Britt off the Beaten

09/04/2024

🎭🤹AN EXQUISITE CARNIVALE YOU RARELY SEE.

This year, I had the opportunity to attend the elegant and exclusive Venetian Carnival, which was very different from the street parties, live band, risqué dress, and twerk dancing that I often see associated with this event.

✨What sets Venetian Carnivale apart?✨

Unlike other Carnivales, Venetians favor a more poised, renaissance-inspired celebration.

Participants wander the old streets and piazzas dressed in elaborate period costumes and mysterious masks, transforming the lagoon into a medieval reenactment…(they REAALLY get into character).

It took me a second to realize that for many visitors, the allure of Venetian Carnivale lies in spectating rather than participating.

So with that being said:
✨how do you experience Venetian Carnivale ? ✨

At the most basic level, roaming around and photographing unique costumes in the city’s most iconic locations, is the highlight of the day. there are also many free events in the squares. If you wanted to join in ‘the art of disguise,’ you could simply stop by one of the many ‘mask workshops’ and get one made!

However, with proper planning, one could indulge in the full once-in-a-lifetime Venetian Carnival experience, which includes getting a tailored costume inspired by the 18th century, professional hair and makeup, getting your picture taken around town like a celebrity, and attending exclusive parties, or balls as they call them in Gatsby style.
These soirées offer a glimpse into the opulent world of Venetian high society during this time. They feature live music, belly dancers, magicians, jugglers, and convivial themed dinners.

🎩👑💫
IT’S A BUCKETLIST EXPERIENCE!

04/04/2024

🇮🇹🏛️I found an excellent day trip option for your Northern Italy itinerary!

Last week, I got the opportunity to tour Vicenza, a town in Northern Italy.
Ever heard of it? If not, you aren’t alone.
Even in the shadow of its neighbor Venice, this small off-the-beaten-path jewel is very impressive, and the locals will be impressed that you know about it!

In just a few days, the city captivated me with its medieval architecture and relaxed atmosphere. Having visited Venice a few times, I can certainly say that a day trip to Vicenza would be a breath of fresh air!

📍 Where is Vicenza?
Vicenza is nestled in the beautiful Veneto region of northern Italy, just between Venice and Verona. It’s a charming city with a rich history and stunning architecture.

🌟 What is Vicenza known for?
Vicenza is famous for its stunning Palladian architecture, masterminded by the legendary Andrea Palladio. From elegant villas (*one which inspired the design for the White House!) to grand palaces, the city is a living museum of his work.

⏱️ How long do you need?
You can get a taste of Vicenza in a day, but to truly soak in its beauty and explore its treasures, plan for at least two or three days.

🚶‍♂️ How to visit?
You can easily hop on a train from Venice or Verona, or drive if you prefer the freedom.

🎉 Fun facts about Vicenza:
-There’s a U.S. military base here so you’ll find many Americans, friendly, English speaking Italians :), and western style restaurants
-Vicenza province is one of the largest provinces in Veneto region
-Vicenza houses the FIRST covered theater! (Designed by…guess who?:)
- Vicenza is often called the “City of Gold” due to its thriving jewelry industry
- The city’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mainly thanks to Palladio and his works
-Vicenza was once enclosed by 13-century walls and today you can still see the leftover towers

🟠Have you heard of Vicenza? Would you visit ?

14/02/2024

💕Happy V day from the City of Romeo & Juliet!

Last year, I made a mental note to travel more intentionally, and specifically around special events in the world.

This year, I took advantage of my present long stay in Rome and hopped over to Venice for Carnivale then today, Verona for their last day of Valentines celebrations!!

They celebrated 5 days with decorations and events around the city.

Not too many people talk about Verona especially in comparison to Venice. I’m in LOVE! (No pun intended) haha. People I’ve spoken to around Italy have only spoken highly about it and I confirm! 💋😍

05/01/2024

https://youtu.be/qFhIOsSlpSE?si=YKtlYu4S97hSIMkA

New video! I’m trying something new on my channel. Would love your support and feedback 🙏🏾

This was my biggest lesson of 2023…Note: I’m playing with the style of my videos to tell the stories I truly want to tell…a mix of my own personal growth thr...

04/12/2023

🗓️ 2019 marked the year before I found myself entangled in the web of internet trends and competitive blogging.

I sat alone at Colleen’s Cannery in Haiku, HI- lost within the pages of my journal when a guy approaches, curious about my origins.

He sat across from me, as we chatted briefly, eventually swapping info to meet later in Paia. There, he admitted that I caught his eye because he ‘hadn’t seen anyone write in a notebook in like 10 years.’ 😹

I giggled, unsure if it was a playful dig, but also it dawned on me..
in the age of iPads and smartphones, my beloved journal was no longer ‘in style,’ and I was blissfully unaware.

Since childhood, I’ve been tied to the practice of journal writing.

like that scene in Harry Potter when Dumbledore takes the wand to his head, and the memories magically spill out. That’s how it feels when I drag ink across a sheet of paper – completely absorbed in the moment, letting words flow effortlessly from my fingers.

So, three weeks ago, while wandering through Italy and my phone decided to die, I didn’t panic. Instead, I took refuge in a cafe, quickly recalling my ‘archaic tools’ to see me through the night.

I sat alone scribbling away, & before long, I was immersed in the scene.

The chatter of four Italian men filled the room as we sat closely, along the windows of the outdoor patio. When I excused myself to use the restroom, the chatter hushed as I passed each table. I’m guessing they were shocked to see me in their local tavern during this season, if at all.🍂

Across the street, a group exited from the opera, wrapped in coats and engaged in cheerful conversation—
A simple moment, unique to this time of year when the post-summer air no longer attracts tourists and festivities have gone, leaving empty cobblestone streets to be filled with the aroma of comfort food drifting from the chimneys of residents who’ve returned home.

