Turned into Pumpkins

It's official - we have turned into pumpkins! I am back working (catching up on many emails and making sure I remember what I do!) and Corey is getting ready to go to school and get some things ready for some reactions he will be doing in the coming weeks.

We did pretty well on the 10.5 hour flight home -- sleeping for ~ the first half and then trying to stay up to get back on "normal" time. We also slept well and for a long time last night -- so we should be free of jet lag for the most part!

We had such a great time in Italy! I am glad I was able to keep up and write about all of our adventures. Thanks for reading and commenting along the way!

Milano

Last blog post from Italy! We leave early tomorrow morning.

Wow Milan has great shopping!!! I found TIBI .. the coat I saw was over 500 Euro (750$)!! Wish I had bags of money to blow at these places!

*These are security cameras facing the LV bag in the display window. They are not real - but the display was very creative.

To shop here, you must also be able to afford one of these:

I have also seen a Bentley, a few Masertis, and many Audis!

I did buy something from one store!

One of my last glasses of wine in Italy.

We have a Rose-Hulman dinner tonight with the entire group that came here with the tour (~18). And then back home to Indiana!

Ciao for the last time.

Bitter Sweet

Tomorrow is our last full day in Italy! Bitter sweet ... I am ready for home because I need sleep and normalcy back in my life (and miss the fam and the puppy!), but we have had such a great experience that we will be sad to say goodbye to Italia. Something about not spending any more money also seems nice right now!

This morning we left via water taxi from Venice to Murano and Burano. The water taxi was fun. The speed limits in the water are very strict and are followed - so we didn't experience any "Italian Job" boats scenes. It was a bit scary at times! The driver was so aggresively trying to get a parking spot that I thought we were going to run into other boats at least 6 times.

At Murano we got to watch some glass blowing. It takes these people over 10 years to fully understand what they are doing. It was really neat to see.

From Murano we quickly boated over to Burano - an old fishing town known for it's lace. The wives of the fisherman painted their houses with bright colors so that their husbands could see them from the Adriatic Sea when coming home from fishing excursions.

After getting back to the main land of Venice, Corey and I walked around for a bit more. We found some gondolas being built.

I think we had one of our best meals tonight - spaghetti with tomatoes and lobster. It was served family style in a restaurant that was very small. We actually sat with another couple (not just next to -- we shared olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sat at the same table!). Then we had to get some gelato to cap off a great time in Venice.

An early start tomorrow sends us to Verona and then to Milano. I have not had a chance to do much shopping ... isn't that sinful? I plan to make some time tomorrow!

Venezia

Our 4 hour drive from Florence to Venice was not as bad as I had anticipated. We went over the Apennines mountain range (and through them at times). There was a lot of traffic - especially when we approached the dark long tunnels through the mountains.

Our first order of business when arriving in Venice was a walking tour through Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square) and the Basilica in the square. Honestly - I have seen the inside of too many churches! Although I know they are each unique and of much historical value. St Mark's square is the large square in Venice where all the pictures are taken of people with pigeons on them (pigeons sleep in their own feeces so we weren't even thinking of letting them land on us).

After our walking tour concluded, we went for a gondola ride! It was awesome. I got a little nervous when we all started moving seats (the only seats that are together are at the back of the gondola, and the views vary so much from each seat). The driver helped by telling us who should move where at what time so the boat could stay balanced ... but I was still feeling like we could fall into the canal at any second.

Right next to the gondola access point was the famous Harry's Bar .. where Hemingway once sat and where the Belini was invented. Of course we had to go .. and here are our drinks. Can you believe that these were 15 euro a piece!? This equals ~45$ for both of us! They say that it costs money to breath in Venice and I believe it!

We finished the night with dinner and a pub crawl through Venice. There are a lot of really good pubs - and it was nice to try some Italian beer (not that I could ever be sick of wine, but this was a nice change). Here we are with Nick and Nichole at bar number 1.

We are off in one hour for a boat cruise to Murano (famous for glass blowing) and Burrano (famous for lace) Islands. 50% chance of rain - so if I bring my rain jacket it will be sunny, but if I take my sunglasses it will rain.

Ciao Ciao for now!

The Tower is Leaning!

Today's journey started with a trip to Pisa. It is a small small place, but was pretty neat to see (it's an Italy must!)

After Pisa we were off to Verrazzona castle in Tuscany. It is over 1000 years old! Great views. And, it was a vineyard so we had some good wine.

Later it was off to San Gimignano .. another little town outside of Florence. The sun was just starting to go down and the city was so adorable. I could live with this view every morning.

We didn't get back to Florence until later this evening ... we walked down the River Arno and found a nice place to eat on the river. We then walked around the town before heading back to the hotel.

Tomorrow morning we have a 4 hour drive to Venice. Once there, we have a walking tour around the city and then a gondola ride.

