For two weeks, my family traveled across Italy experiencing to-die-for wine and food, breathtaking views, impressive architecture and art, and a people so friendly we wanted to convert.

ROME

We started in Rome/Pompei. Hired guides educated us on the Vatican and Roman sights. Our heads were stuffed with historical facts, enough to last a lifetime.

Trevi Fountain seemed to find us at least twice a day; we walked in circles.  While a most ominous sight, we were more impressed by the “fountians” in the Rome airport: Ever flushing toilets–THEY DO NOT STOP!  Coming from drought-stricken California, the toilet was almost as impressive as Trevi Fountain.

 

Favorite Moments: Seeing Papa Francesco and dining with the Swedes who live in Rome part time. My Swedish friend Charlie set us up on a “blind date.”

Interesting Fact: Romans must have incredibly strong ankles. Walking on the uneven cobblestones in anything but flat leather sandals, like an ancient Roman, was tricky business. Even sneaks or Birkenstocks felt unstable. Heels? Our Roman Guide will not sacrifice fashion, “You pretend you are married to anyone and hang on to their arm.”

 

TUSCANY

Tuscany was far and away our favorite stop, Siena to be exact. You could not pick a bad restaurant if you tried; Great or Awesome were the only choices. Skip the guidebooks and see what happens. The views held the attention of two teen boys, panoramic shots abound. We could have stayed a month.

 

Favorite Moments:

Walking into the Farmacia* (Pharmacy) only to be startled out of our minds when a worker yells, “Goal!” as he watched Italy in the Euro Games of soccer. He never seemed to notice us, only his co-workers who couldn’t stop snickering.

*We loved the Farmacia, even saying it: far-ma-chee-a. If you forget all your disposable contacts at home, you can pluck what you need off the shelf. Shaving cream? It’s shaving mousse, oh so European. They have the best allergy medicine, no side effects and only $10 euros. Must find the US equivalent. America has so many needless checkpoints for such simple things.

 

Pizzicheria de Moccoli Deli. Thick dangling ropes hang in the doorway to keep photo-flashing tourists from blinding the owner. One sneaky tourist slid her phone through the ropes, only to have her photo ruined by a flashlight shining directly into the iphone; the owner keeps it behind the counter.

The owner loaded us up with prosciutto, salami, cheese, bread and wine. We took our deli spread back to our hotel and dined alfresco on the patio, overlooking a classic Tucscan valley view.

FLORENCE

Florence hosts important sights like MichelAngelo’s David sculpture and The Duomo. However, the city is so popular for millions of Americans we felt like we were in Times Square in the Piazzo del Duomo, home to Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore.

Favorite Moment: Dinner at Angiolino, where we watched a happy chef cook as we dined. We were so close I could give him the thumbs up to let him know how much we enjoyed the meal—outstanding.  Meeting chefs became a theme on our trip.

A Marching Band of what looked like WWII medics marched in the Palazzo Vecchio. We could only guess it was a memorial for a WWII vet. A service was held in a small church with lots of military officials.  Parades are a “thing” in Italy.

PISA

Totally worth the one-hour stop, as it is far more spectacular in person. Bugs Bunny cartoons just don’t do it justice. The Cathedral next to it is magnificent and ornate. Layers of details resembling a wedding cake.

CINQUE TERRE

The hills kick your booty if you dare to hike from village to village. We hiked for three hours, from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza to Corniglie. It is 600 steps just to get up to the trail from our hotel in Monterosso. Oldest trekker we met, 80. Seafood was beyond spectacular.

 

Favorite Moments:

Jumping off the rocks into the Ligurian Sea in Manarolo.

 

 

 

Festival of St. John the Baptist. A short parade and spectacular fireworks show of red, green, and white explosions made our US fireworks seem dull. Sparkling fountains in the harbor tipped the scales for us.  Celebrating saints is fun!

 

Meeting the singing, Italian Fu Manchu chef, Gino, at Ristorante al Pozzo. Best meal and service in Monterosso al Mare.

VENICE

Our second favorite stop, Venice.  The delicate beauty, cool vibe, welcoming people drew us in and made us feel instantly at home. Two nights was too short.

Favorite Moment:

Dining in the rain at one of our favorite restaurants of the trip, Le Due Colonne. Pasta? Pizza? Seafood? Mario, the chef, combined all three so you didn’t have to choose. We hovered under a huge patio umbrella to eat our dinner and enjoy the showers in the piazza.

Gondola Ride. A touristy must and the best photo op! We sailed behind another Gondola with a quintessential Italian singer and accordion player performing, “O Sole Mio!” Brings back memories of yet another Bugs Bunny episode.

 

Food We Miss

 The Coffee. After two weeks, I became very used to drinking espresso shots or black café Americano. My whole family ordered an espresso shot after lunch and dinner. The Italian law states an espresso shot must be less than $1 euro at the coffee bar, an Italian right. I came back a coffee snob. My first cup at home I about choked. The French Press stuff I thought was quality, tasted like water. BLICK!

Tomatoes. The secret to Italian sauces and caprese salads: Rich, red tomatoes chock full of flavor. I don’t know if we grow anything in America even close to the awesome redness of Italian tomatoes. Game on.

Wine. Never in the US would I settle for the house special but in Italy, it’s spectacular and cheap. Bottled wine was even better and also affordable. Every stop we ordered the local varietal at lunch and dinner! ISO Italian wine merchant in the US who offers spectacular wine for a steal.

I feel like I finally understand Italian wine geography. I know what I am getting if I order Soave Classico or Montelpolciano. Hubby is a Chianti convert since he discovered hearty and smooth options, the good stuff.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Rest Stops make awesome prosciutto sandwiches. We were starved and in need for a bathroom. We stopped in a tiny, tiny town in Tuscany at The Trombone Bar. I expected pre-packaged donuts and nacho cheese chips. Instead, a teenage girl sliced bread off a crusty loaf and ran the prosciutto hunk along the deli slicer. Plain meat on naked bread made the best sandwich ever.  We ate the sandwich before we could take a picture.

 

FAVORITE SHOES

We crashed a wedding in Montepulciano. Sitting on a marble wall eating Gelato and out comes the wedding party.

NEW TALENT

Hardboiled eggs were at every breakfast buffet. I learned how to slice off the top and scoop out the insides, Euro-style.

FAMILY RULES

Whoever finishes the bottle of water at the table has to ask for another in Italian. Bottle is a very difficult word to master: “Un altra bottiglia, per favore.”  Another very important rule:  Don’t leave mom behind while she is taking a picture; she doesn’t speak map, only Spanish, French or Italian–primarily nouns.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

We celebrated our 23rd anniversary in Venice.  Simple and elegant, like most of Italy.

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