Your One Fondest Memory: Rome, Florence, Venice
Jun 11th, 2009, 01:47 PM
#1
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Your One Fondest Memory: Rome, Florence, Venice
Please least your single most memorable experience in each of the following cities:
1) Rome
2) Florence
3) Venice
It can be anything from a museum visit, to a gelato joint, to sitting on a bench in a piazza and watching people go by. The only rule is that you must limit yourself to ONE memory in each of the three cities.
I think this will be a fun way to help people build their itineraries, and am looking forward to incorporating your suggestions into my own trip this Fall
1) Rome
2) Florence
3) Venice
It can be anything from a museum visit, to a gelato joint, to sitting on a bench in a piazza and watching people go by. The only rule is that you must limit yourself to ONE memory in each of the three cities.
I think this will be a fun way to help people build their itineraries, and am looking forward to incorporating your suggestions into my own trip this Fall
Jun 11th, 2009, 01:54 PM
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Rome: Standing in a crowded bus, pouring rain outside, and listening to an old couple speaking loudly at each other in Italian. Public transport!
Florence: Eating the best ravioli ever
Venice: Getting lost walking around
Florence: Eating the best ravioli ever
Venice: Getting lost walking around
Jun 11th, 2009, 01:55 PM
#3
<B>Florence</B>
Dinner at Il Latini in May 2001.
"We had a 9:30 pm seating. We were in a back room, and when a table of American early-eaters left, we were the only four Americans in the room with all the rest being Italians (now, they might not have been locals, but they were Italian).
At some point (after consuming way too much Chianti), I started singing (I thought not too loudly), "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie.." When I got to that part of the song, the whole room breaks into "that's amore," and for the next hour or two, we were all singing Dean Martin tunes and conversing (it's amazing how much better the four of us spoke Italian after consuming wine) with one another. Thankfully, the Italian contingent spoke better English than we did Italian.
Our room full of people were the last to leave (I think my singing might have caused other rooms to empty faster). To this day, it was one of our most memorable experiences we have had on vacation. The night we were there, the food was good, our waiter was hilarious and we had a blast."
I'll have to think about Rome and Venice.
Dinner at Il Latini in May 2001.
"We had a 9:30 pm seating. We were in a back room, and when a table of American early-eaters left, we were the only four Americans in the room with all the rest being Italians (now, they might not have been locals, but they were Italian).
At some point (after consuming way too much Chianti), I started singing (I thought not too loudly), "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie.." When I got to that part of the song, the whole room breaks into "that's amore," and for the next hour or two, we were all singing Dean Martin tunes and conversing (it's amazing how much better the four of us spoke Italian after consuming wine) with one another. Thankfully, the Italian contingent spoke better English than we did Italian.
Our room full of people were the last to leave (I think my singing might have caused other rooms to empty faster). To this day, it was one of our most memorable experiences we have had on vacation. The night we were there, the food was good, our waiter was hilarious and we had a blast."
I'll have to think about Rome and Venice.
Jun 11th, 2009, 01:55 PM
#4
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Rome.
Seeing the Pieta..
and
Hearing the Trevi before coming around the corner to see it in all of its glory..
Florence.
David. Beyond compare.
Venice.
Coming out of the train station and seeing "My Venezia" for the first time. My knees buckled at the site.
I still get tears in my eyes when I think of it.
Seeing the Pieta..
and
Hearing the Trevi before coming around the corner to see it in all of its glory..
Florence.
David. Beyond compare.
Venice.
Coming out of the train station and seeing "My Venezia" for the first time. My knees buckled at the site.
I still get tears in my eyes when I think of it.
Jun 11th, 2009, 02:00 PM
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Rome - La Pieta and coming around the corner at night when we first arrived in a taxi and seeing the collosseum all lit up
Florence - having a little old gentleman who spoke no english come up to my son who was wearing a shirt with his dominican school shield on it and the older man folded his hands and bowed his head as if to say, "I know the teaching of that order" and of course, seeing David.
Venice - watching the mist rise off the canals in the early evening while sipping wine from a sidewalk cafe on the grand canal.
Florence - having a little old gentleman who spoke no english come up to my son who was wearing a shirt with his dominican school shield on it and the older man folded his hands and bowed his head as if to say, "I know the teaching of that order" and of course, seeing David.
Venice - watching the mist rise off the canals in the early evening while sipping wine from a sidewalk cafe on the grand canal.
Jun 11th, 2009, 02:06 PM
#6
Rome - the mosaics in the crypt of st Cecilia's found by accident on our first day there.
