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| Nicole tasting the wine |
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| Sofia, Olivia and Elsbeth |
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| Sofia and Elsbeth and Nana |
Saturday, July 4, 2015
A lazy day in Rome
A lazy day in Rome! Just about worn out from so many scheduled activities, decided today was a day of leisure. Really late breakfast, slow in deciding what we should do. Ryan took Annika and Theo to Campo di Fiori to walk around and see the area of town where Catherine worked and lived. Ron walked to the Via Condotti, Rome's most fashion street, with Elsbeth overlooking the Ponte Vecchio, Sofia and Bella to cruise the shops. They all came to lunch carrying Louis Vuitton and Guess handbags. They were thrilled to pieces as they showed off their gifts. Hilary and Pat with their kids followed Ron, Ryan, Jeff and Pat and William to the Spanish Steps to hire mopeds for the afternoon. Ron, Patrick, Ryan, and Jeff with William behind spent most of the afternoon riding through the Eternal City. I remember the times I've done that will Ron, and was glad to be more mature now. They came to the Minerve, I think to show off for us and probably for a breather. Michele and I spent the rest of the afternoon reading and watching two different wedding parties leaving the church in front of the hotel. Beautiful and exciting. Had a wonderful lunch off the square. William had his 5th meal of penne arrabiata!! Had gelato and Bella went shopping for art supplies. Loved her drawing journal.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Florence
The entire group, minus Ron and I, went to the Rome train station to catch the 8:15 to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and the home of masterpieces of art and architecture Upon arrival and passing by Santa Maria Novella, they went to mercato centrale, a huge indoor food market with butchers, fishmongers, fruit stands and spice vendors. It provided a great shady spot to eat some fresh peaches, blackberries and strawberries for breakfast.
After a short (read: would have been short had someone been able to correctly follow a map), they made their way to the Duomo and the Baptistry of St. John. . The bronze doors were amazingly detailed and the dome was huge. After taking in the wondrous beauty of these two, they walked through the Piazza del Signoria where the copy of the statue of David by Michelangelo stood in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the old political center of the city.
Right next to this piazza is the gateway to the famous Uffizzi Gallery, home of many of the greatest pieces of Renaissance artwork. They walked through the gateway, but they didn't browse through but instead made their way to the Arno River and Nicole's old apartment adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio.
Next was lunch in a shady spot near Piazza de Duomo. And then on to Managini ice cream where kids got to create custom ice cream bars with dipping chocolate and toppings.
After the group split with one going to a DaVinci alive interactive exhibit in a church and the other to Santa Croce, the oldest church in Florence that houses the bodies of Dante, Michelangelo and Galileo.
Then back to the train station for the trip back to Rome. Arrived back in Rome hot, sweaty and tired. Just enough time for a quick shower before dinner time. Went to another great Italian restaurant with more delicious seafood and pasta dishes. After dinner Michele led us to the Piazza Navona fountain to throw coins in which we hope will ensure a return to Rome -- the Trevi Fountain is closed so this was our best effort. Lots of palmists, buskers, and sellers of various cheap souvenirs that were amazing to the kids. We stopped for more gelato on our return to the hotel at the end of a very long day for kids and parents alike.
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| View from train to Florence |
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| What is William reading Dorsey and Theo? |
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| Arrival in Florence train station |
After a short (read: would have been short had someone been able to correctly follow a map), they made their way to the Duomo and the Baptistry of St. John. . The bronze doors were amazingly detailed and the dome was huge. After taking in the wondrous beauty of these two, they walked through the Piazza del Signoria where the copy of the statue of David by Michelangelo stood in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the old political center of the city.
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| All the cousins at the feet of David |
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| All the cousins at the feet of David |
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| Duomo |
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| Piazza Della Signoria: Michelangelo's David |
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| Nicole's old apartment building from student days in Florence |
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| Jeff showing how tall he is |
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| Florence street with Vespas to rent |
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| Elsbeth overlooking the Ponte Vecchio |
Right next to this piazza is the gateway to the famous Uffizzi Gallery, home of many of the greatest pieces of Renaissance artwork. They walked through the gateway, but they didn't browse through but instead made their way to the Arno River and Nicole's old apartment adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio.
Next was lunch in a shady spot near Piazza de Duomo. And then on to Managini ice cream where kids got to create custom ice cream bars with dipping chocolate and toppings.
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| Santa Croce |
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| Nicole taking pictures |
After the group split with one going to a DaVinci alive interactive exhibit in a church and the other to Santa Croce, the oldest church in Florence that houses the bodies of Dante, Michelangelo and Galileo.
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| Florence Cathedral |
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| Florence Cathedral |
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| Which trinkets should I choose? |
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| Annika loving Florence! |
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| Annika and Olivia walking streets of Florence |
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| Anneka and Olivia with Nana |
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| Another feast together |
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Day 2 in Rome- Vatican and Coliseum
After a good night’s sleep for most of us, we went to the roof garden of the Minerve for a fantastic breakfast with everything imaginable to eat. Choice of American or Italian coffee, cappuccino, eggs, bacon, cheeses, many different breads and sweet breads (Olivia chose chocolate muffin and chocolate croissant) and a variety of Italian sausages. Pat feasted on salmon with cream cheese. We couldn't linger over breakfast as we needed to be at the Vatican.
