo possessed her body during these trances. Even Alexander the Great consulted the Oracle of Delphi before waging war against Persia.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took a day tour from Athens to Delphi with @fantasytravelgr, which included return bus ride and guided tour of the nearby museum.⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ While in Athens we also enjoyed a food & wine tour ๐Ÿท with Marina from @greekality. She customises each tour depending on the tastes and preferences of guests. We went to some amazing wine bars and gained a lot of insight about Greek wines. Highly recommended! ⠀ ⠀ ____⠀ ⠀ #lovegreece


Wednesday 1 May 2019

How To Discover Modern Athens In 5 Easy Steps

3000 years of history is impossible to ignore in Athens, from your first glimpse of the iconic Acropolis, to ancient remnants scattered throughout the city centre. But there’s more to Athens than its history. I found 5 ways to experience Athens as it is today and uncover the remarkable journey that brought it here.
Read more at our travel blog.