Trip Report; TRSW's First Time In Italy!!
Oct 31st, 2005, 07:46 PM
#42
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Okay, I think I fixed the Florence album problem. And thanks to Nikki I think these are the direct links:
Venice -
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...1&v=-oalkn
Florence -
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&v=-fyxytn
I hope these work.
Tom
Venice -
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...1&v=-oalkn
Florence -
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&v=-fyxytn
I hope these work.
Tom
Oct 31st, 2005, 07:49 PM
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Oct 31st, 2005, 08:00 PM
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Oh Tom, I bet you are tired, you had to get up early and get to work early.
Forget the computer until tomorrow perhaps? But don't forget to come back and tell us about the rest of your wonderful trip. Sweet dreams!
Forget the computer until tomorrow perhaps? But don't forget to come back and tell us about the rest of your wonderful trip. Sweet dreams!
Nov 1st, 2005, 01:26 PM
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Day 5 - Florence
It's 7am. Cue the church bells!! As soon as I wake up I know something is wrong. I have come down with a head cold. Great!
I had been thinking of taking the train to Lucca and Pisa today. But Pat and I instead decide to check out the city on the other side of the Arno. We had been told that the Pitti Palace was closed on Mondays, so we were surprised to see a short line out in front. We go up and find out that only the Silver Museum,Boboli Gardens and Porcelain Museum are open. We figure why not, and get tickets.
We go into the Silver Museum first. I can't believe the mosaics. They start at the floor and go all the way up. The 3D effect is something else. Some of the balconies look real. There also seems to be at least one fountain in each room, some had one in each corner of the room. It takes us about 45 minutes to go through the museum. Then we head out to the gardens.
They are beautiful, peaceful and very serene. We make our way to the top where the Porcelain Museum is. The view from here is awesome. From here we go off and explore more of the gardens. We wander around for awhile and end up back by the gift shop. Pat wants some postcards and while we are inside we see a map of the gardens and realise we have only seen a very small portion of them.
We leave and decide to grab something for lunch. We pop into a little shop, grab a couple of panini's and water and head over to Piazza Santo Spirito to eat. After lunch we just wander for awhile. By now, due to the head cold, I am getting a little tired so we head back to the hotel. I take a nap for couple of hours and actually feel better when I get up.
This evening Pat, Bob and I decide to go to Trattoria Il Contadino for dinner on the recommendation from Luciano. But first Pat and I are going to grab a beer then meet up with Bob at the restaurant.
The little bar that we went to was closed so we head towards Il Contadino while looking for somewhere to get a beer. We happen upon an elderly gentleman standing in a doorway where we can hear music playing inside. In her best Italian, Pat ask him where we can get a beer and he invites us inside.
We enter into something that looks like a senior citizens recreation center and it seems they are having dancing lessons. Talk about "the moment". We get a couple of beers, all the while the gentleman is trying to convince Pat to dance with him. She politely declines.
While we are drinking the beers and watching the dancing I realise that once again I am so happy I canceled the tour. There is no way I would have seen this slice of Italy had I not. I must have been grinning from ear to ear because Pat looks at me and asks "What are you so happy about"?
We finish our beers, thank our hosts and as we are saying goodbye, the gentleman who invited us in kisses Pats hand. This just makes her night. We head out, find Il Contadino and wait for Bob to show up. The place is packed so we have to wait for a table.
This place is truly a locals place. Small white Formica top tables. The drawing point of this place is, for 11 euro you get bread, water, a 1/4 liter of the house wine, 2 entrees and a vegetable. I had the Pesto Fettucini. These were the biggest fettucni noodles I have ever seen and the pesto was delicious. I also had the veal in a white cream sauce with peas. The veal was so tender it nearly melted in your mouth. And a plate of green beans. It was a great dinner.
After dinner I make it an early night and go to bed.
Tomorrow - A day trip to Siena and San Gigimnano
It's 7am. Cue the church bells!! As soon as I wake up I know something is wrong. I have come down with a head cold. Great!
