I T A L Y

Hey folks!!! Back as promised:)))

Today, I wanted to jump on and talk about the trip to Italy that my family went on this summer. I want to begin by saying that I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to go on this amazing trip. It was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

ok enough chit chat now for the stuff you came here for...

the plane ride(s) there

It makes me tired just to think about that 15-17 hour plane ride or rides if you are not able to get a direct flight (we did not). I strongly suggest that you bring melatonin or another form of a sleep enhancing drug. Although you might not feel tired at the moment, it is much better to try to catch some z's that way it will be much easier to get acquainted to the time difference. You will be glad you did. Believe me when I say that jet lag is REAL!!! lol!!! (p.s. coffee or caffeinated tea will become your best friend once you arrive!)

travel agency

We went to Italy through a global travel company better known as Globus. This was a great decision on our part. We were in group of about 25 people including couples, families, and friends. Over the fifteen day trip you become pretty close to them. You eat with these people, stay in the same hotel as them, and travel with them. Thankfully we had the best tour guide and fellow travelers with us (we still remain in contact with many of them). It is a really neat experience because it allows you to meet people from all areas. Another added bonus was that we did not have to wait in long lines to get tickets for museums and other sites because our tour guide had tickets. This really allowed us to see more in less time!

On this trip we got to visit Rome, Orvieto, Tuscany, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Capri, and Sorrento.

F I R S T D A Y- we arrive in rome, italy (yay!) We arrived about eleven-ish their time, so we decided to explore the city. We got a bite to eat at a cute restaurant, and then we walked around a bit. If I had to compare it to something it would be like Downtown Franklin on major steroids. It was like a scene out of a movie. Everything was picture perfect. Being the tourists I am, I took loads of pictures. After a few hours, and our lacking mapping skills, we um...we got lost. But it gets better:)))....we were in a time crunch because we had to make it back to the hotel in time. Our tour group was going to meet for dinner, so we had to find our way back. Fortunately, we ran across a very nice Italian man who sensed our panic, and he helped us find our bearings. By some miracle, we made it back in time for dinner. Okay p.s.a if you are ever in Rome, you HAVE TO go to Ristorante Mino!! This food was to die for. During the dinner there were talented musicians, and they were hysterical (They handed our roses to every female....hehe) They had the best gluten free pasta...oh my gosh if only you could see me right now (I can literally taste the delectable sauce like drool is seriously coming out of my mouth!) After dinner everybody introduced themselves, and funny enough there was a family at our table from Nashville, TN as well!!! (what are the odds!) Getting back on the bus with my rose, I was flooded with a sense of pure happiness. It was an unforgettable night.

S E C O N D D A Y- Our day started out with breakfast in the Hotel! Breakfast foods in Italy consist of fresh fruit, mozzarella, sliced cheese, prosciutto, various breads, and of course my fav...coffee! Everyone was a bit drowsy because of adjusting to the time difference, so coffee really came in clutch. On the second day, we saw the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, + The Vatican. We ended the night with dinner and gelato (getting gelato is a must if you go to Italy).

This was also the day when I dropped my phone and it broke:(((Unfortunately, none of my photos were backed up...but thankfully my parents let me use their phones to take pics.

T H I R D D A Y- Day three woop woop! On the third day we traveled to Orvieto. Orvieto is a small city perched on top of a rock cliff. This definitely was one of my favorite cities we visited just because of its sheer beauty and quaintness. This city was full of cute shops and alleys along the lanes off Piazzo del Duomo. However, the jewel of the city was the San Brizio Chapel...absolutely breathtaking is all I have to say about that. In the second half of the day, we ventured into Tuscany and stopped at the spa resort of Montecatini. That night we went to a nearby vineyard where we watched them make wine. We ate dinner overlooking the vineyards the stretched across the landscape, and we danced the night away.

F O U R T H D A Y- On the fourth day we drove to Florence where we explored the Academy of Fine Arts with Michelangelo's celebrated David. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at a small corner deli located in the center of Florence. We snacked on fresh meats, cheeses, and tomatoes. It was de-lish! In the afternoon my Dad and I went to the Uffizi Gallery where we saw the well known, Birth of Venus painting, Primavera, Doni Tondo, and many others. We ended the day by going to the Florence lookout point with our fellow travelers.

F I F T H D A Y- On the fifth day, we traveled to Pisa!! This is where we saw (drum roll please) the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and you know we took the classic holding up the tower pic (would you expect anything less of me?). Later that day, we rode a Private Water Taxi to St. Mark's Square located in Venice. We experienced Venice at night. The town square was surrounded by five-star restaurants, luxury shops, and cafés.There was live music and locals that gathered for a romantic night out on the town. We took an evening gondola ride with a serenade of music. The narrow corridors and the graciously aged buildings were absolutely astonishing. After this, we experienced a lovely Italian dinner, and of course we ended the night with window shopping and gelato.

S I X T H D A Y- Day six we had all to ourselves, so we spent it as a true Venetian would! We window shopped alongside the Bridge of Size. We stopped at a local café for liquid refreshments and chips. After this my Dad and I went to Albarella Beach! My dad took a walk alongside the water, and I was able to get my beach fix:)

S E V E N T H D A Y- On the seventh day, our group left Venice, and we traveled to Assisi. This is where we toured St. Clare's Church and St. Francis' Basilica. We were able to take in the precious frescoes adorning the walls of the church.

E I G T H D A Y- On the eighth day, we went to Pompeii! We walked in this Roman city that had been destroyed by a volcano. We were able to walk through ancient Roman Baths, old shops, and patrician homes. Finally, we got to look at ancient artifacts that had been preserved from the eruption. It allowed us to see what a daily life was back then. That same day, we went to Capri. From Capri, we rode the Funicular to a Capri Village where we stayed for two nights.

N I N T H D A Y - Day Nine! On this day, we explored Capri with a local tour guide. We took and open taxi ride to Anacapri to visit Villa San Michele. To top it all off with a cherry, we went on a boat cruise around the Island. On the boat tour, we saw the Faraglioni Rocks and the Blue Grotto. The crystal, blue water looked like a scene off of Mako Mermaids! It was one of those times when you are waiting for someone to pinch you because you can not believe it is actually happening, but thankfully it was!! :))))

T E N T H D A Y - On the tenth and (final) day, we ventured to the Sorrento Resort. Here, we checked out the local shops before heading back to Rome. On the last night, we had a formal dinner with talented opera singers. That night we said goodbye to most of the fellow travelers we had grown so close to in the past few days. In fact we still get occasional calls from some of the friends we met on the tour. I met one lady in particular who had become a close friend of mine. I tried not to cry, but I struggled holding back tears when I gave her my final hug the last night. We tried not to say goodbye but simply see you later. We still email to this day, and I am so lucky I got the opportunity to meet her. I am also so fortunate that I get to go on trips that make goodbyes so difficult. The next morning we hopped on the bus that took us to the arirport. We said one final goodbye to our awesome, tour guide, and we eventually embarked onto the plane. About seventeen hours later we arrived back in beautiful NashVegas. It was nice to be back home, but I will never forget about this trip

Italy, you were so very good to us, and I can not wait to see you agin someday.

XOXO,

ginger on a mission