Oh - and we bought some olive oil (we also got to see some people harvesting the olives from the trees)!! This shop in San Gimignano was so cool.

Buona Notte (Good Night)!

PS. When I get a really good and fast internet connection I will upload all of our pictures and send the link.

Firenze

Welcome to Florence!

We started our day on a walking tour through Firenze (Italian word for Florence) in the pouring rain. It is still a pretty city in the rain (as pretty as it can be when your feet and pants are soaking wet and your hair is flat). Notice the puddles.

Our tour started in the Accademia museum which holds a lot of Michelangelo's works. Most things in Florence are named after Michelangelo -- they are very proud of him (and they should be - he has some amazing pieces). Again, no pictures allowed in the Accademia but Corey was in charge of the camera. David was amazing.

We then headed to the Duomo - a BIG church - followed by the Uffizi Gallery which holds many of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael .. most of all the Tunage Mutant Ninja Turtles!


We finshed the afternoon walking around the town, and then had a dinner up in the Tuscan Hills.



Bed time, now! Tomorrow is Piza, Verrazono Castle for wine tasting in the Chianti Region, and San Giamignano. We are staying well informed via CNN on the election - what a big day!

Under the Tuscan Rain

This morning we were checked out of the Rome hotel bright and early. We headed back over to the Vatican to go to the Vatican museum. The Vatican museum is so large that if you were to spend 3 minutes in front of each piece in the museum it would take you 2.5 years to get through the museum!

The highlight was obviously the Sistine Chapel. We aren't allowed to take any pictures when in the chapel. That didn't stop Corey from taking a video (illegaly!).

We then boarded the bus to head to Florence via Sienna. The drive was pleasant and the country side was beautiful. We stopped for a bite (that's how our guide says "eat lunch") at a small restaurant on the highway on the way to Sienna. Here is Corey's olio (olive oil) soup!

As soon as we got close to Sienna, the Tuscan sun went under the clouds. It poured for our first 10 minutes while walking around.

But then, the sun came out and we got to enjoy Sienna. It was amazing. Here are a few shots overlooking Tuscany.

We made it to Florence in time for dinner and a quick walk down the river. More to come from Florence tomorrow - we have a walking tour in the morning and we are going to the Uffizi gallery in the afternoon. Tomorrow night we are going to the Tuscan Hills for dinner (always looking forward to food!!)

Ciao for now!

Last day in Roma

We haven't wasted time on our last day in Rome. We left the hotel early for Compe de Fiori - a large market place. It was very interesting to see everything and everyone around.

Corey has been a great navigator!

We ate lunch in Navona square and had a Peroni each, of course.

All afternoon was spent at the Lazio football match. The fans are intense! It was held at the Olympic Stadium. We were for sure the only non Italians there which was a bit scarey because we had NO idea what was going on!

Tonight dinner was in Traveste .. a trendy neighborhood across the river just south of the vatican. After eating ... we digested by walking to the Colesseum.

We (OK - I) tried to stay out longer but my legs no longer feel attached to my body. We have been walking so much (duh - to be expected).

Leaving Rome early tomorrow – headed to the Vatican museums (which were closed when we went on Saturday because of the All Saints Holiday). We then travel to Florence with a stop on the way in Sienna. I will try to get on to update things tomorrow after we get to Tuscany.

You Scream, I Scream, We all Scream for … PIZZA!?

OK – the pizza I had on Friday for lunch at the Piazza was good. But, last night’s pizza was unreal! It doesn’t look like much (pizza Margareta) … but wow was it good. So very thin that some of the crust was even a little burnt (didn’t bother me though!). I think it is the cheese and the pizza crust (not like our dough) that makes it so squisito (yummy)!

Voila … I was super hungry so I didn’t wait to snap a photo before I dug in.

Corey and I shared, although I ate most. He had a gorgonzola and sausage pizza. And gorgonzola wasn’t just sprinkled on … it was the only cheese on the pizza. Had a major bite … we agreed that mine was the best.

Dessert …a Nutella crepe. What an end to a truly Italian day.

Today's plans:

• AM - maybe a bus ride to see some more of the city
• Noon - back to the hotel to pick up Football Tickets! We are going to see a Series A (league name) soccer match between Lazio and Cantina
• PM - back to Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Pantheon to see them lit up a night. I hear it is a site to see.

I do like Linda’s suggestion … wine for breakfast! Haha … then I would really forget what I did while in Italy. So – I will have to save wine for lunch and dinner, and maybe a night cap as well. My post times are still Indiana time, so even though it says 1PM and we have had wine, it is 7PM here. We are now 6 hours ahead of Indy.

To Derek -- Compleanno Felice (Happy Birthday!) We are counting on you to cheer louder than those Patriots fans up in Mass!! Go Horse.