Teachertraveler:adventuresabroad

https://naturalitaly.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/dante-quote/ Oh beautiful, beautiful Florence! Years ago in college I had several courses in Humanities which introduced me to the art and architecture of the Renaissance. I was enamored of the Renaissance period. So why not go to the birthplace. I chose a lovely hotel, sort of a cross between a boutique hotel and a BB  It was a tad difficult to find from the airport. It's on a little side street off one of the main piazzas. The door sign is barely visible. The hotel is located inside a renovated building and the rooms are scattered across several floors. I think there are around 10-12 rooms in total with a small sitting/breakfast room. It's self service and great for a cup of quick coffee in the morning.  My trip advisor review:  https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/ShowUserReviews-g187895-d272543-r199342333-Relais_Cavalcanti-Florence_Tuscany.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT One of the main things about Florence: almost everyt

BEGINNING NOTES:  This was a trip for the extended Chinese New Year break. I made it last minute and got an amazing deal on an airfare. Not sure how I landed on Hanoi, but I knew that I wanted to go Vietnam eventually and for some reason chose Hanoi. Very happy that I did. I needed away from the cold and dreariness of Beijing.  The cheap flight meant that I would be getting into to Hanoi very late in the evening or very early in the morning. One downfall: the imigration process at the airport. I had all my paperwork read to go, but it was a slow MOVING PROCESS. Not sure if that was normal or because there were so few workers that time of night. Not a fun thing to wait for when you are tired tired tired. Anyway, the driver from the hotel was ready and waiting to make me to the hotel. I arrived a few days after the end of the Lunar New Year... side note: interesting to compare with the new year celebrations in China. I had no  VND dong. I usually don't worry too much about n