Visual Stimulation features the best of all things visual, creative and inspirational.

It has been a while since my last trip, but having been bitten by the travel bug a few years back, I am already getting itchy feet and the urge to board a plane despite being deathly afraid of flying. Good thing I can breathe a sigh of relief, as in just a few weeks I will be getting my travel fix as I board a plane to the US to spend time with my family – one third of which will be spent on a family holiday to Puerto Rico. Sun and sand? Yes please.

But as much as I love relaxing beachside vacations, I have to say that I am also a huge fan of city trips as well. They may not be as relaxing, but part of the fun of city trips are the endless amounts of exploration and tired feet at the end of the day. One of my favorite city trips thus far has got to be the trip I took to Florence last year; partly because it was my most successful solo-trip yet, partly because Florence is just that damned beautiful. I definitely hope to return to this incredible city sometime in the future. In the meantime however, I am happy to be left with some amazing photos that trip.

Florence, Italy - photography by: Rae Tashman - for: lovefromberlin.net

Florence, Italy - photography by: Rae Tashman - for: lovefromberlin.net

Florence, Italy - photography by: Rae Tashman - for: lovefromberlin.net

Florence, Italy - photography by: Rae Tashman - for: lovefromberlin.net

Florence, Italy - photography by: Rae Tashman - for: lovefromberlin.net

Florence, Italy - photography by: Rae Tashman - for: lovefromberlin.net

photography by: Rae Tashman


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Rae Tilly

Rae the EIC of LFB and YEOJA Magazine. She is also a photographer and social media influencer.

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  • OMG! Stunning! Thanks for commenting on Qing’s Style. I
    hope you keep in touch!

    Qing’s Style

    • rae

      No worries, will do – hope you will as well! Thanks!

  • I prefer city vacations to beach vacations, as while relaxing feels marvelous, I really enjoy exploring the verve that cultures exude within bigger cities. These are such pretty photos btw!

    xoxo

    Chic Dream Jar

    • rae

      I definitely like the adventure aspect of city holidays too! My family and I will try to do some hikes while in Puerto Rico though! Really looking forward to that and thank you so much.

  • When I saw that first photo I thought it might be of Sitges, in Spain, but alas, I was wrong and it was the beautiful Florence. That is the destination I chose for my first solo trip 3 years ago and apart from the awkwardness of eating alone the first two days I enjoyed it so much and loved being able to set my own agenda and not have to persuade anyone that queueing for two hours to get into a museum was worth it, ha ha.

    Inma x
    sunshineandglow.blogspot.com

    • rae

      Oh totally! That is the best part about solo travel! I got lucky, because I pre-bought my ticket to the Accademia Gallery in Florence and the line for the pre-bought tickets moved pretty fast. On the next day, it was the first Sunday of the month, which I pleasantly learned meant free museum day, so I took the day easy and then was able to make it into the Uffizi Gallery. There was a line, but since I went towards the end of the day, it wasn’t too bad and I was still able to see almost everything! Which museums did you visit when you were in Florence?

      • I went to those two. I should have pre-booked but to be honest I met some lovely people in the queue and it made the wait so much easier. Seeing Michelangelo’s David was a massive highlight of that trip, as was Siena’s stripey Cathedral and Botticelli’s Primavera. Italy is such a beautiful country I could keep going back time and time again!

  • Trang Do

    Great photos!! Hope you had great trip!
    Hugs,
    Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

    • rae

      Thanks Trang!

  • O Florence, you beautiful city of history and culture. I’d love to visit Italy one day, just to take in all the sights. City trips are stressful but I think it’s worth it if you see all the beautiful treasures the city can bestow. Wonderful post, Rae <3

    xx Bash | H E Y   B A S H | bloglovin’

    • rae

      Really hope you get to make it to Italy one day, Bash! It is incredible! and yes, they can be stressful, but the bustle and hustle is part of the experience if you ask me!

  • Florence is one of my favourite cities as well. I’ve already been two times and I’m returning this weekend! Thank you for sharing these pictures, they made my day.

    x Karen
    http://dressinginlabels.blogspot.com

    • rae

      Oh wow how fun! What are you planning on doing in Florence this weekend? So glad this made your day!

  • Noortje Wijckmans

    I’ve been to Florence once when I was really little, but the pictures my mom once showed me where absolutely stunning. Yours are as well! Would love to go there again someday soon!
    Project NW | Places I want To Visit In the USA

    • rae

      I bet the photos your mother took while there are lovely! Thanks so much ope you get to go again someday soon!

  • Never been to Florence! I love the city through pictures though!

