Isola d'Elba |
Napoleon must have had it made when living in exile here: cool, crystal-clear waters, a lush, mountainous terrain, and a certain intangible Italian charm set this island apart from its tourist-ridden counterpart, the Cinque Terre. I found this island to be a relief from the usual annoyances of the summer tourist season; although swarms of tourists still crowded the pebbly beach, the rest of the island remained mostly untouched. Just minutes after stepping off the hour-long ferry ride to the island, I found myself transported, immersed in narrow, winding streets hemmed with lines of laundry hanging out to dry and topless middle-aged men confidently displaying rather impressive beer bellies. The humble abode of not-so-humble Napoleon is only a short hike away. The architecture of the house blends in so well with its surroundings that my friend and I passed by it on the first go. Looking at the view off the cliff on which Napoleon’s house sits is extremely gratifying, and makes the long journey to the island and up the hill to his house worth the effort.
For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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