We recently spent 12 days in Italy. (Well, technically two of those days we spent on airplanes crossing the ocean, but there's no need to get technical here.) I don't even know how to really accurately describe our time there. My brain is on overload with all that we saw, learned and experienced. There's no way I can write about everything. So I'll do a few pictures (or a lot) and the highlights from the three cities we visited.
We spent 4 days in Florence. I think it was my favorite, The history, the art, the churches, the people, the charm - all of it. So starting with the trip in general and then moving to Florence.
being very disconnected from life • cappuccinos • nutella everywhere, especially in croissants • gelato twice a day • the FOOD! • naps every day • meat, cheese and pasta • 7 hours in the Rome airport waiting for our flight to Florence • almost landing in Bologna • 90 steps to our apartment • the apartment being part of an old palace • loft room that opened to the patio • Jill's snacks when we arrived from the airport • no shower curtain • herbs growing on the patio • dinner at Toto's with the meat guy • being a "great american" • never being able to get the breakfast we set out for • affogato (creme gelato in cappuccino) • pear, strawberry and dark chocolate gelato (best of the entire trip!) • Rusty and Greg sleeping in our loft • our tour guide, Roberto • the Uffizzi museum • the David • the prisoners • Santa Croce: the church where Michelangelo, Galileo and others are buried • the Pieta in the duomo museum • the doors of the baptistry • the Medici chapels • the pitti palace • the ponte vecchio bridge (once meat markets and now jewelry stores) • the duomo (climbing all 434 stairs with nick and ba) • cobblestone streets • machines (aka phones) • the engagement party • chef jeff (or was it kevin?) • fish with stuff on it • wine that "flows like glue" • the street artist who painted his own business cards • the market and the amazing food court • seafood pasta • the hike to the top of the hill to see the city • whole family: Bubba, Jill, Greg, Steph, Meredith, Chris, BethAnne, Nick, Rusty, Kaitlyn, Ben, Laura, Scott and Amy
We traveled with Nick and Beth Anne which was super fun. It was a long trip. Especially the layover in Rome. Everyone had their own mini-meltdown at some point on the trip, but thankfully no one at the same time. BA will make a great trip leader someday!
The interesting ways you sleep in an airport.
The Engagement Party:
Fish with Stuff on It (Ben named it. It's way better than it looks and sounds!)
There's pasta in there. This was incredible!
We celebrated Rusty and Kaitlyn who got engaged in April.
Our street
The terrace of our apartment
Our tour guide, Roberto. He was great. And one of Michelangelo's few paintings.
The meat guy at Toto's!
Late lunches
The view from the top of the Duomo at the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
We climbed 434 stairs in tight spaces like this . . .
For these views . . .
The inside viewing the dome was way scarier than the outside, which was so odd.
This is the outside of the church. It included the baptistery and the bell tower. This was one of my favorite places in the city and I loved how it would take your breath away every time we rounded the corner to this particular spot.
The doors from the Baptistry of Saint John.
One of Michelangelo's four pietas
The David and the prisoners were incredible. Seriously, no words.
The doors to our apartment.
The Pitti Palace
The women who worked that sewing machine like a boss and made us an apron for Doh that says, "Queen of the Kitchen"
This guy is a street artist and makes you your own personal "business card" that is so beautiful. I wish I would've bought a few more things from him!
The FOOD! Every single night!
My fellow lover of gelato
pear, strawberry and dark chocolate:
hands down the BEST!
Our last morning we took a walk to a beautiful view of the city. It was the best to see so many places that we had been with an incredible view. It was the best!
We had one last gelato stop before we . . .
walked single file, all 12 of us, through the streets of Florence to the train station!
Photo Cred: The really great ones are Greg's. All the other ones came off the cell phones of everyone listed under "whole family." IPhone photo share for the win on this trip!
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