Hello everyone! I hope you are all great. I know it is hard to stay at home for months doing nothing. But I am sure that despite this pandemic situation, we are still okay and kicking the best out of ourselves. I know too that everyone is excited about my next blog.
Anyway, as you all know, I am a newbie in Europe. I've been to places in Italy and I compared the cities. I am very greatful that I found the right city for me to live in. ☺️☺️☺️
Among all the cities that I've been to, I choose Florence. Florence is a very small city. To the fact that you can go around the city center by walking. I can say that it is worth it to stay and live in Florence for several reasons. I am now living in Florence for 9 months now. On this blog, I don't want to be biased. So, you might encounter some negative comments too from me about some areas.
So, I know that everyone is excited to know the reason why Florence is a good city to live in. Let us get started!
REASONS TO LIVE IN FLORENCE, ITALY
1. Florence is Small
Ride no more. If you are staying in the city center in Florence, you do not need a ride anymore to visit famous museums. It is always good to walk. Since Florence is a small city, you will never get lost. If you are a newbie, just hold your map and you are good to go. I always advise people to ask the right authorities for advice if we are lost. But being lost is part of the experience, right?
Courtesy UncoveringFlorence.weebly
2. Florence is close to a lot of beautiful nearby places
Yea, you read it right! Florence is in the middle of different beautiful places in the Tuscany Region. Tuscany is a region in Central Italy. Tuscany is the fifth largest of Italy's 20 regions, located slightly north of the center of the peninsula, with a long stretch of Mediterranean coast. It encompasses 8,800 square miles and has a population of 3.7 million inhabitants. It borders Lazio, Umbria, Le Marche, Emilia Romagna, and Liguria. The regional capital of Tuscany is Florence. Florence is near Siena, Lucca, Montalcino, Volterr, and Castello. Each city mentioned has its own distinguished name. I will be featuring them soon.
Courtesy icon.org.uk
3. A city open of culture and influences from different nationalities
One of the factors that can affect our way of living is adopting someone's culture. As an Asian, I am still adjusting to the culture of Europe. Most especially here in Italy that most of them don't speak comprehend english language very well. But that is not a problem cause we are all human beings who can adapt to a certain time. Florence is very nice to live in because the culture is diverse. There are Europeans, Asians, Americans, Latins, Africans, and some other nationalities living in this city.
Living in this city is an eye-opener for me. Mingling with different culture and nationalities gives me the energy to learn more.
Courtesy Travelaccrossitaly 4. Weather is for everyone
The weather in Florence is best in all seasons. Winter here is not that cold like some other cities in Italy or Europe. Yes, it is still cold but not to the point that you will freeze. Springtime is the best time to walk around the city. It is chilly at night and warm at day time. It feels so good to walk with your loved ones around the city with this temperature. But of course, we can't predict the exact weather sometimes it rain sometimes it doesn't. But trust me, Florence has a very good climate in each season that you will absolutely love. They say that sometimes during wintertime, Florence snows but not to the point that you will see nothing. "Florence is at its best when it snows," said Francesco Franchini.
Courtesy Studentsville/blog
5. Food that only Tuscany has
Food is very challenging for me. It is always my problem whenever I go to places. I love trying new dishes but for my everyday food, I am very picky. Now, when I moved to Florence, I am being fascinated by their food. Their food here is fresh and delicious. Their meat is incredible. Tuscany is also known for its wild game such as wild boar, hares, pheasants, and other birds. Their dish is simple but high quality. I would like to enumerate some most famous dishes in Florence.
FLORENTINE FOOD
Bistecca Alla Fiorentina
The bistecca alla Fiorentina is an Italian steak made of veal or heifer that, combined with the specific preparation, makes it one of the most popular dishes of Tuscan cuisine. It is a high cut including the bone, to be cooked on the embers or on the grill, with a degree of "blood" cooking.
Trippa and Lampredotto
Simply put, they are organ meat or offal. Trippa is tripe, the edible lining of the cow's stomach. While tripe is eaten elsewhere, lampredotto is a local specialty for Florence. It is the fourth and final stomach of a cow, generally slow-cooked with tomato, onion, parsley, and celery until it has the texture of tender roast beef.