I had been thinking of taking the train to Lucca and Pisa today. But Pat and I instead decide to check out the city on the other side of the Arno. We had been told that the Pitti Palace was closed on Mondays, so we were surprised to see a short line out in front. We go up and find out that only the Silver Museum,Boboli Gardens and Porcelain Museum are open. We figure why not, and get tickets.
We go into the Silver Museum first. I can't believe the mosaics. They start at the floor and go all the way up. The 3D effect is something else. Some of the balconies look real. There also seems to be at least one fountain in each room, some had one in each corner of the room. It takes us about 45 minutes to go through the museum. Then we head out to the gardens.
They are beautiful, peaceful and very serene. We make our way to the top where the Porcelain Museum is. The view from here is awesome. From here we go off and explore more of the gardens. We wander around for awhile and end up back by the gift shop. Pat wants some postcards and while we are inside we see a map of the gardens and realise we have only seen a very small portion of them.
We leave and decide to grab something for lunch. We pop into a little shop, grab a couple of panini's and water and head over to Piazza Santo Spirito to eat. After lunch we just wander for awhile. By now, due to the head cold, I am getting a little tired so we head back to the hotel. I take a nap for couple of hours and actually feel better when I get up.
This evening Pat, Bob and I decide to go to Trattoria Il Contadino for dinner on the recommendation from Luciano. But first Pat and I are going to grab a beer then meet up with Bob at the restaurant.
The little bar that we went to was closed so we head towards Il Contadino while looking for somewhere to get a beer. We happen upon an elderly gentleman standing in a doorway where we can hear music playing inside. In her best Italian, Pat ask him where we can get a beer and he invites us inside.
We enter into something that looks like a senior citizens recreation center and it seems they are having dancing lessons. Talk about "the moment". We get a couple of beers, all the while the gentleman is trying to convince Pat to dance with him. She politely declines.
While we are drinking the beers and watching the dancing I realise that once again I am so happy I canceled the tour. There is no way I would have seen this slice of Italy had I not. I must have been grinning from ear to ear because Pat looks at me and asks "What are you so happy about"?
We finish our beers, thank our hosts and as we are saying goodbye, the gentleman who invited us in kisses Pats hand. This just makes her night. We head out, find Il Contadino and wait for Bob to show up. The place is packed so we have to wait for a table.
This place is truly a locals place. Small white Formica top tables. The drawing point of this place is, for 11 euro you get bread, water, a 1/4 liter of the house wine, 2 entrees and a vegetable. I had the Pesto Fettucini. These were the biggest fettucni noodles I have ever seen and the pesto was delicious. I also had the veal in a white cream sauce with peas. The veal was so tender it nearly melted in your mouth. And a plate of green beans. It was a great dinner.
After dinner I make it an early night and go to bed.
Tomorrow - A day trip to Siena and San Gigimnano
Nov 1st, 2005, 02:03 PM
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Good description SeaUrchin. I know how excited Tom was to go to Italy and am personally so happy that his visit was so enchanting. Bet he goes to Italy every chance he gets in the future! And don't you love his description of food! Yum, makes me hungry.
Nov 1st, 2005, 03:11 PM
#52
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Thank you all for the nice comments. This trip was the experince of a lifetime.
On the photograph front. I have given up on Kodak and started an account with pbase. You can view what has been downloaded so far at:
www.pbase.com/trsw
More will be added later.
Tom
On the photograph front. I have given up on Kodak and started an account with pbase. You can view what has been downloaded so far at:
www.pbase.com/trsw
More will be added later.
Tom
Nov 1st, 2005, 04:15 PM
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I had no problem at all with the pbase photo album - GREAT pictures! Were the laundry pics taken in Venice?
I also had to laugh out loud... so many of your Florence pictures could have been ones pulled out of my own photo album. We must have taken several of them from almost the exact same spot!
Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the rest
-Jill
I also had to laugh out loud... so many of your Florence pictures could have been ones pulled out of my own photo album. We must have taken several of them from almost the exact same spot!
Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the rest
-Jill
Nov 1st, 2005, 04:20 PM
#54
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Day 6 - Florence
The long night of sleep has had a good effect on the head cold, it is not nearly as bad as yesterday.
