Travel & Packing Pro Tips!
It's peak travel season and I've packed and unpacked my bags so many times I've got it down to a science, so I thought I'd share a few of...
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Travel Adventures with Claire
Hiking Guide - Cycling Guide - Travel Stories: Nature, Culture, and Exploration
I've traveled the world for 3 decades and have been guiding active tours in Europe since 1996. Despite all the miles, I've never lost my passion for learning and seeing new places. I am fascinated by other cultures and awed by the beauty of the natural world. Join me for some virtual adventures and scroll to the bottom to subscribe so you don't miss a post!
** In 2023 I co-founded the new tour company Wild Sage! **
cduiker
- Jun 2
- 6 min
Sardinia Scouting with Wild Sage
Buongiorno June 1st! Summer is almost here, and with it comes a very full tour season for me -- my first year as co-boss of Wild Sage!...
101 views4 comments
cduiker
- May 1
- 6 min
Rome & Florence: Trains, Planes, and a User's Guide
Tips on navigating the airport and train station in Rome and Florence
230 views0 comments
cduiker
- Mar 28
- 8 min
Sicilian Adventures with Wild Sage
"Prudenza!" the van warned, via a disembodied voice coming from my navigator advising me to be careful. I was cruising down a nearly...
237 views8 comments
cduiker
- Feb 13
- 2 min
We are Wild Sage!
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle -- And then we emerged to see again the stars WE DID IT!! After our four month journey through the...
176 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jan 22
- 4 min
The Story of Wild Sage: an epic journey through Italian bureaucracy
"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" are the powerful opening lines of Dante's "Inferno,"...
188 views8 comments
cduiker
- Dec 31, 2022
- 5 min
Best of 2022: Tour Edition!
Hello, Bonjour e Ciao! I've been SO busy these past few months (** setting up MY NEW COMPANY!! see below...) that I haven't had time to...
172 views2 comments
cduiker
- Oct 21, 2022
- 6 min
Roman History Road-Trip: from Ostia Antica to Pompeii
Hail, history fans! I've had a busy fall season with lots of travel, for work and for play. My latest trip was a ten-day voyage with my...
156 views2 comments
cduiker
- Sep 4, 2022
- 4 min
Florence: Street Art & Oddities, pt. 2
Beyond the Duomo and the David, Florence hosts a wealth of surprise street art, fun architectural details, and free art installations....
193 views2 comments
cduiker
- Aug 15, 2022
- 4 min
Swords and Samurai at the Stibbert Museum in Florence
One of the most unexpected museums in Florence is the Museo Stibbert, which houses the eclectic collection of Frederick Stibbert (1838 -...
278 views2 comments
cduiker
- Jul 16, 2022
- 4 min
Near Rome: the Spectacular Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola
I recently spent a few days in the region of Lazio (the region of Rome) on a little birthday trip, and one of the most unexpected and...
834 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jun 12, 2022
- 5 min
3 Days in Puglia: Trulli, Olive Trees, and Whitewashed Villages
Southern Italy has a totally different feel from the rolling hills here in Tuscany, or the plains and mountains of the North. Puglia...
407 views2 comments
cduiker
- May 28, 2022
- 4 min
Tuscany: What's blooming in May?
It's hard to believe we're 3 months into the flowering season here in Tuscany, and after our February magnolias, March cherry trees, and...
838 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 1, 2022
- 5 min
On the Road in Southern Tuscany: Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano & Saturnia
Tuscany is so big, there are still places I've never seen in my 25 years of guiding here. So I was thrilled to have the chance to visit...
671 views2 comments
cduiker
- Apr 18, 2022
- 3 min
Spring in Tuscany: Fresh Fava Beans & Pecorino Cheese
Spring in Tuscany means fresh fava beans! Many people think immediately of Hannibal Lecter's famous line from Silence of the Lambs, but I...
166 views2 comments
cduiker
- Mar 31, 2022
- 6 min
Spring in Seville, Spain
¡Hola! and welcome to Spain! I was just in Spain on business so decided to extend my stay a few days and really explore the fascinating...
158 views0 comments
cduiker
- Feb 27, 2022
- 3 min
Florence: what's blooming in February?
