I Remember ... Pompeii

We woke up to clear blue skies and warm sunshine. I had been looking forward to this part of our tour for so long. In 1985 I read about the Mt. Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD in National Geographic. I was fascinated by it and read many books, articles and novels about this event ... never dreaming I would one day walk the streets of Pompeii ... a town frozen in time!
We packed up, ate breakfast and loaded the bus early in the morning leaving Rome behind. We now feel we have really started this tour. During the morning travel I felt a little motion sick (one of my worries!) but on our first stop we bought Coke and crackers and my stomach settled. The view from our bus window was lush and green with rolling hills and mountains. Beautiful!

Our Pompeii tour was with a guide and we had an hour and a half to walk the streets and see the ruins.
Pompeii was founded in 600 BC and became a booming Roman trading city, mostly middle class. It was once a bustling city with shops, bars, hotels and approximately 20,000 residents. As we view the ruins, it is hard to imagine that most of the buildings were covered in white, ground-marble stucco. It must have been very impressive!

It was interesting to see frescoes still painted on the walls of residences; glass cases holding casts of residents captured in their last moments during the eruption. There is even evidence of "fast-food" restaurants from long ago. Quite modern for those times!

At the end of the tour we sampled some Limoncello and bought three small bottles for the boys. We enjoyed a gelato lunch : ) before boarding the bus for Sorrento.

I Remember ... A Change In Weather

After a refreshing nap we were ready for dinner. Our group was scheduled for an optional excursion, "Introduction to Rome by Night" and since we had spent three days on our own in Rome we decided to give dining close to the hotel a try. We took the elevator down and started for the door only to see that it was pouring down rain! Fortunately, we had packed a small umbrella and lightweight jackets. Without this we would have been soaked just crossing the street! It was amusing to see street vendors, who only hours ago were hawking plastic umbrellas for protection from the sun, had now switched to umbrellas for the rain. They are always so prepared for a sale!
We chose the closest restaurant to our hotel and were thrilled with the service and our meal. Our waiter helped us with our selection and said he knew just what we would like ... and we were not disappointed. Delicious salad, bread, wine, pizza and gelato. At the end of our meal the rain had eased giving us an opportunity to tour the area before dark.
Looking forward to our trip to the Pompeii-Sorrento area tomorrow ...

I Remember ... We are Officially Tourists!

So begins our life as an official "tourist" ... up early, hotel breakfast, and out to our Trafalgar bus for the day's scheduled sights. We are known as tourists #18 and assigned seating on the tour bus. Each day we rotate seating so that no one sits in the same spot twice. It's a great way to meet people as you have new aisle mates each day.
Today our schedule includes the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Bascilica. We arrived early to see a long line already forming. Because we are a tour group we quickly moved forward ... one of the strengths of being with a group! We had a local guide who provided commentary on all we were about to see.
The Sistine Chapel is the Pope's personal chapel and is famous for Michelangelo's pictorial story of creation, which is 12,000-square-feet, took four years to paint and contains 343 frescoed figures. When we entered the chapel we were told we could not take photos and there should be no talking. However, above the murmur of amazement we heard, "ssshhhhhh" over and over. You could also hear cameras snapping pictures here and there. Our group had twenty minutes to observe Michelangelo's work. As you looked up, you soon realized you had a neck ache. It sure would have been more comfortable with our travel pillows for this part of the tour!
We left this room and visited St. Peter's Basilica. This part of the tour had a dress code: no shorts, bare shoulders or mini-skirts. This is strictly enforced. The dome was beautiful ... it rises 435 feet and measures 138 feet across its base. No camera could capture how magnificent it is ... you simply must see this in person to understand its grandeur.
At the end of this tour we enjoyed a brief break to snack or rest before boarding the bus for our tour of ancient Rome and the Colosseum. It was only mid-morning and it was already quite warm.
Since our visit to the Colosseum several days ago was only from the outside, we were excited to walk around inside. Amazing to walk around something of this size built 2,000 years ago. Built in A.D. 80, this structure represents Rome at its grandest. It accommodated 50,000 fans and could be topped with an enormous canvas awning to shade the spectators. As we toured, it was hard to imagine being a long-ago spectator of so much violence and killing. Before we left this area we all posed for a group photo.

Since only twelve of us signed up for the catacomb tour it was canceled with a chance to reschedule at the end of our tour. We had been looking forward to this optional excursion. We returned to our room and I took a 3-hour nap while Walt worked on his journal and backed photos up to the computer.

