Spello

We left Rome on Day 3 (I'm already getting confused by the order of all of this!) and headed toward our next overnight destination, Assisi. But on the way, we stopped at another medieval hilltop town, Spello. It was populated by the Umbrian people and became a Roman colony in the 1st century B.C. Yes, I am getting all my info from Wikipedia because I can't remember anything.

You can see Spello on top of the hills as you're approaching it, and it is surrounded by an ancient wall. The thing that struck me the most about this place is how densely built it is. The streets are barely wide enough to accomodate a Fiat or Smartcar and when you hear an approaching car, you have to back up against the stone walls of a building or duck into the nearest alleyway to avoid getting hit. And everything is built on a hill. Walking the streets and pathways feels like you're navigating a labyrinth and there are so many twists and turns that you can only see a few yards in front of you at a time. It seriously felt like something out of a movie, I couldn't believe it existed in real life. 

Yes, cars fly up and down roads like this. 

The residents put out lots of potted plants everywhere and the whole place feels like a garden.

Olive Tree

The view of Umbria

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

Wood carving on the doors of the church

Interior of the church

Roma! Photo extravaganza

I'm just going to jump into this post without too much thought, because if I give it any more though, I probably won't post again for another month (bad blogger. . . .)

When I was in college, I took a Renaissance Art History class and I fell in love with it. I'm not a religious person, but give me a million paintings from a thousand years ago of the same ten scenes of Jesus' life? Yes please. The class was intense, anyone who wasn't passionate about the art would probably think of it as torture. The exams were 1.5 hours of slides, which you had to label with artist names, dates, location, and title. I decided that one day I WOULD go to Italy, particularly Florence, to see all the masterpieces that I loved. When Frank proposed four years ago, I told him that I would marry him with one stipulation: We WOULD go to Florence before we had kids.

So fast forward four years, we finally had the money (holler) and the time to go, so I didn't take no for an answer. I actually paid for the trip from some freelance jobs, which made me feel super proud. We decided to go with a guided tour. There were several "tiers" of tour companies, and we decided to go with the more expensive one. We're hotel snobs and we figured it would be a once in a lifetime thing, so we wanted to make sure we were comfortable and had hotels close to all the sights.

So no more explanations, here's the first leg of the trip, Rome.

First night there, gelato, STAT.

The next morning, we went to go so Michaelangelo's David, which you can't take photos of (because they want you to buy the postcards!) But here's a picture from the internet in case you can't remember what he looks like :)

The Spanish Steps (yes, we had perfect weather almost the whole trip!)

The Trevi fountain was stunning:

If I see a horse, obviously I'm going to need to pet it and get a picture with it. My doppleganger had the same idea, apparently.

We happened to be in Rome on the day of the beatification of Pope John Paul. One million extra visitors to Rome, on top of the normal tourists? No big deal. There were tons of groups of people from all different countries who basically camped out on the streets for this. This picture was taken inside the Pantheon.

The altar inside the Pantheon:


Tiny cars everywhere, driving crazy!



Palazzo Venezia:


The ruins of Circus Maximus, where the chariot races were held:



Fountain of the Four Rivers, by Bernini, in Piazza Navona



FOOD! We went out to dinner with a friend of ours that lives in Rome. He went to high school with Frank, but after college decided he wanted to be a priest (we didn't see that coming at all!) So now he's in seminary in Rome.



Don't ask about the hair cut. He got it before we left because he thought it was "euro". Side eye . . .



Steelers bar in Rome that we had to go into for a drink. I can't get away from it anywhere . . .



I look thrilled, right?



The next day, we woke up bright and early to get on the tour bus and go to the Sistine Chapel. It was the most crazy fast-paced tour ever. Think mandatory wake-up calls at 5:30 am. We needed a vacation when we came back from our vacation. There aren't any photos from inside the actual Sistine Chapel (not allowed) but these photos are from the hallways and rooms leading up to it.



In some courtyard at the Vatican (I'm so knowledgeable)



We're so grown up and mature. Did I mention we were the youngest people in our tour group, by at least 20 years, in most cases, much more?



And this is just leading UP to the Sistine Chapel. Crazy.











And if you can't remember what the Sistine Chapel looks like, here's a photo I found:



More to come!

How do you say "Zoloft" in Italian?

You guys, I have just a little over two weeks until my trip to Italy and the anxiety has begun to kick in. That's what sets someone with anxiety disorder apart from the rest. Instead of thinking "vacation, cheese, men in tight pants!", I'm thinking, "doom, gloom, language barrier."

Yes, the language barrier is what I'm most concerned about. You see, I'm not exactly the most worldly chick. The most foreign land I've been to was Riviera Maya in Mexico, and that barely counted. We were secluded on a giant resort with tons of other tourists, most of them English-speaking. The most culture shock I experienced there were the throngs of European tourists in speedos and aqua socks. It also helped that I had three years of high school Spanish under my belt, much of which miraculously came back to me on the trip.

