30 Days of Memories: Day 30

It was very hard to get a picture of the Colosseum, as it is always swarming with people. It looks like a busy anthill with ants scurrying here and there.

We did a self-guided tour and I was awe-struck by the fact that I was standing in a stadium with so much history. Even with so many people around, I could help but feel touched by the events past. We opted not to do a guided tour, but now that they've opened the underground chambers and passages to tour groups, I will definitely be doing that next time around.

Rome was an exciting, beautiful place to visit, but my inner country girl will always feel more at peace in the wide open spaces like Tuscany or in the small villages surrounded by nature like Cinque Terre.

30 Days of Memories: Day 22

Back row: Shannon, Kev, Justin. Front row: Robs, me, Brandy, Mrs. Squid, Squid

It was hard to leave Sovigliano, but we were ready to continue our adventure in Italy. This is one of the few pictures we have of the entire group together, and our hosts were kind enough to take it.

Traveling with a group this large can be difficult, but we'd been friends long enough and traveled enough together that we could just set times to meet back up and go our own ways without anyone's feelings getting butt-hurt. There was never any pressure to stay together as a large group. We had plans at least once a day to do something as a group, usually food-based, but the rest of the day we split up and explored where we wanted to.

I'm so thankful that Squid is a planner extraordinaire and that this group was so easy to travel with. Too bad everyone grew up, got married, and started having families of their own. :)

30 Days of Memories: Day 17

This is a picture of me and Robs at the bottom of a cliff face between Manarola and Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre. We were walking from Manarola south to Riomaggiore and found a set of stairs that looked like they didn't go anywhere, so naturally, we had to try them. They led down to the water of the Italian Riviera, which was not by any stretch of the imagination a beach. The stairs basically led to a cove-like area where we took pictures and dodged the spray from the waves.

I would love to one day return to Italy. Someone once said they couldn't trust anyone who didn't love Italy (Rick Steves, maybe?), and I have to agree. One trip, and I will forever love it.

30 Days of Memories: Day 6

Yes the glass is cracked on this one too. I'll eventually get around to replacing it.

Robs is the one who took this picture at Sovigliano, the agritourismo we rented for a couple of days. The Tuscan countryside is even more beautiful than you can imagine. I had only seen it in pictures or in movies, but neither of those do it any justice.

Getting to the Italian countryside was so good for my soul - and for Robs' too. I found her sitting quietly in the swing in the yard at dusk our first night. I took a picture of her just sitting there, enjoying the peace, but haven't even printed the picture because it seems like an intrusion.

I loved Rome and the cities we visited, but the countryside is magical.

30 Days of Memories: Day 3

Day 1
Day 2

(Yes, these are all pictures of pictures. I wanted to stay authentic to the memories on my new shelves, so I'm just snapping pics of what's on each shelf.)

In 2006, I was lucky enough to get to travel with a group of my friends to Italy for 15 days. It was amazing. I took this picture in the ruins outside of the Colosseum in Rome. I remember being absolutely astounded by all of the rich history in Italy. The U.S. is such a young country compared to the rest of the world that I felt like I'd stepped into a World History book. Despite losing my luggage and starting the day in soggy clothes (did you know that if you handwash your clothes and hang them to dry in a humid area, they won't, in fact, dry?), I had such a wonderful day.

I learned that the aqueducts (fontanelles) have some of the best water I've ever tasted. I'm completely a water snob, but I couldn't get enough of the aqueduct water.

Italy, Day 13

11 Apr 06

We had a great sit-down breakfast at the hotel today, then set off in a water taxi to Murano island to see the glass blowers. 

The water taxi was much more like a "water limo" with wood and brass cabin and cream-colored leather seats.

The glass on Murano was amazing!  Watching the glass blowers do their thing was unbelievable.  Even after watching them start with plain glass and work it, I'm still in awe at what they are able to do.  I took a ton of pictures of sculptures that I loved, but couldn't afford.

Robs spoiled herself and bout six wine glasses and a carrafe caraffe wine decanter for 325 Euro including shipping and handling.  She should have everything in 4 - 6 weeks, so we'll have to have a party to celebrate when she gets them.

Signing her life away.

I bought some very cool bracelets for my co-workers, a necklace for Nelle, horse for Mom, angel for Grandma Mary and mini-carnival masks for a couple of other people.  I spent less than 50 Euro for 12 gifts ~ not a bad deal.

Squid was kind enough to model the jewelry.

The rest of the day was very laid back and relaxed.  Mrs Squid and I walked around while she finished up her shopping.  Then Squid, Kev, Robs and I went for gelato.  I think I'm going to go through gelato withdrawal when I get back to the States.

NEVER pass up an opportunity for gelato.  Never.  Ever.  Never.

I've eaten so much pizza here because it's fairly cheap, that I don't care if I see another pizza again.

After dinner, Squid, Mrs Squid, Robs and I walked to San Marco Square again to see it at night.  I was hopeful that it would flood so I could get some cool pictures of the reflection of the square in the water.

That's the extent of the flooding, which is a good thing.

Venice at night is every bit at beautiful as it is during the day, and we had a good time wandering through all of the alleys, even if Robs and I kinda got lost and worried Squid.

Headed home tomorrow.  As much as I'd like to stay here, I miss the kids and home.  I just hope that I'll be able to bring them back with me one day.

Italy, Day 12

10 Apr 06

The train from Milan to Venice was absolutely packed!  I'm so glad we paid the extra 3 Euro to get assigned seats.  Squid had to kick people out of our compartment while Brandy, Robs, and I were stuck in the hallway at the other end of the rail car.  It took us nearly twenty minutes of shuffling people in and out of compartments for for the aisle to clear enough for us to squeeze through.  Brandy and I made it through by turning sideways, carrying one bag in front of us and dragging our backpacks.  We had to send Squid to extricate Robs from the hall.  Once we were in our compartment, with the door closed, we had to endure the glares of the people we kicked out of our assigned seats who were now sitting on fold-down seats in the hallway.