Florence - terrific meal in Siena [yes I know that's not florence but that's where we were staying]
Venice - the ride on the vaporetto up the grand canal to the piazzale Roma to catch the bus to the airport after the best family holiday ever.
Florence - terrific meal in Siena [yes I know that's not florence but that's where we were staying]
Venice - the ride on the vaporetto up the grand canal to the piazzale Roma to catch the bus to the airport after the best family holiday ever.
Jun 11th, 2009, 02:20 PM
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For all three: Listening to church bells. You know you're in Italy when you hear the church bells.
Rome: Sitting at "my" cafe by the Pantheon (if you're facing the Pantheon, the one on the left side) drinking hot chocolate and writing in my journal.
Florence: Having a very good lunch at Quattro Leoni and having the waiter compliment me on my Italian.
Venice: Getting up early in the morning and walking around, watching the city wake up. Stopping by the Rialto market on the way back to the apartment to by strawberries and blood oranges.
Can't help it, had to add another one for Venice: The hotel next door to our apartment, the Bonvecchiati, had a guy playing jazz on the patio every night until pretty late. When we would get back to the apartment, we would keep our windows open and listen to him play as we went to sleep.
Sorry I broke the "only one moment per city" rule, couldn't help myself...
Johanna
Rome: Sitting at "my" cafe by the Pantheon (if you're facing the Pantheon, the one on the left side) drinking hot chocolate and writing in my journal.
Florence: Having a very good lunch at Quattro Leoni and having the waiter compliment me on my Italian.
Venice: Getting up early in the morning and walking around, watching the city wake up. Stopping by the Rialto market on the way back to the apartment to by strawberries and blood oranges.
Can't help it, had to add another one for Venice: The hotel next door to our apartment, the Bonvecchiati, had a guy playing jazz on the patio every night until pretty late. When we would get back to the apartment, we would keep our windows open and listen to him play as we went to sleep.
Sorry I broke the "only one moment per city" rule, couldn't help myself...
Johanna
Jun 11th, 2009, 02:47 PM
#9
<b>Rome</b>
Too many to name, really, but how about my first view of the Forum with the Colosseum in the background from the top of Vittorio Emanuele II? In my wildest dreams I didn't expect that.
<b>Florence</b>
Getting invited to a rave. I didn't know people still had raves.
-tied with-
Seeing Giotto's Ognissanti Madonna in the Uffizi. Aha! <i>This</i> is it, I thought. <i>This</i> is the revolution.
<b>Venice</b>
First view, coming out of the train station. Such beauty.
I know I have two for Florence, but years later both continue to put a smile on my face.
Too many to name, really, but how about my first view of the Forum with the Colosseum in the background from the top of Vittorio Emanuele II? In my wildest dreams I didn't expect that.
<b>Florence</b>
Getting invited to a rave. I didn't know people still had raves.
-tied with-
Seeing Giotto's Ognissanti Madonna in the Uffizi. Aha! <i>This</i> is it, I thought. <i>This</i> is the revolution.
<b>Venice</b>
First view, coming out of the train station. Such beauty.
I know I have two for Florence, but years later both continue to put a smile on my face.
Jun 11th, 2009, 05:49 PM
#10
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Venice - I greatly enjoyed getting up early one morning (before sunup) and walking along the southern edge of Dorsoduro, taking photos of the water, boats, gulls, sun coming up, weaving around the little back streets and canals, kitties waiting by the front door, the lampposts, the small arched bridges.....
Jun 11th, 2009, 06:19 PM
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Rome-
My wife and I were eating dinner at an outdoor restaurant in the Jewish Ghetto. There was a young Roman couple sitting at the table next to us, and they were sort of eyeballing us during the meal, just interested in what we were eating, saying etc. At the end of dinner, we asked them for some recommendations of dishes to try and wines to drink in Rome, & they suggested a number of things, and then tore off a piece of our paper tablecloth off to write a some things down for us.
We didn't speak any Italian, and they didn't speak any English, but we managed to have a very nice little conversation!
My wife and I were eating dinner at an outdoor restaurant in the Jewish Ghetto. There was a young Roman couple sitting at the table next to us, and they were sort of eyeballing us during the meal, just interested in what we were eating, saying etc. At the end of dinner, we asked them for some recommendations of dishes to try and wines to drink in Rome, & they suggested a number of things, and then tore off a piece of our paper tablecloth off to write a some things down for us.
We didn't speak any Italian, and they didn't speak any English, but we managed to have a very nice little conversation!
