Arrived in New York last night, stayed at a hotel near the airport. Went swimming then had dinner in our room. Just relaxed after our long flight. Today, got up early, had breakfast and went to JFK airport. We checked our bags and took the bus into the city and walked around. Went to the top of the Empire State building. Nice views. Then walked over to Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral, then back to Grand Central Station. Took the bus back to JFK to catch our Alitalia flight to Rome.
September 12th
We were supposed to land at Rome at 7:05AM. Instead we landed in Genoa because of fog. We finally reached Rome around 11AM, cleared customs and went to our hotel, getting there around 2:30PM. We are both very tired, neither of us slept much on the plane.
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| Attare della Patria, also known as Vittoriano |
Took a taxi back to the hotel, took showers and dressed for dinner. Had drinks in the lobby and met our guide, Nello, and some of our fellow travelers - Pat and Toby, Mike and Carol. Had dinner with them, it was very enjoyable. Bed early tonight, we are jet lagged.
September 13th
Got up around 7:30AM and had breakfast in the hotel. Today is a tour day. In the morning the bus took us to the Colisseum and the Arch of Constantine. We were able to walk around there. Then to St. Peters. The church was beautiful. We had a city tour guide and she was quite funny but made me feel like a school child, certainly didn't want to get separated from her for fear of being yelled at.
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| Moses by Michelangelo |
Went to Capotaline Hill. Building was originally a palace and Michelagelo designed the facade. Behind this is the ruins of the Forum. The Forum is ancient Rome, mostly in ruins, but you can see where the buildings were, and imagine what they looked like. Today we only looked at it from above, will have to come back and go into it on our own. Then we went to St. John's, the oldest church in the world. It is beautiful inside, wonderful statues and lots of gold. The ceilings were gorgeous. Went back to the hotel, showered and changed for dinner.
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| Saint Angelo Castel |
September 14th
Today is a free day. Got up late, around 9AM. Had breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast here consists of orange juice, croissants and either hot chocolate (for me) or coffee (for George).
Walked past Castel Saint Angelo to St. Peters. Decided to go to the top. Might have been a mistake as my feet already hurt and it is VERY hot and humid today. We made it, but just barely. There's an elevtor part way, then it's 320 steps to the dome. Part way up you can look down from inside the dome. The church is beautiful. Then you continue to climb. The stairway is narrow, very steep and you keep going around and around. View form the top was beautiful. It's always easier going back down.
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| Inside view of Pantheon Dome |
Very hot and tired so had to stop and get some Gelato. Sat for awhile and did some people-watching. Walked to the Vatican and did a self-guided walking tour of it. More stairs, of course. Sistine Chapel is gorgeous - ceiling by Michelangelo. I bought a flowered pin in the gift shop there.
We then took a taxi to the Forum. Did a walking tour of that, we walked in Caesars footsteps, or at least it seemed we were. We then walked over to the Colisseum. Looked around in there for awhile, lots of feral cats in the Colisseum. Then we walked to the Pantheon. That was very impressive. The dome on that is huge, and made of concrete with an opening in the center. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. One thing about walking in Rome, there are ruins everywhere, even among the more modern buildings. We were walking near some very modern buildings and found that they had excavated some ruins, and had preserved them so that you could look down into them, and had still built the building almost on top of it.
It was a long day of sight-seeing, we were tired, so took a taxi back to the hotel to rest, shower and change for dinner.
September15th
Got up early today. Suitcases had to be outside the room by 7AM. Had breakfast in the hotel, then loaded onto the bus. Very long trip, slept some. Lots of traffic, very slow moving. Scenery was pretty, rolling hills and vineyards. Stopped for lunch. I had lasagna which was very good.
Arrived in Venice around 5:30PM. We were loaded onto boats to take us across the water to our hotel. Venice is spectacular! Better than I had imagined. Dinner at the hotel was noodles with shrimp, a very good salad with carrots and greens, sole fillets with capers and a lemon oil, potatoes and gelato for dessert. It was a very good meal.
After dinner we went on a godola ride. Venice is so pretty and the ride was nice, but it wasn't romantic because we were with the group, and six of us were in one gondola. Walked to St. Mark's Square after the ride. Our hotel, The Europa and Regina, is very close to everything, and St. Mark's is just around the corner. We wandered around the square and sat and had a glass of wine while we listened to music. Got to our room about midnight.