I know, everyone says that most of the people I'll encounter will speak at least a little English. Especially in all the main tourists areas, where we're going. But I feel like I need to at least make an effort to speak their language. I have this fear of being viewed as an ignorant American. Especially when so many Americans demand that anyone coming to our country speak English. Yet they don't expect to be held to the same standards in another country?

Frank is not to concerned because he is Frank and he is never concerned about anything. He thinks that as long as we know how to say "pizza" we'll be fine. I'm having nightmares in which we will be drinking toilet water and eating pizza for every meal, which wouldn't be so bad minus the toilet water part. I'm also worried about money and paying. Like if someone says the total of our bill and we don't understand what they're saying, so we just have to hand them a wad of euros and hope for the best. I don't want to make the Italians angry, like this:

Another concern I have is shoes. I like to look good on vacation because a) the world is judging me and b) I want to look good in pictures. So I'm planning on buying all these new cute dresses and not wearing fanny packs and t-shirts every day. But the issue is the shoes. We'll be walking everywhere, on billion year old cobblestone streets, and I'm having an issue with finding very comfortable, non-athletic shoes that don't make me look butch-femme. Is it too much to ask?

The third largest concern is electricity. Like, how to harness it and use it for good. I know I need to buy things like adapters and converters and I also know that they cost a lot of money. But along with my pizza and toilet water dreams, I'm having visions of exploding flat irons and iPhones. I will probably be afraid to use anything. And yes, I know my iPhone won't work there, but I can't fall asleep or go to the toilet without playing Angry Birds. These things have become physical impossibilities in the modern world.

Next on the list is flying. The longest flight I've ever been on was about four hours. I'm not really afraid of actually flying and being millions of miles off the ground, I'm more concerned about claustrophobia. It's the "there's only one way outta this thing" factor that's bringing me down. Our flight will land bright and early in the morning, Rome time, so it's not like i'll be able to go to sleep when we get in. I'm planning on not sleeping the night before we leave, popping some klonopin or tylenol pm on the plane and knocking myself unconscious. I once slept 24 hours straight on a bus ride to Panama City with the aid of a double dose of Nyquil. If I can sleep through a 24 hour bus ride with 100 drunk spring breakers, this should be cake.

One more thing. This will be the longest period of time that we have left our kid. You know, the one with floppy ears and a chronic humping habit. My brother in law may be watching him but that's not set in stone, so we had to find alternate care. Normally, we leave him with my sister-in-law and her family, but the last time he was there, he pooped in their house and ran away. Their four year old son confided in me that "Wilby pooped on the floor and then Daddy said a bad word," so I'm guessing he's probably worn out his welcome there. Luckily, we found a lady that runs a doggy day care out of her home. She just lets the dogs have the run of her house and her yard and only crates them if she has to leave the house. She even lets the dogs sleep in bed with her . . . all of them. I know what you're thinking, she's a creeper. It's kind of like we're leaving Wilbur at the Neverland Ranch for 11 days. But we're okay with that.

Have you been somewhere foreign without knowing the language? Any advice?

Guess where I'm going?

I have some exciting news. I'm going somewhere. Want to know where? Here are some hints:

Come on . . . Italian stallion, Italian greyhound, Italian . . . hoagie? I'm going to ITALY!

In three agonizingly long months I will be saying Adios (I don't know any italian) to America and spending 11 amazing days in Europe. Which is pretty special because I've never been off of my lovely continent before. 

Why Italy and not another country?  Well, I knew I had to make it to Europe before I settled down and had kids and everything. Because I hear they suck the life out of you and make you not able to do fun things. 

I took a class on Italian Renaissance Art History in college and it was probably my favorite class ever. It was hardcore too, we had to memorize the name, date, location and artist of seriously hundreds of works of art. But I loved it. And I promised myself I would go see this stuff in person some day.

Because we probably won't get a chance to do something like this again anytime soon, we thought about the possibility of doing several European countries in the trip. But because we only have 11 days, a trip that hits, say, Rome, London and Paris would leave us traveling most of the trip. We'd rather totally experience one region instead of being rushed through a bunch of cities just to say we did it. As it is, the trip we're taking is going to be pretty intense, as we're exploring a bunch of different areas.

We also decided we were definitely going to do a tour. It seems much more romantic to fly by the seat of our pants, explore on our own, etc. But let's face it, we're as "tourist" as it gets. I don't understand things like exchange rates and Frank thinks we're going to get kidnapped or extorted everywhere we go. We simply would not survive without a tour guide. 

