The Game Plan for the Perfect Flight
Step 1: Preplanning for minimal jetlag. Your body will take about 1-2 days to adjust 2 time zones. From LA to Rome there are 9 time zones.
Start adjusting your schedule at a minimum of 5 days before your trip. I typically wake up at 5:30 am. In order to prepare for this trip I gradually adjusted my schedule so on day 5 I was up at 3 am.
For optimal sleep, I highly recommend investing in blackout curtains. Target has great deals, I purchased two panels for < $30.
Step 2: Get yourself cute luggage and pack well in advance. Here’s a look at what I packed for a 10 days trip in June.
(2) pairs of dark wash jeans, Target (1) pair of comfy joggers, Lululemon (2) Summer dresses, Madewell (1) Waterproof trench jacket (1) Lightweight jacket, American Eagle (2) Cardigans (1) Versatile Scarf, Ann Taylor (1) Skirt, H&M (3) Shirts + 1 cami (1) Gucci wallet on chain Makeup Essentials: Lip balm, lip stick, mascara, moisturizer with SPF 30 Undergarments: 1 bra, 8 pairs underwear Shoes: Ankle boots (Sezane), flats, and sneakers Luggage from Amazon, I absolutely adore the vintage style
Packing light is essential for easy traveling. Bring only what you can fit in a carry-on and a small duffle. Trains and public transport in Europe sometimes have bag size restrictions. Plus what fun is it to haul a massive suitcase on public transport.
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Day of the Flight
Stay hydrated with a refillable water bottle. Show up as layered as possible, this will not only help you stay warm on a chilly flight, it will also help you save space in your carry on.
All Things Italy
Your 10-day itinery guide: Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Venice
Rome, Italy Day 1: LAX to Rome. Checkin at Airbnb. We chose a centralized location near the Piazza Navona. Note there is a city tax that must be prepaid for in Euros per guest. Check out the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps.
Day 2: Viator Skip the Line Ancient Rome + Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour. I cannot recommend a guided tour enough. We were able to bypass extremely long line and enter the colosseum. The tour also included Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. You will hear a wonderful story about Romulus and Remus and the foundation of Rome. Optional evening Roma Soccer Game.
Day 3: Vatican City. St Peter’s Square and Bascilica + Vatican + Sistine Chapel. My least favorite day out of our Rome trip. If museums are your thing, I say go for it. However, If short on time I would skip it. ____________________________________________________ Florence, Italy
Day 4: Take a 1.5 hour train to Florence. Checkin at Airbnb. We chose one near the Piazza della Signoria. Visit Boboli Gardens + Pitti Palace. For the evening, dine at La Bottega Del Buon Caffe. Just be sure you make reservations in advance, as it is a Michelin Star restaurant.
Day 5: Book an early timeslot in advance and head over to view Status of David at Galleria Dell’AccademiaDi Firenze. If you have time, have lunch at Mercato Centrale. There is a little bit of everything there. Optional: Uffizi.
Day 6: Train to Pisa, 50 minutes. Enjoy an hour or so pretending to hold up the leaning tower of Pisa. Then take a 1 hour train from Pisa to Manarola. Get off at Cinque Terre and have lunch at Nessun Dorma. Trust me, there is nothing like it. This place was the absolute highlight of trip. Spend the rest of the day doing a vineyard walk and hiking up the hills. If you have time, spend the night in Manarola. Otherwise catch a 3.3 hr train back to Florence.
Day 7: Optional wine tour at Fattoria Castello di Monteriggioni.
_____________________________________________________Venice, Italy
Day 8: 2.5 hour train to Venice. Check in at Airbnb. Go for a Gondola ride.
Day 9: Tour the islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello.
Day 10: Depart back home
Two Stripes, Three
Joseph sitting on a vintage white van near his family’s farm. Aut mollis. Totam laborum ad molestie incidunt dolorem eleifend iusto mollis dui ad sequi nihil dolor justo fugit, inventore. Earum aperiam corporis, debitis sequi commodo tempora, occaecat dictumst, per mollit, aliquet ipsum. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
Gentleman’s Grey Concrete Wall
Standing in front of a wall. Habitant aenean vero repellat? Natus, dictum? Sunt habitasse cras corrupti. Aute taciti of the maecenas erat ac deleniti arcu. Primis tincidunt viverra duis. Euismod ad quae! Ac cubilia suscipit anim perspiciatis eum parturient ratione iaculis odit magnam. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
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Pink Action Shoot
Dancing is good for the soul. Dictum quisque repellat leo consequuntur senectus bibendum consectetur expedita congue, nemo cubilia non viverra, laborum nemo officia erat, cillum, temporibus, dis ultricies senectus, mus. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
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Ghost Riding on the Van
A refurbished van in a field of grains. Lacinia dolore tempora, potenti aptent diamlorem incididunt pretium eu cras diam? Facere quod similique ea. Totam, perspiciatis? Mollit saepe necessitatibus cillum ipsa ultrices, corporis sapiente quas ut. Photos by Daria Shevtsova.
Uptown Dior 