I had a giant list of To-Dos to tackle this afternoon (blog stuff, calling the airline, booking hostels), but first, Jamie and I had a date with the White Rock Lake jogging trail. The trail is somewhere between nine and eleven miles around – depending on which path you take. And we thought, nine miles, no sweat. We weren’t punching a clock, so we’d just take our time and have a nice walk.
A nice walk? Holy crap, I’m tired! Turns out, nine miles is a sweat. A really big sweat. I have an interesting sunburn pattern on my back, seven (seven!) blisters on my right foot alone, and just getting up from the couch is becoming a major ordeal. This is clearly the price of getting old.
So instead of booking hostels, I had dreams about booking hostels during my three hour nap. I know I should be embarrassed about napping for three hours, but mostly I’m annoyed that even in my sleep, I’m still working. Planning. Prepping. There were spreadsheets in that dream, for Pete’s sake. Anyway, now that my itinerary is worked out, I thought we could arrange some over-the-pond meet-ups.
London Meet-Up
Friday October 12
8:30 PM
Location TBD
If you’re a Londoner with a suggestion for a location, I’m all ears. Or, um, eyes. Also, I’ll be spending a few days in Avignon, Barcelona, Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples, if there’s any interest in getting together in those cities. Hostel recommendations in those cities will be equally appreciated! Since, really, so far, I’ve only gotten around to dreaming about them.
In Rome, you MUST stay at Papa Germano’s. This is a moral imperative. I’ll try to go over my old backpacking info to see about other places, but Papa’s I’ll never forget!
When do you go? I haven’t been around in a while!
Scarlet Hip – aka The Babbling Brooke
Join the 3-hour nap club….I did it today, also. It felt great.
OMG, I did a walk for the March of Dimes at White Rock Lake one year. I’m from Dallas and still live here and I KNEW how far of a walk that was but I naively thought I could do it. I was so out of shape that I couldn’t move the next day. Literally Dying. A mistake I will not make anytime soon. I’ll stick to the dog park thankyouverymuch.
In Florence:
here
In Naples, there is a great hostel called “6 small rooms.” It’s not glamorous by any means but it is run by amazing Australians, who can give you great advice about where to go and what to see. There is a communal kitchen so you can run across the street to the fish market, buy lunch/dinner and cook it up yourself. You can come and go as you please, so no worries about being kicked out in the middle of the day while they “clean.” http://www.6smallrooms.com
Florence is a tough one so hopefully someone can help you out there! Can’t wait to read about your adventures!
It’s spring in the southern hemisphere. You should try and get down to this neck of the woods Fish. We have hostels in New Zealand and Australia too
I’ve been reading round here for a probably two years already but don’t think I have commented more than once or twice. Anyway, thought I would now because I’ll be in Oxford this fall and would love to come down to London to be part of the meet-up. Plus, I expect to be doing a lot of the travels in the spring that you’re doing this fall and I want to milk your new blog for all its worth!
*hand shoots up* yes London meetup!
no location suggestions from me though, I only got here a couple of months ago and am pretty much clueless in that direction.
Good site! Good resources here, All the best!
When you go to the Bay of Naples for a swim, look out for the KingFISHer bird (alias Parrothead). That’s one beautiful bird and it may land on your head. Also near the Amalfi drive overlooking the bluff theres an Italian margaritaville songbird, Jimmy Buffetto, seranading the tourists with Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Just Called to say…’ in thick Italian accent. You can hear his voice echoing through the canyon.
hey heather, the Westbourne pub in Notting Hill is a great place! would be great to meet you!
A buddy of mine pakced everything in a couple of years a go – his job, house and other worldly attachements and travelled around the world for a year keeping a blog as he went. I think you might find it intersting AND informative and give you some ideas u can get at it at http://www.ohronniewhereartthou.com
also check out http://www.couchsurfing.com
I hope they are of some help
good luck on your new adventure
Heather,
Please tell me you will be taking pix and updating your flickr super often!
Congratulations on your new job! I am an american living in Turin (Torino), and would be happy to take you around one day – don’t have many tips about “the single life” as I am an old married lady, but I do know the city and many of it’s hidden treasures. I am a great fan of your blog and would love to take you for coffee here at one of our famously elegant bars. By the way I found your blog ages ago via other bloggers through http://www.expatsinitaly.com – a great resource for us over here, you might be interested if you have not already stopped by. you can reach me at lauriesantoliquido at yahoo dot it 0h – and “chaos”….is “caos” or “balordo” in italiano!
If you want to stay at the “party hostel” in Barcelona you will want to stay at Kabul (http://www.kabul.es/) in Placa Reial just off Las Ramblas. Even if you don’t stay there you should visit the restaurant in the corner of the Placa with the white awnings, LES QUINZE NITS. It’s known to have a line but it’s worth it.