It's still cold outside with nighttime temps around freezing, but the days are getting warmer and the sun is bringing out the first...
227 views2 comments
cduiker
- Feb 13, 2022
- 6 min
Winter in Tuscany: San Gimignano, Volterra & Pisa
Most people think of Italy as a summer destination and come for the beaches and al fresco dining, but that's also when it's hot and...
514 views6 comments
cduiker
- Jan 29, 2022
- 4 min
Cinque Terre news: work begins on the Via dell'Amore
I’ve been hiking the popular trails of the Cinque Terre since 1997 and have seen frequent trail closings over the years due to...
708 views2 comments
cduiker
- Jan 15, 2022
- 3 min
Winter in the Outer Banks, NC
Today's post is all about nature. My home base in the U.S. is on a narrow barrier island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I love...
165 views2 comments
cduiker
- Dec 31, 2021
- 6 min
Good-bye 2021: my Favorite Photos of the Year
Happy New Year from the Outer Banks of North Carolina! It's lovely here in the off-season and I'm grateful that I was able to travel this...
145 views6 comments
cduiker
- Nov 27, 2021
- 3 min
November in Florence: Fewer Tourists, Cheaper Prices, and a Gentle Sun
Sure, the weather may be risky in November, but it's also a great time to visit the Tuscany. Most of the tourists have gone home, the...
110 views0 comments
cduiker
- Nov 14, 2021
- 5 min
Masterworks from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, pt.2
As promised, here's a follow-up to my previous post about the amazing collection at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. My...
126 views4 comments
cduiker
- Nov 3, 2021
- 3 min
I'm Free(lance)! Going my own way in 2022
I received notice of my termination today After 20 years of working for a small tour operator (ten of those full-time) I'm finally going...
152 views9 comments
cduiker
- Oct 17, 2021
- 5 min
Masterworks from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, pt.1
I had a few extra hours in Athens recently so decided to visit the fascinating National Archaeological Museum. I had already been but it...
110 views2 comments
cduiker
- Oct 6, 2021
- 2 min
Autumn in Tuscany: Crisp days, Stormy nights
Buongiorno! I can't believe it's been a month since my last post! I've been traveling a lot and actually had one TOUR (Greek Islands...
104 views2 comments
cduiker
- Sep 2, 2021
- 7 min
Ten Tips for a Successful Stopover
Hello finally from my home in Florence! This is a great time to be in Tuscany as the savage heat of the summer has eased and now there’s...
90 views0 comments
cduiker
- Aug 18, 2021
- 5 min
Adventures in the Azores, pt. 2: Faial and Pico
After a fun few days on the island of São Miguel (see pt. 1 of the Azores adventure here) it was time to head to Faial, where my friend...
315 views2 comments
cduiker
- Aug 13, 2021
- 4 min
Adventures in the Azores, pt. 1: São Miguel
Some of my favorite trips are the spontaneous ones where I impulsively decide to go somewhere I know nothing about. That happened to me...
122 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jul 19, 2021
- 5 min
Stopover Fun: 36 hrs in Lisbon
We all try to avoid long lay-overs when we fly but you can also extend your visit and turn it into a fun "stopover"! I did it last week...
97 views0 comments
cduiker
- Jul 6, 2021
- 5 min
Hiking near Florence: the Monastery and Nature Reserve of Vallombrosa
The summer sun can be brutal in Florence, and it's often one of the hottest cities in Italy since it's landlocked and in a wide valley,...
270 views4 comments
cduiker
- Jun 28, 2021
- 3 min
The Tour de France : excitement & fun at the world's biggest bike race
The Tour de France began this weekend so I just had a chat with my old friend and former guiding colleague Luca Magnoni. He and I have...
105 views2 comments
cduiker
- Jun 14, 2021
- 4 min
The Green side of the Big Apple: Nature trails and calm spaces around New York City
Here's one last post from my recent trip to the U.S. and then I promise to return to Italy! My memories of New York were mostly of...
105 views0 comments
cduiker
- Jun 4, 2021
- 3 min
Revolution in the Streets: in Tiananmen Square with my Father, May 1989
Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the mass demonstrations and eventual violent crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Amazingly, my...