Jun 12th, 2009, 06:37 AM
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Wonderful stories, keep them coming!
What I find fascinating is that most of the fondest memories are not about going to popular tourist attractions, but focus on the simple scenes of Italian life. Goes to show how important it is not to overbook your trip, and leave time to just explore and experience a different country and culture.
What I find fascinating is that most of the fondest memories are not about going to popular tourist attractions, but focus on the simple scenes of Italian life. Goes to show how important it is not to overbook your trip, and leave time to just explore and experience a different country and culture.
Jun 12th, 2009, 07:31 AM
#14
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Waking up in Venice on Mother's Day morning, traveling with my daughter. Our room overlooked two tiny canals, and the gondoliers were singing Ave Maria. It was a magical moment.
Then we walked to La Calcina and had a wonderful brunch on their outdoor patio, overlooking the Zattere (sp?). Another high point for us.
Then we walked to La Calcina and had a wonderful brunch on their outdoor patio, overlooking the Zattere (sp?). Another high point for us.
Jun 12th, 2009, 07:38 AM
#15
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Rome - wandering the streets around the Piazza Navona, and also walking down the street toward the Collosseum, and seeing it get closer and closer -- Rome is one of my favorite cities in the world for just wandering and walking the streets.
Florence - walking on the Ponte Vechia bridge and the streets near it, listening to and watching all the people.
Florence - walking on the Ponte Vechia bridge and the streets near it, listening to and watching all the people.
Jun 12th, 2009, 08:10 AM
#16
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Rome - standing in the Colisseum
Florence - well - David of course and meeting American newlyweds who wed in Florence at a tiny restaurant, joining them for after dinner drinks, telling stories, hysterical with laughter
Venice -the jeweled alter piece at Saint Marks
Florence - well - David of course and meeting American newlyweds who wed in Florence at a tiny restaurant, joining them for after dinner drinks, telling stories, hysterical with laughter
Venice -the jeweled alter piece at Saint Marks
Jun 12th, 2009, 08:31 AM
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Too many to mention, but here goes:
Rome: The view of the Forum from a window inside the Capitoline Museum during a thunderstorm.
Venice: The view of the Grand Canal from back of the Guggenheim museum.
Florence: The view of the city from the Boboli Gardens.
Rome: The view of the Forum from a window inside the Capitoline Museum during a thunderstorm.
Venice: The view of the Grand Canal from back of the Guggenheim museum.
Florence: The view of the city from the Boboli Gardens.
Jun 12th, 2009, 08:49 AM
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Rome: marveling at the Pantheon. It just may be my favorite building in the whole world, located in the most perfect piazza.
Florence: stopping for lunch at a small restaurant, my DH ordering a Diet Coke and the waiter reacting in mock horror. The waiter insisted (in a friendly way) we have a bottle of wine with lunch. We did, and enjoyed our leisurely lunch so much that wine at lunch has become the norm on all our vacations. (OK, sometimes we switch to beer, but never Diet Coke!)
Venice: walking into Piazza San Marco for the first time...chills and tears of happiness
Florence: stopping for lunch at a small restaurant, my DH ordering a Diet Coke and the waiter reacting in mock horror. The waiter insisted (in a friendly way) we have a bottle of wine with lunch. We did, and enjoyed our leisurely lunch so much that wine at lunch has become the norm on all our vacations. (OK, sometimes we switch to beer, but never Diet Coke!)
Venice: walking into Piazza San Marco for the first time...chills and tears of happiness
Jun 12th, 2009, 09:08 AM
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ROME.
Mass on All Saint's Day in the Pantheon, during a thunderstorm.
The heavens rumbled and the rains poured through the oculus onto the marble floor, where the water reflected all the candles....The priest's voices lifted in praise to meet the heavens.
wow.
VENICE.
Being the only couple wandering about the narrow calles on a very foggy night.
Mass on All Saint's Day in the Pantheon, during a thunderstorm.
The heavens rumbled and the rains poured through the oculus onto the marble floor, where the water reflected all the candles....The priest's voices lifted in praise to meet the heavens.
wow.
VENICE.
Being the only couple wandering about the narrow calles on a very foggy night.
Jun 12th, 2009, 09:46 AM
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Rome - Vatican Museum / Cisteen (sp) chapel - no contest
Florence - the Duomo
Venice - After a thunder/lightening storm - I'll never forget the echos through the streets (this city also takes my breath away).
Florence - the Duomo
Venice - After a thunder/lightening storm - I'll never forget the echos through the streets (this city also takes my breath away).