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| The Forum |
It was a long day of sight-seeing, we were tired, so took a taxi back to the hotel to rest, shower and change for dinner.
September15th
Got up early today. Suitcases had to be outside the room by 7AM. Had breakfast in the hotel, then loaded onto the bus. Very long trip, slept some. Lots of traffic, very slow moving. Scenery was pretty, rolling hills and vineyards. Stopped for lunch. I had lasagna which was very good.
Arrived in Venice around 5:30PM. We were loaded onto boats to take us across the water to our hotel. Venice is spectacular! Better than I had imagined. Dinner at the hotel was noodles with shrimp, a very good salad with carrots and greens, sole fillets with capers and a lemon oil, potatoes and gelato for dessert. It was a very good meal.
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| View from the front of our hotel |
After dinner we went on a godola ride. Venice is so pretty and the ride was nice, but it wasn't romantic because we were with the group, and six of us were in one gondola. Walked to St. Mark's Square after the ride. Our hotel, The Europa and Regina, is very close to everything, and St. Mark's is just around the corner. We wandered around the square and sat and had a glass of wine while we listened to music. Got to our room about midnight.
September 16th
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| Venice |
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| Venice |
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| Window outside Harry's Bar |
Late Afternoon we went to Harry's Bar for Bellini's (peach juice and champagne), which they made famous. They were wonderful!! Our bartender was very nice, enjoyed chatting with him, and he gave me a free sample of a grape drink. It's a great place, met another couple from California, visited with them, they are on a bicycle tour of Italy. Our drinks - we had 2 Bellini's each - came to $48. I knew Harry's Bar would be expensive, but had to go there. I love the story of how the bar got started, and it was a favorite of Hemingways, and certainly a landmark for Venice. Would of loved to have dinner there, but have dinner scheduled with the tour, and it would be expensive. I have their cookbook at home. Went back to hotel to change for dinner.
Dinner at a very nice restaurant - Restaurante Du Forni. Started with spinach noodles, good salad, chicken, veal and gnocchi. Gelato for dessert. We also had champagne to start, then white wine with dinner. Everything was delicious, best meal of the tour, so far.
Strolled back to hotel through Piazza San Marcos. Packed for tomorrow, early night, have to be up pretty early tomorrow.
September 17th - our 25th Wedding Anniversary
Got up early, breakfast at the hotel. Got into a water taxi and we were taken to our bus. I am very sad to be leaving Venice, its a beautiful, colorful city and I have fallen in love with it. Would love to spend more time here. It is definitly on my list of places I want to come back to.
Long day on the road. Stopped in Padua for a short visit to the Basilica (church). It was beautiful, but we are starting to feel like it's ABC (another big church). Then on to Bologna, where we stopped for lunch. We also went to a church there. Lunch was a Italian Tortilla sandwich with ham, cheese and spinach and fruit torte and beer. It was very good.
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| View from above Florence |
Then on the road again to Florence, We first went to Piazza Michelangelo, which is above Florence. It has a wonderful view of the city. We got a group picture taken there.
Then we went to the Piazza San Croce and went into the church there. Then walked over to the leather factory. Didn't buy anything but plan to go back. Finally arrived at our hotel, our room is very nice. Dinner in the hotel tonight. Pasta, of course, sliced turkey, carrots and salad. Not one of the best meals, but Nello (our tour guide) brought me some wonderful salmon that the restaurant was serving in their dining room, it had a lemon oil on it, it was delicious. Dessert was an unusual dish, sort of a flan with a liqueur cake layer and whipped cream on top. It was served with candles on top and everyone sang Happy Anniversary to us.
September 18th
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| David |
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| Ponte Vecchio bridge with shops |
Dinner was at the hotel tonight. Typical hotel tour food, not too exciting, but filled us up. After dinner Nello sang in the lounge, he is very good.
September 19th
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| Walk up to the fortress |
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| Me holding up leaning tower of Pisa |
Had lunch in a small place, interesting sandwich, a soft bread with tuna and tomato. Enjoyed a beer with it. Met the tour bus, then went to Pisa. The leaning tower is more impressive than I expected. It's really beautiful. The Duomo and Bapistery are also very gorgeous. Walked around there for awile. Had to do the mandatory photo opt of me holding up the tower. Everyone else was, so I couldn't resist.
