** ITALY WITH FRIENDS JOURNAL PHOTOS**
Heart of Italy Tour (September 17- 29, 2013)
The shadow from the Oculus in the Pantheon.Inside the amazing Pantheon.Headed to Capital Hill up the Renaissance stairs designed by Michelangelo.Wow, the Roman Forum.SueSue goes for a cool drink of water at Il Nasone.A handsome Father and Son in ancient Rome.
The girls get sidetracked by the silly gladiators.Sometimes they just have to get crazy.Enjoying a tour of the Roman Forum with our guide Max.Everyone checking out the spot where Julius Caesar was burned.Sue and Vicki on Palatine Hill.On our way to a tour of the Colosseum.
Inside the Colosseum.Down in the lower area of the Colosseum on our speical VIP tour.A great view of teh Colosseum from the upper level.Miles with a great view of the Roman Forum.EnjoyinEnjoying some delcious pasta at the perfect spot with the perfect view.Yes, that is Lebron James touring the Colosseum.
On the Pont Sant' Angelo.In front of St. Peter's in St. Peter's square.The painting of the crucifixtion of Peter.With a river god sculpture in the Museum.A bronze statue of Hercules.A Boca dei Verita or mouth of truth.
Inside the massive St. Peter's Basilica.Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's.A fun ride on the Rome metro.How about that for great advertising?Sister misbehaving on the sinking boat fountain.A yummy finale to a fabulous day!
Ready to tackle the climb into the high hill town of Montepulciano.A toast to Tuscany in the underground cafe.Miles and Lynn make a new friend. Miles is so happy that he does not have to wear armor.Sue and Lynn in one of the tiny lanes.Enjoying some Vino Nobile at the Contucci Enoteca.Yes, it really is that amazing!
So many things to tempt in Montepulciano.The lovely Fattoria San Donato.Ready for fall at San Donato.San Gimignano, city of towers.The massive entry gate into San Gimignano.That magical moon shines over medieval San Gimignano.
The view outside our hotel room.Piazza Cisterna in front of the hotel.A view of the towers from the Fortezza.Some of the lovely towers.Wow, isn't that a great backpack?Just another beautiful photo opt in San Gimignano.
Ready to tackle Siena at its heart, the Piazza del Campo.MIles and Zia at the Fountain of Joy.A pigeon waits for a drink at the Fountain of Joy.On top of the world in Siena with Il Campo in the background.Siena's Duomo dating from 1215.The ornate facade of the Duomo.
Inside the Piccolomini Library in the Duomo.The ceiling in the Library.A closeup of the over 500 year old frescos in the Library.Pisano's marble pulpit in the Duomo.The beautiful marble floors in the Duomo.THe faces of 1000 years of Pope's look down on you in the Duomo.
The gate to Florence from Monterrigioni.,A medieval pilgrim visiting Monterrigioni just like us today.With the black rooster, symbol of Chianti Classico wine, in Monterriggioni.A table full of delicious pizza. yum!Miles has a pretty big Calzone to finish off.Tony the pizza chef shows Lynn how its done.
What a beautiful vineyard scene.The vines are full of grapes.Plump grapes ready for harvest.The beautiful fountain at Castello Verrazzano.The old castle tower.Malvasia grapes the will be Vin Santo in a few years.
Inside the 1000 year old ageing cellar of Castello Verrazzano.The Verrazzano family crest.Ready for lunch at Castello Verrazzano.Everyone is game to try that Grappa.Everyone does not like that Grappa.I think Lynn has had a bit too much vino.
A line up of Verrazzano wines from lunch.The lovely arbor at the Castello.Grapes ripe on the arbor.The family that drinks vino together stays together.The Verrazzano Estate Winery.A final shot at the entry gate to Castello Verrazzano.
The marble crosses and stars of David in the American Military Cemetery.A Veteran and an active member of the Air Force. How proud I am to have them both on this tour.A medal of honor winner.The mosaic maps of the battles in Italy.A quiet moment amoung the fallen.A soilder standing guard.
Colorful boats in Portofino harbor.The harbor in Portofino.A toy of the rick and famous.Everyone enjoys the lovely harbor in Portofino.Lynn just can't take his eyes off that boat.The pretty colored houses in Portofino.
Wow, what a view from the Hotel Vis a' Vis.Enjoying la Dolce Vita.Mamoud makes some delcious Mojitos.Along the beach in Sestri Levante.Enjoying a delicious dinner.Night scene on the Bay of Silence.
A train ride to the Cinque Terre.The beautiful Cinque Terre town of Manarola.Some yummy foccacia in Riomaggiore.Enjoying a lunch of a local favorite, pesto in Riomaggiore.The many colored houses of Riomaggiore.The Cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore from the water.
A ferry ride to see the villages from the sea.Vernazza, the jewel of the Cinque Terre.Miles enjoying Vernazza.Sue and Vicki enjoy some lazy time in Vernazza.The harbor at Vernazza.The cute streets of Vernazza.
Yes, that is a sight to see.Isn't he cute?Vicki does a good job of keeping that tower up.The Camposanto cemetery in Pisa.The 12th century mosaic of Christ in the Pisa Duomo.The top of the amazing tower.
Lunch at McDonalds in Pisa.Miles finally gets his hamburger.Piazza Republica in Florence.Florence's magnificent Duomo.The big man himself, Michelangelo's David.Shopping at the Central Market in Florence.
The street in front of the hotel ready for the race.Sue finds a lot to take home from the Central Market.Miles hits the jackpot with a leather jacket.Ready for dinner and a fun evening at Il Latini.Some yummy antipasta at Il Latini.A birthday surprise at Il Latini.
Sue, Miles, Vicki and Lynn with the Pantheon.Enjoying that first taste of gelato. YUM!In the Piazza Navona.Vicki and Sue make sure they will return to Rome at the Trevi Fountain.Miles at the Trevi Fountain.Toasting our first meal together in Rome.