Italy Archives - Inga Mendelyte

Tuscany Wedding Photographer :: L + G

July 6, 2015 ·

I met Lina and Giovanni 10 years ago, while working on cruise ships. Then they were one of the best looking couples on board the ship, today nothing has changed 😉 They are still happy and fun. After 10 years I met Lina in Tuscany, while spending my winter there. World is so small sometimes. First you meet a person across the ocean, later in Europe. I still get amazed by that. So this time we met and they were getting married. Lucky me 🙂 she asked me if I could shoot their wedding. So just before I left Tuscany, I attended their small gathering of the nearest people to them, who witnessed their long lasting love to become one! After the ceremony in Marina di Carrara, we all went to a restaurant near Lerici to enjoy the rest of the day in this beautiful place!

This was my first Tuscany wedding! Hopefully not the last 🙂

Congratulations to you guys once again!

Romantic Venice

April 9, 2015 ·

Going to Venice was another to do thing on a list while in Italy. Obviously there is so much to see here, but need to make priorities 🙂 So Venice was one of them. Arrived there night before and spend all day walking around in this beautiful town. And again, make sure you wear comfortable shoes 🙂 because there is plenty of walking to do. When you think, is not as big as Rome, but you cant get a metro. Of course you could use the water bus or water taxi, but its not the same as scrolling those tiny streets and cute bridges. Also cant stop for an image, if you are in the water taxi 🙂

Now I totally understand why Clooney got married here 🙂 It is really one special and magical place for wedding.

Its very easy to get lost in Venice 🙂 it is like a huge labyrinth town! Of course we followed the crowd, because if we didn’t we might end up in the trap 🙂 This couple of weeks has been a bit windy, in Rome now in Venice. And our gondola driver said, that is very difficult to row in such a conditions. Hopefully weather is changing there. So if you can choose when to go to Venice, you should absolutely do that in summer 🙂

I hope you enjoy the images! And if you’ve been there, tell us what was your experience.

Oh Rome, you have left me breathless!

April 3, 2015 ·

Last weekend we have visited Rome! As much as I was exited about it, I was tired by the time we reach the old town. I was dreaming of this trip for awhile and finally when we did it I was so overwhelmed with all those historical places that needs to be visited. Of course, we did not manage to see all of the old town in one weekend. So need to do another trip, and this time we just to get lost in town and explore non touristic areas. Because it was like a big market, too many people. Cant blame them, we all want to see the same while visiting Rome 🙂

Would like to share on how we did it, and how I would do it next time Im there!

We came by train to Termini station, which is very near to all the historical places. Walked to Colosseum, got caught by tour guides, who promised quick entrance. As we arrived at lunch time, we thought it would be better if we did not need waiting in a long line, we decided to take a guide. So the guide took us inside, spend with us 20 minutes, by telling some facts about Colosseum. Later she let us go to wonder around and take some pictures. The part of the deal was also to take us to Palatino with the guide, but we had to wait for the guide to continue the tour.

In my opinion we could have just bought tickets online, instead of waiting the ticket line and have the walk by ourselves. Cause in first case we relay on them, and their time frame. I did not feel like I need to spend 2h in Colosseum 🙂 Instead we could move on to the next location and explore more (maybe Im just impatient :). Tour guides tend to slow you down a bit 🙂 Anyway, they gave some information, that most probably I would not check on my own 🙂 also most of it, I already forgot 🙂

The next day we went to see Vatican. And again we took a tour 🙂 We went to see the guide, were waiting in the agency just next to Vatican for 1h, there were some people who should come for the tour too. So we waited for them. By the time the guide decided to make a move, St. Pietro Basilica was closed 🙁 So there was nothing else left, just to go to the museum of Vatican, which was nearly closing too 🙂 Anyway we made it to the museum. Had a nice and quick walk around.

Conclusion is clear! Weekend is not enough to see the Rome 🙂 And need to be ready when you go to Rome, get the map and check the working hours of the museums and wear comfortable shoes 🙂

Another thing, when you are booking a hotel, check what museum you will visit the last. Just to let you know, that you wont have any energy to go back to the spot, where you started from 🙂 Like we did 🙂 I booked a hotel near Colosseum, but we walked totally opposite way to the museums 🙂

I hope you can take some useful information from this blog post! If something is missing you can add it in the comments !

P.S. I did not have a time to take pictures, as we were trying to keep up with the group and guide 🙂 For sure I need to make another trip to this absolutely amazing city!

Carnival of Viareggio 2015 :: Italy

March 6, 2015 ·

February is big festivity month for the ones who live in Tuscany. All dressed up in various costumes, from nun to superman they all heading to the streets to dance, eat, drink and have fun! So as Im spending my winter in Tuscanny, beach town called Viareggio, they also have their own Carnival of Viareggio! It is considered amongst the most renowned carnival celebrations in both Italy and Europe. Its main characteristic is given by the parade of floats and masks, usually made of paper-pulp, depicting caricatures of popular people, such as politicians, showmen and sportsmen. The parade is held on the Viareggio avenue located alongside the local beach. Its actually quite old carnival, it all started in 1873.

Tuscany Wedding Photographer :: Pisa

January 27, 2015 ·

I cant get enough of Italy! Pisa stole my heart! It’s architecture, streets, food and river view is amazing and of-course the famous Pisa Tower. I did not do that epic shot, holding the leaning Pisa tower :), because there are so many people trying to take that shot 🙂 Of course I completely understand them, if you are there you’ve got to help Pisa tower to hold there for a little longer 🙂 I took these images in Christmas time, so the Christmas tree is there and a lady who hand draw on the Christmas tree decorations.

Have you been to Pisa? And what was your experience there?