I Remember ... Meet the (Trafalgar) Family

After checking in at the Mediterraneo Hotel we unpacked and freshened up before the 4:45 p.m. scheduled Trafalgar meeting. We met in the lower level of the hotel for wine and appetizers. The room quickly filled up with strangers who would soon become "friends and family" over the course of fourteen days. The dynamics of this group of forty-seven is not what I had anticipated ... I figured it would be comprised of mostly seniors ... haha!
Actually, we were one of the "older" ones of the group. The youngest in our group was ten and there were so many teens-early twenties traveling with their families. Many were celebrating high school graduations. The group consisted of people from U.S. coast-to-coast, Australia, and Canada. They were from all walks of life ... doctor, nurse, dentist, school employees, police, business/finance, funeral director, etc. We all joined together to share "The Best of Italy 2010."
The first time I met our wonderful tour director, Telly, and introduced myself as Karen, she changed my name to Karina for the entire trip : ) Our ten-year-old traveler, Jack, became "Mr. Vice-President." As Telly described our itinerary for the next two weeks we quickly picked up on many "Telly-isms" and sayings. Here are a few ... "okey-dokey," "There are no problems, only situations." Restrooms were nicknamed "the smiley room" and she let us know we would be stopping often for a "smile." We immediately knew we were in good hands and that this would be a wonderful experience. As we concluded our travels at the Farewell dinner, she told us that some of her tour groups are "magical" and said that this group was one of them. She was right ... from the very beginning we felt at home with this group!

Our first Optional Excursion of this trip was a five-course meal at Canova's at the Piazza del Popolo that evening. After the previous night's dining disaster we were anxious to try a reputable Italian restaurant.














A shuttle picked our group up and we were treated to outside dining in a private area. The food was fabulous, we enjoyed live music and it was fun getting acquainted with everyone. We finished our evening with a visit to the Trevi Fountain.Notice the new tourist ID/headset. Even at a distance we can hear Telly talking in crowded areas through our headsets. It will be challenging to keep our group together in busy tourist attractions over the next few weeks. Here's to a great beginning ...

I Remember ... Rome, On Our Own

We were once again greeted by blue sky and sunshine, energizing us to get out and explore. Our first thought of the day: Happy Birthday, Matte!
Since we would be checking out of our hotel this morning we needed to re-pack and organize our suitcases. We enjoyed another brunch, dropped our luggage at the front desk and set out for another long walking day. Heading over to Via del Corso and winding through narrow streets we passed by some kind of demonstration ... a crowd chanting, media, cameras etc. We were not sure of their cause, however it was very peaceful.
Our mission today: locate and enjoy gelato @ Giolletti's, a place Joelle recommended to us. She studied in Rome and emailed us a list of great touring information. And it was worth the trip ... delicious. I believe I could eat gelato every day! As it appears in the picture, I am not eating two ... one is for Walt!
We continued to explore piazzas, enjoying the quaint residential neighborhoods. I loved how you could hear everyday life ... cooking, quiet conversations etc. We both wondered what it would be like to rent an apartment for a few weeks and make ourselves "at home" here. As we rounded a corner, we could hear a group singing A cappella, which is Italian for "in the manner of the church" or "in the manner of the chapel." It was drifting down from an upstairs room. Not only was it beautiful, but it was familiar to us. It was a worship chorus we've sung in church. As we drew closer, we discovered it was a Baptist church, probably a rarity in a predominately Roman Catholic community.
Our best discovery of the day ... an internet cafe, The Circus Art Cafe, tucked in a quaint little street located just off the Piazza Navona. The decor and art had a flavor of something you would find in the bay area. I ordered Coke and tea for both of us but had a little problem communicating at the cash register. The cashier was having problems understanding English and I didn't know what she was saying in Italian. After several go-arounds a nearby customer lowered his newspaper and told me she was asking for another euro : ) We enjoyed our refreshing beverages while connecting with the world. We checked our email, looked at Facebook, uploaded pictures, and sent birthday greetings to Matt. I wish we had found this place earlier in our stay at Rome.
We returned back to the Cosmopolita and took a taxi to our next destination: The Mediterrano Hotel where we will meet our Trafalgar travel group at a "get acquainted" reception.

