Full Day of Fun and Surprises

I woke up at 4:30am and knew I just had to get out before all the crowds arrived to block the view of the most beautiful buildings in the world. I told Steve to sleep in and I would be back in time for our morning plans. Now I know lots of you are thinking “you walked the streets at night by yourself?!” Yes I did, but the streets are pretty much empty and this is the best time to take photos. Anyway, I looked a bit scary for anyone to mess around with me…ask my boys. The early morning greeted me with a light sprinkle of rain and it really felt great. I woke up instantly. As I walked by the Ponte Vecchio, I was surprised to see a group of young people sharing conversation as they admired the bridge. I guess they must have stayed up all night and didn’t want to waste a minute. Neither did I. Well, I ran around like a banshee taking pictures of all the areas Steve and I would be touring that day, and I got to all of them and some others I missed the day before.

Duomo before sunrise

Our first Stop was a visit Santa Maria Novella and took pictures of the exterior. It was not open yet so we ambled over to the Cappelle Medici. This building holds the tombs of the Medici family and was architecturally designed by Michelangelo. The phrase that says, don’t judge a book by its cover fits this building to a tea.  The beauty of this building lies within. You will see Sculptures, Art, and some of the Pope Leo X’s items. After all Florence was the Seat of the Catholic Church.

 

Santa Maria Novella

Next destination was the Duomo! There is nothing more beautiful or spectacular -  you see all three buildings standing in an intimate space only about 75 feet from each other. The Campanille which is attached to the Duomo, and the Battistero they are all so different but somehow create a sense of harmony. Wowsome! – wowsome is a word I made up and is combination of Wow and Awesome.  Even Steve who has seen more monuments then I can ever imagine was truly impressed to see these magnificent structures. We toured the interior of the Duomo and then we treated ourselves to a wonderful lunch sitting in the square under the watchful eye of the Saints who reside inside the walls of the Duomo.

The interior dome

Lunch at the Duomo

Last, how could we be in Florence and not visit the Galleria Uffizi which holds some of the greatest works of art by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and many more? The art is so marvelous and when we could not take another step we left the building to sit under the arches near the Ponte Vecchio and have a pistachio gelato cone before walking back to our hotel! We will be leaving Florence with great memories and lots of pictures to share. See you in Venice … Ciao!

Ciao !!

 

Buongiorno Florence!

As we rode into Florence by train we were able to see the manicured green hillsides dotted by white specks of wooly sheep and an occasional vineyard which had already been harvested.  On arrival we immediately got unpacked and headed outside for new adventure. The stone streets and the narrow streets made the experience more attractive. Our hotel put us in a great spot, only two bridges from the Ponte Vecchio! We work our way toward our destination but took in all of Florence which is easy to do because it surrounds you! Even with the busy sounds of people asking someone for directions and taxis rushing past and the sirens of the ambulance screaming for you to move out of the way, the city surprisingly was very relaxing. The sounds disappear and you are with someone you love and all is well. After the photos on the Bridge, we wondered up the hill and came across the entrance to the Boboli Gardens! Of course we paid the entrance fee of 10 Euros each and went in knowing we only had 2 hours to spend there. Money well spent. Fountains and private passage ways and sculptures were our reward. The views overlooking the city were the icing on the cake. If you were not in love with the Renaissance Period before you arrived, you will be when you leave. For dinner we had our pick of restaurants and found one tucked away from the crowds. A nice bottle of red wine and octopus salad - our feast helped us forget about our tired feet and aching backs. We were busy planning our adventure for tomorrow!

Firenze (Florence) Italy - a wonderful first day in Tuscany

...OK, another day in paradise...took the mid morning Euro Star train (242 Km/Hour) from Rome to Florence. Got here early enough to spend the afternoon walking  along the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio then up the hills to the Boboli Gardens and back down to the river for sunset. Then a spectacular dinner (for foodies - octopus salad, then egg plant Carpaccio with mozzarella, then Osso Bucco and vino santé with cappuccino). Tomorrow, Duomo and Ufizzi Museum. Saturday the train to Venice. Wow! what a ride....

Irene and Steve on the Ponte Vecchio in Firenze

Tuscan countryside from the Euro Star Train

Streets of Firenze

 

Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

 

Florence from the Boboli Gardens

 

Sunset on the Arno River

 

 

 

-- A Big Sightseeing Day in Rome

--- a busy day: took the Metro to the Vatican and the Pope came out to meet us...well, he also had a huge outdoor mass. Then we walked along the River Tiber to the Spanish steps - also had lunch at another wonderful al fresco setting, and of course a gelato on the Steps. Next to the Trevi Fountain...tossed coins to insure our return (for our Czech family we also tossed a Czech coin to insure we would return to Czech Republic soon again). Tomorrow we train the Florence.

 

 

...and now in Rome

A long day getting to Rome - mostly because of Rome traffic from the airport. We did have time to walk to the Coliseum and find a wonderful outdoor al fresco dinner near the river.

Prague sightseeing

After a wonderful gathering of family I haven't seen in years, we toured Prague...

Cousins and aunts and more in Prague

Prague Castle

..Terezin Concentration Camp in Czech Republic

We spent a very moving day at the Terezin concentration camp memorial site. My grandmother and my mother's oldest sister were prisoners who were eventually murdered at Auschwitz. My mother's younger sister and her 1-year old baby son (my cousin) were prisoners for less than a year and lived to liberated.

Steve signing book of rememberence

 

The family walking to the Terezin Ghetto