    Dora http://www.BangsBang.com

    • rae

      Thanks so much and you definitely should visit, it’s incredible!

  • Oh Rae, what beautiful photos!! xx

    • rae

      Thanks so much, Laila!

  • Florence is incredibly beautiful and mesmerising!
    Thestyletune.blogspot.com

    • rae

      Isn’t it though?!

  • wow everything looks so beautiful … amazing photos

    also check out my blog

    https://thefashionsateen.wordpress.com/

  • Birdie Liau

    Have a safe flight to the US! And I love city trip too, it can be so amazing to see everything and take photos of everything. x

    http://birdiethgirl.blogspot.com

    • rae

      Thanks so much! And yes, I love all the photos you get to take while on holiday!

  • Love the photos of Firenza! I am just planning a trip to Venezia (probably when my exams are over, in february or march ) and I can’t wait to go :D

    • rae

      Thanks so much! And Venezia! I have always wanted to visit there too. Hope you have an incredible time when you go!

  • Catarina Neves

    Wow, I definitely want to go there!

    http://www.silkypearl.com/

    • rae

      Hope you get to one day!

  • Conquer the fear of flying dearie c:
    Travel is always good! Florence is a very nice city, a beautiful one
    and I’d love to go back again as well! Xx

    Ice Pandora

    • rae

      I have flown a lot – so I still do it, but I still hate it! Haha. Travel is amazing, I have never regretted a trip that I have taken! Hope you get to return to Florence as well!

  • Missy May

    This looks like beautiful place to play tourist. Great shots!! :)

    http://missymayification.blogspot.co.uk

    • rae

      Agreed, thanks!

  • Beautiful!!
    -m.yang
    http://www.looksbymc.com

  • Agnes Olsson

    Wow these photos are incredible! and the city looks so beautiful and same here, I really love a beach vacation but there is something special with wandering around the streets of an unknown city :)

    Xx Agnes Agnes | AgnesLowerot

    • rae

      Thanks so much and yes I absolutely love getting lost down small streets in beautiful cities like Florence!

  • It’s so extremely beautiful!! Wow. I’d love to visit this place and really just walk around! Oh, I don’t know what I prefer – sunny beach vacations vs city travels – I think the best is just the variation they both offer! Your photos are amazing – I’d love to read more about your photography and editing if you’d ever like to write about it! :)

    Filippa ⎮ Always a Dot

    • rae

      Hope you get to do just that soon! I do not think that you have to like one or the other better. I love both – it just depends on what I am looking for at that time :) And thanks so much!

  • I am in such a traveling mood as well!! I was able to go to Hawaii last September, but I’m ready for more sun and more sand already!! Beautiful photos, now I want to go there too! :)

    xo Annie
    http://www.laircake.com

    • rae

      Oh wow Hawaii! I have never been there but I would seriously LOVE to go one day. I hear it is crazy expensive tough?! Thanks so much, Annie!

      • It definitely depends on where you go. Waikiki is expensive because it’s basically all tourists, however the less crowded islands like Maui are a bit more manageable.

  • I have the urge to travel right now, too. I just got back from a mini vacation in my own city when my boyfriend visited – there were so many places I haven’t been before even though I live here, but at the same time I don’t really have the motivation to explore and travel when I’m by myself. To me, I think half the fun is being able to spend time with a loved one in a new place, but I may be a bit biased since I’ve never fully traveled alone before. Florence is very beautiful indeed – I love the architecture and I’d love to visit someday. The world is such a beautiful place and sometimes it makes me a little sad thinking I probably won’t be able to see every single corner of it!

    becky ♡ star violet

    • rae

      Ohh mini vacations can be so much fun as well! It’s so true – when you live someplace you end up seeing less of it (or at least less of the main attractions that tourists always go to see) but it’s fun do to those things once in a while when you have guests, family, or boyfriends visiting! The world really is such a beautiful place, but if you were able to see it all so easily, it would not be as captivating anymore, you know?

  • Florence is such an amazing city! Beautiful pictures. I’m feeling a major urge to travel myself – it’s been way too long since I went on a trip that was more than an extended weekend. Hopefully this year I can go somewhere new…
    xo Mil
    https://southbynorthwestblog.wordpress.com

    • rae

      Thanks so much and I hope you get to travel soon, Mil!

  • Hi dear
    Great post, such a wonderful place!
    I need to go back to Florence
    xoxo

    • rae

      Thanks, Arien!

  • Becky Hughff

    Wow! Looks absolutely beautiful!!!

    http://www.ohsobecky.com

    • rae

      Thanks, Becky!

