Italy
Muy Bella.
It is no doubt that Italy is in the top 10 of the "most visited countries in the world."
This country provides a diverse travel experience, and the attractions are world-famous. Italy is definitely in my top 10 favorite destinations.
I had the chance to first visit Italy in 2004 after finishing my US Embassy sponsored training in Austria. Big thanks to the US Government for the sponsored trip of a lifetime!
Italian tourism says that "you can go from the coast to rustic olive groves to dramatic mountains in one day." That is so true. My week of visit covered these famous places.
In Rome - Colosseum is one of the wonders of the world. It is a huge amphitheater, the largest of its kind ever built by the Roman Empire. They define it as a "prominent reminder of ancient times and the extensive history of Rome." I didn't have much time to enjoy the place. It was just a quick pictorial. But I sure did had a great experience.
In Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa is also world-renowned. Record says that sinking, which led to the lean, began when the tower reached the third story. Today, visitors can climb up the stairs of the tower. I didn't climb the tower; I just pretended that I leaned on it, and it made a good backdrop.
St. Marks Basilica is one of the most important buildings in the city of Venice. I fed the birds and watched them flew away while I enjoyed the energy of the place. It was a great experience feeding birds in the middle of this fascinating place.
I had the chance to visit Bologna and Rimini on this trip. Bologna is rich in history, but it is "one of the underrated cities in Italy. Rimini is known for its beachside. We spent a good day on the beach, then drove to San Marino, a small country surrounded by Italy. You would think that San Marino is a part of Italy, but it’s not. It is the third smallest country in Europe and the fifth smallest country in the world.
Unfortunately, I lost some of my photos in Bologna, Rimini, and San Marino. But I have great memories of these places. I remember I bought souvenirs in San Marino. It was inexpensive because they didn't have tax.
I went back to Italy in 2017 with Joshua and Mary to celebrate her birthday. We basically stayed in Rome. Seeing the Colesseum again was nostalgic. This time, I enjoyed it better with my kids. We did a tour of the amphitheater and learned more about its history. Visiting this historical place allows you to experience what they did during ancient times.
Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain and the most photographed fountain in Rome. It is also one of the most famous fountains in the world. This fountain was the inspiration of the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain." The legend says that you should throw three coins into the fountain. "The first coin guarantees your return to Rome, the second will ensure a new romance, and the third will ensure marriage." It won’t hurt you to join the crowd tossing coins in this fountain. It may work if you believe. And remember, wishes do come true.
Spanish Steps is a steep slope from Piazza di Spagna to Piazza Trinita Dei Monti church consisting of 174 steps. Actually, it was not as steep as it’s described. And it wasn’t too bad of a hike for me. I just had to make a couple of stops to catch my breath.
In Rome - Colosseum is one of the wonders of the world. It is a huge amphitheater, the largest of its kind ever built by the Roman Empire. They define it as a "prominent reminder of ancient times and the extensive history of Rome." I didn't have much time to enjoy the place. It was just a quick pictorial. But I sure did had a great experience.
In Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa is also world-renowned. Record says that sinking, which led to the lean, began when the tower reached the third story. Today, visitors can climb up the stairs of the tower. I didn't climb the tower; I just pretended that I leaned on it, and it made a good backdrop.
In Florence - Piazzale, Michaelangelo has the best panoramic view of Florence. It’s sad to see Michaelangelo's sculpture was vandalized. I can’t imagine why people could do this on a historical landmark. It doesn’t help tourism; it destroys it.
Venice is a city of islands, and the canals have been the city's main streets. The Grand Canal is one of the most photographed sites in Venice. The Gondola ride is a tradition that travelers enjoy, but it's expensive. I saved my money by not taking the ride and just hang out with gondola sailors. Later, I enjoyed a cup of coffee watching the romantic sights of the Grand Canal.
There is an island in Venice called Murano. It is known for its tradition of glass-making. I did join a Murano tour. It's amazing to watch how they make decorative pieces and jewelry out of glasses. There’s no reason not to buy, so here I am shopping for Murano pendants. My gondola ride money went to Murano shopping. Not bad at all.
I had the chance to visit Bologna and Rimini on this trip. Bologna is rich in history, but it is "one of the underrated cities in Italy. Rimini is known for its beachside. We spent a good day on the beach, then drove to San Marino, a small country surrounded by Italy. You would think that San Marino is a part of Italy, but it’s not. It is the third smallest country in Europe and the fifth smallest country in the world.
Unfortunately, I lost some of my photos in Bologna, Rimini, and San Marino. But I have great memories of these places. I remember I bought souvenirs in San Marino. It was inexpensive because they didn't have tax.
I went back to Italy in 2017 with Joshua and Mary to celebrate her birthday. We basically stayed in Rome. Seeing the Colesseum again was nostalgic. This time, I enjoyed it better with my kids. We did a tour of the amphitheater and learned more about its history. Visiting this historical place allows you to experience what they did during ancient times.
Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain and the most photographed fountain in Rome. It is also one of the most famous fountains in the world. This fountain was the inspiration of the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain." The legend says that you should throw three coins into the fountain. "The first coin guarantees your return to Rome, the second will ensure a new romance, and the third will ensure marriage." It won’t hurt you to join the crowd tossing coins in this fountain. It may work if you believe. And remember, wishes do come true.
The Pantheon was a former Roman temple and now a church. It is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings. Because of its sanctuary, you can't enter the building if you're wearing a sleeveless. Mary wasn't wearing the right clothes, so I had to share my sleeves with her. Lesson learned: check the dress rules of the place before you go because you may end up wasting the opportunity.
The Fountain of the Boat is a baroque-style fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps. It has the shape of a half-sunken ship with water overflowing its sides into a small basin. You can drink the water, so after climbing the Spanish Steps, I quenched my thirst. It saved us from buying a bottle of water. If you can save money on your travel, it's a good thing, right?
As the "birthplace of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance," Italy has many wonders of art, architecture, and history. In Rome, you can visit these sights on foot. So when in Rome, do what Romans do. It was perfect summer weather to enjoy walking.
I love these restaurants with outdoor seats; it's like casual dining. When the weather is nice, it's good to digest fresh air while enjoying a nice meal. I also love watching people pass by while I enjoy my meal.
When in Italy, you have to eat traditional dishes and food. We splurged with pasta and pizza on every meal, every single day. No single crumb was left on our plate. Delizioso! Mary introduced me to spritz, an Italian wine-based cocktail that is normally served before or after a meal. It was actually good. Since then, I always get spritz when it's available. It's my kind of wine!
No trip to Italy is complete without a taste of gelato. Mary always craves this Italian dessert. Gelato is different from the ice cream abroad. The reason being is that it is made without preservatives because it is not intended to be stored for long. There are various flavors you can choose from, and in this store alone, there are 150 flavors! I always get my favorite - pistachio.
It's nice to have stayed longer, but we had to go back to work, back to reality. We ended this trip taking the train from Rome to Milan to catch our plane ride back to the US. I love train rides, you get to see the countryside. We stayed in Milan for the night to make sure we get better seats on the plane. It turned out as a good plan.
I've seen a lot of the historical side of Italy. On my next visit, I would love to explore the beautiful coast. Maybe Naples or Amalfi Coast? We shall see when, hopefully, soon.
I love Italy, and I want to say . . . . Ciao Bella. Until we meet again.
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