I sat, lost in thought, cramming as much detail as I could onto two sides of the scratch paper to remind myself of the unhurried beauty that exists outside screens...
and the timeless value of pen and paper. 🖋️✍🏾📝

07/10/2023

https://youtu.be/tIOM4b69ojc?si=ymcD_W9FpuJHfqjv

I arrived to Phuket at 10pm after a 4 hour minibus ride and what I do??? Wake up at 730 for a 5 hour solo hike through the forest 😅

17/07/2023

Hey wanderers!

I just returned to Thailand today after 41 hours of travel! I’ll be updating my YouTube with all of my adventures here. Make sure you give the videos a like and comment if you do !😊

Hey friends! I’m currently boarding a flight back to Thailand after a month back in the states. I’ve got about a 40 hour travel period. Send me some good ene...

09/07/2023

https://youtu.be/AdLAef-nNv8

Hey loves! Omg my mom came to Thailand, and we ended up participating in the thai new year! We were skeptical at first, but it was so fun! Definitely a bucke...

08/07/2023

New video!

Hey y’all! I left the original sound on for most of this video. Let me know if you like this kind of raw Vlog style:)Thanks for watching!

26/06/2023

Thoughts?
It’s giving hostel in the sky

Gamechanger.

18/03/2023

Of all of the interesting characteristics of Turkish culture, I’ve gravitated toward the cuisine the most. Not only the variety of flavors, but how dishes are revered by the Turks.

I'll explain what I mean in a series of posts, but let's start with this one! “My Favorite Turkish dishes you’ve probably never heard of.”
This was one of the first posts I started to write after moving to Istanbul.

I feel like such a dork for bragging about my knowledge of "Mediterranean food" from Chicago. I thought I was on to something because I knew about Doner kebabs😅, but there's a whole world of Turkish cuisine that we aren’t commonly exposed to in the states. (Unless you know exactly where to look.)

https://brittoffthebeaten.com/favorite-turkish-foods/

18/03/2023

😮

A citizen from Türkiye's southeastern city Mardin announced on a billboard that he would treat the entire town of Nusaybin with a population of...

21/02/2023

The jewels of the Southeast region: Zeugma Muséum in Gaziantep and Gobeklitepe in Sanliurfa have survived the Earthquake 🫶🏾🙏🏾

Many buildings in southern Türkiye tumbled to the ground as two major earthquakes shook the region on Feb. 6, while Gaziantep's Zeugma Mosaic Museum,...

14/02/2023

🥀What an OH SO perfect day to tell you about Halfeti–the sunken city, and the rare black rose!

On February 15th, 2021, just a day after Valentine’s Day, I found myself, a single woman, in the southeast of Turkey a with a bottle of red wine, sailing the Euphrates River on the way to the one place in the world where the Black Rose grows. 🖤🌹

And I had no idea…😅

Halfeti is a town in the Southeast of Turkey, that sits on the banks of the Euphrates river.

The old city was actually drowned out by a dam project but you can still see the remains of the mosque’s minaret emerging from the water and below, you can make out some remnants of the old buildings through the clear water.

The rich geographical features surrounding Halfeti give the roses its black color. They begin as red and turn black in summer and after they are hung and used to create desserts and perfume.

Who else’s Feb.14 is giving black rose 😈🖤🥀

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I sent out the full story in my newsletter😌 link in bio

P.S. the couple in 3 & 4 are an absolute MOOD (it’s all in the details)

XOX0💋

13/02/2023

A memorial event was held in New York's iconic Times Square to pay tribute to the victims of the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that struck...

08/02/2023

07/02/2023

In an extraordinary show of unity, thousands of volunteers flocked to Istanbul Airport to help earthquake victims in southeastern Türkiye

06/02/2023

🇬🇷✈️🌎Allow me to introduce a few of my amazing Greece vendors

💙Meet Anne .photographergreece.gr 📸

Despite being one of the few female photographers in Athens, Anne's work was among the most impressive. Her distinct style and beautiful natural editing stood out to me and were a perfect fit for my client's needs. Her well-designed website answered all of the questions I needed to know for my client.

Anne was great with communication which is extremely important especially when doing business on two different time zones. She was able to return my clients photos earlier than estimated and she even notified me, the travel planner as well!

Thanks Anne.
————

💙Meet Rafaela, 🐴

Rafaela runs Paros Horseback Riding in Paros, Greece. Her communication was also very efficient and pleasant! Rafaela demonstrated integrity by being upfront about the likelihood that my client would be able to do a sunrise tour that she wanted to book. She promised to keep us on the calendar and to contact me if anything changed. Working with 5-10 vendors at once can be a large task, so I put all of my trust in Rafaela to follow up, and she did not disappoint!
She was also a lifesaver in arranging special transportation for my client Jacky so she didn't have any problems (like her fellow tour mates, who were ill informed by their tour agency).

On top of that, Rafaela informed me that she was 9 months pregnant! And, after a three-week communication lapse, I discovered that she was still managing my client's trip after giving birth prematurely. She even expressed regret for her absence. 🥺

Rafaela I appreciate your dedication to our little tours during such an intense time for your family. 🙏🏾 and thank you for letting me share this.

I feel so lucky to have found these amazing women. Not only are they leading providers in their respective fields but they are kind and committed to great service!

💕👩🏽👩🏼👩🏻👩🏿 B.o.t.b travel experiences .o.t.b.travelexperiences works with women-owned businesses whenever possible, but most importantly, we look for GOOD PEOPLE who provide excellent, detail-oriented service with integrity!