More observations

12 cities, 6 beds, countless train rides, 3 busses, 3 boats & one taxi in 16 days. Whew! What a whirlwind!
The food was mostly great (including pasta with lobster and salt-crusted seseabass) The work-out was beyond anything I've put my body through in a long time (Italy is all stairs and hills nd mountains)
The men may be lookers, but they're rude as hell! You wouldn't catch a guy holding a door or budging from his place on a sidewalk, and they have no shame winking or kissing at me even when they are with a lady!
The smells of Italy will stay with me as long as the memories will. The honeysuckle, roses, bougainvillea,  poppies, zinnia, and all kinds of flowering trees, plants, and bushes I've never seen are in full bloom. The smell of the sea was omnipresent in both Venice & the cities of the Cinque terre.
Mornings bring the scent of freshly baking bread and pastries, and unfortunately I can't leave out the stink of urine and cigarette smoke.
no adventure is without hiccups  (an angry back, a tour gone wrong, a couple blisters) but the beauty I have seen, and my travel partner were tops! 

Cinque Terre

One of my most memorable experiences from this trip will most definitely be the 3 days we've been in the towns of Cinque terre. It's been super warm here and even though I brought a swimsuit, the day we spent closest to the water was the day it was not with me.
I have a long and wonderful relationship with water and after sulking about not having my suit with for a couple of hours, I realized I would never forgive myself if I didn't just make it work.
I found a nice rocky lagoon, stripped down to tank top and panties, and took a swim! Soooo fantastic!

This was our lunch spot after. Not too shabby!

The most perfect day

We moved across town, are staying in a great hotel that is quiet, has a garden terrace, and a BAR inside! After a perfect night sleep in our new great hotel, we shopped, we ate, and we went to Boboli Gardens in Pitti Palace (otherwise know as one of the most gorgeous places on earth!)

The Country side

My back (and the rest of my parts) be damned! We booked a tour to see the country yesterday after being told about the "small group tour, taken in a relaxing luxury van, with lunch at a beautiful winery overlooking a bucolic estate."
You all know where this is going, right? I would be writing a book if told all that was wrong about this tour, but I will say that it was a sham. We were gone 12 hours, ate what Russano calls "a child sized lunch", and would not have gotten one picture if we would have stayed with the group.
Yep. We went rogue! That being said, it's fair to say we walked and climbed and walked and climbed our way around San Gimignano, Chianti, Sienna, and Montecatini, forming blisters, starving, sweating, cursing the tour, and getting incredible photos!

Recharge

We got to Florence yesterday, dropped our bags in our new apartment (8 very narrow floors up, no lift) and went about the city with our mouths agape, like the tourists we are. If New York City feels like the young, vibrant, youthful future, the city of Florence feels like a rich, old soul with the best secrets ever.

After only 2 hours of sleep on Saturday night, my mind combusted last night, along with my back, so today I lay with my knees up listening to the beckoning sounds and smells of the city below. Russano is at Masserati training (more on that tomorrow) and the laundry can wait another day.
Below are a few shots of what put me in this state.

 The magnificent Duomo up-close.

 My love for Mini Coopers started long ago when they looked like this and were used for racing. This one was posing outside of Louis Vuitton. Makes for a great shot, yes?
        Below was my first shot taken of Ponte Vecchio after the gasp.

ZA

Realized I haven't posted a picture of food and thought this one might do. Eat your ❤ out!

I mean it. Bologna, I love you!

It's been a long time since I've felt so at home in a new place. Bologna has great wine and fantastic food!  We ate at a chef driven resteraunt tonight and I ordered the guinea pig lasagna. I swear it was incredible! (And I'm sorry I don't have a photo)
The city is full of students and artists and history and graffiti on every available surface. Here are a few examples

Bologna I love you

Made our way to Bologna today by train from Venice. I'm in a different world yet again! I've been here 6 hours and know I love it already! We had nothing arranged ahead of time and came into a city on Holiday (haven't figured out which holiday yet) Bologna is packed with people, there's a concert going on in the city center, there is every human specimen within reach, speaking every possible language, and people are STYLISH!
It took me running around the city for about 90 minutes (with Russano sitting on a corner with our bags) to find an apartment for a couple of nights, but it was fun and I found a great one!

Observations

I expected every single person to be beyond gorgeous (all the Italians I know, are) it's been 3 days and I have seen exactly ONE man and ONE boy who fit this description! I also expected the fashion to be on point. So not the case.

I did have the best gnocchi I've ever had, but also the worst fish. How can this be possible? I thought Venice had the best seafood. 

No one here is fat, unless they're from America and there is none of the beauty standards of the U.S. either. No botox, no gyms, definitely lots of cigarettes! 

All of that being said, it is picturesque,  and I could listen to the language all day, every day. Did I mention how incredible the cappucino is???? 

 

Day 2

 That's me outside Harry's bar. Yes! The bellini is worth the $20!
The boy on the bottom came through the open door and was showing off his soccor skills.

Two of my wishes have come true: I watched the store owners open up their small shops this morning from my perch at a corner cafe while the rain came down. This is what I envienvisioned Venice to be. Magical, dirty, humid, perfect.

Day 1. Venice.

I made it! A hospitalized Mom, a crazy Husband, a delayed flight, and one forgotton camera later, I am in Venice! Every single street looks exactly like this.
I've read about it, I've seen the pictures, but nothing could prepare me for the real thing!
I'm on 4 hours of sleep since Sunday. The wine is good and the cappucino is better. Tonight there will be pharmecutical induced sleep and tomorrow will include some time on a boat and a world famous belini from Harry's bar!    Salute.

Italy awaits

                                                                 Stay tuned.