Italy - Days 13 and 14 - Epilogue

No great adventure would be complete without an epilogue. Our flight from Rome was delayed about 2 and a half hours. As a result, when we landed in Philadelphia, our connecting flight home had already left.  This meant we got to extend our vacation an extra day in Philly. I was so looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.

American Airlines was kind enough to put us up in the roach motel and gave us $48 bucks for an elegant dinner and wholesome breakfast. That was so gracious of them.

We made the best of it and caught an Uber to get a cheesesteak for dinner. We were also delighted with the scrupmtious breakfast we had at Legal Seafood the next morning. That $48 really set us up.

When we finally got home, we discovered a branch from our river birch had broken off and landed on our roof. No damage just a bit of elbow grease to get it removed.

I guess we learned many valuable lessons on this trip:

1. Appreciate life and make a difference. You are here but for a short while and your legacy will be in those you meet along the way.
2. Life is an adventure that rarely follows a carefully laid out script. It's probably best to just make it up as you go.
3. In the words of my late mother, don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff. 

Whenever I get down and out, I'll reminisce on Italy. Arrivederci. 

Italy - Day 12 - Reflecting on the Road Again

Before departing Florence, we stopped by a small overlook that provided a panoramic view of the city.

We hop back on the coach and head back to Rome where we will ultimately depart this magnificent country. However, before doing so, our tour guide determines that we are running a bit ahead of schedule and decides to take a detour that he thinks we will appreciate. Man! He was right.

We stop by the World War II American Cemetery in Florence.

You may remember we visited the cemetery dedicated to the British Commonwealth earlier in our trip.

The American cemetery is equally impressive and it confronts you with the sacrifices others have made on our behalf. As I walked among the markers, I was struck by how young these soldiers were. Most only 19 or 20.

I was also moved by how many of the markers simply read, "Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God". So many soldiers could not be identified. There is a wall that lists the names of the unidentified.

Once back on the coach, we traveled to San Gimignano, a Tuscan hill town. We climbed the steps of the city and arrived at a vibrant market where we had a quick lunch. We even climbed more steps to a thousand year old fort that offered more breathtaking views.

Finally, we arrive back in Rome for our farewell dinner. It's starting to set in for everyone that this adventure chapter is coming to a close. Tomorrow we will each go our separate ways, but this shared experience will will bound us together for a lifetime.

I hope you enjoyed riding along with us. 

Ciao. -Pat and Stan

Italy - Day 11 - Slaying Giants

This morning after breakfast, we headed to the Galleria dell' Accedemia. This is the museum that houses Michaelangelo's David.

Let's deal with the elephant in the room right up front. Yes. The dude is naked and... Yes. Pat is smiling more than she has the whole trip. Now can we just move on?

This is a really cool statue. It's amazing to see Michaelangelo's chisle marks from the early 1500's. There is so much detail to take in. As you walk around the statue, David's face takes on different expressions.

It depicts David mere seconds before he slew Goliath. He has his sling over his shoulder and a rock in his left hand. As you walk around the back, you even see the vein in his neck bulging with tension as he faces the giant.

Michaelangelo carved the statue from a single block of marble with no drawings or models. It was all in his head. This statue came to represent Florence's strength and defiance in the face of its enemies. This statue stood outside in a public square for 300 years before it was moved inside.

We then took a walking tour of Piazza del Signoria. Here we saw some of the fine 18kt gold and supple leather goods Florence is known for. Just like in Venice, the demonstrations quickly turned into sales pitches.

By the way, did you know Tuscany is the birthplace of Pinocchio? As such, he is celebrated everywhere.

Some from our tour group walked to a restaurant for dinner. I dined on wild boar. After dinner we walked back to the hotel, where we were reprimanded for being too loud in the lobby. Pat can fill you in on that later. Off to bed for it's back to Rome tomorrow.

Italy - Day 10 - Straighten Up

Arrivederci Lake Maggiore. Until we meet again. We're off to Pisa and Florence. On the road to Pisa, we pass a mountain that appears covered in snow.

As it turns out, it wasn't snow at all. It was marble. This is the mountain where some of the finest marble in the world, Carrera marble, is mined. What do you think most of the marble is used for? Countertops? Floors? Walls? Nope. Headstones!

When we arrive in Pisa it is HOT! We get off the bus and everyone is scrambling for a patch of shade where the temperature is at least 20 degrees cooler. To our surprise (and delight) a small tram is there to meet us so we don't have to walk through Pisa. The tram drops us off at a small "shopping" district. It was actually a collection of street vendors vying for tourist euros. One of the biggest sellers was cheap umbrellas to shield you from the sun. Also, this is a place that was crowded and it was important to keep your wallet secure.

We pass through this district and we arrive at the object of our quest... The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Everybody has to take the obligatory picture holding up the tower. Pat hates this picture, but it's the best one I had. The tower is actually part of the church at Pisa. There are three parts: the baptistry, the church and the tower. The tower is leaning because the church ran out of money and skimped on the foundation. The heavy marble began sinking into the sandy soil. Twenty years ago they actually straightened it about 18 inches because it was in danger of toppling over. Today it is continuously monitored.

Back through the markets. Back through the heat. Back on the tram, and back on the air conditioned motor coach. You gotta do it once, but that's enough Pisa.

Florence is the capital of Italy's Tuscan Region. You may not have known this, but I've wanted to go to Italy for many years. Tuscany is exactly what I imagined and even exceeded my expectations. This is why I came to Italy. Nothing against all of the other beautiful places, but this region was the draw for me.

The rolling hills... the vineyards... the olive groves... the passionate people. This IS Italy for me. We checked into our hotel and got cleaned up for dinner.

I really didn't know what to expect at dinner, but it was a lot of fun. We had dinner at Machiavelli's home which has been converted into a restaurant and vineyard.

Our hostess dressed in period costume and pretended to be Machiavelli's lonely wife. She not only taught us about Machiavelli's politics, but she gave us a tour of the underground winery which opened up on the other side of the road to the restaurant.

I tried Chianti for the first time and loved it. I had some shipped home to share. Not only was dinner delicious, but we were entertained by a couple singing and playing the guitar. Mostly, they sang Italian songs, but near the end they started playing stuff we recognized and the entire group was up dancing. Yes. Even I was dancing. Hey these people don't know me. The group had finally collectively opened up and you could see some real bonds had formed.

We got back on the bus, but we weren't done. Imagine traveling down a country road in Italy and "Country Road" is playing over the loud speakers. We sang all the way back to the hotel. As we exited to coach, the tour director hugged each and every person. He later commented that this was a special moment for him.