When in Rome…

In front of the Pantheon

Train to Roma

We pre-purchased our tickets for the train from Florence to Rome prior to our trip so we could ensure it was set and organized.  Upon getting ready for the day we realized the train was departing an HOUR earlier than we thought.  We assumed we’d miss that train (set to leave in about 30 minutes) because we still had to check out of our hotel and the train station was about a 15 minute walk.  Much to our surprise the train was delayed 5 minutes and was departing as we walked up.  We scurried on to the train, luggage and all as the doors were closing again!  So lucky!

Taking it to the streets

Once we got to Rome we set out to find the Metro Station to take about 4 stops to our hotel (about a half mile).  Well, today was sure full of surprises – the Metro was closed due to a strike!  As a result, the taxi line was basically around the block (and taxi prices were hiked based on the high demand).  So what do you do?!  Well, our luggage got quite acquainted with Rome’s cobblestone streets as we decided to walk!  Mike was a gentleman as usual, took one of my bags. I’m so spoiled, right?

It took a while and we were sweating bullets by the time we reached our hotel – on top of the Spanish Steps!  It is a beautifully located hotel and our room even has a private patio!

After eating lunch, we set out to explore seeing the Pantheon as well at the Piazza Navona and of course Trinita dei Monti (right outside our hotel).  We are excited to do both the Vatican and The Colosseo tomorrow!  Blogging and bed time for us!

My "Holy" Salami for breakfast

Mike likes to make fun of me fore picking the fat pieces from my Salami

Our Balcony at Intercontinental De La Ville

Mike 'planking' in the hotel bed

The Roman 'planking' in front of the Pantheon

Spanish Steps

The turtle centerpiece at our lunch spot

Pantheon

Inside the Pantheon

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona Market

Dinner at a place we found walking

 

Ninja Turtles Museum

Uffizi Tickets 🙂

Another day in Firenze means another Museum – Uffizi today!  We purchased an audio set and began the tour.  No photos are permitted inside the museum so we have no evidence we were actually there but I can assure you that we saw all Ninja Turtles works of art.  Just kidding – Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Prima Verra were absolutely spectacular.

Vivoli Gelatos

After Uffizi we walked around Florence and stopped for a Gelato at Vivolis, which came highly recommended.  My pistachio/crema gelato tasted like heaven in my mouth.  We took a break to enjoy at Piazza de Maria Croce then headed out to Michelangelo’s Plaza to watch the sunset.  The photos say more than I ever would be able to articulate about how amazing it was!

Sunset from Michelangelo's Plaza over Ponte Vecchio

Writing this all out I am realizing how much we accomplish in one day!  We’re just packing it all in there.  Anyway, we had the BEST dinner at Giostra (I highly recommend this dinner spot to anyone visiting Florence – you must make reservations prior through your hotel, fyi).  Mike had his highly anticipated Oso Bucco and it did not disappoint.  Of course I stuck with cheese ravioli, which was no ordinary cheese ravioli.   You can taste the passion in preparing each dish.  The owner was there (pictured with us) and he greeted us several times to assure we were enjoying ourselves.  It was the perfect way to end our time in Florence.

We are so sad to be going but feel like we were able to see so much and thoroughly enjoy the city and culture over the last few days.  Next time we come we would like to visit the countryside as well.  I want to walk through sunflower gardens 😉  Until then, we are off to Roma!

Uffizi

We found a parade!

The random parade in Firenze

The view from Michelangelo's Plaza

On the Steps

The view as the sun set

Little did we know we were about to have the best meal ever!

Our happy place

The "prince"

 

Firenze Day One

Special blog appearance from the one and only Mike Spiro:

Sunrise at Ponte Vecchio

I woke up early to go for a jog around Florence and get my coordinates in our new city. Our hotel is located at the heart of the city and a short jog to the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffitizi, and Academia. Florence is a renaissance city, known for it’s historic art and architecture and beautiful views and charm (as you can tell by the ugly sun rise over the Arno River taken during my jog over the Ponte Vecchio). When Sam woke up, we inhaled a complimentary five-star breakfast of fruit, yogurt, bacon, eggs, sausage, and toast with raspberry/blueberry jam and chocolatey Nutella (bomb!). We got recognized by a woman staying at the hotel, who took a photo of us by the breakfast buffet (Sam was mortified… still half-asleep in her PJs! This would be the first of two today).

Rape of Sabine (no photography allowed, obviously)

The hotel booked a reservation for 12:30 at Academia, which gave us plenty of time to see Brunachelli’s Duomo, the famous domed cathedral at the center of Florence that dominates the skyline in most postcard photos. At Academia, we saw many timeless works of art, including the Rape of Sabine and Michaelangelo’s David (no photos allowed or the staff barks at you in Italian and wags their fingers at you). After Academia we walked through the open-air Mercado, where locals peddle Italian leather handbags, wallets and jackets to tourists at “sale: today only!” discounts (suuuure). We decided to walk over the Ponte Vecchio and grab a small bite and glass of wine at a restaurant at base of the bridge.

Feeling ambitious, we walked back to the Duomo to climb the bell tower (all 414 steps… I smoked this little Italian kid in a footrace to the top) for sweeping views of the city and Tuscan hills on the horizon. We went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner at Cibero, a famous high-end Italian ristorante, where we enjoyed eggplant parmesan, minestrone soup, cheesy polenta, veal cutlets in marinara and chicken meatballs in cream sauce. Stuffed and satisfied, we enjoyed our nice long walk back to the hotel, navigating the crowded streets of Florence (it was Friday night after all, and the Italians were already raging in full force).

It’s bedtime for us… Tomorrow we get up early to catch our train to Cinque Terre, the famous five towns on the Medditerranan coast (and well known for their delicious pesto!)  Buena serra!

Duomo

Italian Swap Meet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before....

After...

Ponte Vecchio

Going up the bell tower

MORE stairs... bringing back memories!

The view!

From the top!!

Duomo Steps - sight seeing