A great day in Venice

Great tour this morning by water taxi to St Mark's Square and the San Marco waterfront. NO rain and nice and cool. Our tour guide was so entertaining - she was throwing out the funniest zingers! The Murano Glass Factory was beautiful and saw a little demo and then a tour of their showroom! Some of us chose an optional side trip to the island of Burano - this is one of hundreds of islands surrounding Venice. We travelled by boat about 45 minutes on the lagoon and saw the Alps!! Special because it snowed in the mountains overnight. Also saw the airport from distance. Burano is well known for its brightly colored houses so the fisherman could find their way home after fishing or drinking. Lace - while the men fished the women learned to make lace - each lady in the town would perfect one stitch or pattern. Yes I bought some things - u must come at Christmas to see! We had lunch - filled a few tables - all fish dishes risotto with shrimp, pasta with clams, white fish, calamari, fruit, wine, biscuit, fruit and amaretto! It was nice getting to know others on the tour. Walked back over Rialto Bridge and stopped to get special Venetian spritzers along the way - long day but so much fun! Tomorrow is a fee day and then ciao Italia on Wednesday :-(

Arrivederci Firenze!

Another day, another city - left beautiful Florence by train this morning. About 2 hours later, after a delightful trip we arrived in Venice. Its such a different atmosphere - no bikes, cars, or scooters. Gondolas, water taxis, water busses and our feet are the only means of transportation. Our lives are no longer at risk attempting to walk through the city. It poured - lots of rain, so we found a covered outdoor trattoria and ate until we could walk again. Our hotel is different from our previous contemporary ones and has a classic old world charm. Checked out the many street vendors and may have bought a few things! Have a morning tour tomorrow and then exploring!

Another day in Florence

The weather was very rainy when we finally woke up this morning. It was nice to sleep in for a little bit - when the sun came out we ventured to the bus station for another driving adventure through the streets of Florence. We missed our stop but after getting on another bus finally got to beautiful Pitti Palace. Entered through the grounds of boboli gardens - full of incredible statues and greenery and a great view of the Duoma. The Palace was very interesting and very large. Found the leather market - can't believe all the leather goods! Ate at a little restaurant at Croce Plaza before venturing on our walk back to the hotel. Met a nice older gentleman hanging out his window ledge with his cat Gigi - fun to try to talk with him. Tomorrow we are off by train to Venice!

Florence

I don't know where to start. Florence is so beautiful. We started this morning with a walking tour with our guide Luca. He was so sincere and showed how much he loves Firenze. We started at the Academy where we saw the original 20 foot statue of michaelangelo's David - just amazing. On the map we saw Piazza Annunziata (my Italian name)-- so we had to go there. It was beautiful -- on to piazza duomo - my pictures will have to show you the enormous and incredible beauty of this structure. Plaza SIgnoria was next where the original David was locsted. Because of the elements it was moved indoors and an exact duplicate was sculptured. Piazza Santa Croce was gull of vendors and shops - leather was purchased! We were then on our own and found the greatest little shop on the Fiume Arno - asked the shop keeper Mario where he ate lunch and he gave us directions to the best trettoria! Walked our lunch off (hopefully) by going over the Ponte Vecchio bridge - lots of jewels!! Only thing we bought was gelato. On the way back to the hotel Nancy almost got detained by policia and carabinieri in front of the US Embassy. There was a lot of activity and we saw a girl protesting - Nancy thought it would be a great photo op -- NOT!!!! 2 armed men came running towards me - I had not taken a picture (thank GOD) but I did have to show them the last pictures I took - the carabinieri guy said I had go to the embassy and give up my camera but the policia guy said it was not necessary - thank God!! Please not my pictures! Take me!!! All is well and we are safe and sound in our hotel. Buena Sera!

Assisi

Sorry but the Internet and my mind has been limited these past days. Daniela and Massimo made our trip to Assisi so special! I now know why my mother loved it so much. Of course a delicious meal was had at a restaurant that only Max could have found with his Roman nose. We spent the day there - up and down cobblestone streets but oh so beautiful! The church of st Francis was at the breathtaking area of the town which made the ups and downs so worth it!

IN Rome

Amazing! Daniela and I walked to st.Peters square in vatican city last night and met her brother cicco who was 8 years old last time I saw him - 47 years ago! He is as handsome and gracious and her kind. It rained big time with thunder and lightening - oh my! We went to a favorite restaurant where he ordered for us. Pasta with muscles,roasted artichoke and a amazing pizza wth eggplant. Tiaramasu and strawberry dessert and lemonciello!! Amazing night with wonderful memories!

in London

All is well - a speck tired but ok! Flight to London was uneventful and we are now awaiting the flight yo Rome. Arrived. In London at 8 am and were bussed from plane to terminal. The toilets are square in the loo! I got frisked and sandy laughed!!! She touched all parts of my body - not fun! Cheerio until the next wifi hotspot!

Packing ...........

Sandy Before

Sandy After

Nancy Before

Nancy After

                               And our kids, missing us already !

Bella Griffin  (above) Diva Whitmore (below)

We are going to Italy !!!

As many of you know, as a 60th Birthday (not until July 3rd, 2014) present to me, I am taking a trip to Italy with my good friend Allison (Sandy) Whitmore.  

This is Sandy                    



                                  And this is Nancy


We first met in 1976 when we worked at a company in Milford NH. Over the years (and my many moves) we have done a lot together, experienced a lot of laughs, and a lot of tears.... but our friendship has grown and now we are both going on the trip of a lifetime.

I am going to attempt to post on the blog with updates on a regular basis.  Pictures may be limited, unless I can find computers to download them....but I will try.

So --- where we are going:

Rome  

Florence

Venice

                     

                       

Daniela Alibrandi

We are also very fortunate because a long lost friend, will be joining us in Rome.  Her husband will be bringing all of us to Assisi as a side trip.

Daniela came to Manchester NH in 1965 with her family. 

Circumstances arose where they only stayed that one year, and since then we have both thought of each other. Facebook brought us together 2 years ago and now we will be seeing each other after 48 years !!!

     

So, needless to say, Sandy and I are very excited.  British Airways will bring us to London Sunday evening and then on to Rome.

Here's to hoping that this will not be the first and last post I make..... I appreciate all your comments !!!

Ciao !!!