Today I have booked a day tour with CAF tours out to Siena and San Gigimnano. The tour is completely sold out. Our guide Laura (pronounced Lee-ar-ah)is very entertaining on the drive to Siena. She gives us a little history on Florence and Siena.
When we arrive in Siena we are separated into two smaller groups and turned over to our local guides. The guide for my group is Paulo who asks us to call him Uncle Paul. He was born and raised in Siena and you can tell he really loves his hometown. And it seems everybody in town knows him as they all say hello.
He has a great sense of humor and like a good stand-up comedian, zeros in on a poor lady in the group, and uses her during the who tour as his straight-man.
As he walks us through the town he gives us a history lesson that is very informative. We end up at the Duomo which sadly has scaffolding around the facade, but has tarp wrapped around it with what it will look like when the restoration is complete next summer.
As we head into the Duomo, Uncle Paul describes the architecture as Gothic. Well I would say Gothic is an understatement when it comes to the inside. It is dark and moody.
After the Duomo he takes us to the Campo where we meet up with the other group and Laura. We are then let loose to explore the city on our own and told to meet under the clock tower at 2pm. So off I go, cameras in hand.
We meet back at 2 and head off to the bus for the ride to San Gigimnano. After about 15 minutes we turn around and head back to Siena. Seems we left someone behind. We get back and the lady is nowhere to be found. So we continue on when we pull into a gas station. Laura comes on the PA and says she just talked to the lady and she was taking a taxi to meet up with us. There is a loud collective groan from everybody on the bus.
After waiting 15 minutes Laura announces we are moving on without her. We arrive at San Gigimnano an hour behind schedule. We are only going to have a little more than an hour here. But what an hour. We are left to explore on our own. I find the way to get up on the wall that looks down into the Tuscan countryside. Yes,the "moment". Is is just so beautiful!!! So much so that I pull out my cell phone and call my sister in California and tell her that I have decided that I am not coming home. She tells me she hates me, but bring her home a bottle of wine. LOL The visit here was just way too short.
For dinner tonight I decide to go to the other side of the Arno to 'Bibo'. It is recommended in Rick Steves book. This will turn out to be one of the best meals during my whole trip.
I start with an Antipasti plate of different meats, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. For the pasta I have the best Gnocchi I have ever had. Very soft and fluffy in a white cream suace and fresh spinach. Heaven!! I finish it off with Chicken Marsala. Very tender and very tasty. All with a half liter of the house red. After the "Rick Steves" discount it came to 35 euro. To get the discount all you have to do is place his tour book on the corner of the table and they take 15% off the bill. Cheesy I know, but the food was excellent!!
After dinner I head across the Ponte Vecchio where there is a trio playing traditional Italian music. Then they go into the most unique interpretation of Princes "Purple Rain". I stay and listen to them for about 20 minutes then head out and just walk the streets. Then head back to the hotel and end the evening.
Tomorrow - A wine tour and dinner with a fellow Fodorite
The long night of sleep has had a good effect on the head cold, it is not nearly as bad as yesterday.
Today I have booked a day tour with CAF tours out to Siena and San Gigimnano. The tour is completely sold out. Our guide Laura (pronounced Lee-ar-ah)is very entertaining on the drive to Siena. She gives us a little history on Florence and Siena.
When we arrive in Siena we are separated into two smaller groups and turned over to our local guides. The guide for my group is Paulo who asks us to call him Uncle Paul. He was born and raised in Siena and you can tell he really loves his hometown. And it seems everybody in town knows him as they all say hello.
He has a great sense of humor and like a good stand-up comedian, zeros in on a poor lady in the group, and uses her during the who tour as his straight-man.
As he walks us through the town he gives us a history lesson that is very informative. We end up at the Duomo which sadly has scaffolding around the facade, but has tarp wrapped around it with what it will look like when the restoration is complete next summer.
As we head into the Duomo, Uncle Paul describes the architecture as Gothic. Well I would say Gothic is an understatement when it comes to the inside. It is dark and moody.
