ciao ciao! prego ciao!

After Venice, the last stop on our trip was Florence, home of the David. We REALLY enjoyed being there our last 3 days. Florence is smaller than Rome and seemed a little more laid back. The city was so clean and had great food. Jason loved the Florentine Beef. Their steaks were huge and delicious!
Near the Uffizi Gallery we saw a street vendor doing charactatures and we decided to have one drawn of us. So, we got him to do it... we couldnt see obviously, but what was so funny is there was this cultural melting pot of a crowd behind him watching him sketch us. They were nodding and laughing, and we were thinking"this is going to be so cool to have this".... so he says, 1,2,3.... and turns around this picture....and Jason DIED! he looks just like Chris Rock! Don't worry, it's at Hobby Lobby being framed.



We had great weather there, and the architecture was just spectacular. The markets were so fabulous... leather, silk and linens abound! I will leave you with some last shots of Florence, our favorite city.





It was an amazing, amazing trip..... the time of our lives. Jason is the greatest travel partner I could ask for... and I will forever treasure our time in Italy!
Ciao!

ok, ok, the last Italy post... can we move along please?

I know! It has taken me forever to post these last pictures. I feel like I have to finish the posts, for fear of this seeming like a book that you dont get to read the end of, or missing the last of a movie. So here goes....

We left Vernazza and took the train to Venice. Venice was JUST as you'd expect. Canals as waterways, Gondolas, and it was small.. Here's an interesting fact for ya... it's sinking. And when it rains really hard, some of the Piazzas flood. St Marco Square always floods and you have to walk on these walkways around certain parts of the city. It was raining, but no flooding when we were there. But it was COLD! We were in Venice overnight, and it was really great to make that one of our stops.

Coastal Towns and Other shots

The Hike through the Hill towns of the Cinque Terre

Ah, Vernazza........

I dont have words to describe this place.... I will tell you this. I was on the train between Rome and the Cinque Terre, and we would come out of the tunnels, aka mountains, and for a split second I would see this coastline of rocks and ocean, and it would literally take my breath. I have never seen any place on Earth that even remotely compares to this. And it was just as magical as it looks. There are 5 towns in the Cinque Terre, and the only way between them is to hike... or take the train. We stayed in town #4 Vernazza "The jewel of the Cinque Terre", according to Rick Steves, and Kendy Kosko.
We arrived on Friday afternoon, met some Americans at the trattorria and decided to all eat dinner together. We ate this amazing 4 course meal gulfside.... I had sardines, and Jason had veal. On Saturday we got up early and grabbed a piece of Foccacia, the best I have ever eaten, and began our hike. These pictures are between cities on our hike through the mountains. It was 10 miles total and took us about 6 hours with a 1 hour lunch in Monterosso.
That night we had another amazing meal and headed back to hotel Gianni, where we spent the night, woke up on Sunday (Easter... so peaceful, and everything around you reflecting the Creator) it was almost transcendent.

Anyway, these pictures are my meager attempt to capture paradise.

All aboard the Eurostar....

We had a little bit of a wait at the train station before heading to the coast... Of course we had to have our daily dose of cappuccino. I totally miss that bit of the day. Jason and I would sit down, usually in bewilderment of the city we'd just left, or were headed to...
I keep saying this, but our trip of a lifetime.

Arent these pics funny? Jason was like... "you are totally pawing your cup"
Coffee, anyone?

we can't leave Rome...

without showing the Vatican! And St Peters... it was such a personal and spiritual experience for Jason and me. When we saw the spot where it is thought of Peter to be buried, my heart dropped a little. So validating.
It was just surreal in the vatican, on the week of Easter.... and to see the Sistene Chapel. We didnt get to stay in the chapel as long as we wanted, just because there is NO WAY to take it all in. To think that Michaelangelo's greatest work was one that he didnt want to do.. he considered himself a sculptor, not a painter. Bizarre.
Anyway, check out these and a few more candid shots of Rome before we head to Vernazza.

Rome days 1-3 continued

(Scroll down to see beginning post of Rome)

Rome: Days 1-3

">"Italy, and the spring and first love all together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy." --Bertrand Russell

I am so sorry it has taken me so long. My pics are 10 mgs a piece and sizing them and etc, has been a mini nightmare... especially because I have three hundred or so. But, you arent going to see THAT many. And also, I should disclaimer that within minutes of arrival my CHI, complete with a European outlet, fried. I was distraught. I butchered my Italian along the aisles of a supermarket until I found Nivea mousse and some type of men's hairgel. Not a whole lot of extra product can fit into a 25 pound backpack, so it was slim pickens and my hair was terrible.
When we arrived in Rome, we were greeted by this amazing Roman women who was renting her flat to us for the time we were there. She was exactly as you would think a Roman woman would be... TALL, graceful, beautiful, accomplished, TRI-lingual (French, English and Italian). I felt like we were walking around on a movie set the entire time we were there... so surreal. And I know that I was only over there 11 days, but you cant go across the world and come back to America the same. I think I expected a lot out of this trip... and I definitely got it... a different perspective spiritually, for our country and a renewed appreciation and love for my sweet husband.
Rome made all of my senses come alive. The atmosphere, the history... and just the general attitude of the country was infectious. The Panethon, Coliseum, and my fave, the trevi (my fave), the vatican and St Peters (those two get their own post).. all were amazing. And, jason and I fell in love again... with the gelato. And the Piazzas, and the live music, and the fountains, and the walking night trail and with Rick Steves.
Enjoy Rome... then on to Vernazza!







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