Museums at 9:30. All except Ron, Pat, Dorsey, Olivia, Annika and Theo. They were being brought later to visit St. Peter's only. The crowds waiting under what promised to be a scorching sun to purchase tickets was unbelievable with maybe a 2-3 hour wait just to get to the ticket office. Our guide, Louisa, was charming, friendly, and spoke wonderful English. She explained to us that the Vatican, formally called the "Vatican City State" is smallest recognized independent state in the world whose head is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The museum houses some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures, tapestries and furniture and mosaics throughout its seven miles of corridors. Louisa selected the most prominent of these to show us. She showed us paintings by Michelangelo and gave explanations of the Sistine Chapel before we entered it as it is a place of silence. Hardly silent, however, with 300-400 people inside a rather small space. Michelangelo painting of the Hand of God reaching out to Adam is a focal point of the ceiling. From there we met Ron, Pat, and the children who had waited so patiently in the heat. Louise quickly drew them in and explained that St. Peter's Basilica was built on the site where the apostle St. Peter was put to death and crucified upside down by his request since he didn't consider himself worth of dying in the same manner as did Christ. St. Peter is buried beneath the altar. The ceiling of St. Peter's is a coffered barrel vault with the largest unsupported dome in the world. The Pieta, sculpted by Michelangelo in 1499, depicts the agony of Mary, mother of Jesus, holding his lifeless body. The children all wanted to rub the bronze toe of St. Matthew which custom says will forgive 25 years of sins. As we ended our tour the children were able to see the changing of Swiss guards who serve as security for the Vatican City State.
We returned to the hotel, washed up and went for lunch. Everyone with the exception of Ron and I then went for visit to the Colosseum. Awesome and they even saw gladiators! How can you not be awed by the Colosseum!!! Ate dinner in front of the Pantheon where Michele and Jeff had previously eaten several times while in Rome. Profiteroles and gelato for dessert. Except Bella, who stopped for gelato and their way back to the hotel.
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| Roof tops of Rome from hotel roof garden |
Museums at 9:30. All except Ron, Pat, Dorsey, Olivia, Annika and Theo. They were being brought later to visit St. Peter's only. The crowds waiting under what promised to be a scorching sun to purchase tickets was unbelievable with maybe a 2-3 hour wait just to get to the ticket office. Our guide, Louisa, was charming, friendly, and spoke wonderful English. She explained to us that the Vatican, formally called the "Vatican City State" is smallest recognized independent state in the world whose head is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The museum houses some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures, tapestries and furniture and mosaics throughout its seven miles of corridors. Louisa selected the most prominent of these to show us. She showed us paintings by Michelangelo and gave explanations of the Sistine Chapel before we entered it as it is a place of silence. Hardly silent, however, with 300-400 people inside a rather small space. Michelangelo painting of the Hand of God reaching out to Adam is a focal point of the ceiling. From there we met Ron, Pat, and the children who had waited so patiently in the heat. Louise quickly drew them in and explained that St. Peter's Basilica was built on the site where the apostle St. Peter was put to death and crucified upside down by his request since he didn't consider himself worth of dying in the same manner as did Christ. St. Peter is buried beneath the altar. The ceiling of St. Peter's is a coffered barrel vault with the largest unsupported dome in the world. The Pieta, sculpted by Michelangelo in 1499, depicts the agony of Mary, mother of Jesus, holding his lifeless body. The children all wanted to rub the bronze toe of St. Matthew which custom says will forgive 25 years of sins. As we ended our tour the children were able to see the changing of Swiss guards who serve as security for the Vatican City State.
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| The Vatican |
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| Vatican Dome |
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| Ceiling in Vatican museum hallway |
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| Waiting with guide Louisa to go into St. Peter's |
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| Main Altar in Vatican |
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| St. Peter's Bronze Foot |
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| Pieta |
We returned to the hotel, washed up and went for lunch. Everyone with the exception of Ron and I then went for visit to the Colosseum. Awesome and they even saw gladiators! How can you not be awed by the Colosseum!!! Ate dinner in front of the Pantheon where Michele and Jeff had previously eaten several times while in Rome. Profiteroles and gelato for dessert. Except Bella, who stopped for gelato and their way back to the hotel.
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| Cousins having dinner |
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| William and Theo in the Coliseum |
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| Coliseum: what is Theo imagining? |
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| William and Theo in the Coliseum |
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| Pat and Hilary and Dorsey in Coliseum |
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| Ron with street performer in Rome |
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Arrival in Rome
Once it ruled the Western World, and even the partial, scattered ruins of that awesome empire, of which Rome was the capital, are today among the most overpowering sights on earth. To walk the Roman Forum, to view the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Appian Way—these are among the most memorable, instructive, and illuminating experiences in all of travel. To see evidence of a once-great civilization that no longer exists is a humbling experience that everyone should have.