I Remember ... Dining @ 12 Apostoli

After resting our poor, tired feet we put our shoes back on and hit the pavement once again looking for a place to eat. It was nearing 8:00 p.m. when Italians enjoy their evening meal. It seemed like every restaurant was full and people were waiting to be seated. By now I am depleted of energy and really don't want to search high and low for a place to eat. So with my encouragement we find a place to eat at an outside cafe close to our hotel. As soon as we were seated, we knew it was a mistake! Two ladies at a table near us ... I believe they were speaking German ... got up and walked out without paying the amount on their bill. They were angry about something! Another diner left when they brought her the wrong order ... they argued in Italian and she got up and left. Another group of five left when they were seated at a table set up for two. Oh, my ... what's in store for our dining experience?!?!
All day I had envisioned a large glass of iced tea packed with chunky ice cubes ... ha ha! Beverages are not served with ice in Italy. I guess Americans are obsessed with iced drinks : ) Our waiter brought me a semi-cool can of sweetened iced tea (bleh!) Walt ordered white wine and the waiter brought red. When you order water you are asked, "Gas, or No Gas" which means, "do you want mineral water ... or not?" I ordered regular water ... and you guessed it ... I got it gassed! We ordered our food and the waiter brought what he wanted us to eat! I felt like we were on the set of the Saturday Night Live show. We couldn't stop laughing ... until we got the bill. He added several "service" charges and look at the top line in the picture of our receipt ... a question mark = 4 euro ... what?!?! All in all it was quite spendy for what we got. He also stood over us until we paid our bill. He wasn't going to have another customer dine and dash.
Actually, as I was doing a little research about this restaurant for this post, I found many reviews from others who had been scammed with a much higher price tag. I guess we got off pretty easy compared to those who paid 90 euro for lunch. There were many posts on different blogs saying to avoid this place at all costs. Most diners felt robbed. No wonder people where walking away angry! So ... if you're ever visiting Rome DO NOT eat at this restaurant. We still had two weeks of fine dining experiences ahead : ) We just put this one behind us. Ciao!

I Remember ... Walking to the Vatican

This is where I started wearing down ... the heat, the long walk, the need to refuel = I need dinner! But we had the desire to stick with our plan. We knew the Vatican would be included in our Trafalgar tour but we wanted to get a "taste and see" of the area on our own.
Vatican City is a small independent country of approximately 100 acres. It is the religious capital of more than a billion Roman Catholics. It even has its own postal system and armed guards. There are two main sights: St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum with the Sistine Chapel.
On this day we just spent time taking pictures in St. Peter's Square. Saturday we were scheduled to return with our group for a full tour. It was amazing to look up at all the grandeur. Here are a few photos from our visit:

Vatican City with a river view

Taking a little break ... hot and tired : (

We made it to St. Peter's Square

Incredible view!

After a long walk back to our hotel ... it's time to head out for our first dining experience in Roma on our own.

I Remember ... The Pantheon Neighborhood

After a refreshing break and a change of clothes we got back on our feet for more sightseeing. This time we headed out in a different direction ... the Pantheon neighborhood, the heart of Rome.
I loved the urban-village feel of the area. There were so many narrow streets, shops and eateries ... so much foot traffic and scooters zipping by. We could hear the voices of the crowd surrounding the Trevi Fountain drifting in the air as we passed by.
We continued on to the Spanish Steps ... another people gathering place. The wide, curving staircase makes for a great view, a place to capture beautiful photo moments ... and even a wedding taking place!


















As we walked along the busy sidewalks filled with stores, flower shops and horse-drawn carriages, one of the horses leaned over and bit Walt's chest. We were so shocked and it was hard to contain laughter until I knew he was o.k :)
We entered the north entrance to Rome at the Piazza del Popolo where the twin domed churches are located. It was refreshing to cool off by the fountain but I experienced what every tourist dreads ... being approached by locals wanting money. A young man tied an embroidery floss bracelet to my wrist and then asked for money for his church. He tried to give me a rose and followed us around the piazza. It was a bit frightening as I worried he was trying to distract me to get my purse. I finally gave him $2 and told him that's all I had. After that I was on "high alert" being more aware of those around me. This is the type of scenario that travel guides warn you about.
Despite this distraction we continued on toward the Vatican during the hottest time of the day. I am so glad I packed this dress at the last minute. With the warm temperatures this lightweight dress is comfortable and perfect for sightseeing. About this time a gelato sounded heavenly but we could not find the shop Joelle recommended and we pressed on ... hot and a little tired.

