Top Cities:
1) Venice-It was my first time here and it was more spectacular in person than any photo could capture. Visually stunning at every turn. Unfortunately your first impressions are as good as it gets as the city is swarming with tourists (just like us!!). After awhile the endless crowds start to get to you. Returning in off peak season would be bliss!! If we could do it again we would have done the whole trip in September when temperatures were more bearable and crowds lighter (slightly!)
2) Rome- This was my second trip to Rome and until now Rome and Paris (four visits) have been competing for my favorite city in the world award (so far). After this visit I would definitely put Paris at the top of my list. Rome is amazing, but for some reason less amazing this time around. Perhaps the excruciating heat dampened my spirits and it also felt the the hotel I chose for our initial leg there, while lovely and modern, was too far out of the way...hiking 20-30 minutes, on foot, to the sites in 38C wears you down...nevermind jetlag from the 9 hour time change on top of it. Having said that there is nothing like touring the Colosseum and ancient ruins in Rome and the shopping on via Condotti is second to none (Hello, massive Prade boutique for men).
3) Cinque Terre (not a city, I know) - Absolutely stunning. Having been told by a number of people that is was there favorite place in the world expectations were high. We took a train from Florence to the Cinque Terre and while the train ride is lovely through Tuscany the train eventually enters a mountain tunnel for a considerable time to emerge clinging to the cliffs of Cinque Terre and the views take your breath away. Each of the 5 towns are gorgeous against the backdrop of the Mediterranean.
4) Florence- My second trip to Florence. Florence was named the top city in the world to visit by "Travel and Leisure" magazine...and I don't know why. It is a lovely town but has never grabbed me. There are tonnes of tourists here and it is a very pretty town but...for some reason I don't love it. People flock to the Uffizi Gallery (supposedly one of Italy's top museum) but I just don't get it. This was my second time through the museum and still I just didn't get the appeal. I guess I am not sophisticated enough. Perhaps the fact that I know absolutely nothing about the bible and the story of Jesus (which seems to be the theme in every painting) didn't help.
You are supposed to
attached a lock here with
your lovers name and
throw the key in the river
but I guess Jess forgot to
go to Home Depot before
trip!! :(
5) Positano- Positano is a gorgeous town clinging to the Amalfi Coast and the views are amazing. The town is geared towards just relaxing in the sun...something I have never been into. They were in the middle of a heat/humidity wave so it was difficult to leave the hotel in the afternoon...thank god we had a Jacuzzi tub on our deck overlooking the sea to relax in. We did have some amazing meals here though plus our cooking class here with Mamma Agata was the highlight of our whole trip.
Top Activities:
1) Mamma Agata's cooking class (Ravello, near Positano)-Absolutely amazing. The class was at Mamma's house which the family had owned for 250 years, 1000 ft above the Mediterranean sea with their private garden below were they grew all the food used in the cooking class (including the chicken!!). The views were amazing and Chiara (mamma's daughter) was the most gracious host and Mamma was just what you would expect of an Italian mother, plump and jolly. They hold weddings on their property and Chiara recommended Jess and I get married there. Who knows??!!??
2) Hiking the Cinque Terre trail-My god it was hard but worth it. The trail was 3 ft across at times 1000 ft up the cliff from the ocean but the views were amazing. We hiked through vineyards, olive groves, lemon groves...lizards hung to the rocks along the trail (and I squealed like a school girl every time I saw one).
3) Borghese gallery (Rome)- the most beautiful sculpture museum. I have never had an appreciation for sculpture but the audio guide was amazing. To see these sculptures that someone had chipped from one piece of marble was amazing.
4) Shopping via Condotti (Rome)- I LOVE TO SHOP!! Actually I do more window shopping than buying. We all know Italy is the fashion centre of the world and via Condotti has every shop you can imagine...at way less that we pay in Canada...Prada, Bulgari, Tods, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci,....it goes on and on....Zegna....heaven.
5) Murano Island- Murano glass if famous around the world and this is were is comes from...30 min on boat from Venice. Every shop loaded with beautiful glass pieces. Very fun to look at. If only I had $4000 dollars in my pocket we could have gotten the piece we wanted....maybe next time.
Top Meals:
1) La Zucca (Venice)- A vegetarian place. Simple delicious food. Who knew curried carrots could taste so good. The Caprese was to die for.
2) La Tagliata (Positano)-The "no menu..you just taste everything" place. An experience like you probably can't find anywhere else. Six pasta dishes on one plate...how can you not love that.
3) Alfredo Al Campidolgilio (Rome)- The best pasta, they brought it to the table the mixed it all together, butter, cheese, egg noodles (cooked to perfection)...it was like Kraft Dinner X10....I didn't even need Ketchup!!
4) Next2 (Positano)- Funky restaurant, nice decor, amazing food, nice servers, amazing veal.
Top Hotels:
1) Ca Maria Adele(Venice)- Perfect. Beautiful rooms. Service amazing. A small hotel, only 14 rooms. All the rooms unique.
2) Wesin Excelsior (Florence)- Ornate room. Nice bed. Very helpful friendly staff.
3) Sofitel Rome (Rome)- Nice location short walk to main shopping area. Most luxurious bed.
4) Forty Seven (Rome)-Our first Rome hotel. Too far out of the way. Nice large room with balcony.
5) Hotel Magherita (Monterosso, Cinque Terre)- Simple room but best the cinque terre had to offer.
I hope Jess will post his impressions of our trip. Otherwise our next big trip is Argentina in December for my 40th and Jess' 30th birthday celebration. Thank you to everyone who took the time to have a look at our travel blog it was fun to share our experiences with you.
(This is Jess now...)
Here's is my Top 5 Wrap Up:
DITTO.
Well, not really to be honest but I am LOVING the fact that I don't have to blog everyday and I'm going to ride it out as long as I can. The only real difference is the order of our favorite cities, so I'll save you from reading everything twice (that's my excuse anyway).
Until next time...
5 comments:
Wow, That brought back memories, which I miss. Jess, I know it was a pain in the you know what to blog, but honestly, I am indebted to you forever for doing it. It was such fun, for us all!
Right now, I am here in Idaho, Dee and I have read Ryan's update, and loved it. She said to tell you, that she is so envious of you both, SO envious. She says you are both so lucky!
Can't wait to see you both, and thanks for the update!!!!
Love MOM
I miss the daily updates. I know I'm the last person that can say that with any dignity, but I'm just being honest. And it's nice to check in and not see a video of something that makes you throw up (Jess.)
I am just hoping that you go on another trip soon and remember to bring your laptop.
Wouldn't it be lovely if you could just do that for a living? You just need to boost your visitors and get some ad space and WHAMMO! You'll be rich.
Ryan can quit dentisting, Jess can quit whatever he does all day, and you can both just travel all around and bicker, and drink wine, and post photos online.
That would be awesome.
DITTO from Dee and I on Melissavinas last 2 paragraphs.
Interesting....I just happened upon this while checking in at Chez Mama. My family and I arrived in Italy the day you arrived back home. We had our two small children in tow, so we missed out on hiking the Cinque Terre (something I will definately be doing if I make it back), but we did have an awesome boat ride from Lerici and a lovely lunch in Montorosso.
Hi Carrie... Nice to see you on here. I must admit, we haven't checked the sight for a very long time.
Stay tuned... we're going to Argentina on December 15th and plan to blog the whole time.
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