more food porn from florence

gustapizza on via maggio in florence. recommended and we can taste and see why. great place and fun employees.

florence....day uno

I am in Florence! Departed the train about 1:25pm and just as I did, Suzi texted me to say she had just landed too. WOOHOO! Nice timing Aunt Ellen :)

As with everyday usually I have some sort of hiccup, mine came as I quickly realized (or was told by a handsome Italian man)how I departed the train at the wrong Florence stop... Curses! So, I grabbed the #12 bus to the right station...only on my way I realized I was close to the hotel and jumped off. I wandered around trying to get my directions straight and suddenly there was Suzi waving at me from the otherside of a glass door that said HR (Hotel Rapallo)...I had arrived!

We checked in and wandered around town to keep Suzi awake, as she is still on WestCoast time. We went through a great area (see photo above) that was full of vendors with some cool items... nice italian leather purses here we come...I am going to need a bigger suitcase :)

It was raining today, and we hope tomorrow will be sunny to go back and check out the Basilicas we passed. We grabbed dinner at a place near the hotel and I finally was able to have the Chicken and salad I have been craving...with some good house chianti too.

We are off to see David tomorrow, Carrie O I will tell him you said Hi :)
Good night:)

KK

final day in rome... sigh.

I woke up this morning and walked to the Colloseo, of course I did, and grabbed a tour of the place so I could get more of the history. I was never a good history student, but if I had lived here growing up, I am confident I would have been better...not great, just better. Walking through the ancient buildings is unbelieveable. Rob you would LOVE this place!

All the way through the Colloseo I kept thinking, in America, we would some how turn this into a marketing opportinity.Someones logo would be slapped up on this building and it would take away from the history and richness of it. It is all about the sponsorship in the USA. Look at all the College Bowl games...the Tostito's Bowl just IS NOT the same as the Rose Bowl now is it? Yankee Stadium vs Coors Field, you get my drift. Anyhow, I had to laugh as when the tour guide took us from the Colloseo to the Forum (not the shops in Vegas, the real deal, in fact there were NO shops there) he said how Coca Cola has offered the money to restore the Colloseo, in exchange to put their name up there....really???

But thankfully Italy has declined ..so far. The Knights of Columbus from the US gave the millions (I believe $9mm) to restore part of the Vatican, and they just get mentioned in a tour, no logo up on the vatican walls.

Suddenly I feel like Andy Rooney...sorry about that...sort of :)

The above photo is from the Forum area. I have many more shots I took with my camera, the place is ENORMOUS. . .note to future travelers...this stuff is tons of stairs and hills. Be prepared. Also realize most streets here are cobble stone, brick or uneven pavement... bring flat shoes. The women in Italy run around in stillettos, however I think most Americans would end up in the ER :)

I took the photo below to show a typical street vendor... fruit, crackers, pizza...and beer and vino.
It is crazy!

After I left the Forum, I grabbed the 117 bus to the Spanish Steps. (see below). There are 99 of these steps and people are sitting on them constantly just hanging out. It amazes me the amount of people always in the streets here. It is like no one works??

It is a very cool area. tons of high end shopping (see Sex and the City blog 2 down). I wandered into Louis V to look at this amazing purse, which i wil lsome day own, and in the back area young women were lined up to buy more Louis.. like it was the Gap and they were having a sale.
Um, I felt very out of place.

I walked all around the area, there are about 3 main blocks of high end shopping near the Spanish Steps. Mom, Marj, Tracy, Rob and Mary R... you would LOVE it! I did manage to buy some very hot Italian black leather gloves. They are awesome and so soft :)

So, this is it for Rome. Sigh. Tomorrow I head to the Stazione Termini and catch my train to Florence...Suzi should be on a plane to meet me there right now!! Yahoo!

I am quite sad to leave Rome, and hope that Florence touches me the way Rome has. I can not explain how incredible Rome has been for me, or maybe I can as I have been blogging about it and gushing, but now know why since I was a little girl that I have wanted ... no needed...to come here. I will come back...and plan to get some of you to come with me :) I wonder how long till BBY comes here so I can work here?? hmmmm...