We went with Insight Vacations, which is one of three tour guides that AAA works with. Contiki is their low range, Trafalgar is mid range, and Insight is the priciest. We're definitely not trying to break the bank on this trip, but we both have problems when it comes to hotels. That is to say, we're hotel snobs. I'm not the kind of girl who likes to rough it and thank God my husband isn't either. The AAA lady said that she recommends Insight because their hotels are nicer and more centrally located. A cheaper tour group might save money by booking a hotel in the suburbs of a city rather than right in the middle of the action. This becomes a problem when you have free time during the day and its not so easy to just walk outside your hotel and explore. With this tour group, we'll be able to do that. Has anyone ever gone on one of these tours?

Here's the itinerary. Let me know if you've been to any of these places or any travel advice you have! 

Day 1 - DEPART USA

Board your overnight flight

Day 2 - ROME AT LEISURE

Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with Classical antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces & baroque churches. On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Tonight meet your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: La Griffe/Cicerone

Day 3 - ROME SIGHTSEEING

Enjoy an in-depth sightseeing tour with a local guide who will take you inside the Vatican Museums to gaze upon the treasures of the Popes. Enjoy clear commentary via your audio headset as you admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling inside the Sistine Chapel. Now enter St Peter's Basilica to wonder at another of his works, the emotive 'Pieta'. Then cross the Tiber to visit the Colosseum, scene of many gladiatorial contests. After seeing the Roman Forum, the rest of the day is yours to sightsee or shop. (BB)

Day 4 - ROME - ASSISI

Leave Rome & follow the valley of the River Tiber to the hills of Umbria, which form part of the Apennines. Your destination is the peaceful hill-top town of Assisi, the home of St Francis. Visit the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, then continue up Mount Subasio to the town. Step inside the huge Basilica, built in the 13C after St. Francis' death, where the frescoes by Giotto heralded a new era in Italian art. Hotel: Giotto/Roseo (BB,D)

Day 5 - ASSISI - VENICE

A pleasant drive leads to the romantic city of Venice, & what better way to see it than from a private launch? Cruise past Palladian churches & 13C palaces to St Mark's Square. See the Doges' Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape. Now admire the mosaics of the Basilica & watch one of the few remaining masters blow molten glass into a unique creation at a Venetian glass-blowing factory. Relax & enjoy the atmosphere as you cruise along the Venetian canals by gondola. Continental/Principe/Amadeus (BB,D)

Day 6 - VENICE - FLORENCE

Back on the mainland, drive along the scenic Brenta Canal with its magnificent Palladian villas, once the summer residences of Venetian nobility. Cross the plain of the Po River & traverse the Apennines to reach the Arno valley. Then follow the river to the coastal town of Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower. Time also to admire the marble cathedral and Baptistery before continuing to Renaissance Florence for a two-night stay. Hotel: NH Firenze (BB,D)

Day 7 - FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING

Join a local guide for a walking tour of the historic city centre. A highlight is the visit to the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's monumental figure of David. Continue to the multi-coloured marble Cathedral to see Giotto's bell tower & 'Gates of Paradise' before visiting the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence. The area around Santa Croce Basilica is famous for the quality of its luxury goods; see a demonstration of leather work in the very place this craft first established itself. Then, there's free time to shop for Florence's finest or continue sightseeing. (BB)

Day 8 - FLORENCE - SORRENTO

Hear an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous as you take the smooth motorway south. Continue through the rich volcanic hills of Frascati to Cassino where you visit the Commonwealth Cemetery, overlooked by the austere monastery of Montecassino. Now follow the scenic cliff top road towards the picturesque resort of Sorrento. Hotel: La Favorita/Grand Hotel La Pace (BB)

Day 9 - ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION

Investigate the art of 'intarsio' or marquetry wood inlaying before cruising to the sun-drenched island of dreams, Capri - a rock rising from the Mediterranean. Take the funicular train up to Capri Town, where you can explore the narrow alleyways, browse in the exclusive boutiques & enjoy the views over the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps join an optional tour to Anacapri to visit Villa San Michele before returning to your hotel for some relaxation time. Why not immerse yourself in the Italian culture & work up an appetite on a traditional evening stroll (passeggiata) - it's a time to 'see & be seen'. Later you are offered a selection of local restaurants for your dining pleasure. (BB,DA)

Day 10 - SORRENTO - POMPEII - ROME

Only a short drive from the hotel lies Pompeii, the opulent Roman town which was preserved by layers of ash from the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. A walking tour with a local guide through the cobbled streets & extensive excavations reveals the daily life of ancient Roman civilisation. Afterwards, the smooth motorway leads back to the 'Eternal City' of Rome. Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a last night celebration Highlight Dinner of local cuisine, complete with wine & entertainment. Hotel: Sheraton (BB,HD)

Day 11 - RETURN TO USA

Arrivederci Roma! Sadly, your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30. (BB) Sorry for the longest post ever! I will be spending the rest of winter staring at gorgeous pictures of Italy in springtime and learning some key Italian phrases. I'm sure I'll have a million questions, if any of you have experience traveling to Italy. Let me know!