When in Rome....

Today was a bonus day.  Today we were not with the tour.  We could go wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted.  We slept in.

We finally got moving around noon, mainly because we had to check out of the hotel.  The hotel that we were in the last couple of nights was very nice, but waaaay on the outskirts of the city and not remotely close to anything.  Tonight we are staying at hotel right in the center of the city.  Thank you bookit.com for the great rate.

We got settled into the hotel and headed out on the town around 2:30.  We decided to spend our afternoon at the Forum.

It was really amazing to be able to walk around history.  We also finally had nice weather, and the views from the hilltop were breathtaking.

We then strolled around some gorgeous gardens

More sightseeing and enjoying the streets of Rome....

We then headed to the Pantheon and had dinner on the square - so romantic!

On our leisurely stroll back to our hotel we stopped once for wine and ended the evening with some prosecco.

Today was my second favorite day.

“Are you not entertained?" - Maximus

This morning we needed to be on the bus by 7:30, or else, or Jelle was leaving your ass at the hotel.  We left at 7:30 and we did leave one unfortunate soul behind.  So strange, he was one of the always on time people.  At 7:30 sharp we headed to the Vatican Museum where we got in BEFORE everyone else.  We had the Sistene Chapel pretty much to ourselves (no pictures allowed unfortunately).

The amount of artifacts and wealth accumulated within these buildings almost takes your breath away.

We then headed into St. Peter's Basilica.  It was almost overwhelming.  Amazing. My Catholic guilt started to well up big time.  I felt like I should start going to church again....maybe.

We followed up Vatican City with a visit to the Colosseum.  Our tour got to skip the line - awesome!

After the Colloseum we did a walking tour around the streets of Rome.  We saw the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain (although under restoration and turned off so not really that exciting at this time), the Pantheon and so much more.  What a beautiful city.

The day concluded with our farewell dinner with our tour group.  We had drinks at the hotel with the friends that we made on the trip.

Until we meet again.....

Under The Tuscan Sun

This morning we rose early yet again so that we would be first in line at the Galleria D'Accademia to see David.  It was amazing.  David is just one of those things that you need to experience in person.  The details, the workmanship, the story behind the sculpture - just amazing.

We then headed downtown Florence to see the Cathedral of Florence.  Beautiful.

We enjoyed a tour around Florence that concluded at a leather shop where Mark and I each got ourselves a little something.

Such a pretty area.  I have decided that I would like to go back for a week and just stroll around Florence and tour winery after winery and ristorante after ristorante in the rolling Tuscan hills.

A few more hours on the bus and then ROME!

Our evening included dinner with the BEST entertainment we've seen for a long time and an evening driving tour with a stop by the Vatican for pics.

Gondola! Venice! Need I Say More?

Today was my favorite day.

We got into Venice right on time to experience Acqua Alta or "High Water", the flooding that occurs in the winter months in Venice due to high tides. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acqua_alta

I was prepared and had brought along galoshes, unfortunately they are kid's galoshes (I have small feet and children's shoes are cheaper which I sometimes take advantage of).  So, they were too short for the peak of Acqua Alta and I very nearly got wet feet on the side streets.

It was an experience.  And one that if you have never experienced yet, you never will.  Venice is building flood gates to prevent feature flooding that will be in place by the end of 2015.  In the meantime the Venetians cope by walking around on risers wearing gumboots or full waders.

After a little tromping around in the water we headed to a Murano glass factory to watch a glass blowing demonstration.  It was pretty amazing watching this guy whip out a vase and a horse in under 10 minutes like it was a piece of cake.  I imagine glass blowing is a lot like the pottery wheel - it looks easy but is a complete disaster for the rest of us (most of us).

 
We then saw the Basilica of St. Mark - flooded and under restoration but still beautiful

We did a little touring around St. Mark's square and near vicinity

And then went for a ride in a gondola

It was amazing.  I had that big dopey smile on my face the whole ride.  Riding in a gondola in Venice was pretty much the whole point of the trip for me.  One item on my bucket list checked off.

As if that was not enough experience for one day.  After our gondola ride it was back on the bus to head to Florence.  As we made our way we stared into the rolling hills of Tuscany.  It was so beautiful I am very sad that I wasn't able to get any good pictures from the bus. 

We wrapped up the day with a tour of Machiavelli's house and winery followed by a fantastic dinner.

I don't think this day will be beat for a long, long time.