Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 23
Tuesday, July 22




Our last day in Italy!!!!!!! I think this is the first long vacation I've ever taken that I wasn't ready to go home. I absolutely love Italy. I love everything about it. The sounds, the smells, the history, the people, and the FOOD!!!!!!! I love that the people are laid back and take time to enjoy their life. They are not rushed to go from one thing to another. Meals go on for hours because people actually sit there and have conversations. They're not in a hurry to get the bill and leave. We had two goals to accomplish today. One, we had tickets to go see Michelangelo's David and the other was shopping for gifts for family. Since we had booked our tickets in advance, we didn't have to stand in line to get in. We had a time to be there, handed them our ticket and walked right in!!!! I couldn't believe that I was viewing history in the flesh!! The statue had me standing in awe. The details in it were incredible. Right down to the veins in his feet and hands---Wow!!! Statues were described to us by our guide in Rome as the way that people were preserved. Like we take photos now, they did statues or busts back then. Made perfectly good sense to me. The have the David roped off so that people can't actually touch it but you are right there looking at him.
Monday, July 20











I'm sorry Venice but I have to leave you today! I'm leaving with regrets that I didn't get to see all there was to see. I guess that's what makes great travelers though. We know that we have to go back to get in all there is to offer.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, July 19






















Good morning Sunday. The streets of Venice begin very early. We don’t really have an agenda while in Venice but we decide that we would like to go out to the island of Burano. Someone had told us that it is a very photographed place with all of it’s brightly colored houses. We decide that we would like to go out there and spend the majority of the day. It’s our last day in Venice and we want to see as much as we possibly can. Not really being able to figure out the public water taxi situation (we are experts now) we decide to hire a private water taxi to take us over to Burano. It cost us 100Euros to get out to the island. They weren’t kidding when they described it as an island with very brightly colored houses. I was born in Bermuda and remember my parents talking about how the houses were painted different colors. I’m sure that Burano is very similar in that respect.
Today is the birthday of my oldest grandchild, Brayden McKenzie Sexton. He is 10 years old today and I can remember seeing him for the very first time right after he was born. He was so beautiful and still is. He’s such a caring little boy and absolutely beautiful still. Of course I’m not proud or anything. Happy Birthday Brayden. I will call him later in the day since it’s still the middle of the night for them back in the states.
From far away, we can see all of the brightly colored houses that remind me of the houses that are all attached to one another in San Francisco. When we step off the boat, we realize that this little island is totally different than the big island of Venezia (Venice, in Italian). We don’t know which direction to go first. We decide to just take off like we’ve been there many times before. Everywhere you look are houses and canals with boats filling the canal. Some locals are out on the street (or sidewalk) with their children or just out taking a Sunday morning stroll. This place is so laid back and even though there are a lot of tourists there, it is still very mild compared to the big island. My camera was in full operation on this day. I just didn’t want to miss anything and especially with all the different colors everywhere.
After walking around for a while, we decide that we are hungry. Imagine that! In Italy and hungry—gee—what to eat. We found a small local restaurant with no other Americans eating there. Our kind of place. Not a tourist trap and we were sure the food would be good. It was extremely hot and our water was being deplenished by the second so Beth and I ordered a ½ Liter of the house wine which was a rose. When it arrived at our table, we were in for a surprise (a pleasant one at that) as the wine was chilled. Just what we needed on such a hot day. We enjoyed it so much, we ordered another ½ Liter. It seemed like we sat there for a couple of hours just resting and staying under the awning of shade. Not really sure how long we were there, but it sure felt nice.
A little more exploring on the island of Burano and we were ready to leave. We decided to take the actual public water taxi back to the main island. We were so proud of ourselves as we finally figured out that they are marked with their route on the sides. If only we had discovered that before we paid the 100Euros to get over there. Oh well—it was worth it and it was fun. We felt special. Our boat driver was cute and he had on the coolest green suede Italian shoes!! White shorts, white shirt with the collar up and green shoes. Yummy! (keep your eye out for this word Yummy as you’ll see it in the last blog entry as well.)
