Italy

Fly from Dublin to Rome 9 May
Just typed up the whole day and lost it!!! Have to sit in the foyer to update and fell asleep.
Will re-type tomorrow.
buonanotte


Here we go again.
Well, as you all know by now, I have arrived in Rome. Got very scary as Northern Italy flights were cancelled around midnight before I flew out. I was leaving Dublin at 7:10am.
Didn't get much sleep, as kept checking updates and had to be up at 3:30am. The hotel still supplied fresh coffee and buffet breakfast for me at 4:00am before I caught a taxi to the airport.


I haven't told you yet, but on each of my flights I have had noone beside me except the little plane from Luton to Galway. 
The flight from LA to London I had 5 seats to myself (the free upgrade); so I had plenty of  pillows and blankets and stretched out and slept.
The Flight from Dublin to Rome, I had three seats.  We flew in a different direction  to avoid the ash and went over the Swiss Alps - what a sight. Yes, I looked out the window and have no issues with flying anymore. Nancy bird to the rescue again, as my pillow for a little nap on the plane. Kad, I think Mamas is looking after me, as I left my coat with my glasses in the pocket on the bus.
Thank heavens the bus driver returned them to the hotel!!!
I'm very lucky.
My first late afternoon in Rome, I'm feeling pretty devastated and cross with myself for leaving my coat on the bus, so I turned the TV on. 
Watched Mark Weber when the F1 race and Cadel Evans being interviewed (all in Italian) with the Tour of Italy. Even sang the national anthem with Mark Weber. How strange!

On this tour we have 5 people again. One Australian couple from Brisbane and one couple from America.
Lovely people and Vivien is our guide (yes not me, I'm Viv on the tour)
I have to type this up downstairs at the hotel, so will not have time to check what I have typed; so please excuse any mistakes.

We went to the Trevi fountain and had  dinner last night at a small local restaurant - only locals there.
Yes, mixed platter, Pizza and Tiramasui and a jug of  white wine. No wonder, I killed the blog last night!! 
Today we have walked and walked from 9:00am - 6:30pm only stopping for iced coffee - ice coffee Crystals with cream on top and a lovely seafood salad for lunch.
Too many sites to name them all and our hotel is just so close, but my favourite and bought me to tears was the Pantheon!!
Except I have to tell you, that all the men were staring at us all morning and one guy almost fell of his motorscooter. (see below a photo of our guide Christina and you can understand why we were so popular!!!!! (Hello Christina)
But what a very good guide indeed. Passionate about her history and has studied at University and has written a book.

The photo on the right includes our lovely guide Vivien, who knows to stand side on.

I will just upload a couple of photos I have taken out of the many!!!!

I seem to have a fetish for the backsides.... 

Woops, another one!!

Love Rome!!!! 

Who's on top of the ladder!!! Yeh GO PIES!
Tuesday 11 May
A Christian day today.
Catacombs, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Cathedral My photos were not good today. No idea why!!

Loved Raphel's work - The School of Athens.
Photo below is said to be a portrait of Michael Angelo that Raphel incorporated into this painting

Also spent a lot of time in the stunning Sistine Chapel (no photos allowed)
Well, who has been to Rome or driven in Rome. The traffic is chaotic and no lines. Today was our first day on the bus and what happens - we have a car accident. 
Maybe if younger, could pick up quite a good looking fellow:

 The guy in the stripe top ran into the back of us and where was I sitting in the back on that side!!
Slightly sore back!!
Good looking guy!
Just before that, our driver had been breathalysed outside the Vatican as well.
Our hotel is in a fantastic central location. the room is tiny, but who cares only there to sleep.
Photos of the street and the Hotel Nerva.

Di a cena di alcuni prodotti alimentari di più bello - Rosa
Dite addio a Roma doman
Grazie mille.
No Internet last night and back down stairs to catch up at 10:45pm after dinner on whatever day it is!!

Last night in Roma and we had dinner at an old palace run by French nuns. The nuns came from Vietnam and Africa. Food was not fantastic, but atmosphere great.  The restaurant stops towards the end to sing Ave Maria with the nuns. All monies raised goes to Charity.

May 12

Time to depart Roma and travel along the ancient salt route stopping at a very ancient town Rieti and visited another hilltop town Spoletto. I certainly have had to get used to driving up mountains and trying to make sure I checked out the views!!!

 

Reiti has the 

Giro d'Italia 2010 happening and the Italians love Cadel Evans

We stayed the night at a beautiful town Perugia. You can take an escalator down to discover another ancient town below. Amazing!!

It has been go, go, go averaging at least 12ks a day walking.  We stopped at  a restaronte  to have campari  sptritzers (hope you are impressed Kaye).

