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My Miracle at St. Rita’s Basilica
High in the mountains of Cascia, Umbria, a beautiful sanctuary provides a peaceful place of prayer and contemplation to followers of the patron saint of impossible cases, Saint Rita. The sanctuary is a 3-hour bus ride from the center of Rome. The catch? Staples There is only one bus per day that takes you directly to the sanctuary and only one that makes the trip back to Rome. THAT’S IT. The total trip is 3 hours long but makes 3 stops along the way, only to change buses warning! there are no bathroom breaks. Once in Cascia, you have 5 hours to explore as the return bus picks everyone up promptly at 3:30PM in the exact place…
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Citta Alta: Bergamo’s Best Kept Secret
Tucked away at the foot of the Alps, bordering Switzerland, Milan and a mere hour drive to Lake Como, you will find the small but beautiful city of Bergamo. Recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, Bergamo is one of the most interesting, yet underrated cities in all of Italy. Among the many things to see and do in this historic city, my absolute favorite place to visit is a hidden gem called Citta Alta. Ironically, the only “hidden” thing about this city is that, for the most part, it is devoid of tourists – especially in comparison to the amount of people that swarm the main cities you…
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The Best Things to Do in Girona, Spain
There are few places in the world that can take you back to the times of medieval wars by way of powerful structures and historically rich buildings while also completely taking your breath away. Girona has a way of doing all this and more. Known for having one of Spain’s last surviving Jewish Quarters, spectacular yearly flower festival – Temps de Flors, and most recently for portraying the mythical city of Braavos in a little TV show called Game of Thrones, the city is packed with some of the most interesting things to see and learn about in all of Spain. Only an hour and a half drive from Barcelona and about a 30-minute cab…
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My Suitcase Was Stolen: How I Got $700 Insurance Reimbursement From Trenitalia
My travel adventures as a solo backpacker ironically started after my suitcase was stolen off of a train in Italy during the second week of my very first 3-month solo trip around Europe. My stolen suitcase fiasco was a combination of trusting the train conductors to keep my stuff safe and really, just being too trusting in general/not knowing better. However, as common as these stories are, it definitely doesn’t make them any less traumatic as they are happening. For many people, one of the hardest things to do when something bad happens and you’re on your own is think clearly. This is especially true when it’s something you never…
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2019 Spring Break Series: Destinations for Explorers
We have officially entered the amazing month of March, which can only mean one thing: it’s Spring Break season! In this 3-part series, I will focus on the different types of Spring Break trips and destinations anyone can enjoy this time of year. Whether you are a fearless solo traveler, an adventurous explorer or the Spring Break partier – each post will include in depth travel information, amazing deals, packing guides and all the destination inspo in the world. This page contains affiliate links meaning Em Around the World may receive a small commission on any purchase you make at no extra cost to you. This helps me run the site…