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Geo: 44.9332, -123.043
This TravelPod blog entry written 35,000 feet up somewhere between Philadelphia and Phoenix
Sitting here crammed and jammed onto US Airways flight 701 from Philadelphia to Phoenix. Just had the quick, perfunctory meal and snack service. You know that when you think the $8 children's size mandarin chicken salad is tasty that you've been in the air WAY too long.
Let's see, since today is Wed May 2, this must be Florence (where we woke up at 4:00am local time), or Frankfurt, or Philadelphia, or Phoenix, and I know we're not in Portland yet because I don't feel 'home' but at least we're back in the US. You know, when a trip is over, it's over, and you just want to get back home and into your comfortable routine and hugging your dog and working in the yard and reading the morning paper (in English) as soon as possible . . . like RIGHT NOW.
Yeah, it's that whole Dorothy in Kansas thing.
But what a trip and vacation we had. We've certainly come to appreciate why Europeans refer to it as ‘going on holiday' because it just felt more festive and celebratory than a mere vacation.
How cool is it to wrap yourself
A room with a view
At Hotel Loggiatto dei Serviti, Florenceinside a 3-flavored gelato cone -- pistachio, ricotta and blueberry, and mixed berry– while walking the cobblestone streets of a medieval village inside its fortress walls listening to the rapid fire Italian chatter of the locals, shop owners, and tourists? Or to stand in awe in front of Michelangelo's David? Or to share a dinner chat with a Swiss businessman studying Italian at a Siena language school just after he's finished Skype-ing his family back in Switzerland? Or to traverse the 436-stair climb to the top of Brunelleschi's dome on the Duomo in Florence? Or to run into Australians ‘on holiday' at almost every turn?
We had some favorites . . .
Favorite experiences:
Trekking through the small, stunningly scenic, cascade-into-the-Mediterranean villages of the Cinque Terre.
The omnipresence of Santa Maria di Fiori Cathedral (the Duomo) in Florence.
The jaw-dropping art, craftsmanship, and spirituality of every single Middle Age and Renaissance church we visited.
Coming face to face with Michelangelo's perfect-in-every-way David.
Tasting the perfect Brunello di Montalcino at Abbada Abrenga.
Stumbling upon a jewel of a Florentine hotel at Hotel Loggiatto dei Serviti when our previously booked B&B turned a bit nightmarish.
Favorite meal:
Dinner at Trattoria La Tellina, Siena
Favorite individual dish:
Sharon – tagliatelle pasta in a light tomato
sauce perfectly spiced with sweet chili and arugula
Mike – papardelle pasta di cinghiale (with wild boar ragout), but the two gnocchi dinners were a close second
Favorite gelato flavors:
Both of us -- extra dark chocolate, mango
Sharon -- tutti di bosco (mixed berry), espresso
Mike -- pistachio, hazelnut, ricotta and blueberry
It wasn't all perfect, though.
We were surprised by how much Italians -- and Europeans in general -- smoke. It became a bit irritating and nauseating at times, especially in Siena where the fortress-like streets (tall walls and narrow, alley-like lanes clogged with many pedestrians and an occasional daringly fast moving taxi) seemed to trap the smoke and stagnant air. Perhaps we should import some of our anti-smoking commercials instead of our stereotyped and caricatured TV shows.
Standing in line and yielding space and clearance to oncoming pedestrians seemed to be foreign concepts. At times Sharon walked behind Mike so he could clear a path.
Neither Florence nor Siena ever seemed to fall asleep. We had people noise from the streets below our two hotel windows well past 3:00am every night, a challenge when you like to sleep with the windows open.
San Gimignano was cool but touristy and a bit overrated. Rick Steves says it's a
great hilltop medieval village in the evening after the tour busses and their hordes leave, and we wish we'd have had a chance to see for ourselves.
It would have been nice if we'd known a little more conversational Italian, though Italians in general knew enough functional English that they could answer our basic questions.
But, then, living in Salem and Oregon and the United States isn't perfect, either. It's all part of this grand experience we call life.
We feel blessed we had the opportunity to make this trip, and have enjoyed sharing it with you. And we have to thank daughter Ashley for holding down the fort housesitting and dogsitting Sir Charles.
We return home with no Euros in our pocket but enough memories to last a long, long time. And we feel like we've brought home with us a small piece of the heart and soul of the many wonderful Italians we met: Chiara at Hotel Loggiatto dei Serviti, Sasha at ArtViva, Ellie at Walkabout Florence, Elisa and Fabio at Antica Residenza Cicogna, Gemma from the Siena walking tour, Lorenzo from the Brunello tour, and Gianni our driver and guide on the transfer from Siena to Florence.
As Truman might have said
had he been Florentine, "Bongiorno, buonasera, and buona notte."
Ciao, bella.
Mike and Sharon/
Dad and Mom
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fool
non-member comment
Seems like you missed he highlight of San Gimignano, it has a GREAT torture museum. None of the new stuff Bush used--- well actually I take that back, they did use some of the old stuff.Anyways would have been a good 25 wedding anniversary
reflection. I will tell you over a beer my second --brief visit to San Gimignano. It is a great hilltop village. Need some pictures? I can send you some!!!Glad you had a great time, and an even better reason. Glad you had the opportunity --- in so many ways-- to make the trip. Happy 25 to you both!!! Can hardly wait to see your "new" wedding ring. Yes LIFE is good. Peace