Our last day

September 23, 2011

Today was our "catch all" day. Jack and Kris left this morning (flying stand-by and got into First Class!); Don and Anita decided to do the Hop On Hop Off Tour and we decided to walk the streets of Rome and catch all the sites we missed rushing from place to place! Seven hours later with only one 45 minute stop for lunch, we feel exhausted but happy with all the things we saw, learned, experienced and understood during our time here. In addition to all the things I have written about in previous posts, today we saw

THE SPANISH STEPS


THE TIBER RIVER (up close)




A CASTLE WHERE THE POPE GOES IN A CRISIS




THE AMERICAN EMBASSY



and here is our "home" in Rome - a B&B




With this crazy caged elevator:


and our beautiful room.


It has been an amazing trip! Writing this blog has helped me to look back and remember all that we have done the past 17 days! Hope you enjoyed coming along!

Love,
Lisa

Location:Rome

Night

Wednesday, September 21, 2011.
11:00 p.m. We decided rather than get a cab or ride a bus we would walk home. We have been to dinner, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon. Rome is just like New York....wide awake, lights, people, music, stores, cars, gelato stands. It is unbelievable!! We walked down streets that I wouldn't normally drive at night - too narrow, too dark, too scary! And then, to reach our apartment, we had to go on a bridge over the river and under a road through a tunnel.


Trevi Fountain




Pantheon door and me (the door weighs 20 tons and after all the gelato I have eaten, I must be close to that!)




Walking home through many narrow streets and a tunnel!

Location:Rome

Rome

Wow. A day of touring Vatican City is exhausting! We started out bright and early to visit St. Peter's Square and happened upon a wonderful group tour of the Basilica. We learned some very unusual facts (e.g. every occupant of this smallest city in the world is a single male!) that we never would have discovered had we walked about on our own. After a delicious pizza, we went to a self guided tour of the Vatican. The artwork is incredible! But we are exhausted.
Rome is incredible!

Tonight we are going to Trevi Fountain (site of "Three Coins in a Fountain") and a restaurant recommended by Stephanie. Tomorrow we are going to Campo de' Fiori, the oldest market in Rome and then on to the Jewish Ghetto where we hope to find Carciofi (kosher artichokes??!) and braided challah and lots of history about how the Jews lived and survived in this ghetto.




In St. Peter's Square. The Pope was out.




Can you see the people high up around the dome? We're hoping to go back when there isn't such a long wait.


After lunch Jack and Kris rented this Smart car and motorcycle for a quick ride. The number of these cars and motorcycles is unbelievable. Traffic is insane. We still favor our 9 passenger van and negotiating the narrow streets all over Italy.

Location:Vatican City

Tuscany and on to Rome

Hi all!
It has been an amazing 4 days in Tuscany. We have visited some beautiful towns: Montalcino, Pienze, Montepulciano and tasted some delicious wine and cheese! We visited a 6th Century Abbey and heard the Gregorian Chant. And we drove on some insane roads (see pictures below and then look back at the car we rented!). I hit a few vines and brush but the car survived. Our home for our time in Montalcino was part of a vineyard, each of us having our own apartment. Jack & Kris' patio was covered by grapevines! Our last night (yesterday) brought a thunderstorm with the wind blowing so hard the shutters were slamming. It was amazing!
Today we drove into Rome. It took about 3 hours with beautiful scenery and towns along the way. As we approached I was wistful for the serenity of Tuscany until I saw the sites of Rome!! What a contrast from where we've been - the frenzy is incredible. We ditched the car and went on the "Caesar Shuffle" - walked around the colosseum (touring that on Thursday) the forum, and Palantine Hill. Tomorrow we tour the Vatican!!



A road in Montalcino. Notice it is one- way! We didn't always let that stop us!




At a tour of a winery!




The walled city of Montepulciano. Jack and I got caught in the labyrinth of roads..........With me behind the wheel and him navigating. What a riot.




Our "villa".


More to come!

