Cucina flexiteriana

I have refrained from reviewing restaurants for the simple reason that I am not qualified. I like almost all kinds of restaurants that are quiet and friendly.

There is, however, one trend in cooking that I’d like to promote. It doesn’t have a proper title but it basically involves doing as little as possible in the way of preparing the ingredients. Temperatures, for example, are kept very low. It gives you a totally new perspective on fish and vegetables, to start with.

Fiore in Rome is an excellent venue for testing whether you like this trend. I’ll come up with more examples later.

www.fiore.roma.it/en/

Fiorentina

Florence (Firenze) is a great stopover when travelling in Italy. It is a nice combination of age-old treasures and modern urban life. Once again, I advise travelling outside the high season if you don't want to stand in queues for the whole day.


When researching the shops and restaurants in the center, I ran into interesting surprises, such as a very strong Korean presence. I admit I don't know its history.


Hotel Albani is a good choice for anyone interested in classical charm not far from the centre. It is a nice oasis very close to the railway station, with very understanding staff. I recommend reserving the sauna. It's free of charge for hotel guests and of excellent quality.


https://www.hotelalbanifirenze.com/

These tracks were made for walking

Cinque Terre is a lovely spot on the western coast of Italy. It is a collection of five smallish villages, all connected by a busy railway line. You get to enjoy great scenery, good food, and the friendly Mediterranean vibe.


In the high season, the place is flooded with tourists. My solution is to go for trekking. This place usually tops the lists of trekking destinations in the world for a good reason. You can choose between really challenging tracks and a leisurely walk by the seaside. The challenging tracks are really challenging so make sure you don't suffer from any serious illnesses or vertigo.

I promise you a Rose Garden

I'm afraid you'll have to endure a few Italy-related posts in the near future. I am still completely spellbound after a recent trip.


Rose Garden Palace is a lovely hotel in Rome. It truly deserves all of its four stars: old-world charm combined with modern amenities, excellent service, a lovely restaurant, and a decent spa/gym.


The hotel is easily accessible and nicely located close to a park, a taxi stop and shops, but outside the hustle and bustle of the center. And it has the nicest doormen in the world.


https://www.rosegardenpalaceroma.com/

New York, New York

New York, you strange, mysterious, lovable and confusing city!

Just one tip, if you need a reasonably-priced hotel not far from where the action is, go for The Evelyn.

It is all New York but very welcoming for people from all over the world. Fantastic people, and great pastries in the morning.

http://www.theevelyn.com/

Hiding from the sun

Let's get this out of the way: I hate boutique hotels. You normally get too much attention and feel like you're in a movie. I appreciate anonymity and low-key service whereever I go.

I was caught by surprise in my hometown. An independent hotel that quietly put in your room and left you in peace. Big pluses for the fact that the reception, the rooms, and the restaurant were all in different buildings.

In the night, absolute quiet in the middle of a bustling city. Four and a half stars out of five.

hotelf6.fi

This town is coming like a Cape Town

Cape Town is in the top 3 of my favourite cities. It has a unique African/global/international/southern vibe. It's great for people who expect a combination of breathtaking scenery, good food/wines/coffee, diversity and good times. The rand is so cheap now that Cape probably has the best price/quality ratio in the world.


It's advisable to take a whole week to explore this city and it's amazing surroundings. You'd be sorry if you missed the Cape of Good Hope, the beaches, the picture perfect small towns, the safaris, and the vineyards. Great service wherever you go.


I've stayed at the Taj and the Mandela Rhodes Place which offers true value for money. Beggars can become a problem so it's advisable to use the excellent and cheap taxi/Uber services in the evening.