It was a long, but mostly comfortable ride to Venice, where we caught a water bus to the station (dock?) nearest our hotel.  Squid told us it would be almost impossible to find it on the first try because of all of the alleys and such, but we did manage to do it.

The hotel is very nice, but not nearly enough stairs.  There are only 20 stairs to our room, not hardly worth mentioning.  I've gotten so used to marching up a gazillion stairs that it's kind of cheating to only have 20.  I've been assured that all the walking around we'll be doing will make up for it.

And another four-legged friend for Mrs Squid

I loved these shower doors.  Until I had to use them.

We really got lucky our whole trip with finding great rooms.

No chance of using ass-towels here.

We met up with Kev and Shannon and went to see San Marco church, which was really a rip-off.  Admittance to the church was free, but no pictures and we got charged to see anything other than the pews.  After paying 3 Euro to see "the treasury", Robs and I decided we weren't going to continue to be nickle and dimed and looked at all of the "free" stuff in the church.  Frankly, I was much more impressed with the square itself and all of the flying rats (pigeons).

They sell bird feed with "birth control" for the tourists to feed to the birds.  One particular gentleman was overly persistent and did not believe me the first or second time I told him no.  A third, very sharp "NO!" finally got through to him, though I'm certain Squid wanted to die of embarrassment.

We walked around the stores lining the plaza and looked into a very cool art gallery (no pictures).

For dinner, we found a place that served a 5-course meal for 20 Euro ~ it was a good deal.  Bran and Justin opted to go their own way for dinner.  Sitting down for a two-hour dinner isn't everyone's idea of a good time.

It's funny, though.  We were all excited about the great wine in Italy and drinking it with every meal, but it's all we can do to kill a litre between us anymore.  I guess we've been wined-out.

Between the tannins in the red wine and all of the exercise we've been getting, our hearts must be extra healthy!

Italy, Day 11

09 Apr 06

Up bright and early today to take the train to Milan to see the Duomo (church) and AC Milan v. Chievo Verona.

The subway from the train station to the Duomo was much nicer than the subway in Rome.  There was much less graffiti and urine.

We climbed the stairs (164) to the roof of the Duomo  and walked around looking down at the square.  It's probably the only time I'll get to wander around the marble roof of a church.

With the drizzle, the roof was very slippery.

Our seats for the Milan game were not the best seats around, but at least we got to see them win 4-1.  I picked up shirts for the kids, which I hope they'll like.

Nothing brings a smile to Squid's face like futbol

When we got back to our hotel, the housekeepers had been in to straighten up and they left actual bath towels.  Then it dawned on me ... we had dried off after our showers with the towels hanging over the bidet.  We'd dried our bodies with ass-towels!

I wish we had more time to spend on Lake Como, but we're down to the last couple of days of our trip and we're off to Venice.

Italy, Day 10

08 Apr 06

Leaving Vernazza this morning, but we had to stop for breakfast at our favorite place...

Another find from "the bible".

Here's hint: when traveling in Italy, travel with a blond.  As long as we went to breakfast with Robs, we got served very quickly - those Italian men couldn't wait to flirt with her.  The gentlemen at the Blue Marlin were so kind and forgave my butchered Spitalian (that would be spanish-italian).

(Sadly, on October 25, 2011, Vernazza was hit by a massive flash flood and essentially wiped out.  The Italians are resilient and are digging out, but my heart breaks just thinking about all of the beautiful places and friendly people who were devastated by the flood.  Should you feel moved to help, click here.)

The trains that cover long distances look like they're straight out of Harry Potter.  The commuter trains are plain ole trains like we rode in England, but the regional trains are exactly like the movie.

Kev and Shannon went their own way for this portion of the trip, so the six of us fit perfectly into one compartment.

Lake Como is, of course, beautiful.  A bit overcast, so the pictures won't do it justice.

Squid wanted to see the castle, so off we went on our castle hike.  It's a good thing we've spent the last 1 1/2 weeks doing nothing but stairs here, because the hike up to the castle was a bitch!

I had to stop several times to rest my burning legs and lungs.

The hike kicked our arses.  This is only halfway to the castle.

Once we got to the top, it was so worth it.  We took lots of pictures around the castle and Brandy played with the drawbridge.

 

Up we go.

Finally at the top!

The views - I say this a lot - were fantastic.

Busted! Cranking the drawbridge.

Doesn't move much, though.

Squid playing with the armor.

The 78 stairs back to our room after our hike were not a lot of fun, though.  I'm thinking that I was such a big wuss in England, complaining about 50-some stairs when we don't even start to "feel the burn" until well into 60 steps now.

Pay attention to the towels over the bidet - those are important

Notice the lack of towels here.

The set up of the bathroom was ... odd.  The bidet faced the toilet, so if one wanted to use the bidet, one would have to do his/her business in the toilet, then crab walk/swivel to the bidet.  On the wall between the toilet and the bidet was bar soap.  Now, I'm sorry, but I ain't using anyone's bar ass-soap on my bum.  I love Robs, but maybe not enough to share ass-soap with her.

After the hike, we each needed a shower, but didn't see any bath-sized towels.  The only towels in the bathroom were the ones hanging over the bidet.  Not wanting to be "those Americans", we didn't say anything, just made do with the slightly-larger-than-hand towels that were there.

Our hotel is right on the lake front and would offer magnificent views were it not for the fine Irish weather we're having.

Lake Como

We made time for gelato and look who made another friend...