Rain today. Or at least first thing in the morning. Despite the weather and Shelly’s cold, we choose heading to Venezia over hanging out in Verona. We missed the morning trains and bought round-trip tickets that gave us just under four hours in Venice. Not a lot of time, but enough to get the flavor … Continue reading A three-hour tour to Venezia →

We had two simple goals in mind today. To see some sights in Verona and possibly do a little shopping. We did both. We visited the Chiesa di San Fermo, a cool but spooky church with a long history. The church proper sat on top of an earlier, more Byzantine style church. The church below … Continue reading Get to know Verona day →

After visiting the church built below the Chiesa di San Fermo, we walked toward Verona’s Arena, a mini-Colosseum. On the way, Shelly noticed a little black car outfitted with a fold down, roof-mounted camera and a Google Maps placard in the front window. In the passenger side of the car, a Dell monitor. And in … Continue reading What do Google Maps, AIG, and Dell have in common? →

Last-minute packing and a 20-minute walk down narrow sidewalks to the train station. Knock wood, but I am amazed that the wheels on our little wheelie suitcases have mastered the cobblestones of this city. Another Eurostar train ride. Very smooth and fast. We had to sit across from each other this time, Shelly listening to … Continue reading Onward to Verona →

Tuesday, September 16 Shelly found us a gym about 10 minutes from our hotel. It was tucked away in a non-descript building, but once inside it occupied an old studio or home, and every room had some kind of equipment in various stages of decay. The machines still worked though, and we managed to get … Continue reading A Firenze gymnasium, The Knight Rider, and The Golden View →

Monday, September 15 Our first day trip. We could have taken a 120 euro, 12-hour tour to Siena and surrounding Tuscany, but we didn’t. Instead, we took the 6-euro Rapido bus to Siena. Just past the Firenze train station, I saw the Deanna pasticceria that I took Deanne’s picture in front of 24 years ago. … Continue reading Charlie’s Angels, Siena, and laundry night →

Sunday, September 14 Up early to get to our Michelangelo’s David reservation by 9. Our hotel breakfast wasn’t prepared, so we ate at a piazza restaurant, and made the mistake of sitting outside as they suggested rather than standing at the bar like the locals. Very expensive coffee, tea, and omelette mozzarella paninis. David was … Continue reading The big David and a slow day →

Saturday, September 13, 2008 A rainy morning, a taxi ride, and the train station. We’re leaving Rome. A super speedy train took us north to Firenze in less than two hours. We shared the train ride with a couple from North Carolina. He’s a retired Viet Nam vet – he used to dye socks and … Continue reading Roma to Firenze →

Today we took it easy – we only walked about four hours. We walked across a bridge toward our Internet café and into the Jewish Ghetto. The buildings were ancient and remarkably, in great condition and still serving as homes. Ancient Roman ruins dotted the area. I ate a falafel and Shelly had a chicken … Continue reading Our last day in Rome →

I love the water fountains located all over Rome. It's really hot here, I drink a lot of water, and bottled water costs a lot of Euros. But for the Rome leg of our trip, all you need is a water bottle and the luck to run into one of these free water stations, and … Continue reading Ode to the Roma water fountain →