Day 4 - Florence

We slept in on Friday and had an easy morning. We got packed up and the three of us headed to the main train station where we would catch our 12:30 train up to Florence. We had never been to Florence and were excited to visit. I have had so many friends talk about how much they loved Florence so I was nervous that perhaps I had some high expectations of the city. It was a quick 90 minute trip through some pretty scenery.

Excited as we were rolling through Tuscany

Scenery from the Train

Myra on the train

When we arrived we checked our bags at the station(because this wasn't our final destination) and headed out to the city. Florence was very pretty and very small. We ate lunch and Myra guided us around to give us a good overview and feel for the city for when we would return alone on Sunday. Myra also wanted to check out a few shops she had visited before. One of the shops was a great little leather shop called, "Roberta". The man working was so incredibly nice and him and Myra hit it off like they were best friends. He showed us pictures of his home and his roses and was so friendly. He even invited Myra to come see his home in Tuscany next time she is in the area. Michael and I kinda watched from the sidelines as they chatted, but he gave me a 30% discount on a bag I bought too! YAY!

The Shop

I got the green one in the middle

From here we walked around a lot and saw the city.

Arno River and Ponte Vecchio

Arno River at Sunset

More Sunset

We were staying the night with a colleague of Myra's in a town called “Uzzano” which is outside of Pescia. Jimena offered to host us for the weekend. The plan was to meet Jimena at the Florence train station at about 7:30 and catch the 8:00 train to Pesica. She never came but we hopped on the train anyways. As we were on the train we were hoping she hopped on a different car. After some text messages we found out that her train was running late and she would be taking the next train out of Florence and meet us at the Pescia train station an hour after we got there. She wouldn’t arrive until about 10:15pm. The first 30 minutes of our wait was quiet and uneventful, but then stumbled in a double fisting box wine drinking young Italian guy named, “Lucca”. He was hilarious. A few minutes after Lucca started “chatting with us” an older gentleman joined our conversation. He was sweet and it was entertaining to watch him and Lucca talk. They both spoke with Myra since she knows quite a bit of Italian and Michael and I just stared blank faced at them when they would speak directly to us. When Jimena arrived she started laughing as she told us she was worried we would be sitting in the station bored and tired. I think we surprised her. When she started driving us to her home, I was surprised because as we started climbing up what seemed to be a mountain. I had imagined her house sitting on top of a little bitty hill overlooking the city, but we kept climbing up and up and up the mountain. She lives at the very top and even at night her view was incredible. We could see all the lights from the small city and neighboring towns. I was anxious to see what everything looked like in the daylight.

Before bed we were treated to a couple little shot size glasses of homemade orange liqueur made from the orange tree outside. It was delightful!

Crazy Italian Friends

Jimena and Michael with the biggest basket of fruit I've ever seen

Bella Roma Day 3

Day 3 was Thursday. We got up and out about 9AM and walked over to the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel. This was the only BIG thing we didn't get to on our first trip so it was the most important thing on our list this time. The line was pretty short and we were inside with tickets within about 5 minute of arriving. We shamelessly walked through the museum quickly to make it to the Sistine Chapel because we saw hordes of people arriving as we got in the door. We figured if we lingered to long it would be unpleasant inside. Which it was kinda anyway, but oh well. I had always read that getting to the Sistine Chapel took a long time because it was a far walk, and it was...but we did see some beautiful things on the way and did stop walking from time to time when something caught our eye.

We finally made it to the chapel and I was immediately surprised by how tall it was. The room itself is pretty small, but the work in the chapel is amazing. We stayed a bit staring up at the ceiling and left, and left the museum as well.

Bad Picture of the Sistine Chapel

We also wanted to revisit the inside of St. Peters Cathedral so that was next on our list. It was still as gorgeous, huge and as ornate as I remember it. My absolute favorite sculpture I have ever laid eyes on has a home inside the Cathedral. It is Michaelangelo's "Pieta" which is Jesus laying in Mary's lap after the Crucifixion. I couldn't begin to explain how incredible the inside of this cathedral is. There are so many little interesting things here that are so easy to miss.

