Firenze: Home to Great Art, Music and Cuisine!

Have you been following along on the map of Italy? Florence is the last stop in Italia and then the map changes. 

As much as "Firenze" is cradle to the Renaissance, it also is the heart of music and fine cuisine! I was inspired with so many ideas for the bakery here!! Best part of all is that the whole city is within a 15 to 20 minute walk, which beats Rome by a landslide victory!

Besides checking out some of the historical Cathedrals and Basilicas, I also wandered to Ponte Vecchio and took an afternoon soaking up the Uffizi (the “Offices”). Ponte Vecchio is the famous bridge you might have seen in common pictures of Florence. It was a busy area with shops, cafes, and tourists galore! The Uffizi boasts over 1.6 million visitors a year. The strategy is to get there early when they first open so you avoid the two hour wait to get it. Inside, the museum is arranged in chronological order. The Uffizi is home to wonderful works of art from pre-Renaissance, Renaissance, and post-Renaissance eras. Besides world famous paintings, it also has sculptures and wonderful frescos on the ceilings. Florence has been called home or is the birth place of famous people like Botticelli (The Birth of Venus), Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Dante and hosts of others! One interesting note is that in the piazza of the Uffizi, many local artists and musician are displaying their work all trying to capture the tourist’s attention. These artists are surrounded by huge sculptures of past greats like Michelangelo. It’s a contrast of past and present and all of it worth a bit of your time. Enjoy the slide show of pictures!

Next stop is Innsbruck, Austria!

Sienna: A Place where Time Stood Still

Sienna has signs of being frozen in the medieval times. The town was like a breath of fresh air! Everyone was very nice and seemed so happy! And why shouldn’t they be? The Tuscan region nearby, rolling hills, and wine in abundance! Prices are less expensive than Rome for pretty much anything you may want. 

Our class went on a walking tour of the city. The knowledgeable guide filled us in about the history of the area along with some interesting side notes. During the Medieval era, only the very rich could afford the conveniences of modern bathroom facilities. They added the bathrooms on to existing dwellings. See the slideshow to get an idea of the concept. The addition had a hole in the center of the floor where waste would fall to the ground below. Prior to that, the general rule of thumb was to yell out a warning to those passing by below as one dumped the contents of bathroom waste out the window. Failure to yell something out was a good way to get fined! These fine tickets were similar to fines of speeding tickets of today. 

Another additional interesting aspect of Sienna is their passion for the Palio horse races. Twice a year, in July and August, they have a brutal and dangerous horse race with bareback riders. Sienna is separated into wards, or Contrades. Each Contrade is represented by a mascot or animal. Those in the ward proudly display their Contrade flag! Horses are assigned randomly to each Contrade and the intense training period begins. Prior to the race, the horse is even blessed in church. They also have a separate entrance for the horse to enter the church. It is the horse not the jockey that is revered. On the day of the Palio itself the horses are accompanied by a spectacular display of drummers and flag twirlers dressed in traditional medieval costumes that first lead the horse and jockey to the Contrade parish church and then join a procession around the Piazza del Campo square. The race lasts al of three minutes but the coveted trophy is proudly cherished by the winning Contrade.

Sienna was a teaser because we only stayed one day. Then it was on to Florence!

One Thing Off My Bucket List, Then It's Arrivederci Roma!

I must be looking more and more like a local! Got stopped for directions four times while in Rome. Twice I actually knew the answer! Also, I can successfully cross a no light eight lane intersection and live to write about it! And today, I got to check a big one off my bucket list: a visit to the Vatican and the Vatican Museum!!


The Sistine Chapel and Sait Peter's is more beautiful than I ever imagined! It just leaves me speachless! I took a gazzillion pictures of absolutely everything! Getting the chance to see Apostle Peter's tomb along with Pope John Paul's was a bit emotional. After the class tour, I hung out at the Bascilica for several more hours, soaking it all in. I even had the chance to attend noon mass there! I will post pictures from this and the pyramid trip when I get wi-fi.

I took a final trip to the Trevi Fountain in the early evening to see it lit up! Also to toss a coin over my left shoulder so it guarentees my return trip to Rome.

I ended the evening stopping in to check Italia's version of McD. It did have a couple unique things on the menu that you don't see in the US. But one thing that's different, is that it is "extra" for ketchup!! 20 cents Euro which translates to about 35 cents US. Just seems wrong! Don't the Italians like to drench their fries in the wonderful red stuff as much as I do?