On the way back to the main island, we passed the little separate island which houses the cemetery. We decided to take the water taxi BACK over there so we could look around. Little did we realize that it was 5:30 and the cemetery gates close at 6:00. It gave us enough time to wander around though. We noticed that there were several graves that had either greek or Russian names on them. Not sure the reason behind that. I guess I’ll have to read up on that particular cemetery. On the way back, we passed the port for the island of Murano which is known for it’s Murano glass and all of the glass factories. We thought it was mainly filled with industrial stuff but we made a mistake by not stopping there. It looked like a little artists community. Next trip I will definitely make a trip over to Murano.
Back on Venice—we make our way via the long route to our hotel for our last night there. On our way, we stumbled upon the church of John and Paul. Oh my gosh!! It was absolutely beautiful inside AND they were getting ready to begin Sunday evening Mass. This church was wonderful and the next time I go to Venice, and I WILL go again, I’ll spend more time in there. I would have loved to have spent the time to attend Mass that night but we were tired and hadn’t had dinner yet.
Back at the hotel, we get cleaned up and head out for our last supper in Venice. Our intention was to eat at a place that was listed as the number 1 choice on TripAdvisor. We really wanted to eat outside but all the tables were taken. They were able to seat us inside and so we sat. All three of us looked at the menu and decided there really wasn’t anything listed on there that sounded good. So, one by one, we all got up and headed outside without saying a word to anyone. We had a good chuckle once we were out. Our wandering began again to find a restaurant where we could sit outside AND with a decent menu AND a nice price point. We ended up at a cute little restaurant right on Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). Our food arrived quickly and was very good. Another thing with the waiter though when he brought the bill. He says to us “the tip is not included”. You don’t tell 3 American women that a tip is not included. So we left less than what we normally would have. By the way, they DID charge a 15% fee that they call a service charge just for sitting at their table. Go figure!!
The photos of my feet come with a story: before I left for Italy, the three of us bought a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. For Holly and myself it was our first pair. For Beth, well, for Beth it wasn't!! However, I had big ideas to photograph our shoes alone in each of the cities we visited. That didn't happen so I decided to take a photo of my shoes (foot) hanging over the banister of our room on our last night in Venice. "Hello Lover" as Carrie Bradshaw would say. And so is my obsession with shoes-----
It’s time for bed. We want to spend our last night there with the sounds and smell of Venice and the canal so we sleep with the window open. The sound of the church bells ringing is a sound I really miss. It’s just magical—Good night Venice!!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 18th



















Saturday has arrived and off we head back to Florence. It takes us an hour to get down off the mountain. The roads are narrow and windy and the drivers go whizzing by you so they can pass. To my dad if you’re reading this, it’s just like it was when we were living in Spain. They make 5 lanes out of a three lane road and that doesn’t include motorcycles (Vespa’s) or bicycles. They are free to roam in and out of traffic as they please. Probably to a normal Italian driver, it may have taken them 30 minutes to get down but I wasn’t about to go fast and downhill to boot. No sir—I’ll take it slow thank you. Once down, it was about another hour to the Florence airport to return the rental car. Thanks to my “co-navigators” we didn’t make a wrong turn once. It was the easiest check in I’ve ever done. They had you pull in a slot, get your stuff out, hand them the agreement, and take the keys. All done and halleluja I’m done with the car!! Yippee. We get in the first taxi we see and have him take us to the train station where we catch a fast train to Venice. Fast meaning a little over two hours time. I did have one exciting thing happen at the train station. As we were walking to the ramp where our train was parked, I spotted a little person. When I looked, it was Amy Roloff, the mother in the TLC show "Little People, Big World". Two of her children were with her. I went up to her and told her I enjoyed her show. She was very sweet. After I walked back over to where Beth was standing, I decided I would ask if I could take a photo. Not only did I take a photo, one of the guys on the camera crew took my camera and shot some pics of me with them. I figured my grandchildren would enjoy seeing them.