After the Duomo he takes us to the Campo where we meet up with the other group and Laura. We are then let loose to explore the city on our own and told to meet under the clock tower at 2pm. So off I go, cameras in hand.
We meet back at 2 and head off to the bus for the ride to San Gigimnano. After about 15 minutes we turn around and head back to Siena. Seems we left someone behind. We get back and the lady is nowhere to be found. So we continue on when we pull into a gas station. Laura comes on the PA and says she just talked to the lady and she was taking a taxi to meet up with us. There is a loud collective groan from everybody on the bus.
After waiting 15 minutes Laura announces we are moving on without her. We arrive at San Gigimnano an hour behind schedule. We are only going to have a little more than an hour here. But what an hour. We are left to explore on our own. I find the way to get up on the wall that looks down into the Tuscan countryside. Yes,the "moment". Is is just so beautiful!!! So much so that I pull out my cell phone and call my sister in California and tell her that I have decided that I am not coming home. She tells me she hates me, but bring her home a bottle of wine. LOL The visit here was just way too short.
For dinner tonight I decide to go to the other side of the Arno to 'Bibo'. It is recommended in Rick Steves book. This will turn out to be one of the best meals during my whole trip.
I start with an Antipasti plate of different meats, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. For the pasta I have the best Gnocchi I have ever had. Very soft and fluffy in a white cream suace and fresh spinach. Heaven!! I finish it off with Chicken Marsala. Very tender and very tasty. All with a half liter of the house red. After the "Rick Steves" discount it came to 35 euro. To get the discount all you have to do is place his tour book on the corner of the table and they take 15% off the bill. Cheesy I know, but the food was excellent!!
After dinner I head across the Ponte Vecchio where there is a trio playing traditional Italian music. Then they go into the most unique interpretation of Princes "Purple Rain". I stay and listen to them for about 20 minutes then head out and just walk the streets. Then head back to the hotel and end the evening.
Tomorrow - A wine tour and dinner with a fellow Fodorite
Nov 1st, 2005, 05:25 PM
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I have been enjoying your trip report for the past several days. I admire your enthusiasm and your willingness to be open minded.
You have somehow carried me away and I am so willing to join you in the discovery. I am still trying to figure out what are the giant heads on the ground in Campo Santo Stefano, I don’t remember them, did you take any pictures there?
By the way, your pictures are great. They were well worth the wait.
If you have not visited Paris yet, please make sure you write a report when you go. I’d love to read what you think about it.
You have somehow carried me away and I am so willing to join you in the discovery. I am still trying to figure out what are the giant heads on the ground in Campo Santo Stefano, I don’t remember them, did you take any pictures there?
By the way, your pictures are great. They were well worth the wait.
If you have not visited Paris yet, please make sure you write a report when you go. I’d love to read what you think about it.
Nov 1st, 2005, 05:32 PM
#57
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Simone1 - Funny that you mention the giant heads. I am uploading a picture of them right now.
About my enthusiasm and open mindness, I was just in awe everyday that I was in ITALY!!! And I was not going to let anything ruin this trip. I can't wait until I go back.
Now that I have been awakened to world travel, I know that Paris will happen one day.
Tom
About my enthusiasm and open mindness, I was just in awe everyday that I was in ITALY!!! And I was not going to let anything ruin this trip. I can't wait until I go back.
Now that I have been awakened to world travel, I know that Paris will happen one day.
Tom
Nov 1st, 2005, 05:45 PM
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Tom I keep forgetting to mention to you that the "laundry drying scenes" are so wonderful!!! Also reminds me of spoiled we are here in the US. I love seeing laundry out on lines, blowing in the breeze, adding color to the landscape. And letting the whole place know what you own, LOL. Besides the scenic photos I truly love your photos of day to day life.
Nov 1st, 2005, 07:16 PM
#60
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Thanks for posting those photos. So that was the laundry you were talking about doing instead of your trip report, right?
Those giant heads, by the way, were not there when I was in Venice last year. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Those giant heads, by the way, were not there when I was in Venice last year. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