Tomorrow we leave for Sienna which is only a one day stop en route to Florence. Both towns have ridiculously expensive wi-fi so unless I can find a wi-fi cafe it will be a few days before I post again. Then I will play catch up and fill everyone in! Pictures will be up then too and I will also post a slide show when I get a bit more organized.

Ciao!!

My Time As a Fashion Model!

So today was spent with some interesting class trips to both IBM and Skin Italia. Both were different and unique presentations. After David the designer at Skin gave us his history and background on the leather industry, we had some fun watching the class model superior leather coats and jackets down the runway for the class. I tried to keep a low profile, because the last thing I wanted to do is trip and fall down the aisle! Also, many of my classmates were trying to capture it all digitally! I stayed as quiet as I could as different classmates were chosen to do the modeling. I checked the price tags of their various jackets and coats. Most were in the 1500 to 2000 Euro price range. Multiple that by 1.45 to get a rough approximation of what we are talking about! Wow. Some of the girls looked real sharp and played the role of model very well! I thought we were done when David turned to me and said Madame, It is time for you! "It's OK, I'm good!" I replied. Well to make a long story short, this guy was not about to take no for an answer. I guess his persistance is what made him the multimillionaire he is! David is someone who revolutionized the leather industry!

So I played the good sport and went to the back. I was given a leather cape to model. Seemed easy enough. I looked at the workmanship. I could get use to this! It was a reversable cape with the interior being fine sheepskin. I was put in the team of professors and a few stray students to go down the runway. I think I held my breath, praying I wouldn't trip and fall adding some humor to the day's event. The upbeat Italian music played and off I went!

Well I made it! Completed a full run, stopped and posed for pics at the request of faculty and came back to home base unscathe. Afterwards, I happened to glance at the price tag. It was nearly 4000 Euros! I turned to my professor and said this cape cost 4000 Euros!!! Well Alice that's about $6000, he replied. OMG!! My first car, a brand new Dodge Omni, didnt even cost that much!! Wow! Good thing for my family that my favorite one cost half that price!

After all this excitement, I retreated to the solitude of the Borghese Gardens. The timing was perfect for photos as it was early evening. I enjoyed dinner later at the Zeus Restauraunt. Made a mental note to self to try to make their version of Lasagna when I got home. Another good day in Roma!

Tomorrow I get to knock one thing off my bucket list!! A trip with my class to the Sistene Chapel and St Peter's Bascillica! Something I have been wanting to do for many years!

Buona Sera!

Did you know there is a pyramid in Rome?!

So now that I have seen all the main highlights of Rome, it was time to do things off the beaten path. I read up on a pyrmid just outside Rome Central and decided to check it out. After all its free!
Locacted just off the Metro stop, this pyrmid was built as a tomb for Cestius, a magistrate of Italy. It was my first structure that I saw built in the BC era. "Piramide Caio Cestio was built" in 12 BC and it's pretty spectacular! Because of my timing, I took the pictures around 6pm so the lighting was good for photos. Tombs were forbidden within the city walls, so at the time it stood in the countryside. The pyrmide is near the Porta San Paelo or one of the "doorways" to the city of Rome. From the info that I read, there were many pyrmids in Rome but most were demolished in the 16th century and this is Rome's surviving one. As with most of the historical sites in Rome, there are archeological digs being done in the area. Even though there was screening and fencing covering the area of work, I was able to find a hole in the screen to get some pics. I have now learned to look over my shoulders in both directions before taking pictures! The hole was just the right size! So, if you make a trip to Rome and want to see firsthand a structure built in BC times, check this out!

Ciao!

Yes, it's true you need to pay to pee in Europe!

I had heard some stories of public restrooms in Europe and that it will cost you anywhere from 50 cents to 1 Euro, but nothing wil beat first hand experience! I have been fortunate to have timed nature's calls at the hotel or place where we're grabbing a bite to eat, but about the third day I had to use the bathroom before getting on the Metro. Located it easy enough. 50 cents Euro, exact change only. Since it was occupied, the gentleman waiting for his friend inside, spoke English so we chatted while we waited. A few seconds later a loud alarm, similar to one alerting us to a national disaster, sounded off! A large yellow light above the restroom door also starts flashing. The large, primitive looking steel door quickly opened. Let's just say, the guy inside was not quite done! His friend turned to me and said, "Oh, by the way, you are timed! It's five minutes." "Good Luck!" OMG! After all, how bad do I really need to go?!