I Remember ... Walking Tour of Rome

Thursday morning we woke up at 7:30 refreshed and ready to see the sights and sounds of Rome. With jet lag and fatigue behind us we felt we had adjusted well. We still had two full days on our own and there was so much to see.
After dining on a delicious brunch in our hotel we set out for the sights closest to us ... The Victor Emmanuel Monument, or as some have nicknamed,"The Wedding Cake." We climbed the stairs to the top and had a remarkable view. Below we could see a major transportation hub of Rome ... a circular roundabout that makes it nearly impossible for pedestrians crossing the street. A melody of horns honking, sirens blaring and much activity fills the air. I recorded this "chorus" on my iPhone in order to be carried back to this wonderful memory.
We made our way to the back side of "The Wedding Cake" and found a view of ancient Rome and the ruins. Despite the warming temperatures we journeyed out to get a closer look at the Tiber River, the Forum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. Wow! Hard to comprehend that these buildings are over 2,000 years old! It's amazing to see with one's own eyes and to stroll through so much history.














The temperatures continued rising and as we made our way back to the Cosmopolita, we stopped for a small can of Coke ... 3.50 euro each! Yikes ... spendy, but oh so refreshing on such a warm day. It was nice to have a little down time at the hotel to plan our afternoon touring strategy. Our next adventure includes the Pantheon neighborhood ... and perhaps, beyond.
Rome ... I have fallen in love with you!

I Remember ... Rome, Love At First Sight

People have often asked me why I had such a desire to tour Italy. It all began when I read Pat Conroy's, Beach Music. While reading it you could almost feel, touch and taste the culture ... it made you want to experience it first-hand.
So after a refreshing nap, we put on cooler clothes and comfortable shoes and headed out to the streets. We were within blocks to most of the tourist "must-see" attractions. I loved walking the narrow cobblestone streets, scooters side-by-side like dominoes, the aroma of fresh baked breads, people dining outside cafes ... everything was so alive! And as dusk settled over the city ... it was warm and beautiful!
Our first stop was Trevi Fountain. This huge fountain is the world's most spectacular wishing well. If you throw a coin, perhaps this fountain is your ticket back! It was packed and it was fun to soak in the atmosphere and people watch.
We walked over to the Pantheon. Since Walt studied architecture in college he was overwhelmed by the design of this ancient temple.
Nothing says you're in Rome like Piazza Navona. We arrive to a plaza filled with much activity ... artists painting, a beautiful fountain, entertainment and crowded streets ...much like a centuries-old carnival.

So much changed in thirty-six hours and so much yet to see. We were starting to feel at home and the fatigue was lifting.

I Remember ... Philadelphia to Rome

I have never traveled by air for more than six hours so part of our journey to Italy included a long flight during the night. We came prepared with our electronic gadgets ... iPod, iPhone, books, magazines, etc. We even watched a movie on my iPhone and split the headphones ... anything to help us lose track of time. Walt introduced me to Rummikub on my iPhone and we played each other on our phones for hours. I just could not get to sleep and time-wise, I was so turned around. I think there was a bit of excitement and anticipation keeping me on high-alert.
We finally arrived in Rome at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 23rd and de-boarded the plane on the tarmac. What a warm, blue-sky sunny morning. It was wonderful to be on land again ... a place I had only dreamed of visiting!
After a bus ride to the terminal and going through customs, nothing looked better than seeing our luggage waiting for us ( : Whew ... that worry was behind us. We had arranged for a taxi service to pick us up at the airport and drive us to Rome. The driver was dressed in a very expensive suit and drove a Mercedez. Where he lacked in speaking fluent English he made up for in his savvy driving skills.Wow! What a ride! He maneuvered his vehicle right up on someone's bumper going about 50 mph and then made quick lane changes over and over. The route he drove seemed like back roads so we got a tour of Italy ... one I wasn't expecting ... graffiti everywhere and rundown neighborhoods.
We arrived at the Cosmopolita Hotel around 10:45 a.m. to find our room was not yet available. We checked our luggage and explored the area ... I felt like pinching myself realizing that I am really there. We experienced our first gelato and it was wonderful. The day was quite warm and by now I felt like I'd been in the same clothes for days. It took a long time before I wanted to wear my red sweater again!
The Italians don't eat lunch until later in the day so we had to wait for the restaurant to open in our hotel. It was wonderful to eat a delicious meal. When we finally went back to the lobby my eyelids were so heavy and I kept falling asleep. I think the staff felt sorry for us and finally gave us the keys to our room. Despite what everyone warned us not to do: we took a two-hour nap. We then felt refreshed and energized ... ready to go out exploring.

