Italy

After a rocky start (we landed in Rome with simultaneous motion sickness!) we had a few hours to kill in Rome. We wandered through Villa Borghese, had too much pizza and antipasto foisted on our jet-lagged selves by an opportunistic proprietor and popped into a couple churches before boarding our train to Florence.

So tired!

We have arrived in Florence!

Luckily after a little dozing on the train we caught a second wind and saw a little of Florence after we checked into our apartment. 

At dinner we learned that "Apple juice" must be Italian for "Aperol Apertif" because that's what Maddy was served!

Day 2: Florence

We got a late start (we were all exhausted!)

Grandma was very proud when she discovered that she only needed to run the Italian coffee machine three times to get an American-sized cup!

Then a cafe breakfast, and a walk to the Pitti Palace via Ponte Vecchio.

After the Pitti Palace, we hiked up to the Piazzale Michelangelo (under some precarious conditions due to crazy Italian drivers).

And then eventually made our way to our dinner reservation and our first official Florentine Bistecca! Maddy approved! We also tried to teach Grandma how to say the name "San Gimignano" but with no luck. So tomorrow we are all excited for our tour of Tuscany, which will include "San DiGiorno".

Day 3: Tour of Tuscany

Today we took a bus tour of Tuscany. The weather was forecasted to be really rainy and it was for our first stop in San Gimignano. We had about an hour there, so we started with breakfast...

...followed by gelato. (Bob couldn't pass us the "Gelato World Champion" without trying some...even at 10am!) He went with Tutti Frutti which was an interesting choice, maybe he could convince himself it was like eating fruit for breakfast. 

After San Gimignano we had lunch at a beautiful farm / vineyard. (Stephano, awesome guide!)

After lunch the bus took us to Siena where we saw the Piazza del Campo and toured the Duomo di Siena.

Then back on the bus to Pisa to the Square of Miracles where we got to climb the Leaning Tower (surprise! I didn't even know I booked the climb tickets!), and had only a few minutes to pop into the Cathedral before getting back on the bus back to Florence.

Day 4: Florence

Today was our last full day in Florence and we had lots we wanted to see! First we went to the Accademia Gallery to see The David. Then the Palazzo Riccardi Medici and the Medici Chapel (to see the relics).

After lunch (where we inadvertently ate at another location of the same place we ate the night before!) we patronized some street artists, Audrey had a caricature done and I bought a small watercolor of the Duomo only the have the artist to paint the Ponte Vecchio on a business card for me on the spot!

For our last evening, we visited The Palazzo Vecchio (sadly the tower was already closed but Maddy made do with the views from a balcony) and then had dinner at our favorite Florentine restaurant from last time, Acqua Al 2

Day 5: Travel to Venice

After a (fancier than we intended) breakfast in Piazza della Signoria we started making our way to the train station

One the way to the train station we popped into the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and lit a candle for dad.

Our first Vaporetto ride!

After arriving in Venice, we got our bearings as quickly as we could so we could see San Marco's Square and the Doge's Palace.

I can already tell this is going to be a amazing place to wander!

Day Six: Venice

After a cafe breakfast, we took a tour of St. Mark's Basilica, including a really fun climb up to the "Loggia dei Cavalli"

                                                  

Then we took a vaporetto to Murano where my Italian skills really shined and I was able to negotiate the purchase of a glass duck for Audrey. Maddy got a glass turtle as well. It was a beautiful place to spend an afternoon!

Then back to the mainland, another vaporetto ride up the Grand Canal and some aimless wandering.

Day Seven Travel: Travel to Rome

Today we said goodbye to our posh Venetian apartment.

We saw some cool graffiti.

And took our last vaporetto ride to the train station.

Our Rome apartment was very close to the Trevi Fountain (aka selfie central!), so we started there. Followed by the Pantheon and dinner at Osteria da Fortunata.

(Note to self: don't leave 12-year old unsupervised with my phone in the Pantheon.)

(Or around Nonna di Fortunata, for that matter)

I got the gnocci that I had LAST time and hadn't stopped thinking about since!

After dinner we walked to St. Peter's Square then had a scary crowded subway ride back to the apartment!

Day Eight: Rome

Today we went out to the Appian Way, starting with the Tomb of Caecilia Metella.

Then we continued walking along the Appian Way, exploring the ruins, until we got to San Sebastian, where we took a tour of the catacombs.

And then back to Rome for some well deserved gelato!

Bob and I had a fancy, very late dinner at a restaurant that had been recommended to us so we had to take the obligatory date night Trevi Fountain photo.

Day Nine:  Rome (Last Day)

Today we took a tour of the Colosseum and the Forum.

After our tour, we made our way back to our apartment via Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain. 

We all needed a rest after baking in the sun at the Forum, but once we rested up we headed back out for one last Italian evening. We had some great food recommended by our host. 

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A walk to (and UP) the Spanish Steps.

And one last gelato (*weeps silently*)

It's been an amazing adventure!