Not sure if I will be graced with a Internet Cafe at next door to my hotel in Florence and beyond like I have been in Rome...but for sure I can post photos with a few notes from my phone if not. Please keep the comments coming, it is fun to hear from all of you and also noticed I have 10 people "following me"... right on crouton! (oh and Nancy I love the photo...Amy Winehouse?)

till Florence... this is KK saying arrivederci!
PS. Warns: Tell Jimmy dogs are welcome everywhere here, he would like it here :)

self portrait...not pretty, but rome!

This is at the top of the Spanish Steps at dusk.
It was FAR more beautiful in person as the sun set.

and after all the window shopping...

A quick rest stop at the cafe, J.White this is SO much better than Starbucks.
Plus you order wine or Champagne and they give you food too (lets see Starbucks do that!). At the first place I stopped (there were 2 Champagne stops) I was standing at the bar with other customers when this little old lady came in for what must be her "usual". Next thing I knew she took my snacks right off my plate and walked away to eat them with her drinks... I didn't care...but found it very humorous :)

my sex and the city moment in Rome

note this is a designer clothing store for children... look at small manicans...scary.

it was so fun window shopping..."hello lover" about came out of my mouth at a few of the stores. ala carrie bradshaw.

Wednesday in Rome with Pope Benedict

Well friends and family I just got done recapping my entire day...and an Italian message popped up on the PC and who knows what it said....and then I lost the whole thing. Sigh...technostress.

Let me try again. At 8am this morning I grabbed the 64 bus to the Vatican (again), and got myself right on in to the secured St Peters Square with my yellow ticket I had received yesterday from the Swiss Guard. (thanks again Aunt Ellen for hooking me up!) I grabbed a seat close to the barricades in hopes that I would get a good view of the Pope... well check out the photo above... the Pope mobile went right by me. Cool! I got some great photos on my camera much closer to me. He then went to the front, as seen in photo below (he is the white dot under canopy, looks much worse than it was, i actually had a GREAT view) and held "audience". It was not a mass, it was an audience, meaning, he gave a speech (in Italian so I have no idea what he said, but I am sure in was thoughtful). Then different priests and other people from the Vatican stood up and introduced groups that were in the audience.

I was sitting amongst a Church Choir group from Grand Rapids, Michigan....who quickly included me in their "family" of travelers. They were introduced and got to sing a little bit for the Pope, how cool? They were a lot of fun and when the whole Pope ceremony was done, I joined 6 of them for the tour of Michelangelo's Dome. It was recommended to me by a friend at work, and now I see why :) Just be warned, the hard part is getting there. It cost us each 7 euros to take the Lift instead of the first 171 steps (otherwise 5 if you want to walk the whole thing), then we walked the next 320 to the top. The stairway brought us around and around, and around some more. It brought us through narrow tilted passages, including an inside portion that let us over look the Basilica below. It was really beautiful to have a birds eye view of the choir singing and the mass going on.

We finally found our way to the opening to the outside portion, a bit out of breath...but it was all worth it. Below is the view...

You could walk around the whole dome and see the entire city. WOW!!!!

We walked all the way down to the Basilica, walking all the steps (and yes Teri my legs were fatigued and yes, I needed it!) We ended up right in the Basilica and saw another part I missed the other day (the place is so huge!)

I then parted ways with my new friends, but not before promising I would go see them perform tonight. They are giving a public concert at S. Ignazio di Loyola, a church not far from my hotel. It is nice to have a plan for at night. I have not wanted to wander around too far from the hotel by myself and so the nights are the only "bad" part of traveling alone...but Suzi meets me in Florence Friday so that will soon be coming to an end.

If you look at this photo of Michelangelo's Dome, we were at the part below what looks like a crown an before the Dome.

I hope you are all having a good week, thanks for reading my adventures...I sure hope this rewrite saves... I have a concert to get to :)

Tomorrow, the Colosseo and the Spanish Steps!
Ciao! KK

wed lunch

Well I don't know what happened to the post that I typed when I sent this photos...
but I did have an explanation with it. This was a late lunch (but of course) and I had a margarita pizza and champagne... why wouldn't I? Seriously this is so not unusual here, every place with food or coffee or dessert...also has liquor of any kind. I am craving something light bad already... but can not find it. Every thing, and I mean every thing here is all about bread and cheese and sauces. My tummy will never make it 2 weeks in Italy if I don't find healthy food soon! ciao!

kk

tuesday

Today started out late, I have no clock in my room and my phone doesn't have an alarm, WTF? So I woke up late, but I am on vacation and today had no plans so it was great :)

I decided to head out to the Vatican to pick up my papal audience tickets. grabbed the #64 and started to feel like I belonged. Got through security quickly, there were NO lines and headed up the roped off stairs to get my ticket. I was greeted my a Swiss guard who explained the tickets would not be available till 3:00 (really?!). So we stood there chatting about tomorrows mass and what time he thought i should get myself to St Peters Square and what exactly the "Popes Legacy Tour" was that I was signed up for. turns out, he explained with a smile on his face like "isn't she a cute and innocent American", the tour is the Pope in his little bullet proof car driving around so i can see him. Oh! Sweet!