I Remember ... Portland to Rome

Join me on an adventure ... a dream vacation ... as I reflect back on our Best of Italy 2010 tour. After months of planning, our departure date for Rome finally arrived Tuesday, June 22nd. Much of the joy in traveling is the anticipation and planning. What excitement realizing our dream was coming true! Our bags are packed ... we're ready to go ...
Waiting at PDX for our departure flight we reflected back on our lifetime goal of going to Italy. It was a rough path getting there. We dreamed of going to celebrate our 35th anniversary in 2009 only to have those dreams dashed by my job loss. We agreed to wait a year and see if the economy improved. Eventually I was reassigned to another position and felt pretty confident that we could book this trip ... the euro was down and everything looked positive.
After talking to friends and neighbors who have been to Italy many times we decided to book a Trafalgar tour. We had considered a cruise but decided we wanted to experience more of the flavor of Italy by land. We booked our tour April 28th and not long after our Trafalgar packets/tickets arrived I once again lost my job ... this time it came unexpectedly. With only two and half weeks until departure we decided to go regardless of the circumstances. This thought kept running through my mind ... "Who goes to Italy while on unemployment!?!?!" As we look at life through the "rearview mirror," it was a good decision to continue with our plans.
We arrived at the airport at 6:45 a.m., enjoyed a light breakfast and went to our gate. Before boarding an announcement was made that there was a mechanical issue with our plane and the flight would be delayed. My heart dropped to my knees ... even an hour delay could cause us to miss our connecting flight to Rome. In those tense moments we both got on our iPhones and asked family and friends to be praying ... we were anxious to leave but also wanted safe travels.
The pilot made up for the lost time and we arrived at the Philadelphia airport at 5:30p.m. This only gave us 20 minutes to RUN through the airport from C29 to our gate at A22 ... dragging carry-ons etc behind us. We made our connecting flight but due to weather-related conditions we waited in line for take-off for nearly 30 minutes. Yes, we made our flight but we had one worry ... did our luggage make it?
This day was starting to look like a National Lampoon's Vacation ... ( :

I Remember ... A Tour of Italy

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of our "Best of Italy 2010" tour. Since I never blogged about our vacation when we returned home, I will be taking you along with me each day as "I Remember ... Italy."
For the next few weeks I will share a glimpse of our daily adventures through stories and photos. We will make stops in Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, Assisi, Ravenna, Venice, Burano, Verona, Milan, Lake Maggiore, Florence, and Siena.

So buckle up and get ready for our departure to Rome tomorrow morning. It will be a fun virtual staycation.
I hope you'll join me for a tour of Italy!

Simply Delightful

Even though I greeted my first day of summer break bright and early, I felt energized to make the most of this glorious day. Awesome to have a summer-like day ... love the blue sky and warm breezes. It would be nice to have several days in a row like this!
I decided to celebrate by doing something I normally can't do while working the school year ... garage-saling! I looked on Craigslist and narrowed my search down to just our area. With the price of gas so high you just can't drive all over town looking for a great deal. Fortunately, there were quite a few right near my neighborhood.
I stopped first in an upscale neighborhood and wondered if the items would be a little over-priced but to my surprise ... they had the best bargains of the day. Everything in this picture priced out at exactly twelve dollars ... what great "entertainment" for a reasonable price. I think the best deal of the day was the sweater on the right ... Banana Republic in like-new condition = $1.00! I even picked up a few Christmas ornaments in an estate sale free box. These make nice additions to my Christmas packages!
The second thing on my list was getting a pedicure and manicure. There is nothing as wonderful as being pampered. It seems like the last few weeks of school my schedule gets crazy and I just don't attend to things for myself. Today I tried my first shellac manicure. I read about it on Pioneer Woman's blog and she had positive reviews about it so I thought I would give it a try. The polish instantly dries without chips or smudges and is supposed to stay on for two weeks. I now feel ready for summer.
Here's to a lovely summer break ... I think I'll celebrate with a little nap : )
Hope you are enjoying relaxing moments this summer!