I decided to bite the bullet and give this adventure a try. In went my 50 cents Euro and the large steel door slid open. OK, now I see how I will be spending most of my five minutes! The toilet paper is conveniently located above one's head (well mine anyway, being vertically challenged). To get some toilet paper you push a black button. Out comes about three inches at a time. So you need to push it again. And again, and again. . . Smart fore thought would be to accomplish all this before sitting down! I began to wonder who really designed these babies?! Fortunately for me my timer did not run out! Safe, and ready for the Metro ride home. I decided to pass it on and wished the person waiting good luck. Also gave a bit of advice on the paper strategy.

Since that day I have found better equipped facilities. But they're pricier: 1 Euro. But the beauty is that you can take your sweet time!!

Sometimes, new countries are such a learning curve! Just have to take it in stride!
Buona sera!

First Rome Experiences and Other Funny Stories!

I arrived safely in Rome and I was ready to soak it all in! As a lover of history, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see some spectacular points of interest. And as an American I wanted to try to fit in with the locals, so I did lots of observation to make sure I got it down right!

One of the first things to learn was how to cross the street! Traffic in Rome makes downtown Chicago look like a lazy Sunday afternoon! Cars zipping along through winding roads. And there are usually several lanes of traffic each way. Now there are quite a few cross walks with traffic lights, but many times there is just a cross walk and one is suppose to just start walking across and hope for the best. Kind of daunting! I stood safely on the sidewalk and observed to make sure I got it down! I decided the first day to closely follow on the heels of any man in a business suit carrying a brief case. They looked important, and there are many of them going every which way. Seemed safer at the time!

On day two I decided to venture out to catch the main historical  highlights of Central Rome. I even became familiar with the Metro system. (More on that later.) My adventure turned into a twelve hour walk throughout the city! I will post pictures to share with you. Much Advil and several glasses of wine were necessary for recovery afterward. But I had so much fun!

Day two also had some interaction with the Italian Police! Not only once, but twice! Boy, they are pretty strict by the book kind of guys! LOL! The first time was in the early afternoon. I was already at the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuel II, one of the most beautiful historic monuments erected for a king. My earlier plan to have lunch there was changed when I saw the signs for no eating, smoking, or sitting at the monument. At the top there is an eternal flame, and a memorial wreath. On each side of the memorial is an armed guard standing at his post. So I found a tiny bit of shade under one of the statues to figure out plan B. Maybe have lunch across the street at the park? Having the sandwich I packed and water may give me the energy I need to head to the Colosseo next. In the distance, I heard whistle blowing as I was checking my handy map. This sound became louder and the shrill soon was piercing my ears. The Italian policeman was right next to me yelling in broken English: "No leaning on the monument!" "Stand up straight!" Evidently I had rested back against the monument to take the pressure off my back. Did this guy know I had been walking for four hours and it was getting very hot out?! He left as quickly as he came. Now he was after someone who was sitting on the stairs! Scared me a little, since I am one that always follows the rules. Wow! Time for lunch.

After the Colosseo and Arco di Costatino, I took the Metro to the other side of town. I was headed to the Piazza del Popolo and eventually my first glimpse of the Tiber River! Check out those photos as well! In a very round about way of eventually getting back to the hotel I decided to cross the river at one of the bridges and check out the Castel Sant' Angelo. It was here were I had my second encounter with the Italian Police.

Photos are allowed in the outside areas of this beautiful Building. Definately the oldest structure I have been in since it was built in 25AD to be a final resting place for Roman Emperors. Later, after expansion, it was used by various Popes as housing. Currently there are some wonderful art exhibits in the very center of the Castel.
After checking those I was outside checking the etching above a doorway. It was a tomb entrance of one of the first Popes. The public may enter to check it out. (I am sure they have moved him somewhere else.) I stood at the entrance, trying to get the perfect shot of the interior of the tomb. It was quite dark, so I adjusted my camera. I took another look through the viewfinder before pushing the shutter. A hand came into my field of vision! Scared the daylights out of me! Another Italian Policeman quietly came up from behind me. "Madame, absolutely no photos allowed!" I apologized, and worked at breathing once again.

After eleven hours of walking the streets of Rome, I had dinner at a wonderful restaurant at the Piazza Risorimento. They have wonderful pizza made in a wood oven and the best Tuscan wine that I've had to date! I reflected on the day's experiences and relaxed in the shade. I treated myself to a wonderful Italian dessert which was more expensive than my entree! Picture of that as well!

Più tardi!!