This is part 16 of “Recent Reads” in which I highlight recommended posts in the blogosphere.  

Orchid © Wong Mei Teng

Julie Gallaher of Things You Should Do celebrated her 11th visit to Rancho La Puerta in Mexico.  

On Tripbase, Katie asks “Which travel decade are you?”  

Lilli Kessler of I Keep Walking shares a photo of her two-year-old orchid which didn’t flower until recently.    

In Search of Darn Good Digs reviews the beautiful Venti di Rose, possibly the best bed and breakfast in the world.  

On Marks Travel Notes, Mark features a weekly picture of the London Eye in front of Big Ben.  

Carolyn Gindein, founder of IWOM – We Know No Limits.com, is back in the day to day living in a new location.  

Russ Hearl, CEO and Co-Founder, Sherpa Travel Exchange, LLC, ponders the unbiasedness and trustworthiness of travel review sites such as HotelChatter and TripAdvisor.    

And at the tripwolf blog, Susan Greenwood sets off on a romantic adventure in Northern Virginia. Wine tasting or antique shopping, anyone?  

The peacefulness of driving on your own.

Rural scenery in the community of Margaree on the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia.

The curiosity of wondering what’s around the next corner.

No distracting cars allow you to take in all of the landscape.

The sense of freedom.

Speed limit sign on a golf course in Missouri

You can relax and drive as slowly as you like.

The excitement of not knowing what’s ahead of you.

You can drive above the speed limit.

Los Angeles native Jern Eye, who currently resides in the Bay Area, shares his vision. “Cali” is far from bad. I liked the video in itself much better, though. The shots of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco had me longing for California.

Jern Eye Feat. Spank Pops & J Billion – Cali

Old pickup © Ilco

An old pickup truck somewhere in the desert.

Eye © Darren Fletcher

After a somewhat frustrating experience with my contact lenses a few weeks ago, I considered whether I should consider eye surgery. The prospect of enjoying perfect eye sight almost beats the procedure of having to change lenses every day, or wearing glasses. But the odds were worse than I first thought. Apparently up to one in six who goes through laser surgery suffers complications that affect their eye sight. And even though I know of people who successfully have undergone Lasik surgery, I rather keep using lenses and glasses than risking permanent damage to my vision.

Since I started using contact lenses in middle school and eye glasses on and off in upper secondary school, I have plenty of experience in both. I thought about the benefits of using contact lenses vs. glasses when traveling. What I choose depends mostly on what I will do. If I will take part in any activities involving water (swimming, waterskiing, wakeboarding, surfing) or snow (skiing, snowboarding), I wear my lenses. The same goes for activities such as yoga and dancing. During city trips with a lot of sightseeing, culture, shopping and nightlife, I wear either lenses or glasses. If I opt for lenses for a theater or musical performance, or to the cinema, I make sure to bring eye drops in case my eyes get dry or tired.

The weather also plays a role. During rain or snow, I prefer lenses. Sunny days, either — unless I plan on going to the beach, where I  wear sunglasses. I haven’t tried those eye glasses that darken in the sun yet, but I bet they’re worth buying.

If you have impaired eye sight, what’s your first choice when travelling — contact lenses or glasses? Or 50/50?

Roberta Leoni guides us to the history and masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

The Uffizi Gallery at night

Photo credit

Written by Roberta Leoni

The Uffizi Gallery is located in Florence, Italy. It was commissioned to be built by Cosimo I de Medici in 1560. The architect, Giorgio Vasari, began construction on what was to be the offices of the Magistrates for Florence. This is how the Uffizi (offices) got its name. When Vasari passed away the work was continued by Bernardo Buontalenti and Alfonso Parigi. Following the designs which Vasari had made the building was completed in 1581.

The Medici family had an extensive collection of artwork they either collected or had commissioned by some of the leading artists of the time. Such great masterpieces needed to be displayed. The Uffizi was the perfect place to do this. The works were put on display and anyone who wanted to view them simply needed to ask for a personal showing. The Uffizi Gallery opened its doors to the public in 1765. This makes it one of the oldest museums in the world.

Built in a U shape, the Uffizi Gallery is open at one end to overlook the Arno River. The entire building is a work of art on its own accord. The ceilings are painted with impressive art work as you walk in the main corridor. You will also find many sculptures and statues to hold your interest.

La Primavera - Alessandro Botticelli

There are works of art by some of the best artisans in Florence. Great painters like Michelangelo and Raphaello Santi have works displayed in the Uffizi Gallery. The museum is also home to collections from Botticelli and Tizian Flora.

You can spend three hours in the Uffizi and not see everything. The collection is massive. There are over 700 self portraits of the artists. Most of them were presented to the gallery by the artist, themselves. A few even made the trip to do so in person.

You will be able to see the wonderful Birth of Venus by Botticelli. Also in the gallery are works by Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio. There are 45 rooms on the second and third floors which comprise of the Uffizi Gallery. Each room is set to chronologically show style of painting throughout the ages. Although you may want to view every one of the beautiful pieces of artwork, there are more than just paintings. The Uffizi Gallery also has statues, tapestries, and an entire room devoted to miniatures.

If you want to gain entrance into the Uffizi Gallery, you can stand in line for a ticket. This line can move very slowly during the busy season. Typically, in July or so, the waiting can take hours. There is a way to avoid the queue. You can make reservations for a tour. There is a small fee of 3€ to place the reservation. When you show up at your appointed time, there is no wait. You just go to the second door and pay your entrance fee to begin your tour. It is well worth the added fee to know you will be able to view the exquisite masterpieces which are on display in the Uffizi Gallery.

Roberta Leoni writes articles for http://www.allflorence.com, a useful resource to find cheap apartments in Florence and 1&2 star hotels in Florence. Roberta is a tourist guide and specialises in the Uffizi Gallery history.

Soulful sound by Adrian Younge and the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra.

Adrian Younge and the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra – Shot Me In the Heart