Back to the hotel to get ready for dinner out. Dinner was at a large restaurant a little ways out of Florence. We went past a huge monastery on the way, its on a hill and absolutely beautiful views of the city lit at night. Michelangelo lived at that monastery for awhile. Dinner was very good, lots of food. Started with sangria and chips, then antipasto - melon with prosciutto, then a very good bean soup, 3 different pastas, salad, chicken and spinach and fruit for dessert, with espresso. Music with dinner, even talked Nello into singing.
After dinner on the bus ride back, it was dark and everyone was mellow from all the wine and food. Music was on the bus stereo and everyone sang along. It was fun. We have a really great group, everyone gets along really well. I didn't want the trip back to end. Wonderful end to a good evening.
September 20th
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| Siena - Main Square |
Late afternoon we walked to Cacine Park and watched Italian families enjoying a day of fun and relaxation in the park. Had our daily gelato on the walk back to the hotel. Dinner tonight was scheduled to be in the hotel, but the food there has been less then exciting - typical hotel food.. So decided to pass on that and we joined Nello and a few others and went to a local restaurant that is a favorite of Nello's. It cost us an extra $80, but well worth it. It was the best dinner so far on this trip, and definitly the most fun. Only the fun people from the group went and it got a little rowdy! Dinner was red and white wine, 3 types of pasta, gnocchi, chicken, pork, veal, beans, and for dessert Tiramasu and cappacinos. It was all delicious. Everyone was telling jokes and having fun. Got back to hotel around 11PM, packed to leave tomorrow.
Septeber 21
Left Florence after breakfast. Drove to the city of Assisi, it is a medieval walled city built on top of a mountain and is famous because of St. Francis of Assisi. We visited the monastery there, it's very pretty. Walked around the town and stopped to chat with a black bird in a cage. I thought it was saying "hello, Laura", so I was quite taken with it. But found out it was saying "allora". Not sure what that means, but finally figured out that was what he was saying.
Next stop was Perugia, also a walled city, this one famous for it's chocolate. Had lunch there and walked around the square. It has a nice view as it is also on top of a mountain. Sampled the chocolate.
Drove on to Rome. Our hotel is the Grand Hotel Flora. It's a very nice hotel, very elegant. There is a Harry's Bar across the street. Tonight is the dinner dance at the Palace, our farewell dinner. Got dressed in my little black lace dress, George in his suit. Everyone looked very nice. We clean up well. The palace was very beautiful, and the food was wonderful, so many courses, and lots of wine to drink. Good music to dance to. Everyone had a good time.
September 22nd
Started the day off by falling down the stairs and twisting my back and ankle. It was a graceful move. Guess I know where Kim gets it from. Didn't hurt myself that much, still able to get around. Just embarrassed.
Walked to Borghese Park which is very pretty. Had gelato, which I spilled all over me, another graceful moment. Had to go back to hotel to change clothes. Walked around the streets of Rome. Bought some t-shirts. Stubbed my toe and almost fell again - not doing at all well today!
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| Tivoli Gardens, outside Rome |
Back at the hotel we told everyone good-bye. Most are leaving early tomorrow to fly home. We still have time on our own, but we are leaving for Sorrento in the morning. Packed our suitcases.
September 23
The tour part of the trip is over, we are on our own. Got up very early and left part of our luggage behind. Will get it when we come back to Rome, no use carrying more then we have to. Took a taxi to the train station and got the train to Naples. Changed there to a smaller, and very crowded, train to Sorrento. We had to stand for most of that part of the trip.
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| View from hill - Sorrento |
Arrived in Sorrento, took a taxi to our hotel - Hotel Desiree. It's a small hotel built on the side of the cliff. We have a nice room, with purple ceramic floor tiles and a balcony overlooking the cliffs and the Meditterean Sea. It is so lovely here, I could sit on the balcony for a week and look at that view. But then again, there is a town to explore. Went walking in town. Had lunch at a nice place, C'Antica Trattoria. Upstairs with grape arbor above. I had clams cooked in a spicey oil, they were delicious.
Walked around a bit more. I bought some sandals. Had some gelato, of course. Came back to hotel to relax and shower. Went to dinner next door - La Tonnerelle. Sat outside and had gnocchi, chicken and mushrooms. Good, but too much food. Came back to our room early evening, read, relaxed and sipped some Lemoncello, a local drink famous in Sorrento. Enjoyed our view. I have fallen in love with Sorrento.
