Tourist Bonanza

I have to say, Venice is tough. I feel that you could go here for a couple of days and see a lot of things, but not really seeeee Venice. Most tourist sites are packed all day, every day and you really have to do your homework before visiting. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in pigeon-infested St. Mark's Square eating bad pasta from a tourist restaurant. 

BUT never fear, Patrick and I are much more savvy travelers than that (and were given some amazing dinner recommendations beforehand!) 

We did the obligatory 'must-sees,' which I am very happy about,  but we also found some other little gems tucked away in the tiny, winding streets, (secretly because we were lost 90% of the time, whoops!) However, that's the magic of this little dream town on the canal. So here we go!

The Vaporetto: Venetian version of public transportation and a great way to see city Grand Canal and the city when you first arrive

St. Mark's Square and Basilica: This is the main tourist spot of the city, but with good reason... St. Mark's Cathedral is so beautiful and the heart of the city. We went to the top of the Basilica to look out of the tourist-y madness and get a good view of just why this area is a bucket-lister

People PAY to get a photo of them being infested with these rats in disguise. I'm calling DCFS. Although, Patrick and I could not understand why there weren't pigeon #2s everywhere. Any ideas because we're stumped.

Doge's Palace: The home of all things important and political during Venice's hey-day. Governmental chambers and jails all in one! My favorite room was a room of wall-to-wall maps and giant globes all around. It filled my wanderlust heart with joy :)

Bridge of Sighs: It's said that you could hear condemned men sigh as they caught one last glimpse of their beautiful Venice before being escorted across the bridge to the dungeons. Eeks

The Rialto Bridge: The main bridge over the canal -- so many bridges, so little timeeee!

Peggy Guggenheim Collection: What a cool woman! So jealous of her art-filled, glamorous life is all I can say!

 A wish tree given to Peggy from Yoko Ono. Oh, Yoko.

NEXT STOP:

VENICE!

Italian Anecdote

I should say that after being in Florence, I realized that France is a girl and Italy is a boy.

What the hell does that mean, you ask?  

I have spent so much time in France that it was almost a shock to see landscapes, architecture and overall coloring of a different European country. While both are beautiful, there really is a marked difference between the look and feel of France and Italy. Italian architecture and coloring is, in my opinion, darker and earthier, less groomed, more gritty romantic, and more masculine looking than France. I found this to be especially true when comparing their castles. The Medici's would never be caught dead in fanciful Versailles. :)

The David or Prince Charming?

Tell me I'm crazy that when I saw this amazing, world renowned sculpture that all I could see was every heroic male Disney character from my childhood...

Case in point: 

The David

 

The Beast post-transformation aka Faux Disney David #1

Eric from the Little Mermaid aka Faux Disney David #2

Shall I go on??

Michelangelos, Leonardos, Botticellis, oh my!

Welcome to the jewel of Renaissance Italy, the former home of those saucy Medicis, and the current home of Ferragamo: 

Florence!

At first I felt overwhelmed because there was just so much I wanted to do, but it was really when we stopped doing that we saw what a magnificent city Florence really is. 

Here are a few must sees in this Italian dream of a town: 

Galleria degli Uffizi: This museum houses renaissance masterpieces including the Birth of Venus. 

Galleria dell'Accademia: Highly recommended to have your hotel make a reservation for you here and at the Uffizi. We just waltzed right in while others waited 2-4 hours because they didn't have reservations (don't be that guy either.) See my next post for my epiphany regarding the David...

Ponte Vecchio: Shops built onto the bridge over the Arno River, so cool

Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens: former Medici castle

Piazzale Michelangelo: took a little hike up this hill and to overlook the city and have some of their delicious Italian white wines!

Duomo: unbelievable and unexpected 

Battistero: where the "Gates of Paradise" doors are; the answer of which is Rodin's "Gates of Hell" for any Rodin fans out there

And the list goes on and on...

Finally, we spent our time drifting from piazza to piazza, enoteca (wine bar) to enoteca. The Italians really have it down!

First stop in Florence

After Cinque Terre, it was straight to Florence. I guess Patrick Kennedy was feeling a little too French/Italian because we had to make an Irish pub pit stop first thing. He felt much better afterwards :) 

Cinque Terre...

...might be the most beautiful place I've ever seen.

I've seen so many photos of these towns, but seeing it in real life was really unbelievable. Come with me for a little tour of this Italian gem...

p.s. I saw a big group of American students who were studying abroad from U of I while we were in one town. It took every bone in my body not to yell out, I-L-L!!! Patrick said it was too embarrassing and that no, I can't ask them if they are Thetas either...boo

Town 1: Monterosso al Mare: Leg one of the hike!

We decided to take the easy 'blue' path but on the walk all the markers we kept seeing were red and white...I don't know what that means but I will say that the hike was not exactly 'easy!'

Case in point:

On the first leg of the hike we saw fresh olive trees, grape vines, and lemon trees. No wonder all of the things we ate with those ingredients were so divine! 

Town 2: Vernazza: 2 hours later...we made it!

Sorry that I don't own heinous hiking boots. I might have almost slipped off a cliff a time or two but all in all, those suede boots did just fine!

Towns 3 and 4: Coniglia and Manarola This leg was still pretty damaged from the floods this area suffered in 2011 so we had to take a short train in between Vernazza and Corniglia. I secretly wasn't mad about that at all :)

Via dell'Amore: The lovers walk! Once again, we are on a sappy love walk and loving every minute of it! The path (paved, yes!) has names of famous historical lovers (think Romeo and Juliet) etched into the mountain side and also has love locks. Quite the romantic scenery! 

Town 5: Riomaggiore: Last but not least! We stopped for gelato and white wine in this town and loved it!

Italia Italia Italia

Now it's off to Italy! 

Patrick and I caught a flight to Pisa and then took a little train to a sweet little town called Sestri Levante. It was such a cool experience because this was not your typical tourist town. We felt like we really got a feel for Italy right off the bat. We even ate at the same restaurant two nights in a row because we made friends with the little owner lady. This is also the place where we discovered the Italian meal course system and how it involves several pastas. Ummm, paradise? I think so. 

 Italian breakfast!

The view from our hotel room. I felt like Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin would pop out to serenade me at any moment...

Our favorite little restaurant. The boy is happy :)

Poppin' Bottles

What a trip. Beyond sad it's over, but it's now time for my parents to head to London and for Patrick and I to head to Italy. However, not before we say bon voyage in style! We spent our last night drinking champagne under the sparkly Eiffel Tower and having an amazing dinner at Bouillon Racine. Thanks again for an amazing trip Mom and Dad!

Stay tuned for Italy trip blog posts this week!