Italy Highlights

So, we have been back for a little over a week now and are finally used to being back on Pacific Time. We were lucky we were only delayed one day thanks to Volcano Ehjyejihesdkjkehykjjekshki in Iceland. The flight home was a total milk run though, as British Air was still getting back to normal, meaning there was NO IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT ON THE 10 HOUR HAUL...which did allow me to watch a full season of Mad Men on my laptop. Anyways, we are back, and here is a rundown of highlights and lowlights.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Rome: 
- Colosseum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza de Popolo, Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, losing a camera at the security check at the Vatican, getting a camera back from Vatican security a week later with pics of the pope in the hot tub on it (hot tub part not true, but rest is), Trevi Fountain, all the amazing sites you have seen in the movies.
- Outdoor cafes (true for all of Italy). I know we live in Seattle, but this is such a great way to eat and drink! Outdoors! Crazy! 
- Carbonara, the best
- Wine, everywhere
- Street Hustlers selling umbrellas during t-storms
- Walkability...you can and should walk everywhere

Cinque Terre:
- Pizzeria La Smorfia! A real pirate serves you and they have over 100 awesome combinations. A total local place with true Italian Pizza, just like Papa Johns!
- "The Hike" - 8 miles. 5 towns. 2 big beers at lunch. Still had a ways to go. Bad decision on the 2 beers at lunch. You have been warned. This hike is no joke. But extremely beautiful. Do it if you can.
- Beach. Relaxing on the beach for just a couple of hours was a highlight of the trip. Toss in some gelato and you have a fantastic afternoon.
- Wine. You can drink anywhere you want in Italy, just like Vegas! But it's not like Vegas at all because there aren't any nerds walking around with 4' long Eiffel Towers full of sugary margaritas hanging around their neck here. Also no neon signs =(
- Sunset overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Most Excellent.
- Wash n' Dry. Laundromat for our first batch of clothes on the trip
- Poste Italiano. We sent $100 shipment of clothes home from Cinque Terre. Yep, in classic American fashion, we overpacked. U-S-A!

Florence:
- Tuscan Countryside, wine tasting at Castello Di Monsanto, an old castle in the "Chianti Classico" Region
- Grand Hotel. Top notch concierge, excellent location on the Arno River, close to the park which is fantastic for running (great way to see a city)
- Waffle Sandwich (see earlier posts for more info on this awesomeness)
- Buca Lapi - Local restaurant with local vibe and excellent food. Best meat sauce I have ever had (for those of you who know me, I am super picky, so it must have been good).
- Nove - Something out of a movie. Total hipster scene, super trendy lounge type outdoor restaurant with sofa's, candles, Lady Gaga and the like playing from the speakers, the well heeled men and women of Florence having copious amounts of cocktails, smoking like it was their job, models walking around, and the largest steak ever seen. Great food, great fun.
- Ponte Vecchio
- The Statue of David
- The Florence Market, where you can spend hours sorting through the different local goods (some good, some junk, but a must see)
- Duomo
- Uffizi Gallery 

Venice:
- Canals everywhere! There is nothing like it in the world other than Vegas (that place has it all! j/k) and we are glad we could experience it
- Gondola's
- Rialto Bridge
- Piazza San Marcos
- Running over like 30 bridges along the Grand Canal
- Taking the water bus over to Lido to see the beaches 
- Getting Lost! Trust me, easy to do! But a great way to see the city!

Italy in General:
- How friendly all the other Americans we met were. We get a bad rap, but we met some extremely fun people from Dallas, LA, Bellingham, Queen Anne, Minnesota, North Carolina, and some AWESOME Australians and Brits! English was the common ground, and everyone seemed happy to tell their travel stories
- The train system was great. We booked in advance through RailEurope and it was super easy. The train always left on time and got us to where we needed to be in time
- British Airways is a fantastic airline
- Cobblestone streets. Probably not good for heels, ladies! 
- Food. Very good, very fresh. They don't try to overpower foods with excess flavors, letting the natural flavors of the main ingredients do the work.
- Wine.


Had a great trip! We will never forget it!