September 24th
Had rolls and coffee with milk at our hotel. Walked downtown, it started sprinkling, then it rained. Caught a bus back to our hotel just in time, then it really came down. We had lightning, hail, the works. Electricity was even off for several hours.
About 1:30PM it looked like it might clear up, so we went out again. Had lunch at an English pub, I had a hamburger and fries. Decided the weather was too uncertain for Capri, so took the train to Pompeii.
Pompeii is fascinating and I had an eerie feeling in there. To think of all those people so many years ago being smothered by the ashes form the volcano. And they have these plaster statues of people, they have poured the plaster down into holes and they get the forms of the people as they were covering themselves from the ash. Very eerie.
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| Ruins of Pompeii |
Pompeii is larger than I thought it would be, it was quite a civilization. We went through some well preserved homes, with paintings still on the walls. And at one point we heard children singing, which was quite eerie, I thought they could be ghosts from the past, but turned out there was a bus of school children.
Took the train back to Sorrento, it turned out to be a warm clear evening. Walked back to hotel, not very hungry, so we bought some snacks to eat in our room.
Sunshine! It's a beautiful day. Had breakfast in our hotel. Then took the boat to Capri. I love being out on the sea. Once we arrived on the island, we took the funicular (tram) up the mountain to the town of Capri. The island smells like lemons. From there we tried following a map that was hand-drawn for us by the owner of our hotel. She told us all the things we needed to see on the island. Went to Arch Naturalle. It was a long steep climb. It's a large rock with an opening made by the sea and wind. It was very pretty there and worht the climb. Stopped for lemonade near there, and a chance to catch our breathes. Then started climbing to Villa Jovis, also a long steep climb. Villa Jarvis is a ruins of a place where supposedly people were pushed off the cliffs. We made it halfway and we could see it, but did not climb all the way to it.
Then we took a chair lift to the top of the island. The ride was wonderful, not even scary, and the views were spectacular. I have found heaven and it's name is Capri.
Then we took the bus to Anacapri, which is the town on the top of the island. Had lunch in Anacapri, a place called Gallo Bianca. The food there was delicious. I had the Fetticini Gallo Bianca (white cheese sauce, ham and mushrooms). George had pizza which he said was quite good. We had beer with lunch, and George was able to get a beer mug with the label of the beer we were drinking, to take home as a souvenir.
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| View of the 3 Sirens off coast of Capri |
Then we went back down to the marina area and took the boat to the Blue Grotto. We were first in a motorboat, but when we got out to the grotto area, we transferred to small rowboats, and went into the grotto. We had to lay down in the boat to enter the grotto, and it is very dark inside, but the water is definitly blue. Our boat guy sang in there, it was quite pretty, and kind of eerie.
Took the boat back to Sorrento. Stood on deck most of the way, wind blowing my hair, I love the sea. Had some gelato before going back to the hotel by taxi. Changed and went to dinner. We decided to go back to where we had lunch the first day - C'Antica Tratatoria, it was excellent food and had an excellent wine - Falangina 1991. Had their fixed price dinner - Canneloni, choice of lamb chops or veal (I had the lamb, George the veal), salad and a plate of desserts. It was all excellent. I like the waiter also, he was funny. Nice restaurant all around. After dinner we walked around Sorrento, had some lemoncello and grappa in the main square. Walked back to hotel about midnight.
September 26th
Last day in Sorrento. Got up and had breakfast. Packed. Went for a short swim from the beach below the hotel. The Meditterean sea was very warm and wonderful. Wished I'd had more time to swim while we were here. Checked out of hotel and took the train, first to Naples, and then on to Rome. Took a taxi to Hotel Flora, where we picked up the luggage we had left. We are staying at a smaller hotel near train station.
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| Colisseum |
Last day to exlore Rome. Took a taxi to the war memorial. Walked past the Colisseum. From there we walked up Capotaline Hill, then down by the Forum. Then to the Trevi Fountain to throw another coin in the fountain with a profound wish to someday return to Italy. Then to the Spanish Steps, climbed to the top and had our last gelato in Italy and went back to our hotel to pack . We fly home tomorrow. It was a great trip, loved every moment, but it's always good to get home. I know the dogs will be happy to see us.