Panzella
Panzanella or panmolle is a Tuscan chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions, and tomatoes that is popular in the summer. It often includes cucumbers, sometimes basil, and is dressed with olive oil and vinegar. It is also popular in other parts of central Italy
Cacciucco
Cacciucco is an Italian fish stew native to the western coastal towns of Tuscany and Liguria. It is especially associated with the port city of Livorno in Tuscany and the town of Viareggio to the north
Ribolita
Ribollita is a famous Tuscan bread soup, a hearty potage made with bread and vegetables. There are many variations but the main ingredients always include leftover bread, cannellini beans, lacinato kale, cabbage, and inexpensive vegetables such as carrot, beans, chard, celery, potatoes, and onion.
Enjoy your trip and share this!
ILOCOS FOOD THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS
Ilocos sits in the northwestern part of the Philippines and is said to have one of the country’s strong culinary traditions. Ilocos, located at the northern tip of the Philippines is bordered by the China Sea. It is home to many World Heritage Unesco sites as well as several National Historic Landmarks. Ilocos food is surprising, delicious and exotic all at the same time. You will surely love the food apart from the accommodating Ilocanos.”
I know everyone is excited about this and I am too. I am enlisting here the top favorite and authentic Ilocos food. I am so greateful to present to you the dishes that I am always craving for since I migrated in Italy. So let us get started. ☺️☺️☺️
ILOCOS FOOD YOU CAN'T MISS
1. Longganisa– Vigan Food Speciality Vigan longganisa, also known as the Ilocano longganisa, is a Filipino pork sausage originating from Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. It is a type of de recado longganisa. This has been the favprite longanisa of Filipinos. Vigan longanisa is an Ilocano sausage delicacy with plenty of garlic and spices in the mixture. The way to describe its taste is, it is spicy, salty, tangy and garlicky. So if you are used to the taste of sweet meat like a traditional longganisa, then you might think twice before cooking this sausage. To make this sausage more authentic, use Iocos' vinegar or native vinegar. But if there is none available, using cane vinegar or apple cider vinegar will suffice. To make your breakfast delightful, you can serve this with fried rice and fried egg.
Courtesy Flickr/ lethologically
2. Bagnet– Deep Fried Crispy Pork Cracklings "Diet no more." That is what I always say to myself whenever I eat this bagnet- deep fried pork. The Ilocano Bagnet is also known as Chicharon Baboy or deep-fried pork meat. It is pork belly deep-fried in its own fat. Once fried, it is air dried up to drain the fat. The process is repeated over and over until the pork reached is maximum crispiness. I love it! I can eat this from breakfast, lunch up to dinner. Yes! This crunchy fried pork is very famous in the Philippines.
Courtesy Flickr/ NCCA Official
3. Pinakbet– Famous Mixed Vegetable Ilocos Food Pakbet Ilocano or pinakbet is a popular vegetable dish that originated from one of the northern provinces of the Philippines, Ilocos. Pinakbet is a very healthy stew of vegetables and pork. And Ilocanos have adapted a way of cooking it by layering the vegetables in the pot. This dish is all time favorite. You will never complete your Ilocos jouney without giving a shot on this dish. Pakbet is cooked in a clay pot called “Palayok” and Anchovy sauce (bagoong isda) is used to add flavor. Pakbet is a dish that is really worth trying. By the way, having an extra cups of rice around might help. MAybe extra 1 cup or 2 cups? hahahaha
Courtesy Facebook/ Lutong Bahay Recipe 4. Okoy- Shrimp Fritters from Vigan, Philippines These delicious treats are crispy shrimp fritters cooked in their shell in a glutinous rice batter and shaped into a round form. These fritters are garnished with fresh shallots and a mix of garlic and chili peppers. The unique flavors come to life when dipped in an Ilocos style vinegar called sukang Iloco. The first time I tasted this is when I studied in University in Vigan City. Just right infront of Plaza Burgos in Vigan, there are vendors of food including ukoy. You'll love it!
Courtesy Pinterest/ Filipino Foods & Recipes
5. Batac Empanadas – Sunning Orange Empanadas Batac is the oldest town in the Province of Ilocos Norte and was founded in 1587 by the Augustinians. The city is famous for the Batac Empanadas which are considered some of the best in the country. There is even an Empanada festival that takes place every year on the 23rd of June. One of the most striking characteristics of the Batac empanada is its bright orange color. The empanadas are deep-fried and stuffed with green papaya, chopped up longganisa sausages and hard-boiled eggs. The orange-colored dough is made of rice flour and the color comes from the use of annatto seeds. Annatto is popular in South America and is used as a dye, medicine, and as an ingredient in many foods. It is a natural food coloring and makes for a fun eating experience. Just imagine your pizza flipped together from edge to edge. Vigan has version of this dish but if I am to compare the two, I would go definitelly eat the original one- Batac Empanada. That is empanada! mmmmm yummy!
