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Rome,
the Cinque Terra, Venice, Florence
Nov. 2-12, 2009
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Tuesday,
Nov. 3
ROME:
We got off the plane, took a train 40
miles into Rome, found our hotel and then hit the ground running.
We toured old Rome, saw the Colosseum (at
right), Forum, Arch of Constantine and threw coins in the
Trevi Fountain. Had lunch at a place called Cesar Pizza. |
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Nov.
4-5
THE
CINQUE TERRA: We left
Rome and took a train northward to Old World Italy, five small
villages chiseled out of the rocks along the Mediterranian Sea. We
stayed in Vernazza (far
left), then took a train to Riomaggiore (at left) then hiked a trail several miles to Corniglia on the sea.
That seaside pasta and pesto was great. We took a train
back to Vernazza, and got up early the next day to head to Venice. |
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Nov.
6-7
VENICE
: We left Old Rome and headed northeast to
Venice
. Arrived to see the
famous waterways. Our hotel near the
Rialto
Bridge
was established in the 1200s. We saw the charming and touristy
sides of
Venice
, went to a classical concert, saw the huge San Marco Basilica, below center, and the
ornate Doge’s Palace. On Saturday, we sailed to nearby Murano (below, left) and Burano islands, noted for their glassware and lace,
respectively. And dinner was great. I had penne and Karen was
adventuresome, trying the sea bass, far
right. |
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Nov.
8-10
FLORENCE:
Unaffected by a local train strike, we arrived in
Florence via Eurorail. After sticking with the group for an
overview of the town, Karen and I took off on our own and saw the
spiritual Duomo (below
right), the dazzling shops on Jewelry Bridge (right),
the Ufittzi museum (below
left), where we saw Michaelango’s huge statue of David that
he made in the 1500s. We also saw the Medici Palace and Santa
Croce Church (burial place of Galilio and home of a Michalangelo
fresco). Dinner at Za Za’s, where Karen’s spaghetti with bacon
flavor was a hit. At an outdoor market, a guy tried his best to
sell me a leather coat, but I escaped with my wallet intact. |
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Nov.
11
ROME:
We took a train back to Rome for our last day. Then it was a
subway to the Vatican, where we saw dead popes and
amazing artwork in St. Peter’s Basilica, walked in St.
Peter’s Square, a
view of Rome from atop the basilica,
and Michaelangelo’s famous painting on the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel. And of
all the great dinners on the trip, Mike’s mussels in Rome were
his best. It was a great time with our travel partners, seen here
at our last dinner. |
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