In Venice if you are interested in staying in an all-women hostel (convent) you should check out Istituto Canossiano (I’m pretty sure this is the one). You have to take a boat to the location but the nuns who run it are the sweetest ladies you will ever meet. Be back by 11pm to get tucked in and they wake you up in the morning. The dorm is laid out like those in the Madeleine stories, long straight rows of identical single beds. It is quite the experience, although a little far from the sights of Venice.
In Florence my friend and I stayed in a lovely hotel. I can’t think of the name of it but we found it in Rick Steve’s Italy. The BEST travel book!
Enjoy!
i was well served by the Rick Steve’s book for Ireland, and i’ve heard great things about his Italy book as well. I’m sure your research has turned up lots of interesting things, but thought i’d throw that out there.
In Florence the “Archi Rossi” was a nice Hostel, right near the train station.
In London, the Generator was a great place in Russel Square(recommeded by contiki) Very friendly, nice security good night life.
You have to book in advance though because both do fill up!
Hi, am a fully fledged Londoner (whatever that means) – have been reading your blog for last two years, to escape the reality of office work (it works, please don’t stop!). Great to hear you are heading this way, there are plenty of cool clubs and bars you should check out. http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/ is a good place to start. There are a lot of tour guides here (mostly rip-offs). I’d try seeing London by foot (and by our gross underground tube system). As for places to stay your better off going somewhere just outside central London (loads cheaper) then get the tube in. Or if you have the money stay in one of the posh hotels in town, and pretend your a princess! Hope you have fun! Take Care.
Been reading your blog off and on for years as well – first time leaving a comment – but I just had to write about my hostel. I literally just got back from London on Tuesday – and if you need a hostel there – I highly recommend London House Hotel – Bayswater – very close to two tube stations (three different lines easy access everywhere), clean, free breakfast (not very exciting toast and cereal but free!!!) cheap and comfortable. It is also close to food on the go, grocery stores and malls. I loved London – I am jealous!
I am so jealous!!!!!!! But, I’m also very excited for you.
I’m a bit obsessed with Barcelona, and have been there 4 times in the past 2 years. (About to make it 5 in mid-October.) Great hostal (also called pension–nicer than hostel with an e, but still inexpensive) is Hostal Goya:
http://www.hostalgoya.com
I recommend booking as far ahead as possible, since it’s centrally located, sparkling clean, and has super-friendly staff and thus books up early.
On the affordable hotel end, you could also try Hotel Banys Oriental–in the best neighborhood in Barcelona, in my opinion, and a double room is less than 100 Euros a night. Also books up quickly, though.
Otherwise, I’ve had fantastic luck booking apartments–one through oh-barcelona.com and one through habitatapartments.com
If none of those work, the neighborhoods I would recommend staying in are El Borne (the Soho of Barcelona, old city, etc.), parts of Barri Gotic (old city–but avoid Orwell Plaza unless you want a lot of grit and noise), or the lower part of Eixample (newer, more upscale, but you can find deals).
In Italy, the Camping Villages are really fun…if a little far from town…not really camping but more like a little commune of its own, with restaurant, bar, pool…
http://www.plusvillages.com/
The one in Florence is pretty stark, but the Alba d’Oro in Venice is a BLAST!!!
The Beehive hostel in Rome is wonderful!
I have to second the “Archi Rossi” for Florence. I stayed there, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Good breakfast in the morning. Great people – and the entire place is decorated in replications of famous artworks! Close to train station, definately worth checking out.
i don’t know if you’re obligated to stay at hostels due to your new travel gig but if you’re not you should check out craigslist. i’ve seen some sweet yet cheap apartments in barcelona for vacation rentals. these are usually more economical than hostels.
Stop complaining. Do you realize what you’re about to get to go and do? Some people DREAM about having a job blogging about travel! Sheesh.
Wait, who was complaining? You mean, about being sore or having weird dreams? Yes, shame on me for being so ungrateful. Sheesh is right.
As fabulous as it is, it’s still 7 weeks on the road with hundreds of details to iron out. Do YOU realize what I’m about to do?
Don’t be like that.
Oh My Goodness, Heather! Rick Steve! I had forgotten about him until people started recommending his book in your comments. ‘member when he was naked in the public bath? ew. But other than that, ‘member watching him every Saturday?! Good times.
Hostelworld is a good place to find and read reviews about hostels, if you haven’t already been there.
Anyway, I third Archi Rossi. It was the cleanest hostel I’ve ever stayed in, and there was a great little courtyard complete with fountain. However, they don’t take reservations (or at least they didn’t, way back in 2001 when I was there), so you have to go early in the morning to get in.
