Italy-Day 10

Sat we were back to the airport via Rome Cabs (great service!!) for our return flight home. We received excellent service at the airport. I approached the service desk to get a wheelchair and Carlyn and I were checked in, run through security, and on our way to the international terminal before Rico and Mary Lou were even in the security line. We did some shopping in the duty free area and got some gifts while we waited for them to arrive at the gate. I was very sad to leave, but the fat cats were waiting on us to get home. I can’t wait to return!

Italy-Day 9

Friday was fairly uneventful. We had to catch the train back to Rome at noon. That train ride was a nightmare! We arrived at the train station early so that we could try to get all of our now FIVE suitcases and a wheelchair on the train. Well, things didn’t go according to plan. Our train car was packed with teenagers from a school trip that had taken most of the luggage space. Our suitcases were about 50 lbs each so it took two of us to put one suitcase above our heads. Our stuff was just scattered all over the train. We still ended up with a suitcase in one of our seats, the wheelchair in the ailse, and a few bruises. We made it to Rome without hurting anyone though, haha. We were so tired by the time we got back to the hotel in Rome, that we ended up just walking around the last night. We walked back up to the shopping area and went into a few more shops. We had dinner at a great restaurant somewhere near the Spanish steps I believe.

Italy-Day 8

Thursday we had the morning in Pisa. It was fun and cheesy at the same time. Everyone has to try to knock over the Leaning tower in the photos or buy a leaning shot glass, but it was educational and it was a gorgeous day. Unfortunately, Rico and I did not get to go into the Duomo. We would have been in line for an hour trying to get a ticket. It was pretty from the outside tho!

After we returned from Pisa, we did MORE shopping and then Rico and I got ready for a date. We took off for dinner at a random spot in town. We just walked around until we found a quiet street with a nice looking restaurant. We ended up at La Posta. It was wonderful! The best truffled dish I had in Italy was at this restaurant. It ended up being an expensive meal, but it was worth it! Check back for a full blog on food in Italy :)

Italy--Day 7

Wednesday ended up being my favorite day. I found a Cinque Terre day trip out of Florence on the Weekend in Florence website. I am so glad I booked that trip! We finally got outside of the cities and saw a more down-to-earth lifestyle (even though they still catered to tourists). We left the Florence train station at 7am in a very nice charted bus. It was comfortable and we had a guide that spoke English, Italian, and Spanish. She was great. We arrived at the port of La Spezia where we took a boat to Cinque Terre. The pictures do all of the speaking. The towns are so charming and quaint. I would love to hike through this area for a few weeks! It was long day, but by far my favorite area that we saw on this trip!

We got back to Florence at 8pm and promptly went to Il Porcospino down the street. Good food and there is a guy there that LOVES UT. He has pins, buttons, pictures, etc. It was really funny. If you want a good restaurant—go there!

Italy Cont'd-Day 6

Tuesday was a very busy day for us. We had tickets to the Uffizi and the Accademia museums. Thankfully, due to Carlyn in the wheelchair, we did not have to wait in line. I picked up our tickets at both places and away we went! The Uffizi had amazing Renaissance paintings while the Accademia had the David. Unfortunately, they would not let us take pictures of the David. Too bad. It would have made a nice Christmas card, haha!

After our fun filled museum morning, we had enough of paintings. We needed some shopping time. We hit the local markets and stocked up on stuff! The shopping in Florence is very nice, both on the main drag (Gucci, Prada, YSL, etc) and in the markets. You can get Italian silk ties for 6e or cashmere scarves for 20e. Stockings are really big in Italy right now. Everyone wears leggings and boots or short skirts, patterned stockings, and boots. Needless to say, I had to have both!

Italy Cont'd--Day 5

Monday we left Rome to travel to Florence by train. We checked out after breakfast and ordered taxi’s to the train station. You know, we were warned of wayward cabbies, but we never had a problem! The Rome Termini is a crazy experience. Keep your hands on your bags! There are so many people jumping on and off trains that something could disappear before you knew it! We found our track and our train without a problem. Our train was relatively empty so we had plenty of room for our luggage and the wheelchair. That was nice. It was a smooth and lovely 2 hour train ride. The train system in Europe is so efficient! Unfortunately, it was pouring when we arrived in Florence. We had planned to walk to the hotel (which was literally two blocks away), but with four suitcases and a wheelchair, there was NO way that was going to happen. A two block cab ride was 6e ($12)! However, we stayed dry and we found our B&B. We were very happy with our rooms at Alloro. Christian was very nice and the rooms were great. Lots of space, nice bathroom, lovely frescos on the ceiling, and quiet location. We had tons of restuarants right next door!

We rested about 20 min and headed out in the rain to the Duomo. Yet again, another example of amazing art in Italy. It was very beautiful and impressive! And it provided a refuge in the rain. By the time we saw the church, the rain had subsided and we were hungry. We picked a nearby café and had a wonderful meal.

The food is very different in Florence. For example, a pizza in Rome is super thin, always crispy, and has a sweeter sauce with a little cheese. The pizza in Florence has a thicker crust (and the bread had more of a yeasty taste instead of flour taste), a bland sauce, and more cheese. Even the wine was different. Most of the time in Rome, you are served a bottle of dry white wine. In Florence, we were almost always served a pitcher of sweet sparkling wine. One thing that Florence had that Rome did not---truffles! I had truffled pasta and meat for four days straight!

Italy Cont'd--Day 4

Sunday, we had a slow morning and ordered a taxi back to St. Peter’s square. Orginially, we had planned to attend the Pope’s blessing at noon, but was afraid that we would not find a place to sit/stand. We decided to go to the square around 10am to catch Mass and then stay for the blessing. Mass was little tedious for me, but it was neat to watch it on these massive jumbo-tron TV’s in the square. After Mass, the Pope walked to a pulpit outside the church and blessed the crowd in at least 8-10 different languages. That was amazing.

After the blessing, we walked back across the river and had lunch at a café on the corner. It was alright. We were really only there to use the restroom! You learn to stop and have food/drinks several times a day so that you can use a clean facility. The toilet bowls in Italy are….interesting. They do not have lids. It’s basically just the bowl (in Rome at least). Note for future travelers: take seat covers, tissue, and wet wipes. You will be REALLY glad you have it when you discover a facility without tissue OR soap.

Anyway, from there we headed over to see the Pantheon. I have been wanting to see this my whole life and I was not disappointed. It was beautiful and very well preserved! It was originally built as a temple to all the gods of acient Rome, but was rebuilt in the 2nd century A.D. It is the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The oculus is massive. On our way back to the hotel, we walked along part of the Roman forum that faces the street. Carlyn was not able to do the Roman Forum walk with Rico and I, but at least she was able to see some of the ruins along the way. Rico and I ended up going into the Roman Forum while Mary Lou and Carlyn went out for shopping.

The Roman Forum was very interesting. It is difficult to imagine how massive the buildings were until you are actually standing in front of one. The Bascillica of Constantine just towers over everything else.