Photo of the Week: Dawn Transformation

Dawn and dusk are magical times. What is ugly by day is beautiful at sunrise and sunset.  

Minneapolis at dawn

This photo of Minneapolis's industrial park was taken just as the sun began to rise over the Mississippi.  Ugly by day with smokestacks, power lines, and grime, the area seems vibrant in the early morning light.  

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

Best Coffee in the Twin Cities

J Arthur's authentic Italian Cappuccino

I haven driven to the far ends of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area to spend a few hours at my favorite coffee shops.  After scouring dozens of popular Twin Cities coffee houses, I can announce the clear-cut favorite.  The best coffee in the Twin Cities can be found at J Arthur's Coffee in Roseville.  J Arthur's serves up authentic Italian style coffee that is rarely made in the metro area.  

What to Expect
The secret to J Arthur's success is not a secret at all; it is in their authentic Italian artisan coffee.  Order a cappuccino, and you will not get the large fluffy creation created by the corporate chain coffee shops. J Arthur's cappuccino is small, intensely flavorful, and nearly identical to cappuccino I've had in Italy. J Arthur's even serves their espresso drinks with a side of mineral water to complete the Italian experience.  Besides coffee, espresso, and tea, J Arthur's also serves up soups, sandwiches and baked goods. You can also feel good about your purchase; J Arthur's strives to offer sustainable, organic, fair-trade, and/or local products.  

J Arthur's Coffee

Most weekends J Arthur's has live music and plenty of seating, making it a great alternative to the bar scene. They have over a dozen tables, a comfortable lounge area around a fireplace, and a wall devoted to showcasing work from local artists. There are also two meeting rooms perfect for  business meetings, showers, or church groups.  The rooms can be reserved by purchasing a gift card ($25 for the smaller room, $50 for the larger). There is also a great patio out front (when Minnesota weather decides to cooperate).  For those on the go, J Arthur's has a drive up window (located on the back of the building).

Just the Basics

• Locations: 2441 Rice Street, Roseville, MN 
• Hours:
• Monday-Thursday 6:30am-9pm
• Friday-Saturday 6:30am-10pm
• Sunday 8am-8pm 
• Website: http://jarthurscoffee.com/ 
• Advice: For an authentic taste of Italy, order the cappuccino.

Photo of the Week: Loch Ard Gorge

The Loch Ard Gorge, located on Australia's southeastern coast, has a tragic history. In 1878, the ship Loch Ard ran aground killing all but two of the 54 passengers aboard. Those two, teenagers Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael, washed ashore in the gorge and climbed their way to safety. Sadly, Tom Pearce drown years later in another ocean disaster.   

Loch Ard Gorge, Australia

The Loch Ard Gorge is located off of the Great Ocean Road, only 10 minutes from the popular 12 Apostles. Though the site of past tragedy, the gorge's beauty also hints of the hope found by the shipwreck survivors. 

What site of tragedy has left the greatest impact on you? 

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

Light Rail to the Mall of America

It is easy to get to the Mall of America (MOA) from downtown Minneapolis by taking the light rail train. The Mall of America is located about 10 miles south of downtown Minneapolis (in Bloomington, Minnesota).  A ride on the light rail is cheap, quick, and brings you directly to the east parking ramp at the Mall of America. 

What to Expect

Transit station Mall of America

All trains leaving downtown Minneapolis on the Hiawatha Line go to the Mall of America.  If you are going to the mall from the airport, you will take the same rail line. It will take about 30-40 minutes to travel from downtown to the Mall of America.  There are several points in downtown to catch the train, from Target Field to the Metrodome (Mall of America Field).  Click here for a schedule of pickup points on the Hiawatha Line. 

NOTE: Unlike metro buses, you must pay for light rail passes before boarding the train from one of the fare boxes located at each platform.      

Metro Transit Fare Ticket Box

Just the Basics

• Cost: $1.75 ($2.25 during rush hour)
• Time: 30-40 minutes
• Advice: If you are going to be in town for more than a couple of days, consider buying the 7 day unlimited "go pass" that you can use on all metro-area buses and trains 

Photo of the Week: Gioto's Campanile

Florence's Cathedral is one of Europe's best.  Completed in 1436, it is more commonly known as "the Duomo" in reference to it's enormous dome designed byFilippo Brunelleschid .  I am not sure what I think about the colorful, but odd, facade that was added in the 1800's, but it certainly makes the Duomo unique.   

Gioto's Campanile

Pictured above is Gioto's Campanile, or bell tower, that rises 85 meters above Florence. Visitors can climb the 414 steps of the bell tower for a great view of Florence.  I chose to climb to the top of the Duomo (seen in the background) for an equally impressive view.

Photo of the week is part of "Photo Thursday" at the Budget Travelers Sandbox.  Please visit to check out other amazing photos! 

One Day Itinerary for Florence

Do you only have one day to spend in Florence, Italy?  Are you planning a cruise excursion of Florence?  The major sites can be experienced in one well-planned day because Florence is the most compact big city in Italy.  Here my suggested itinerary for what to see in one day in Florence.  

Gallery Accademia (David)
Michaelangelo's David is does not disappoint, and is well worth all the hubbub.  There isn't much  to see beyond David and Michaelangelo's Prisoners, so it will take you less than an hour to view the gallery.

• If you have not made reservations or own the Florence Card (see below), begin your day at the Accademia.  The line to enter the Accademia forms well before it opens at 8:15am.  I would suggest being in line by 7:30am so that you are one of the first groups to enter.  If you plan it right, this should be the only significant line you encounter during the day.   