And does Venice have hostels? If they do, I don’t think there are many, and they’re kind of expensive. You may want to check out budget hotels for more options.
By the way, while you’re in Venice, have lots of chocolate gelato for me. That was my lunch each day I was there.
In Barcelona, we stayed in a hostel but was called an apartment. Or something weird like that. Anyway, it was on Veia Leitana (sp?) right around the corner from the Barri Gotic and very quiet.
oh man, i was in london until april and would have loved to meet up, but now i’m in sf. this all sounds very exciting though!!! one recommendation – when you are in Naples, try to get a ferry over to the isle of Capri for at least a day (even better if you can stay over). it’s my favorite place in the world and if you are that close you really should go!!! i’m excited for you!
Check out http://www.hostelworld.com I just went to Japan over the summer and their recommendations were spot-on. When I backpacked through Europe a few years ago, though, I never booked hostels. We would stay at pensions near the train stations (which were also conveniently near the city-centers) and had some great finds… names, however, I don’t remember. Have fun!
I will put in another vote for the Archi Rossi in Florence, though be warned, it does skew young– the odds that you will end the night doing shots with a 19 year old from Boston are really high. In Venice, the very unimaginatively-named but totally utilitarian Backpackers Hostel Venice on Campo San Toma is cheap, clean and one of the few hostels in Italy with in-suite bathrooms in every room.
Wow…9 miles, good for you!
I can only imagine the landscape around the lake, it must have been nice.
As for the hostels – I have never been to take part of the world, but sure would like to go…
Wow Aren’t you kinda glad now about the whole unemployment gig? This will be the best adventure yet. Think of the places, food and oh my men that you will meet.
Good for you Fish!
if you want somewhere central marketplace behind oxford street is a fab bar. failing that the bar at the oxo tower is lovely, not cheap but great cocktails and views. also great eastern dining rooms in shoreditch – great food and cocktails.
ooooo and if you want cheap central accomodation there’s a travelodge in on high holborn!
Go to the library and get a Rick Steves book for those cities. I heart Rick Steves.
A London meetup sounds great! I am moving to London for 18 months this weekend. I will definitely be there on the 12!
Bummer! I’m going to be on a school trip when you are there (not complaining as I’ll be scuba diving in Spain)…away from 9th to 13th. Darn! Have fun in London…and if you come on back any day, let us know!
Think you’ll really enjoy London. Great city for singles.
There’s only one hostel in Avignon. Well, there are actually two, but the other one is a campsite, and the French’s definition of camping is quite rustic.
Anyway, the hostel you’ll need to stay is the YMCA-UCJG; it’s actually not in Avignon but in the town next door, Villeneuve-les-Avignon. But I swear, it’s only a 20-minute walk from Avignon, and there’s a bus too.
It’s pretty good. If I remember correctly, it’s 24 Euros/night, but it’s cheaper with Hostelling International card — definitely get an HI membership before you leave the U.S. There’s a gorgeous view from the patio, which you can see here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/solomanlam/311161675/in/set-72157594400421192/
Oh yeah, the phone number for the Avignon hostel is 04-90-25-46-20. (Leave out the first 0 if you’re dialing from the US, and add (011-33.)
If you’ll be in Italy at the beginning of November, I’d be in for the meet-up… I’ll be traveling around Italy on vacation.
You could always stay at Camping Village Alba d’Oro just outside of Venice. They have a shuttle, and it’s a fun time.
If you’re staying in Edinburgh, I just stayed at the SmartCityHostel during the Fringe festival. I thought it was very clean and right in the center of the action. Lucky you, Scotland is my favorite country of all!
If you’re not done booking…
Archi Rossi has been thrown about here for good reason. Yes, it’s clean but the breakfasts are the best you’ll find behind the buffet breakfast on offer at Rome’s Yellow Hostel. Yellow is clean and very accessible (4 minute walk from Rome’s main station). One complaint: water pressure in the showers is poor, they are hot though. Belushi’s in London is pretty comfy but far too many Aussies and it isn’t very central.
In Barcelona, you should avoid Sea Point but there’s always an attractive bloke on reception at night.
And that’s my .02.
I am so jealous. Good luck with your adventure, can’t wait for the stories. My favorite resource for travel planning:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikitravel
I’m in Avignon!! I just moved here. Email is: nickelfrog (at) gmail (dot) com
There are cheaper hotels in Avignon also, if the rec above doesn’t suit. Let me know if you want details, there’s too much to put on a comment.
The Trafalgar bar (bottom of the hilton on trafalgar square) is amazing plus it has a roof garden terrace bit for those nice sunny evenings we’ve been experiencing around here. Amazing cocktails and drinks, very civilised.