Courtesy Pinterest/ Filipino Recipes Portal
Enjoy your food and don't forget to share!!!
VIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES, A NEW WONDER CITY OF THE WORLD (2004)
Courtesy Flickr/ Ray In Manila
Ilocos Sur is located at the northen part of the Philippines. It has 2 cities, Vigan and Candon. Vigan is a very small city and yet announced as the new 7 wonder cities of the world. Vigan City Declared as New 7 Wonders Cities of the World at 3:00 AM Philippine Time on December 8, 2014. 15 years after Vigan's inscription in the UNESCO List of World Heritage sites and monuments in December 1999, it has been declared a New Wonder City of the World! The winning seven cities declared are:
Beirut, Lebanon
Doha, Qatar
Durban, South Africa
Havana, Cuba
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
La Paz, Bolivia
Vigan, Philippines
Vigan City has plenty of things to offer. It iss a very small city with full of traditions and cultures. Not only these but also food. Before traveling, we always thin of our budget. But wait, budget? With 200 pesos (2$), you can already have your meal. And wait, transsportation, with 200 pesos you can already go everywhere around the city. Thinking about lodging or a place to stay? Just budget 1000 pesos and you will have a very nice and comfortable accommodation.
Vigan City is a province still so do not expect luxury life. As of today, if you are looking for a luxury accommodation or hotel, then forget about it. Vigan hass 4 star hotels but no 5 star. One of the hotels is Hotel Luna, the first and only hotel museum in the Philippines. Hotel Luna is located at the center of the city and just right behind the famous street, Calle Crisologo. So, even if you are not planning to stay in this hotel, you can still go and visit it. Trust me, you wont regret it. I added some places that you can also visit and experience in Vigan City. Budget your Vigan occular for one day and a half.
What to Experience in Vigan City
1. Eat like a real Ilokano- Filipino Most of us are using forks, spoons, and knives when we eat. In traditional Filipino way of eating is using bare hands. Yes, Bare hands! Make sure to wash your hands before eating. Honestly, for me, I enjoy the food better when I eat with my hands alone without any cutleries. This traditional ay of eating is called KAMAYAN. Kamayan is a Tagalog word that means “by hand.” Eating by hand was the traditional way of eating in the Philippines that goes all the way back to the 16th century before Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Eating with utensils is the common way to eat now.
Courtesy Adeline's Catering 2. Try Ilokano Food Whenever I visit a place, I always make suure to try their local food. I also encourage you to do the same. Ilocanos eat food cooked with salted fish (bagoong) most of the times. I love it but I have to forget about my balance diet and my health when I eat bagoong. I am enlisting here some of the food that a traveler must try:
Bagnet
The King of all lechons. Bagnet is a slap of Pork belly literally deep fried in its own fat, over and over to crispy perfected meaty chicharron. Then it is cut into manageable bite size pieces before taking its final dip into the boiler oil bath. They are served with spicy vinegar. It is artery clogging awesome!
Pinakbet
This dish is mixed vegetables cooked with fish paste or shrimp paste. It is a dish of mixed vegetables like ampalaya (bitter gourd), sitaw (long beans), talong (eggplant), okra, squash, and some other vegetables. You can create your own pinakbet version depending on the availability of your vegetable ingredients.
Dinakdakan
As I mentioned earlier, if you are into diet, then you may forget about these food. Dinakdakan is an Ilocano dish that is made of grilled and boiled pig parts-it works as a delicious and tasty appetizer, too! I ahve been enjoying this food since I was in college cause I studied in Vigan City. You may not like the texture of the food but you will certainly enjoy it.
Dinengdeng
This soup is made with variety of green veggies cook with bagoong (fish sauce) and serve with grilled or fried fish like galunggong (roundscad), tilapia or bangus (milkfish). This food is somewhat similar with pinakbet. The only main difference is the soup. The Dinengdeng is soupy unlike pinakbet that you dont put water because the vegetables will create their own water.
