Italy

I think Italy is God's gift to the earth. We just got back from a 12-day trip through Italy. It was unbelievable!!! We were in heaven and absolutely loved it over there. We went with Emily's parents Bob/Carol and had an absolute ball!

We spent 3 days in Venice, 3 days in Florence, and 5 days in Roma. From Florence, we took a side trip to Pisa (the tower is still leaning) and a side trip to Siena (this amazing medieval town). From Roma, we spent a day in Naples (it has the best pizza in the world - and rightfully so since that is where it was invented) and went to the ancient city of Pompeii (preserved by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.) The trip was a dream come true!!

Some of the highlights from our trip:

1) Venice! Wow - what an amazing city. It was so nice going to a place where there are no cars (a nice break from the chaos of NYC). It was so cool taking a Gondola, or seeing the school kids take the Vaperetto (water public transportation down the Grand Canal).

(View of the Grand Canal at night, taken from the Rialto Bridge)

(On the Rialto Bridge)
(Em next to the Grand Canal)

(Rialto Bridge)
(Other side of the Rialto bridge, taken from our gondola ride)

(Restaurants by the Grand Canal)

(Mum and dad on the Gondola Ride through the canals of Venice)

(Some gondaleers in the background)

(Photo from one of the hundreds of bridges on that tiny island)

2) Murano - a small island off of Venice where they make the famous Venetian glass.

3) Florence - climbing to the top of the Duomo and seeing an amazing view of Florence. But the highlight, was going to the Academia and seeing Michelangelo's David. It was unbelievable!!

(At the top of the Duomo in Florence)

(Bell tower next to the Duomo)
(Incredible views from the top of the Duomo)
(Mum ordered the largest 'Coca Light' they had, and - voila!)

We actually were able to see all the sites in Florence in one day (and what a day!) and so we decided to do a day trip into the medieval city of Siena.
(Rob in the Piazza del Campo in Siena.)

(Em in front of del Campo and the clock tower)

(Em in front of the incredible Duomo in Siena... so many Duomoes, so little time!)

4) Roma - my personal favorite city. The entire city is stunning - walking down the street and then seeing the Coliseum or ancient forum where Julius Caesar or Marc Antony spoke anciently. Just the history and the significance of ancient Rome was so fulfilling for me. It was interesting seeing various places where Peter and Paul may have taught as well to the Ancient Romans. Lastly, the Borghese Gallery, with the life-sized marble statues by Bernini were completely breath-taking. The overall favorite was the one of Apollo and Daphne - absolutely amazing!




(The Colosseum!)

(Inside the Colloseum)

5) Vatican - the Sistine Chapel was incredible. I was also amazed at the size and beauty of St. Peter's Basilica. Our hotel was 50 feet from the Vatican, so waking up each morning and looking outside of our window and seeing the Vatican or just walking around the square on our way home for the evening with Gelato was the perfect way to start and end each day.

(View of the Vatican from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo)

(Visiting the Vatican one night before heading to our hotel - which is right behind Emily taking the picture!)

We spent four full days in Rome, so Emily and I decided to take a day trip to Pompeii and Naples.

(Emily in front of the Temple of Jupiter in Pompeii)

(An ancient bakery!)

(The ancient Pompeiians flooded their streets in order to clean them, so they built raised stones for people to cross the road and not get their sandals wet. Emily says this is her Abbey Road shot.)

(Literally, a "beware of dog" sign, except this is a mosaic and is two THOUSAND years old... and yes, it really says beware of dog, but in Latin)


(Plaster casts of people caught in the ash of the eruption)


After Pompeii, Em and I went to Naples and had the best pizza we've ever had. So, people say the best pizza in the world comes from Italy. And so if L'Antica Pizzeria 'Da Michele' is the best pizza in Italy, does that mean it's the best pizza in the world!? We say YES!

(A thumbs up from the big man himself -- no not god, but the master of pizza!)




It was the trip of a lifetime!