The train station sits right on the canal and when you walk outside the station, there are masses of people waiting to catch a private water taxi or the public water taxi where everyone seems to want to get off and on at the same time. That’s not too bad when it’s just you that you have to worry about. When there’s three of you and each of us with STILL too much luggage, it can become a problem. We weren’t real sure where to go once we got off and I struck up a conversation with a little man on the taxi and he said for us to follow him. He would show us where we needed to go. Only problem was, there are two hotels on Venice with similar names and he got them mixed up. No worries, one of the bell hops took some of our luggage and showed us to the correct hotel. Our room wasn’t ready when we checked in so we asked them if we could leave our luggage and wander until it was time to do so. Heaven forbid we have to lug our suitcases all over Venice until then. Not going to happen. Once outside the hotel, Beth drops a pin on her iPhone so we know exactly where we are JUST IN CASE we can’t find our way back. We were totally surprised when we found ourselves at the edge of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). We are taking it all in. They have these yellow chairs set up all over the Piazza and people can order a glass of wine and/or eat as well. We decide to sit down and order a glass of wine. Ha—little did we know that one single glass of wine would be 10Euros each and the waiter in his white coat, black tie and white pants, reminded us that a tip was NOT included!!!!!! Ok buddy, you just knocked yourself down from a great tip to a cheap tip for that comment.
Wine finished, we wander some more and come upon another part of the canal. This is the Grand Canal that goes out to Sea if you travel far enough on it. We are curious about the gondola rides even though none of us are in Italy with our spouses. However, it would be a shame to be in Venice and not go on a gondola ride. Beth and I head over to a little stand and inquire. We are told that tonight is the biggest celebration in Venice.
We wander the streets (streets with absolutely no cars that is) trying to decide where to get some dinner. Of all the wonderful food, we end up at the Hard Rock Café!!! I can say though that it was the only time in our 16 days that we have had American food. I didn’t miss it at all. The only thing I really missed was a green salad every once in a while.
The goldolas go out in the middle of the canal, along with literally hundreds of other gondolas and boats and yachts to watch the largest firework celebration ever!!!!! They weren’t kidding. It was 60Euros each for us and each gondola holds 6 people. We ended up in one with a lady named Ann from England that lives in Paris, a young Japanese fellow and a german lady from Munich that has an apartment in Venice. We were to be back at the Pier at 10 till 11 so we could go out and get our spot. I thought I would remember the exact spot where we paid for our ticket but apparently that didn’t happen. We had to weave our way through the crowds that reminded me of a rat in a maze. I can’t even begin to estimate how many people were there for this once a year event. We walked across the bridge to where we thought it was and I didn’t think it looked right. I told Beth it I thought it was back on the other side so off we trekked only to NOT find what we were looking for. Beth was right—it was back at the first place we went to so back we headed a second time.. Success—we got in line and quickly we were climbing into a gondola. It definitely was a first for all of us. Words could not even describe the experience of that night. Fireworks like we have never seen before, any of us!! At one point, I leaned over to Beth and told her this was nothing—they do this in Fletcher all the time. We had a little chuckle.
I tell you one thing, as soon as the show was over, it was no time and we were back at the dock to get out. They have it down to a science as to how to get people off the canal quickly. As we head back to our hotel, we walk through Piazza San Marco again. There are three different spots around the square where they have live music. Mostly classical but everyone enjoys listening to them. Families together, young and old. I could easily get used to the Italian way of living.
Ahhh-hotel room, sweet hotel room. How good that bed looks. We are exhausted and it takes us no time to fall asleep. Tomorrow is another day and we have many alleys, bridges and canals to explore. Good night Venice.