We'd been planning this trip for months, but soon, it was only a few days before Mom, Dad, Sharon, and Don were on their way to Italy. They were due to arrive the morning of May 2nd, but due to plane delays in Chicago, they didn't arrive until 7 PM. Still, we made the best of our time, and I got some authentic Italian cuisine in their bellies pronto. We spent Sunday in Venice walking and then walking some more.
Monday, we took the train to the Cinque Terre, and arrived early that evening. Our room was the exact same room I stayed in during Ben's visit last November.
This was only my third time there, but I don't think I'll ever get sick of the Cinque Terre. It's breathtaking views and laid-back attitude suit me perfectly.
We spent all day Tuesday hiking all five towns, and rewarded ourselves at the end with great beer and great food.
Wednesday morning, we boarded the train for Florence, but on our way there, we took a quick stop in Pisa. I've always been told the only thing to see in Pisa is the tower, and that's pretty much the way it is. It's worth seeing, but you really only spend about 30 minutes walking around. This picture is taken from an angle that doesn't really show how much it leans, but I wanted to include the Church next to it. They're both amazing structures.
We got home from Florence Thursday evening, got a good night's sleep, and then, Friday morning, drove up to Garmisch, Germany. There's a resort there called Edelweiss, where we stayed two nights. On Saturday, we went up to Dachau, the site of the first concentration camp in Germany, followed by a stroll around Munich.
On the way back home on Sunday, we stopped in Innsbruck at the Swarovski factory, which was pretty cool. Everything was decorated in crystal, and Mom and Sharon were literally salivating.
We took Monday to relax and do some laundry, and then took the train to Sorrento on Tuesday. Wednesday, we spent the day trekking around the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri.
The Amalfi Coast was kinda like the Cinque Terre on steroids, but it was also more hectic and expensive.
I thought Capri was really amazing. We didn't get to see too much of it, but I think if we would have spent more time there, we could have appreciated it more.
Thursday morning, we headed up to Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The entire site was amazing and really well-preserved. The guy in this picture is Mario, our tour guide. He was full of information.
One of the more amusing things Mario told us was about this carving in the street of a penis, which points the way toward the brothel. Apparently, they really knew how to have fun in ancient Italy.
This picture shows Mount Vesuvius in the background, but I guess, back in the day, it was much bigger, but when it blew, it about split in two. It's astounding how advanced of a civilisation they were.
Thursday afternoon, we finally made it to Rome. Our first destination was the Colosseum, which was every bit as spectacular as I had imagined.
From an engineering standpoint, I can't even imagine how smart the people who built this must have been.
The sheer size of the thing was awe-inspiring, even by today's standards. No wonder it's the most recognised symbol of Rome.
We spent Friday morning in Vatican City, touring the museum, which ended with the Sistine Chapel. After that, we walked around St. Peter's Basilica, also a jaw-droppingly large building. That afternoon, we tried our best to hit the major sights, including the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Forum closed before we got there, but I still think we made the best of our time in the Italian capital.
I know this is kinda the Cliff's Notes version of our trip, and I apologise. A lot of the trip is still kind of a blur, but if I think of any particularly humorous or applicable anecdotes, I'll be sure to post them. Also, I didn't really take as many pictures this time, mostly because I'd already been to many of the places we visited. Plus, many times photographs don't really do justice to certain places and things; you just have to see them for yourself. Regardless, if you'd like to see the entire photostream, go here.
We were hoping for a nice, relaxed visit, and even though it was hectic at times, we all still had a blast. I really can't thank Mom, Dad, Sharon, and Don enough. For visiting me, for entertaining me, for paying for everything, and doing it all with gracious hearts. You guys are the best!
1 comment:
I enjoyed reading the blog about your parents' and Don and Sharon's visit. Love the pictures, too.
Diane Hancock, one of the Donut Bank Biker Gang! :-)
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