A date with David

            An early morning rise on Thursday for our trip to Florence.  Before goin we decided to google parking in florence and we found a nice clean underground around the corner from the tram station. A quick trip on the tram and we were at the central train station on our way.  

Walking into Florence as amazing. Such spectacular architecture. Loved it all!  

After wandering around for a couple hours together we decided to split up and meet back in time for our entry into the galleria dell academia.  

I wandered around the town snapping photons like a crazy man!   So much to see.  

A tour of the cathedral was beautiful.  Not a religious guy at all but I can appreciate the beauty of it all. I decided to venture to the top of the cathedral before headin to see David.  Up I strayed and about 20 minutes into the climb I realized I wouldn't have the time.  Yikes! Now what?i continued on to the ceiling and viewed the fresco right in front of me.   Then I found the stairs down.  Getting that fr was ok but then the stairs to the too were spiral and narrow and only 1 way. We had to wait 10 minutes for those ahead I us to come down so my time was ticking.  I decided not to chance it and headed down at my next opportunity. 

On the train to Venice

Villa

I have about 2 hours to kill so thought id try to update a bit. 

Last I write we were heading to Florence to pick up our car.  We decided to pick

It up at the airport as I read it was much easier.  It was after a bus ride to the airport then shuttle to the rental place.  We picked up our 2 vehicles and away we went to our villa. 

About an hour and half later we arrived to our beautiful villa. About 150 years old it was originally a brick furnace!  Now it's been converted to a beautiful 4 bed 6 bath villa with 40' long inground  pool out back.  Very beautiful and comfy for the 7 of us!

We are here

Trevi Fountain

            Well I thought I'D DO A QUICK update as our internet connection at the villa is a bit slow. We arrived in Rome on the 31st and to our surprise had our luggage off the plane even before we got to the carousel! I've heard it could take upwards to an hour and a half but not this time. Heading into town we decided of take a taxi - reminder! Always negotiate the price before you get in! $110 euro later we were at our guest house. 

Italy 2014

Prelude

Well... it's time for another trip - can't wait. This year's trip is Italy for 2 and a half week. 8 of us going this year including me and Michael, my parents, niece Larissa and Michael's sister, brother-in-law and nephew. We fly out the evening of May 29th and return June 14th. Arriving in Rome, we'll spend one night at XY Rome Affittacamere Bed and Breakfast before taking the train to Florence to pick up our rental cars. Then it's off to our Villa for a week in the Chianti Region - Il Fornacino. Beautiful 4 bed, 4 bath Villa with amazing inground pool close to Siena, Florence and Pisa. After this, it's a train trip to Venice for 2 nights at Hotel Venezia then back to Rome to our hotel Suite Beccaria in Piazza del Popolo. We are staying for 5 days while Michael's sister and family is staying for 3. A side trip to Pompeii and maybe Herculaneum then it's back home - a busy, fun-filled trip but looking forward to every minute!! We have our tickets booked already for the Colosseum and Statue of David - now we just need the Vatican. While in Venice we are doing a pub crawl - 3 local restaurants with wines, tapas and lot's of fun. Stay tuned for updates and hopefully LOTS of amazing pictures - CIAO folks!!