5 Days in Florence
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5 Days in Florence

I was happy with my time in Florence. I was booked for six nights in Florence, but one of my flight delays caused me to miss a connecting flight, and the following available flight wasn’t until the following day. Those on that same flight and itinerary could take a bus from Rome to Florence, but I declined. Instead, the airline arranged accommodations at a hotel room for the night. Transportation to and from the hotel and a small welcome meal was included.

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Matera, Italy: What to Expect and How to Enjoy
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Matera, Italy: What to Expect and How to Enjoy

I spent five days in mid-September in beautiful Matera, Italy, which left a lasting impression. It is a stunning city that is incredible to explore. It’s not as busy as other Italian destinations, so you can find places to relax and take in the scene before you. Materi is most recognizable from the Sassi, the city’s ancient and historic area. The Sassi are stone structures amongst the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. Matera is considered one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to 10,000 BC.

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The Departure: A Travel Story
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The Departure: A Travel Story

I want to start this story with a note important to the context of what follows: I am very fortunate to have the opportunities I do to travel. I realize that travel requires both the time to do so and the means of making it possible. I am incredibly thankful for this and think about it whenever I get on a plane. I cannot stress enough that I am blessed with these adventures.

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Photographs from Matera
Travel Tom England Travel Tom England

Photographs from Matera

Matera is an excellent location for photography, and I was surprised by how open it was for exploration. This surprise was very evident after I arrived in Florence, concluding Matera. Florence is one of the most renowned Italian destinations and one that many first-timers to the country choose to visit. However, comparing the number of people in Florence to those in Matera is a stark difference.

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Florence and Matera: Packing for Italy
Travel Tom England Travel Tom England

Florence and Matera: Packing for Italy

With some additional free time this month, I have been planning a solo trip these past weeks. When looking at how I could use this time, there were many destinations I was considering. Using Google Docs, I was working on multiple itineraries and flights to consider. What would be the best option?

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