The Pieta

St. Peters Cathedral

The story goes, that if you rub St. Peters foot you are absolved of all your sins.
So, now, I'm sin free! ;)

We weren't really sure where we wanted to go next, so we choose Piazza del Popolo. This was another spot we actually tried to see on our last visit but took a wrong turn and ended up way far so scratched it. When we got there, it was so much bigger then I imagined, we sat and rested our legs for a bit before heading back to Myra's to get ready for the party she was throwing.

Piazza del Popolo

Michael Reading the Map

Myra had invited a lot of her colluges over along with two of her friends visiting Rome from Greece. She works with a lot of really nice people that were an array of characters that were interesting to chat with. There was lots of yummy food and prosecco . After all of her colluges and friends from Greece left, the only people still here were the three of us, 4 interns and 1 friend that was visiting one of the interns. We all sat around and talked, drank and ate and had a great time. They didn't leave till about midnight! We had a blast. It was a good thing our train to Florence didn't leave the next morning until 12:30!

Myra being a great host.

Myra dancing with Sergio

This guy, was hilarious. He was the happiest and most smiley person I've ever met.
Sergio

The four interns who were so incredibly nice.
Roberto, Sergio, Myra, Dominica (who is from NYC) and Alessandro

The "M's" Michael, Myra and Michael

Bella Roma Day 2

Wednesday morning came fast, especially since we didn't go to bed till quite late. Myra left early for a day trip for work and Michael and I slept in. When we got up, we headed straight out the door after of course changing to go across the street to a little cafe called, "Friends Cafe" where we got some coffee and croissants. It was good and fast so we could come back and take showers and pack up for the day and get on our way.

We started our "sightseeing" by walking from Myra's place to the Spanish steps which is about a 10-15 minute walk. When we got there we sat on the steps for a while watching the world go by.

Spanish Steps

After the Spanish Steps we walked around alot and found lunch at a cute little cafe. We ate outside under heated lamps, but the wind started to blow and it got quite cold. When we left we had the intention to go to the Pantheon, but since we just went the "general direction" and weren't really looking at a map to get there, we ended up by the river close to Vatican City, so went there instead. When we got there I had to use the restroom and Michael was convinced he remembered there being a restroom hidden on a wall on close to the entrance I wasn't so sure about this, but as we started walking underneath the columns it all came back to me and I knew he was right and there it was, a hidden and empty restroom! We sat on the steps in the square for a long time. The sun was out and I was in heaven. It was so warm I even rolled up my sleeves and helped my body make lots of vitamin D!

Michael Crossing Over the Bridge

Tiber River

St. Peters Square and Cathedral

I LOVE this picture.
Michael and the two nuns.

I'm in green, sunbathing

We decided we would try to go to the Pantheon again, so after reading a map we were on our way and this time made it there. It was about a 45 minute walk or so, but as Myra will attest to, we can out walk anybody in fact in Paris in 2002, she gave Michel the nickname "Walking Nazi'. The Pantheon was just as huge as I remember. It is such an amazing building and to think that the building that is there now has been standing there since 125AD blows my mind.

Pantheon
Can you find Michael? He is hard to miss ;)

It was starting to get later and later and we needed to meet Myra back at the apartment at 7:00. We knew we had a long trek back home so we got some Gelato for the road and headed back. Our plan was to go to the Spanish Steps and then from there back to Myra's house, until we saw signs for the Trevi Fountain (which is relatively close to the Spanish Steps) so, made a detour to go there instead. We spent a few days on our first trip sitting by the fountain eating lunch. When we were here in 2002 the fountain area seemed so empty, there were usually only about 20 other people there with us. It was the end of February on that trip also, so I don't know why this time, there were so many more people. We didn't sit on the steps in front of the fountain but on the wall to the side of it. I found a little corner that I fit in perfectly and Michael stood and researched the map to find the best way home. This time, we made it all the way home with no stops. We were gone from 11:00am til 6:00pm. It was a lovely day of walking around the incredible city, taking it all in and enjoying ourselves.