Location:Montalcino

Bucket List

September 16, 2011

#1 on my Bucket List was to throw open the shutters of my window and overlook a vineyard in Tuscany.......CHECK

September 16, 2011
Happy Birthday Stephanie

Location:Tuscany

Off to Greve

September 15, 2011
Sadly we are leaving Florence where we will have to return some day because there is so much more to see! We have picked up our 9 passenger Renault and are heading toward Greve, a small town north of Sienna. The next place we rest our heads will be at a B&B in Montalcino south of Sienna. We will be there for 4 days, spending most of our time tasting wine and cheese and swimming in the pool!
Here is a picture from the piazza in Greve:





What a wild ride from Greve to San Gimignano where we will be eating lunch. We went up, then down, then up and up and up!! Grapes and olives growing everywhere. Many, many wineries and little towns.

Here is our car - a 9 seater!!!!

Location:Tuscany

One amazing dinner

Kris made reservations for dinner at ad place she had eaten a couple of years ago called Il Latini. For anyone who has been a cruise, think about how the dinner is served - the waiters all appear at the same time with the food. First we had antipasto, then 3 types of pasta, then 4 kinds of meat and then 6 different desserts. It was an event rather than a meal. So much fun!



The guy on the right??? Who knows - I guess a wannabe!

Below is the dessert wine and champagne along with biscotti (not one of the desserts - meant to be used for dunking!!)

Location:Florence, Italy

Hello! We have made it to Florence. 2 trains and some walking and here we are. We are staying right near the Arno River and saw the Ponte Vecchio - amazing!! We stopped by the Duomo - mobbed and walked through the market. I'm exhausted! Off to dinner in a few minutes!
What a contrast to Cinque Terre - but both rich with history and very friendly people! Tomorrow we are going to see Michelangelo and then on a picnic!! Quite warm here so I definitely packed correctly. I will post more pics tomorrow!
Our hotel is quite interesting by the way. We have 3 private rooms all on the same floor and that is all that is on this floor. So it is somewhat like an apartment. And for those of you that know me well I was happy to find the BBC on the television- first thing that came on was Tom Brady's record breaking performance!!
Bye for now.


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Location:Off to Florence

On the boat

Quote of the day: "it will lay down". The plan for the day was to boat along the shore from 11:00 to 2:00 but it was a bit choppy (not for our MEN but for me). Jack assured us at would lay down. So we rescheduled for 1:00 to 4:00. Still the promises from 11-1 that it will lay down. At 1:00 it was decided to go with a lot of doubt on my part. But go we did. We had a great time and went snorkeling and swimming. But uh oh - when I reembarked the wave of nausea hit me. So I asked to please be let off at the next village. And off I went. Everyone else continued on the boat and I took the train! Perfect solution :). It turned into a perfect day for all. Here are some pics that are from yesterday's hike and today's boat.

More hiking!!!

Another day of hiking!! My calves are screaming but it was well worth it. The "boys" and I set out bright and early and hiked to the next village. We hiked straight up to catch the most beautiful views including a nude beach! Then it was off to the beach (no not the nude one!) and a touch of the Mediterranean! Still hard to believe we are in Cinque Terre!!
Tomorrow we are going snorkeling and then to do some shopping before packing up for the next step of our journey.......Florence!





Arriving in Vernazza on foot!

by the way.....LOVE pesto!!!!!!

Miss you all
xxoo
Lisa

Hiking hiking and more hiking!!

Cinque Terre has 5 villages that are connected by a variety of trails. Today we hit the hardest one that took us 90 minutes to complete. Straight up and straight down. Rocky, narrow, and so fun!! Anita had shoe problems so the Inces and Fullers tackled the wilderness!! Then we passed out on the beach!!














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Riomaggiorre

Hello everyone!
We are here, hiking the Cinque Terre and it is everything I thought it would be and more! Very limited Internet so I will post when I can.
It took nearly 12 hours to reach out destination but I can already say it was worth it!!


This is a view from the trattoria where we are having unbelievable pasta with pesto. Next we will hike to the next village, Manarola. Each village is different from the next - I can't imagine anything more beautiful!!

Almost time!!

Well things were going really well until I tried to upload a blog with a picture from my iPad (fondly known as Paddie). Turns out you need "an app for that". HUGS to my nephew Michael for yanking me off the ceiling and finding the perfect solution (it helps to have someone on the inside at Google!)
So. Let's give this a try....OH t-minus 5 hours....t'storms all over the area. But I think we are all packed and ready to go!!


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An Invitation

Hello!
I plan on keeping a blog while we are in Italy. I thought you might like to see my posts! Please write back to let me know if I should include you!
Lisa/Mom/Meema