Monday, October 27, 2014

Fall in Italy


We’ve been gone for the last few weeks.  This was a long in coming trip to Italy.  The tale goes back to 2001.  My sister, brother, their spouses and we were scheduled to go to Italy.  Our departure dates were September 11, 12 and 13.  Needless to say when 9/11 happened everything changed.  We have FINALLY made the trip and had an amazing time.

We started off in Rome.  The sights were so numerous and overwhelming.   I’m sure that even a year in Rome would barely scratch the surface.

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Ruins in the Jewish Getto section.
 
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The old city wall in Rome.


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A view of St. Peter's from the river.

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On our way to tour the Vatican and St. Peter's.
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The ceilings along the route were spectacular.
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Inside of St. Peter's with a stunning mosaic floor. 

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The Colosseum
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Inside of the Colosseum.

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Dome of Pantheon
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The Pantheon
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Markers outside of a home in the cobblestones.  It makes one pause and remember some horrible times.
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The Borghese Museum
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This is how we felt after days of walking Rome!!!
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Traffic entering Vatican City...as we were told, "the laws are simply suggestions"!!!  I now believe that.  I'll never complain about traffic in Los Angeles again.
From Rome it was on to Florence via the fast train.  Florence appeared to be a much easier city to navigate – much smaller too, but fabulous for it’s art.

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The Duomo in Florence.
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View of the Duomo at sunset from the rooftop bar of the hotel.
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David at the Academia
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The Uffizi Gallery - a must see if you visit.
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The Ponte Vecchio - filled with gold merchants now.
We visited Cinque Terre and Pisa as well.

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One of the five picturesque villages of Cinque Terre
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The villages are accessible via boat.
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We had lunch in this village...Everyday seemed to be laundry day in Italy.
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Colorful doorway.
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Charming stairs with the pots.
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Pisa Duomo and Tower.
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The beautiful white Carrera marble from the area.
Of course there was food, and food and more food to enjoy.  Every single meal was incredible.  We were able to tour the Centrale Mercado and thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Greengrocers
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Everything innards.
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Parma Hams
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Believe it or not, this is an amazing taste on crostinis.
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Too many choices!!!
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We definitely ate our share of Gelato there.
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Spices
It was a wonderful trip, but it was nice to get home and away from the crowds and unimaginable traffic.  I must say that I was in awe of the ability of the drivers to park.  I can’t see myself getting into this spot.   I would have loved seeing him pull into it.

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39 comments:

  1. Wow! How amazing to get to see all those wonderful things in person! :0)

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  2. It looks like it was an amazing trip. I wouldn't like the traffic there either! Great photos!

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  3. How fabulous Mary! What an amazing adventure.

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  4. Your photos are breathtaking. An awesome memory in the making. Have a wonderful time.

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  5. So that's where you were, Mary! Your photos are awesome and you must have had an incredibly good time! I have to say I love the photo of the pigs sitting around the table all dressed up with a pumpkin! I'm so glad you were finally able to make the trip!
    Cheers!

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  6. Wow! What a fabulous trip!! Thanks for the photos~ I almost felt like I was there too. ;-)

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  7. Wow - your photos are amazing. Italy has long been on my bucket list, and now I'm even more determined to get there!

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  8. Looks like a fabulous trip. A few of the pictures of the villages give me ideas for quilts.

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  9. Oh my goodness...how wonderful! All three couples...and in such historic places! I loved your photos!

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  10. How fabulous to get to go on this trip with family!! Precious memories of a fabulous place! Thanks for sharing the pictures...now I want to go!!

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  11. You definitely made us ALL want to travel!!! Looks like so much fun!

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  12. What a great holiday Mary. To think you were only a short flight away from us. D2 and I spent a week in and around Rome a few years ago, and your photos brought it all back to me. I would love to do it again. Glad you enjoyed it so much.

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  13. Fabulous photos...thanks for sharing!

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  14. So wonderful. I an only dream of a trip like that. Thank you for the tour. I would love to stay in one if the little villages ; )

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  15. loved all the pictures, glad you had a great time

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  16. What a lovely, incredible place -- y'all must have had a blast! I love your pictures ... it's a little like touring through an art or history book!! :)

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  17. Amazing photos of your trip Mary. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us :-)

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  18. Wow!!! What a wonderful trip, Mary!!! Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos !!!

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  19. Your photos are marvelous. Thanks so much.

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  20. What an amazing adventure! Your photos were just gorgeous...glad you had a great trip!

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  21. What a fabulous trip!! Amazing photos - Mum has not long returned after a holiday there with her 3 sisters - I recognised some of the same spots that were in her photos!

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  22. What wonderful pictures! I'd love to go one day. I know you are happy to be home too though and look forward to getting back to your own cozy life :) Looking forward to seeing some wonderful creations coming out of your sewing studio soon!!!

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  23. thanks for taking me along on such a lovely trip ...your photos really capture so much of the culture...

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  24. What a wonderful trip. Love all the pictures. My daughter and her family live in Italy. They just recently took a trip to Florence and Pisa.

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  25. Pleased you finally made it to Italy and thank you for sharing all the fabulous photos....

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  26. What a fabulous trip ... thanks so much for sharing with us!

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  27. Amazing trip Mary! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures. I've always wanted to visit Florence because of my all time favorite movie A Room With A View!!

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  28. Wow! You have definitely been having more fun that I have over the last two weeks! What a wonderful trip you had!

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  29. I loved seeing the photos from your trip, especially the food and market photos. What a memorable trip! I'm so glad you were able to finally experience it!

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  30. Amazing pictures and what fun!!! Thanks for letting us come along!

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  31. How wonderful to finally get there. Amazing photos, architecture and I love grocery stores and stalls. I'm need a buy another suitcase to bring home my haul! I think lots of drivers in the US think traffic "laws" are suggestions too.

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  32. Your photos are incredible. What a great trip.

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  33. What an incredible trip. Rome, Florence and Pisa were our destinations too. We also walked so much!! I am extremely happy that you finally got take this wonderful vacation.

    -Soma

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  34. Thank you for a personal tour of Italy!! Loved it
    Vicki

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  35. I know you had a wonderful trip....Italy is an amazing place to see. We were there a couple of years ago and I was wishing we could stay for several weeks! blessings, marlene

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  36. So that I'm' not entered in your blog hop drawing I'm leaving a comment here to tell you that I love your pillow!

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  37. Wow--I loved looking through all your photos and enjoyed every one (someone is a REALLY good photographer!). I was interested in the barriers at St. Peter's--you couldn't walk up the main aisle? Were you able to see the Baldacchino?

    I also enjoyed your photos of Florence. I've been there a couple of times, and each time I go, I'm in love with the art and sculpture. I even like the "fake" David outside in the plaza. What a trip and how fun to share the memories with your family. Lovely.

    Elizabeth
    opquilt.com

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  38. Glad you finally made it to Italy. The photos are great, thanks Mary. I haven't been to Rome, but have been to Florence, Venice and Pisa - Hugs Nat

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  39. What a lovely trip! Thank you for taking me along with you! One day I will cross over to the other continent! Thanks for sharing! Cheers!

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