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio 
Ponte Vecchio, Florence's most famous bridge, is an easy site to tackle in just a few minutes.  The picturesque bridge's charm is mitigated by the jewelry shops, street vendors, and tourists that cover the area.  However, it is a great place to snap photos of the Arno River.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi is filled with works from Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and countless other Italian masters.  The gallery's most famous piece is Botticellis's Birth of Venus.  The gallery can be tackled in two hours, making it a great for a one-day blitz of Florence.

• If you do not have reservations for the Uffizi or have the Florence Card, stop by the Uffizi reserved ticket window before Ponti Vechio to buy reserved tickets to avoid standing in line for entry.  On our visit, we were able buy reserved tickets for entry an hour later, thus avoiding the line!

Climb the Duomo

View from the top of the Duomo

I enjoyed the experience of climbing Florence's famous Duomo much more than taking the traditional tour of "ground level" of the cathedral.  On your way up, you will get an up close look at the fresco painted by Andrea di Bonaiuto on the interior of the dome.  Once outside, you will have the best view in the city of Florence and Tuscany.

• Plan to climb the Duomo later in the afternoon when lines have died down, around 3:30pm or 4:00pm.  

Gelato Break
A visit to the Florence is not complete without a scoop or two of Italian ice cream. Florence claims to make the world's best gelato, and I cannot disagree.  You will have no trouble finding gelato in Florence as every street is dotted with gelato shops.

Palazzo Vecchio

Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza della Signoria is the center of politics, past and present, in Florence.  It is also the best place to take a break and people watch in Florence.  Overlooking the square is Palazzo Vecchio, the impressive town hall of Florence.  The square is also surrounded by several impressive statues, including a life sized copy of the David.

Travel Advice

• Rick Steves has created podcast audio tours of Europe that can be downloaded  in iTunes.  The free podcasts can replace the audio tours that you pay for in museums and galleries.  For Florence, the Accademia/David (21 minutes) and Uffizi (49 minutes) podcasts are especially helpful.  If you have  time in the morning, I would also take his 46 minute "Florence: Renaissance Walk Audio Tour," as a way to orientate yourself to the city.  
• It is possible to reserve tickets ahead of time for the Academia and Uffizi online.  Unfortunately, the official site for both Academia and Uffizi tickets http://www.firenzemusei.it/ is unreliable and charges a 4 EURO reservation fee.  Other sites that broker tickets charge considerably more, but they might be worth it if your time is limited in Florence.  
• If you fail to make reservations online at the Uffizi or Accadamia, you can still avoid lines by purchasing the Florence Card for 50 EURO.  The card is pricey, but it grants admission to most major museums in Florence, and allows you to skip lines.  The card be bought online http://www.firenzecard.it or in person at Uffizi Gallery door #2.  

Bob Dylan for the Weary Traveler

Bob Dylan feels most comfortable on the road.  His "Never Ending Tour" has continued in cites around the world for the world for the past 25 years, and shows no signs of slowing down.  Dylan's songs speak of people that are constantly on the move, meeting strange characters, and living in obscure corners of the world.  It is easy for me to connect to the restless and mysterious characters Dylan has created, as I am one.  If you are a kindred spirit to the wandering Bob Dylan, consider these writings and music to fuel your own travels...  

Dylan Writings for the Weary Traveler

On the Road, Jack Kerouac
"I read On the Road in maybe 1959. It changed my life like it changed everyone else's" says  Dylan.  The next year, Dylan dropped out of college in Minnesota and moved to New York City.  On the Road is a tale of a strange odyssey across America that might inspire you, like it did Dylan.  

Chronicles: Volume 1, Bob Dylan
Chronicles is the first of a planned three part memoir penned by Dylan himself.  Much like his music, Dylan blazes a unique trail in telling his own story.  Chronicles does not focus on the peek of his mid-sixties fame.  Instead, Dylan outlines his thoughts, feelings, and actions during lesser-known periods of his life.  His stories crisscross the country from his (and my) native Minnesota, New York City, and Louisiana.   I was especially fascinated with the picture he paints of New Orleans during the recording of 1989's Oh Mercy album.

A Simple Twist of Fate, Andy Gill and Kevin Odegard 
A Simple Twist of Fate focuses on the tumultuous period of Dylan's life during the recording of Blood on the Tracks.  The story is is divided between recording sessions in New York City and Minnesota.     While the book is most appealing to die hard Dylan fans, anyone with an appreciation of music will enjoy the book.

Dylan Albums for the Weary Traveler

Blood on the Tracks is Dylan's masterpiece that was created while his marriage to Sara Lownds crumbled.  The album follows restless souls looking for peace and a place to call home.  "Tangled Up in Blue" tells the story of a rambling man searching for love, life, and work across the nation.  "Shelter from the Storm," written from the viewpoint of a man living in another country, searches for refuge from life's maladies.  Blood on the Tracks has been my companion through times of indecision in life, and consequently, during periods of aimless travel.  

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is the folk-hero Dylan at his best.  Like On the Road, the Freewheelin' Bob Dylan introduces us to a hard life of travel across the nation.  "Don't think twice, it's alright" shuns love for a life on the road.  "Girl from the North Country" introduces listeners to the barren land of Minnesota.  "Oxford Town" tells of the harsh reality of life in segregated Mississippi.  The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan serves as a historical snapshot of America in the 1960's.   

Desire, written shortly after Blood on the Tracks, features tales from around the globe.  Desire is global in more than it's lyrics; it features melodies and instruments from around the world.  "One more Cup of Coffee" tells of a family of drifters, and has a definitive middle-eastern sound.  The Latin flavored "Romance in Durango" is of life on the run in Mexico, while "Black Diamond Bay" is about the destruction of a tiny island.  "Mozambique" is probably the only folk song ever written about the obscure West Africa nation.