Empanada
These empanadas are orange! They mix achuete/annatto powder into their batter flour for flavor and color. The filling consist of shredded papaya or beans sprout with eggs and sometimes longganisa sausage. They are deep fried and dipped in spicy vinegar. Aside from it being deep-fried, it's totally healthy.
Dinardaraan
Cook the meat by its own blood. Imagine it. That is how you cook the dinardaraan. You may also put pepper or eggplant if you wish too.
3. Mini zoo expedition Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo is a must-visit spot in the province due to the exciting activities that people of all ages will surely enjoy. This hundred-hectare zoological park and resort complex is owned by the former Ilocos governor Luis “Chavit” Singson. This is not just a zoo, because they also have animal show everyday.
4. Plaza Salcedo (dancing fountain) Do not sleep early because your trip is not yet done. You have to witness the dancing fountain. At Plaza Salcedo (Dancing Fountain), observe colored jets of water and shooting laser lights moving to the sounds of pop music. The water fountain is dancing with the music and accompanied by magnificent lights.
Enjoy your trip!
THINGS TO EXPECT IN "FLORENCE, ITALY" AS A FOREIGNER
When tourists think of visiting Italy, they always think of Rome, Milan, Venice, and Florence. Florence is one of the cities in Italy. It is situated between Rome and Milan. It is the capital city of the Tuscany Region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”
But the question here is, what should you do if you are a first-timer in Florence? Are you ready to get fascinated by old and super old architecture? Now I am writing this to guide you on the things that you should know and what to expect about Florence Italy. If you are into classic and history, then Florence is for you. Florence has plenty to offer. The food, the culture, the architecture, and the people itself. Florence offers plenty of tourist destinations. But, this doesn't mean that you won't be disappointed because of the number of tourists and locals around the city. The City is always full of tourists around the globe; Asian, Western, American, and some other nationalities. A few months ago, I just landed and got my permit to stay in Italy and I was clueless about Italy's life or Florentine's life. So, here I am giving some heads up before traveling to Florenc, Italy.
Tips for Visiting Florence
1. It is always best to walk Florence is smaller than Rome. But, Florence is more peaceful than in other cities in Italy. This became my favorite City. It has plenty of things to offer. Since it is a small city, you can go and visit places by just walking. Car no more and taxi no more. What a very big saving, right?
2. Reserve in advance your tickets for Museums Do yourself a favor and pre-book your tickets to the museums if you’re visiting Florence in the summer or springtime. The lines are absolutely awful and without pre-booked tickets, you’ll spend ages standing in line, instead of enjoying your visit. But wait, due to the high number of tourists and visitors to some museums and churches there are also long queue lines waiting for you to enter the building. It is crazy, right? But all these struggles will be paid off once you entered the museums.
3. Shopwisely Don't get crazy in shopping. Like some other cities, Florence is full of shopping stores. But wait again, it is always best to stay calm and don't get crazy buying stuff with a super extra penny added on the items. Are you looking for a luxury designer outlet in Italy? If you are into branded stores, I highly suggest you take a ride to go to the " The Mall Florence", it is the place where the Luxury outlets are.
4. Visit Piazza MIchelangelo You will never want to skip this. Make it your priority. If you want an amazing view of the whole city and a fantastic view of the sunset, then you have to go to Piazza di Michelangelo. It is located at the top of the mountain. I advise you to visit it in the afternoon for a better panoramic view of the city. It is a very romantic place. I always spend hours sitting and looking at the city from above.
5. Make a good budget For me as an Asian- Filipino, I find the city a Lil bit expensive than my home country. But I think if you are used to spending 20 Euros per meal, then it is only fair for you. Florence is cheaper than in Milan. Make sure to calculate your heads up expenses before traveling. Nobody wants to starve in the middle of the trip, right?
6. Ciao, Hello, Sawaddee Krub, Hola, Ahlo! Do you speak Italian? Then do not expect so much in Italy. Most of the Italians don't speak English very well (me too! hahaha). But some Millenials and young people in Italy do. Don't get crazy when you don't understand them. I advise you to have your phone with you all the time just in case you need a translator. There are some restaurants that have English speaking servers. And if you find one, good for you. But who cares about the language, right? You are going to Florence to enjoy it anyway! Enjoy your trip!
Courtesy
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Hello readers! It's me, Jeric! Mabuhay! This is my free blog and I would like to welcome you all and have a happy reading ahead!