  • Michèle

    wow. das sind ja wundervolle bilder. da komme ich direkt in reiselaune

    http://www.thefashionfraction.com

  • These pictures are breathtaking, so incredibly beautiful! Love all of these amazing shots – you definitely make me want to hop on a plane over there! ;)

    XO IMKE | Pastellics

    • rae

      Thanks so much!

  • Those are some stunning images. So beautiful. Hope 2016 brings you more opportunities to explore. Just make sure you share the pics along the way. ❤
    http://Sempasite.com

    • rae

      Thanks, Barbrah! Hope your 2016 also does the same for you!

  • I love Florence! I went there in Summer right after my graduation and it’s one of the best places I’ve been to purely of the art (!!!) and the general vibe of it all :) I also had a professor in uni who told us it’s one of the best place in Europe… I’m more of a city explorer too, and I always get bored at beaches – I get headaches from the sun too easily hehe. But Puerto Rico sounds super awesome so can’t wait to see what you say about it :)

    Cherie x
    say hi at sinonym

    • rae

      Right?! The vibe is so relaxed it’s great! It would be too small of a city for me to be able to live in but for a trip, it’s just perfect (I feel the same about Vienna but for some other reasons as well) – and yes, beach holidays can make us feel bored but I think it also teaches us to slow down and learn to relax and challenges us to try to not be bored without having a 3 ring circus around us! Trust me, not something I am very good at, but looking at exploring!

  • Looks like a fabulous place and your photos are truly lovely. Gemma xx
    http://www.jacquardflower.uk

    • rae

      Thanks, Jacquard!

  • These photographs are absolutely stunning! I love cityscape vacations because there’s always so much to see and do!

    Connie | Sponsored by Coffee | Etsy

    • rae

      Thanks Connie!

  • thisgirlloveschic

    thank you so much for stopping by on my blog! love yours! stunning photos

    This Girl Loves Chic xx

    • rae

      No worries and thanks.

  • Frankly if I am to choose between sun and sand or a city trip like Florence, hands down I would pick Florence. I can only imagine how amazing it is to walk through the old architectures, there’s something very fascinating about them.

    Reflection of Sanity | StayLean Tea Australia Giveaway

    • rae

      Oh it was seriously incredible. Growing up in the US, I feel like so many of the attractions are built to look like old Europe – like at Kings Dominion or Disney World – or even new strip malls. So when I actually am surrounded by authentic buildings with such history it’s kind of a weird feeling, like I am looking at a set from a ride, but I’m not cos it’s the real deal.

  • Yes! I love a good city trip – I would actually prefer it over sun and sand too. These photos are pretty spectacular.

    -M
    http://www.violetroots.com

    • rae

      Thanks, Monika

  • Oh wow, your photos are simply gorgeous! Please post more of them!

    I love the pastel hues of the cathedral, it would look so perfect as an art print.

    Angelina Is | Bloglovin’

    • rae

      Thanks so much Angelina!

  • wow, beautiful architecture

    xo

    http://www.laurajaneatelier.com

  • really beautiful photos! I would love to visit Florence one day. And Siena. Italy in general haha because of the beautiful architecture. I think there are times when I prefer city trips over ones to beaches with sun and sand because I hate having to get bikini-body ready and worry about sunscreen and sunburns. Plus in cities, there’s usually more to do and see, at least for me. But maybe it’s because once I’m lying under the sun relaxing on the sand, I don’t want to move or go anywhere else haha

    ~Andrea Tiffany~
    http://aglimpseofglam.blogspot.com

  • You captured Florence so beautifully! I’ve never visited but I reaaaaally want to. I like cities because there’s always something going on. I can’t remember the last time I had a beachside vacation (I was in LA last week, and although it was near the ocean, it was more cliff-y than beach-y, and it’s too cold this time of year!), but I remember I like those too, because sometimes it’s nice to not have anything going on. I’ve never been to Puerto Rico before. Have a great trip! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s

  • Vaida Tamošauskaitė

    yaas! i love Florence, and Italy itself! such a beautiful country, such a beautiful city :) and feel ya about them travels! and how lucky you are for the Puerto Rico! it’s freezing cold down here, so I wouldn’t mind some sand & sun.. no, I wouldn’t! :)

    Vaida @ http://www.donttellanyone.net/blog

  • I love Italy, and with it being on top of my bucketlist, I am definitely committed to making my trip come true! Love the pretty buildings!

    Pop over to my blog!

    Sarah
    sarahinks.co.uk