May 14

The weather is not fantastic , but we have been lucky only getting soaked yesterday afternoon.

Today we hit the Tuscany area.

What a sight. It is just magnificient. Absolutely incredible. All the towns we visit are so high up on mountins.

WOW! Our driver is from Florence, so knows all the back roads. Fantastic. So for 5 of us we have a driver and a guide. Not wonder Italy was the most expensive tour!!

I have not had a very good day today.

Shopping in Sienna, I sighted very cheap red shoes. You all know my passion for shoes.

Told the group that I would catch up. Thought they had headed up the hill.

Could not find them for approx ½ hour. Did not panic, but also discovered that I did not have my mobile phone.

Retraced my steps back to the shoe shop and finally found them. The tour guide was getting a little anxious. I feel like I have been one of those real pains on tour today. Also, discovered that I had left my mobile at the last hotel. Yes, I know Frances, it should have been around my neck in the holder you gave me.

The hotel is going to post mobile to hotel in Como.

Maybe I’m getting a bit tired. Start early and haven’t been going to bed until midnight for last few nights. Need an early night!

We also visited the town of SanGimignano – city of towers and amd have arrived in Volterra where we stayed the next two nights.

In SanGimignano what did I find - A choc Labrador even with a red colour. GO RED!

Oh the heights of these areas. Will just have to get used to it.

Thank heavens the rooms do not have a view.

The bells are ringing  and ringing and ringing – just nearby. It is now 7:00pm and have to get ready for dinner.

Just had 4 courses

Ravioli with artichoke, pasta, wild boar,Too much food and too much vino  

Bells have stopped and it is 11:30pm. Must get to bed. Will forward more photos tomorrow.

Ciao

May 14 - Buona sera

What about those mighty Pies. What a win. Have just read the stats. Go Trav Cloke. Good to see. I feel that the likes of Nathan Buckley would be helping him greatly. A very good win indeed. Still on top of the ladder. - 7 and 1.
I will be placing photos from the day before, but very little photos from today in Florence as I forgot to charge the battery. Bought a few postcards instead. Enjoyed Florence, and we all plan to have an early night. Just need to hop into bed early.

I had just found the group again here.

Hotel where we are staying in Volterra. Very high up on a mountain. Some views below

Icecream in Florence at 10:00am - Yum, Yum Yum, Choc/Orange and Fragola
Vivoli -  Gelato
Den, where is it that you talk about your story with the girls and icecream? Is it in Florence? This has been my favourite by far.

 

As you can see, in all the photos, I might as well be in Ireland. the weather has been quite cold.

May 15

Yesterday, our driver Gianni was saying it was like November in Italy. Today he greeted us saying Happy Christmas. Hopefully tomorrow heading to Venice might be a bit warmer.

Today we visited Pisa and then on to what has become my favourite town Lucca

I had no problem climbing the tower and was up and down in 15 minutes. My issue, is once I got to the  top,couldn't stay - that heights issue again - took a couple of quick photos for proof!!

Can someone let me know if they know what this vegetable is ( in the front of photo) that we found at a market in Pisa? Looks like some kind of bean!

Lucca is a most vibrant, fun city. People are just gorgeous and there was many activities happening.

Took photos of old Lancia cars on display (are you interested in these cars John?)

Also there was a parade with music, marching and flag twirling - (different groups from Lucca's history I think)

Lucca rocks

 Puccini

Stunning bar where we had pre dinner drinks in Lucca.

A most wonderful circle courtyard. 
The old town of Lucca is completely enclosed by a wall which is approx 5 klms long.

For Den,

there is a square in Lucca and all the buildings have the Maltese Cross. Any ideas??

Also, just missed Cadel Evans winning a stage near Pisa. The tour driver Gianni knew it was just on the other side of the city, but impossible to get the bus over there. He was excited to tell me the next day that Cadel had won the stage. Australians hold three jerseys - best new rider, mountain climber and points and Cadel is 2nd overall.

Elliott, who was on my tour in Ireland, tells me there is not enough humour in the Italy blog.

Well, I just don't have the characters of Elliott, Theresa, Kerry and Richard on this tour..........sorry!!!
Thank heavens the tour guide, Vivien enjoys a drink. We have enjyed some good times together.
Don't get me wrong the other two couples are lovely and very easy to travel with!!

Trying to catch up on the blog. More difficult when you do not have wifi in your room.

16 May 

Spent most of the day driving over the Apennine Mountains to Ravenna and then onto Venice.

Ah, Venice. At first I thought what are they all on about as when you first enter there is lots of industry, huge train stations and even when we hopped onto the vaporetto ride to the hotel, I couldn’t quite work out why this is special. Got to our hotel and things were looking up. Just going for a walk and then out to dinner, you just realize there is something special. Oh, how special.