272 views14 comments
cduiker
- May 31, 2021
- 5 min
Classical Beauty: the Greek & Roman collection at The Metropolitan Museum of New York
I recently spent a week in New York City to cap off my visit to the U.S., and I decided to go to the city's premier museum, the...
179 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 24, 2021
- 3 min
Miami Outdoors: the Graffiti Art of Wynwood Walls and Nature Walks around Key Biscayne
I had never spent much time in Miami but recently went there to visit my niece, and she took me around to see the sights. The city lies...
183 views2 comments
cduiker
- May 17, 2021
- 3 min
OBX, USA: Walking Trails of the Outer Banks, North Carolina
I normally cover the southern Mediterranean but my U.S. home base is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (affectionately dubbed the...
337 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 10, 2021
- 5 min
The Uffizi Gallery (Florence): Medieval & Renaissance Masterpieces
Italy is opening up again and the museums are finally welcoming visitors after almost 6 months of closed doors. The famed Uffizi Gallery...
407 views0 comments
cduiker
- May 3, 2021
- 5 min
A Trip to Rome & my "Covid Free" flight to JFK
After 14 months of pandemic and 7 months without even leaving the Florence city limits, I finally decided to get outta Dodge and fly back...
117 views2 comments
cduiker
- Apr 26, 2021
- 5 min
Chatting with Dimitris: Greece opens up & hiking around Athens
Greece just announced that it's opening its borders to international travelers on May 14th, so I figured it was a good time to check in...
135 views6 comments
cduiker
- Apr 12, 2021
- 4 min
A Tour of Florence's "Wine Windows"
Everybody's been talking about Florence's "wine windows" (buchette del vino), the little arched windows around the city that were built...
1,714 views4 comments
cduiker
- Apr 7, 2021
- 6 min
Chatting with Manu: hikes, history and explorations in and around Rome
I've spent the past year exploring every inch of Florence's city limits, so I thought it would be fun to check in with my friend and...
245 views3 comments
cduiker
- Mar 22, 2021
- 5 min
Welcome, Primavera! Early spring hiking in the hills around Florence
This weekend marked the start of spring but it's been springing for a while here in Tuscany. Sunday was also "International Day of...
194 views8 comments
cduiker
- Mar 15, 2021
- 11 min
Italy goes Red again: Status report from Florence
Hello everyone! I’ve just finished recording my first podcast (!!!!) so now you have two ways to get news from my adventures. I won’t...
341 views2 comments
cduiker
- Mar 8, 2021
- 4 min
Goddesses, Queens, and Black Madonnas: an Artful Salute to International Women's Day
March 8th is International Women's Day, so let's celebrate with a historical tribute through time. Here's to the goddesses, temptresses,...
176 views7 comments
cduiker
- Mar 2, 2021
- 3 min
Pixar's new movie, "Luca," will be set in the Cinque Terre
I just saw the trailer for Pixar's new movie, "Luca" (a boy's name here in Italy = Luke) and couldn't believe it was set in the Cinque...
893 views0 comments
cduiker
- Mar 1, 2021
- 4 min
Pitti Palace: the Modern Art Collection
Hey, it's museum day! I managed a quick visit to the imposing Pitti Palace a few weeks ago, right before they shut the museums down again...
350 views7 comments
cduiker
- Feb 23, 2021
- 3 min
Florence: Street Art & Oddities
Wandering the streets of Florence you see all sorts of interesting things, from the ancient to the modern... In a city known for...
349 views8 comments
cduiker
- Feb 22, 2021
- 3 min
Backstory, pt. 3: Head for the Hills
Everybody comes to Florence for the art, the culture, the history, or let's not forget the food, the wine, the shopping! But one of the...
86 views0 comments
cduiker
- Feb 19, 2021
- 2 min
Backstory, pt. 2: Emerging from Lockdown, Spring 2020
The first lockdown here in Italy was among the strictest in the world, with a ban against leaving your house for any reason except food,...
59 views0 comments
Did you enjoy your tour? Or just want to support me during this difficult time?
Every little bit helps, and I hope to be back in the field soon! Thank you so much!
--ClaireintheWorld--
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