About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 April 2013 11:55 PM | 17 Comments -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
11 March 2013 11:55 PM | 33 Comments -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
12 November 2012 8:10 PM | 23 Comments -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
16 April 2012 11:55 PM | 47 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
As Seen In:
Italy Archive
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The Beautiful Duomo in Florence, Italy
Posted on May 26, 2013 | 3 Comments -
Foggy Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy
Posted on May 21, 2013 | No Comments -
Stunning Piazza Nettuno in Bologna, Italy
Posted on May 15, 2013 | No Comments -
I Was Supposed to Like Florence, Italy
Posted on May 1, 2013 | 30 CommentsSo this has happened before. I travel to a destination, sometimes one that is universally loved, but I don’t have a great experience. I’ve written about it before and it happens to everyone, but I was shocked ( and still am) that it happened to... -
Bologna in Five Bites
Posted on April 10, 2013 | 3 CommentsIn Italy there is a saying about Bologna, it is often labeled as ‘The Fat, the Red, the Learned.’ The red actually refers to the generous use of brick in their architecture (and not their political leanings as some believe) and the learned refers to... -
The Strange and Beautiful Baptistery in Florence, Italy
Posted on April 9, 2013 | No Comments -
Milan’s Famous (And Massive) Duomo
Posted on March 19, 2013 | No Comments -
Four Things You Don’t Know About Milan
Posted on March 13, 2013 | 2 CommentsI didn’t know quite to expect when I visited Milan for the first time, but I do know that I left with a whole new appreciation for this beautiful northern Italian city. I learned a lot during my stay in Milan, but these facts surprised... -
Walking Along the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy
Posted on March 3, 2013 | 3 Comments -
Milan with HomeAway Vacation Rentals – Video Overview
Posted on February 24, 2013 | No CommentsI’ve been experimenting a little bit with making videos lately and here is my most recent effort. It’s a look at the Milan I saw while staying with HomeAway Vacation Rentals. I’ve used HomeAway Vacation Rentals a couple of times, and each time I’ve been... -
What Not to Do in Bologna, Italy
Posted on February 20, 2013 | 6 CommentsBologna in Northern Italy is an ancient city, but one that sometimes gets overlooked. Even though I didn’t spend a lot of time there, I grew to love it very quickly and can’t wait to return and explore more of the city. While there’s a... -
Five Foods That Surprised Me in Italy
Posted on February 13, 2013 | 12 CommentsGrowing up in suburban America, I thought I knew what real Italian food was. And before you say it, no I’m no talking about Olive Garden. Having frequented countless ‘authentic’ trattorias I was pretty sure I’d seen the width and breadth of Italian cuisine, but... -
Row of Gondolas in Venice, Italy
Posted on February 13, 2013 | 1 Comment -
Quiet But Elegant Courtyard in Florence, Italy
Posted on February 11, 2013 | No Comments -
A Walk Through Florence, Italy
Posted on February 7, 2013 | 8 CommentsIt was my first time in Florence, the capital of the Italian Renaissance and I couldn’t wait. I couldn’t wait to see the art, architecture and style that has defined this Italian city for centuries. Since I only had a day I took a Walks... -
Foggy Walk Through Milan
Posted on January 22, 2013 | 9 CommentsOn my last trip to Italy I used the tour company Walks of Italy for most of our Italian walking tour experiences and loved every minute of them. In recent years I’ve become a convert to the importance of a high quality walking tour in... -
One of the World’s Oldest Universities – The Archiginnasio of Bologna
Posted on January 21, 2013 | No Comments -
Lost and Found in Venice
Posted on January 13, 2013 | 16 CommentsI didn’t want to go to Venice, had no desire really. My partner made the great point though that we were only a couple of hours away and that I might not get another chance for a long time. So it was with reluctance that... -
Spending a Day at the Gelato University and Museum in Bologna
Posted on January 9, 2013 | 9 CommentsIt didn’t look like the Wonka Factory. That’s what I imagined a Gelato University would look like. Giant heaps of ice cream and other fantastical delights to entertain and bring joy strewn about like a moving feast. Executives jumping into giant vats of ice cream,... -
The Frightening Bocca di Leone in the Doge’s Palace, Venice
Posted on January 9, 2013 | No Comments -
42 Things I Love About Milan
Posted on January 2, 2013 | 7 Comments1. Checking out the high fashion on the Quad d’Oro 2. Learning not to sit down when ordering an espresso 3. Getting lost in the labyrinthine side streets 4. Tasting the local dishes, including my favorite veal milanese 5. Pizza! 6. Quiet time at Basilica... -
The Canals of Venice
Posted on January 1, 2013 | No Comments -
The Hills Are Alive: A Journey Along the Bernina Express
Posted on December 31, 2012 | 6 CommentsJust a couple of hours north of Milan lies the Italian mountain town of Tirano. No, not Torino the site of the 2006 Olympic Games, which is slightly confusing when planning a trip. The lesser known Tirano may not have held the world stage like... -
The Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery in Florence, Italy
Posted on December 31, 2012 | No Comments -
Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy
Posted on December 25, 2012 | No Comments -
Festive Christmas in Italy Photo Series
Posted on December 20, 2012 | 4 CommentsThis week I’ve been exploring parts of Northern and Central Italy, seeing the sights and embracing the Christmas spirit that’s found everywhere here. I love celebrating the holidays in Europe because everything seems so much more festive than at home. FESTIVE is also the theme... -
Five Foods To Avoid in Italy
Posted on April 24, 2012 | 31 CommentsI’m a Europhile, without question, but sadly I haven’t spent very much time in Italy. It only takes a few moments though to fall in love with true Italian cuisine, but much longer to discern what is best left alone. That’s why I’m thrilled Italian... -
Travel Photo – St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Amalfi Coast
Posted on July 31, 2011 | 1 CommentItaly’s Amalfi Coast is one of the great treasures of the world, and no visit is complete with a stop in the town of Amalfi itself. In the center of this compact town is the Duomo, the Cathedral of St. Andrew. The colorful cathedral dates... -
Through the Gates Of Paradise at the Baptistery in Florence, Italy
Posted on June 13, 2011 | 16 CommentsToday I am thrilled to introduce this guest post by Jeff Titelius. Jeff is a true expert when it come to European travel and I am excited that he agreed to share some of his expertise with us here on LandLopers. For more of Jeff’s... -
Four Not to Miss Moments in Rome
Posted on May 11, 2011 | 8 CommentsThere are thousands of books, articles and blog posts about what to do in Rome. I think it is probably safe to say that the must-see list is well covered and I have every confidence that every tourist to the Eternal City will know... -
The Worst Way to Visit the Vatican
Posted on April 13, 2011 | 25 CommentsA visit to Vatican City is a must for any tourist in Rome and not without reason. There is no need to go into the rich history, art and architecture of this tiny country, suffice it to say it is a remarkable place to... -
Interactive Travel Guide – What to do in Rome
Posted on March 9, 2011 | 13 CommentsI recently I started a new series on LandLopers, the Interactive Travel Guide. The idea is to highlight one city or country every week and then get the best recommendations from you all. By the end of the week, we hopefully will have created the... -
Hidden Landmarks
Posted on November 30, 2010 | 1 CommentI was walking around Washington, DC the other day, en route to a meeting and jabbering on my phone while trying not to get run over, when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I have walked past this spot hundreds of... -
Tribute to Pompeii
Posted on November 9, 2010 | 6 CommentsOver the weekend I became aware of a very discouraging piece of travel news: the 2,000 year old “Gladiator’s House” at Pompeii collapsed. Yes, that right, part of one of the most important archeological sites in the world has been allowed to crumble. I won’t... -
Vatican City Scavi Tour
Posted on September 9, 2010 | 14 CommentsWe were in Rome for a mere two days before embarking on an 11-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise and since it was my first time in the Eternal City, there was a lot I wanted to see. At the top of my list was not only... -
Inspiring Design
Posted on June 20, 2010 | 7 CommentsWhenever I travel, I always pay particular attention to architectural and design detail. I have no background in either graphic arts or architecture and I usually don’t know what I’m looking at, but for some reason I am drawn by them. Whether it be using... -
Favorite Rome Obelisks
Posted on May 9, 2010 | 2 CommentsOddly enough, Rome is a city of obelisks. Amongst the most impressive are eight ancient Egyptian and five ancient Roman obelisks spread throughout the city like chess pieces. Obelisks were prominent in the architecture of the ancient Egyptians, who placed them in pairs at the... -
Travel Photos – Amalfi Coast, Italy
Posted on May 5, 2010 | No CommentsEven though we didn’t have a lot of time in Italy, I knew that we had to see the legendary Amalfi Coast. Once the home of one of the richest cities in the world, today it is still the playground of the rich and famous.... -
The Perfect Evening in Rome
Posted on April 12, 2010 | No CommentsEvening in Rome Rome has a certain quality that endears it to anyone who has been there and even people who have never visited. Maybe it’s the culture, the food, the people or a combination of all three. Regardless, part of what makes Rome... -
Guilty Pleasures – Four Culinary Stereotypes
Posted on April 9, 2010 | No CommentsMany countries have a dish or meal for which they are famous. Foodies may scoff at the following list, but the fact remains that these foods are well known for a reason. Don’t let others tell you what you should and should not enjoy. Traveling... -
Travel Photo – St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City
Posted on March 22, 2010 | No CommentsBasilica of Saint Peter