Thrilling, too, are the sights of Christian Rome, which speak to the long and complex domination by this city of one of the world’s major religions. As a visitor to Rome, you will be constantly reminded of this extraordinary history.
But it’s important to remember that Rome is not just a place of the past, but one that lives and breathes and buzzes with Vespas in the here and now. So take the time to get away from the tourist hordes to explore the intimate piazzas and lesser basilicas in the backstreets of Trastevere and the centro storico. Indulge in eno-gastronomic pursuits and stuff your days with cappuccinos, pizza, trattorias, wine bars, and gelato. Have a picnic in Villa Borghese, take a vigorous walk along the Gianicolo, or nap in the grass against a fallen granite column at the Baths of Caracalla. Rome is so compact, that without even planning too much, you’ll end up enjoying both its monuments and its simpler pleasures.
And we all have arrived, 16 of us, for our family adventure, celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. We will be staying at the beautiful Hotel de la Minerve, a magnificent roman mansion dating from the 1600s in the historic city center just minutes from the Pantheon, one of Rome's most important and historical buildings, just a short walk to Piazza Navona. Michele, Jeff, William, and Elsbeth arrived first, then we followed by about 30 minutes, and Pat and his family arrived about 2 hours later. We had to go just a few steps to the Pantheon to Piazza de la Ronda and had a quick lunch of pizza and watched the crowds. Then the children all in unison requested gelato. Hilary and Nicole took the kids to Piazza Navona to visit the Gelateria Caffe Pasticceria, one of Rome's most famous gelaterias. Most chose chocolate, of course, but Bella knew she wanted the coffee gelato!! The children all wanted to have their picture made with the elephant and the obelisk which stands in front of the hotel and outside the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerve. Sculpted by Gian Bernini, it was placed there in 1667. The Egyptian obelisk was found in newly excavations. Michele, Jeff, and I walked to the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone which houses three beautiful, if very dark, paintings by Caravaggio depicting the death of the apostle Saint Matthew. Walked through the Pantheon on the way back to the hotel. We all met up on the lovely roof garden and exchanged travel stories and the cousins got reacquainted and the sounds of giggles and laughter filled the air. Everyone was delighted to be together and we had a wonderful seafood dinner at a restaurant Ron had found while walking about the area. Great food, good company. Theo and Dorsey watched a movie on his phone and Theo was almost beside himself with fatigue from the trip and between nods he could hardly keep his eyes open. Time for bed for everyone!!
Thrilling, too, are the sights of Christian Rome, which speak to the long and complex domination by this city of one of the world’s major religions. As a visitor to Rome, you will be constantly reminded of this extraordinary history.
But it’s important to remember that Rome is not just a place of the past, but one that lives and breathes and buzzes with Vespas in the here and now. So take the time to get away from the tourist hordes to explore the intimate piazzas and lesser basilicas in the backstreets of Trastevere and the centro storico. Indulge in eno-gastronomic pursuits and stuff your days with cappuccinos, pizza, trattorias, wine bars, and gelato. Have a picnic in Villa Borghese, take a vigorous walk along the Gianicolo, or nap in the grass against a fallen granite column at the Baths of Caracalla. Rome is so compact, that without even planning too much, you’ll end up enjoying both its monuments and its simpler pleasures.
And we all have arrived, 16 of us, for our family adventure, celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. We will be staying at the beautiful Hotel de la Minerve, a magnificent roman mansion dating from the 1600s in the historic city center just minutes from the Pantheon, one of Rome's most important and historical buildings, just a short walk to Piazza Navona. Michele, Jeff, William, and Elsbeth arrived first, then we followed by about 30 minutes, and Pat and his family arrived about 2 hours later. We had to go just a few steps to the Pantheon to Piazza de la Ronda and had a quick lunch of pizza and watched the crowds. Then the children all in unison requested gelato. Hilary and Nicole took the kids to Piazza Navona to visit the Gelateria Caffe Pasticceria, one of Rome's most famous gelaterias. Most chose chocolate, of course, but Bella knew she wanted the coffee gelato!! The children all wanted to have their picture made with the elephant and the obelisk which stands in front of the hotel and outside the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerve. Sculpted by Gian Bernini, it was placed there in 1667. The Egyptian obelisk was found in newly excavations. Michele, Jeff, and I walked to the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone which houses three beautiful, if very dark, paintings by Caravaggio depicting the death of the apostle Saint Matthew. Walked through the Pantheon on the way back to the hotel. We all met up on the lovely roof garden and exchanged travel stories and the cousins got reacquainted and the sounds of giggles and laughter filled the air. Everyone was delighted to be together and we had a wonderful seafood dinner at a restaurant Ron had found while walking about the area. Great food, good company. Theo and Dorsey watched a movie on his phone and Theo was almost beside himself with fatigue from the trip and between nods he could hardly keep his eyes open. Time for bed for everyone!!
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| Hotel de la Minerve |
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| Oculus letting sunshine into Pantheon |
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| Inside the Pantheon |
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| Michele, Jeff and Cathy in the pantheon |
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| Bernini’s Elephant |
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