If you want somewhere a bit more touristique (more room, less expensive drinks) there is waxy o connors in soho, otherwise shoreditch is a lot more ‘street’, there is the drunken monkey which does good drinks and dim sum, and then the T-bar for later. Hope that helps!
Does it have to be a hostel? I stayed at the Pensione Centrale in Florence on a school trip. They seemed to cater to a student crowd, but there were other travelers there as well. Excellent location. I loved it!
Love your blog and can’t wait to hear about your travels! I have recently travelled in Europe and found http://www.hostelworld.com and http://www.virtualtourist.com invaluable for finding accomodation. Have fun!
Oh the ENVY!! I will have to live vicariously through you until I can win the lottery and go tour Europe every summer while I’m not teaching!
London: There is a hostel called Piccadilly Backpackers on Sherwood Street, which is right next to Picadilly Circus – it advertises as from £20 per night. There are a number of Travelodge Hotels in London which have rooms from £29 per night but they get booked up pretty quickly – so will depend on how organised you are! Your writings are fab, though at 40 I may not be your target demographic!!! Keep up the good work and enjoy your travels.
I live in London and would love to meet up as well. Not sure what kind of meet up outing you are looking for coffee shop, pub, bar, etc. Have some ideas for whatever category so let us know. Your new job rocks! Congrats!
How about the Texas Embassy in London? Heather in her native setting?
You’re right….and my comment was not deserved. I think (well, I know) I was in a bad mood and not liking my job very much when I wrote that. Jealousy maybe?
Congrats on the job and hope things pan out smoothly. Good luck!
Please forgive me if you addressed this question before, but did you solicit for this travel writing job, or did they seek you out? It sounds amazing, and I’m always curious as to how people land these type of jobs. Thanks!
This Fish: They came to me – a woman who reads my blog works for the company.
I do have a London suggestion – go for a B&B – they are inexpensive and still nice to stay in. I used one when I moved over here the first time…www.londonbb.com
I just got back from being stranded in London! I stayed at Journey’s Elephant and Castle Hostel – very clean, safe, and such a friendly staff.
My London native friends and I loved The Old Crown for delicious wine and tapas menu (Menu starts after 5:30pm).
http://www.theoldcrownpublichouse.com
And La Bouchee on Old Brompton Road is a very lovely little French Cafe that I’ve frequented.
Don’t have the website for that one handy, though. Sorry.
Enjoy!
Oh Fish, there’s no Amsterdam in your list. Would love a greet and meet in Amsterdam with you. Too bad. But enjoy your traveling. Europe’s GREAT!
I sympathise with your working dreams. I’ve just started working in a cafe and now all my dreams are of coffee. Sometimes I have to make big garbage-bins full of coffee. Sometimes a customer will tell me something (like “the sky is blue”) and I have to interpret that as their coffee order (“the sky is blue” = latte, duh).
Don’t panic. … And don’t dream of spreadsheets.
i got to the comment about the generator hostel in london and HAD to make a comment to warn you: DON’T STAY AT THE GENERATOR!!! Really, trust me on this, you can find much better places for the same amount of money (unless holding the water button down so that you have “continuously” running water in a dubiously green-tinged bathroom is your idea of a good deal). There’s a hostel in Earl’s Court that I think is part of IH that was really clean, had small rooms of like 4 or 6 people with a bathroom/shower in each room. Also, a nice common area in a safe, sort of fancy schmancy area.
Try Proconsolo Rooms in Florence. It’s steps behind the Duomo (between Duomo and Uffizi), clean, medieval building… and cheap. Or was cheap, at least, two years ago! Wherever you stay, enjoy!
Check out bootsnall.com. They have really good hostel recommendations for almost everything.
Sette Santi in Florence is a beautiful convent converted into a hostel with low-occupancy rooms and even single rooms. A short walk from the middle of town, but worth it to be out of the noise and hustle.
a great meeting place in london is Trafalgar Square – by the lions….
enjoy
I’ve been reading forever, and live in Boston. BUT I too will be in london on the 12th, let me know where you decide!
Ohhhhh, go to Match Bar in London. Cute Blokes! Its on the West End.
In Florence if time permits take a day bus tour to Tuscany – Go wine tasting in a Castle!
In Rome go touring early before the lines start.
Have so much fun!
In a bit late on the London meetup. I work in London and would love to be in on the invite. Let us know where you’ll be.
Yeah! White Rock trail… seems innocent except when you do it twice as in the old March of Dimes Walk-a-thon which was most of the way around and then turn around and go back the way you came. It was a major walk taking up to 5 hours or more. I learned to love Gatorade… yuck! JZ