Travel

2 Days Exploring Lucca, Tuscany!

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This post reviews Dan and my two-day visit to Lucca in September 2024. This was our second visit to Lucca  (read about the first here) and as expected, we had a wonderful time.

Lucca’s famous towers, which were formerly owned by wealthy families showing off.

LUCCA, TUSCANY

Lucca is a small city in Tuscany – about an hour inland from the Ligurian Sea and about an hour west of Florence. Lucca is a popular day trip from Florence, and its known for its well-preserved historic center that is surrounded by amazing town walls that you can walk or bike along. Lucca is also the birthplace of several famous composers, including Puccini (the most famous), Catalani and Boccherini.

Lucca, Italy.

Aside from being generally popular with tourists, Lucca is also the hometown of Dan’s great-grandmother, Ida Poli. We first visited back in 2015 and returned in 2024 with Dan’s uncle and aunt. We really like Lucca. While it can be touristy, it is still a real Italian town and it’s not nearly as touristy or crowded as Florence or Cinque Terre. We stayed overnight both visits, which I recommended over a day trip to fully enjoy the city.

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Airport Lounge Review: No. 1 Lounge, Heathrow Terminal 2

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No.1 Lounge is a UK airport lounge brand with locations in several UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. I previously visited the one in Heathrow’s Terminal 3 (also great, but this one was superior), which you can read about here. This review discusses the new No.1 Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 2, or “The Queen’s Terminal.”

NO.1 LOUNGE LOCATION IN TERMINAL 2

The No.1 Lounge in Terminal 2 is located post-security near Gate A2. To access the lounge, turn right after security and take the elevator or escalator down 1 level. Once on the lower level, turn right behind the Louis Vuitton cafe (which looked so nice) and you’ll find another elevator (with a sign) to take you to the lounge. Honestly, locating the No. 1 Lounge was not the easiest, which was made more difficult by the fact that it is a new lounge and there are few signs for it. We finally found a sign at the elevator leading to the lounge. It was worth the search.

Finally found the elevator to the No.1 Lounge!

CHECK-IN TO THE NO.1 LOUNGE IN TERMINAL 2

We checked in to the No.1 Lounge by presenting our Priority Pass card and boarding passes to the check-in desk, which is are is where guests exit the elevator from the general terminal. There were no issues checking in with Priority Pass (as there often are), but it was not a particularly crowded flying day IMO.

While we used our Priority Pass to access the No. 1 Lounge, anyone can go on the lounge’s website and purchase a 3 hour pass for 40 pounds per adult (20 per child). Passes can be booked up to 24 hours in advance, and there is often a discount for booking in advance online. We attempted to book the lounge online, but (1) it was too late (less than 24 hours in advance) and (2) the lounge charged full price to book (the other No.1 permitted a nominal reservation fee for those with Priority Pass). Given how crowded some lounges can get, I suggest making a reservation if you can.

THE NO.1 LOUNGE SPACE IN TERMINAL 2

Compared to the No.1 Lounge in Terminal 3, the No.1 Lounge in Terminal 2 is much smaller, but also much more chic. The vibe of the lounge was old school luxury, with a clean, modern feel, but while also invoking somewhat of an art deco theme. It definitely worked. Think green plants, lots of wood and velvet furniture. Feathery plants were also sprinkled around. I really loved this style.

A selection of the decor.

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The Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience: An Extremely Detailed Guide

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On our recent trip to Cinque Terre with Dan’s Uncle and Aunt, we spent an afternoon in Manarola learning to make pesto at the Instagram famous Nessun Dorma’s Pesto Experience. This article provides a very detailed review of the Pesto Experience and if its worth the time and money.

Dan & I at the Nessun Dorma Pesto Experience.

RESERVATIONS AT NESSUN DORMA

The first step to enjoying the Pesto Experience is making a reservation. Reservations are complimentary and can be made on Nessun Dorma’s free phone application. You simply enter your information on the application and done! Nessun Dorma emailed us a reminder the day prior. Also, you don’t pay until the actual event, and credit card is accepted.

Nessun Dorma!

GETTING TO NESSUN DORMA FROM MANAROLA

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A 3 Day Itinerary for Cinque Terre, Italy in Late September!

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Dan and I traveled to Italy with his Uncle and Aunt from Texas in September 2024. This was his Aunt’s second time in Italy and his Uncle’s first, despite being entirely of Italian descent. Our first stop on this visit was Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare specifically! We had a wonderful time and ate some fantastic food. This blog post details what we did, how we got around and what we ate and drank!

The four of us in Cinque Terre!

CINQUE TERRE

If you are unfamiliar with Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre, or “Five Lands” in English, is a group of five tiny villages in Northern Italy, located on the Ligurian Riviera (a/k/a coastal Liguria or the Italian Riviera). Locals still live in Cinque Terre, but it has become terribly popular in the last decade or so, being popularized by cruise ships docking in La Spezia, Rick Steves’ travel guides, and most recently, the adorable Disney movie Luca (give it a watch before your visit). Travelers come to Cinque Terre for its beautiful villages, coastline, delicious seafood and pesto, and hiking. This was Dan and my fourth visit to Cinque Terre. And while the tourists are honestly somewhat unbearable, especially when cruise ships are in port,  Cinque Terre is still almost as magical as our first visit way back in 2008. The end of this article lists some of our top “tips and tricks” for visiting Cinque Terre, the # 1 being please stay overnight (and spend money in locally owned establishments!).

Vernazza from the Blue Trail.

A THREE DAY ITINERARY FOR CINQUE TERRE

Classic Cinque Terre. Monterosso al Mare beach.

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Fantastic Food in an Adorable Setting in Cinque Terre, Italia: L’ancora della Tortuga.

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Dan and I spent 10 days in Italy in late September/early October 2024 with Dan’s aunt and uncle, who had not really traveled extensively in Italy. Our first stop was the gorgeous Cinque Terre, and this post details our first dinner in Cinque Terre at L’ancora della tortuga!

Picture perfect Cinque Terre. This is the train from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza, looking at Vernazza.

L’ancora della tortuga, or the Turtle’s Anchor, is located inside the sea walls of old Monterosso. L’ancora della tortuga is well regarded in the Cinque Terre and specializes in the area’s famed seafood. The restaurant also offers great gluten free options, which was necessary for one member of our group. Access to the restaurant is by literally walking down a set of stairs build into the old fortifications of Monterosso.

This is the entrance to L’ancora della tortuga.

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