So I asked a few more questions and he looked at me and said "just you?" I said yes and he then gave me my ticket for the Papal Audience..see people just be friendly and nice does get you what you want :) He didn't know if I had the special section tickets (meaning up on the Vatican steps) but this gets me a seat for sure and now I just have to get there tomorrow bright and early to get a good one.

I then wandered off to find the Sistine Chapel. I swear every 2 feet there is a priest so that helps when I need directions...or feel like confessing to something :) I found a lovely priest who instead of just telling me how to get there, walked me part way. People are nice in the Vatican City. I also decided for a priest or nun, this must be like going to the Super Bowl...seriously! Or being called up to the Big Show in MLB. Imagine coming here to do God's work vs...oh I don't know somwhere in the middle of no where. Anyways, I just see the joy in their eyes and think it is really cool.

Below are photos of the Vatican Museum. I was actually teary eyed again (perhaps hormones, but I think I was just overwhelmed). I took countless Art History classes in college and here I was in front of things I studied. My prof in college always said to know it, is to visit it in person...and she was right. I love Raphael and Michelangelo. the fresco's they painted are unbelievable!! Every inch of this HUGE building is filled with art. Amazing rooms painted from top to bottom, including the ceilings...BEAUTIFUL! Arloa there is a room with nothing but painted maps :) They wind you through the place, through many galleries and rooms and then at the end you get to the one and only Sistine Chapel. WOW. I took some forbidden photos but I just couldn't help myself, I wanted you all to see it and to share...it is awesome in person...and I will just grab a priest tomorrow and ask for forgivness!

I wish I could take you each through this place...honestly if you are into art or not, it is just simply incredible on so many levels.

Tip for when you go: My aunt got my tour in advance, but that was not till Thursday. Meaning 3 days going to the Vatican on tours. Get your tours on one day... also today, there were NO lines to the Vatican Museum, so I ate the cost of the tour Thursday and went on my own today with rented audio tour...which I MUCH prefer. Going through museums is not my scene... so I like to go at my pace. I blow through some things and others I sit for a good amount of time at. I recommend the audio tour (6 euros)...or grab a guy on the street for 40euros and skip the lines if they have long lines and get a personalized tour...but like i said I had NO lines. I know the time of year helps me right now.

I then went and grabbed a late lunch, this seems to be what I do here. See earlier blog. OMG ...good food. I am skipping dinner, as well ... on my way to the hotel and Internet cafe I decided to stop at the cafe for some Champagne. I love a coffee house with that :) Teri are you shaking your head? :)

I also found my way on the Metro (subway) today to the Plaza della Republica. It was easy...even easier than in NYC! I wandered through the streets over in that area stopping for the famous Italian hot chocolate. It was mint flavored (shot out to Jen White here). It was very strong and thick...not exactly the sugar free swiss miss I make at home...but it did the trick ;) I stopped by the Opera house and thought about going, but no performances the next few nights... so I am not going.

I think that is it. No major purchases today...I am going to the Spanish Steps after time with the Pope tomorrow and I may do some damage there... I hear the shopping is amazing.

Thanks for all the comments my "followers", it is fun to see them!

Till tomorrow, KK

PS. All photos I am posting are from my phone. I have a gazillion more on my camera that are better and will edit to a reasonable amount and share when I get back to the USA.

also to my followers who are commenting on my food... no, no red wine today. I decided Champagne was much better :)

lunch...all for 11euros!

i dont think i will need dinner. italy is all about big lunches! ravioli (was oh so yummy!), roasted (to perfection) chicken, salad, fruit. i am going to have to walk for hours to burn it off....but man is it bueno!

i had an adventure in vatican city today. will send photos and tell more tonight.

kk