Next day had a walking tour and St Mark’s church is my favourite outside of Rome. The mosaics is as something special and took 200 years to build.

As a group we then had a gondola ride which is a great way to see Venice.

The afternoon was free and me and my trusty map went exploring. Yes, those who know me are aware that a map wont help at all.  This is the first time I have really been on my own since I started touring and enjoyed it. Just wandered around Venice, taking in the market place (no fish market as it was a Monday), the incredible shops, the canals, the laneways and buildings, the vibe, the Venetians.

Did I get lost; yes lots, but eventually worked my way back to the hotel. Had dinner just around the corner on my own – eating liver as that is the traditional Venetian dish and watched venetian life (Promenade) they have their time between 5:30pm and approx 7:00pm meeting and catching up. The square I sat in is where the local hospital is, together with other magnificent buildings.

Where I had dinner

Hospital in Venice opposite where I had dinner.

Loved Venice and would like to spend more time there. One full day is just not enough.

Weather in Venice – divine.
View from out hotel:

Coffee in Italy - go to the most expensive restaurant stand at the bar have your coffee and you can then use the toilet. Coffee is a set price at any restaurant. You have to pay and sometimes quite a bit to use most public toilets!

Check out  the decor of this resaturant in Venice

18 May

Leaving Venice and took this photo: delivery of Vino - Why as I was leaving was it required????

Drove past Padua (this if for the family) best I could do was a sign – in Italian Padova. Padua is a very large city.

Stopped off at a beautiful town Verona and then headed towards Lake Como.

1st century remains and also the so called balcony of Romeo and Juliet!!! but did get this photo of students and the young lad was reading Romeo to Juliet in Italian.

Below is photos of the go, go, go and never stop Vivien and our driver Gianni.

Gianni is passionate about food  and comes from Florence. He and Vivien have a great sense of humour and Giannia has discussed an Italian book that is published each year for slow cook restaurants and b&b's. What a trip to take around Italy. Anybody interested??

Rosa you are right, what a beautiful site and snow caps on the mountains. Viewed mountains from Austria and Switzerland.

Photos galore……

And the hotel, we are staying out well just check out the views from my room.

This is just awesome.

Weather in Como - divine

Photos of Como to come. It is midnight and I'm off to Milan in the morning and then flying to Paris in the afternoon.
Tonight, I have updated extra from Venice and Verona. Photos of Como still to come.

In Como Lakes visited by ferry, Belaggio, Raveno and Menaggio  and stayed at a wonderful hotel in Leno – right on the lake

Went over the border to Lagona in Switzerland.

Anybody know how far from St Moritz.?

Mountains surrounding from Austria, Switzerland and Italy from 3,000 metres to 4,00 metres.

Love this sculpture dedicated to the silk makers.

Snow will not last much longer.

Facts from  Gianni our passionate about good food driver:

Book is called osterie d’italy – slow food - have not been able to find it in English
Tortellini – 500 years ago represent a womens navel

Lasagna from Ravena

Dinner last night in Leno  was a hoot. Had a few drinks and Carmen from America has a beautiful voice. Finally got her singing in the restaurant – Vivien and me too. Yeh, I know what you are all saying; let her sing on her own as we know you cannot sing…….. Well bad luck.

The restaurant was from the Slow Cook book.

Starters was beautiful asapargus and sage ravioli

Mains veal with Marsala and grilled vegetables – red and yellow peppers, eggplant and zucchini.

Dessert  panacotta with berry sauce. matched with fine local wine

YUM!!!

Sang all the way back to the hotel.

Milan 20 May 
Vivien our guide made sure I had a glimpse of Milan

Arrived in Milan this morning and quick walk around the galleria Vittorio Emanuele 11

Incredible glass and steel room shopping arcade. The building took 14 years to build is shaped like a crucifix.  Guiseppe Mengoni designed the Galleria as a showplace for modern Milan and was completed in 1877. Unfortunately, Guiseppe fell to his death from the roof of the building just weeks before it was opened.

Why are you getting extra information on Milan.?  Because I have 3 hours to kill at Milpensa Airport.

Caught the train from Milan and had to be dropped off at 1:00pm to fit in.

So have now been at the airport since 1:45pm and fly out at 5:40pm .

No chance to visit the Last supper and same in Florence, no chance to visit the Statue of David (line too long for only 5 hour stop over).

Visited the incredible Dumo – Milan’s cathedral – 135 spires and 3,200 statues.

Was commissioned in 1386 capacity of 40,000  and finally completed in 1812…..

Refer to France link for updates

Addio bella Italia