Coffee Flavored Gelato

Trevi Fountain

This is look like when I walk for 6 hours. Tired!

In the evening the three of us went to the grocery store to stock up on food for the party that was happening the next night at Myra's place. We loaded our backpacks down with 12 bottle of Procceco and tons of food. We also got some pasta, bread, and pesto for dinner along with a jar of instant coffee so we didn't have to run out the door so fast the next morning, breakfast for the morning and a toothbrush for me because mine is sitting in our cabinet in the bathroom in Lyngby. oops. We ate our food, drank some wine from Macedonia and had a lovely evening.

Cooking Ravioli stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach

Bella Roma Day 1

So, its a YES on the I'll be blogging from Italy!

We had an early flight yesterday morning and woke up at the dreadful hour of 4:30. Thankfully we got to drink lots of coffee in the SAS lounge at the airport before we left. The aircraft we were suppose to be on was taken out of service a few months ago because of a couple crashes that had happened. SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) is leasing out planes and crews from other airlines until they can get a full fleet again. Because of this they gave everyone on the plane free food and drinks. That was a nice treat.

We arrived in Rome about 12:30 where we had a man holding up our names on a sign waiting for us. Originally Myra was going to be out of town when we got here so we arranged for a driver to pick us up at the airport to take us to the Embassy to get Myra's keys, then back to Myra's house. (Myra works at the Embassy) But as it turned out, she wasn't out of town after all, but we kept the car anyways. It was a beautiful fancy black Mercedes and the driver was quite nice.

We got to Myra's building and couldn't believe the door that we had to go through. I'll get a picture of it later, but it is HUGE! I had forgotten how grandiose everything is in Rome. Her flat is really big as well and the ceilings are 24 feet. WOW!

Michael looking out of the huge window

Eating Area

We got settled in while Myra went back to work and actully had to take a little 30 minute nap because we were both exhausted from waking up so early. Then we went walking around for about 2 hours to see nothing in particular and stayed North of the city where all the "attractions" are located. I took zero pictures on our walk, can you believe it? We came back and met Myra back at her place and we all walked L'Enotec Antica, which is Myras favorite Enoteca. An enoteca is pretty much a wine bar. It was a nice walk that took about 15 minutes and walked us right down the Spanish Steps.

Apparently Myra is quite popular in this place as all the waiters knew her. They gave us a table in the back which was nice and we drank wine and ate cheese and bread. It was a nice way to spend our first night in Rome.

The Enoteca Wall

Having fun

Myra ordered an Apple Cake and I made her stop eating it so I could take a picture.
It still looks pretty yummy though some of it is missing!

After we were all done we asked our amazing waiter for the bill and instead he brought us three glasses of Limoncello,which is a lemon liquor that tastes divine, on the house. When we asked him for the brand of Limoncello he not only wrote it down for me, he brought the bottle to the table and poured the rest of the bottle in our three glasses. Nice guy huh?

All of us with our second free glasses of Limoncello and the waiter that gave it to us.

As we were leaving, Myra had to say hello to a couple of her other bartender friends and as soon as one of them saw her, he poured a glass of what I think was Prosecco, then upon him seeing her with guests, poured Michael and I each a glass as well. So we made it out of there purchasing two glasses of wine each and getting three more glasses each on the house. Not too bad. It quickly became our favorite Enoteca in all of Rome, and I'll go ahead publicize them. If you find yourself in Rome looking for a great Enoteca....try L'Enotec Antica!!

Myras Buddy

Myra and Michael at the Bar

The Bar

We finally got out of there about 10:30 and caught a cab home. We chatted for a bit and then we crashed. I couldn't believe that Michael and I managed to stay up so late with only a 30 minute nap in the afternoon!