Venezia

On Sunday morning, our last day in Florence, we said goodbye to Amanda around 5:30 am. So sad to say goodbye....I certainly missed her for the next couple days.

We headed to the train station early afternoon, after saying a very, very reluctant goodbye to Florence.
And soon learned the very, very hard way that we had assigned seats on the train (oops!). So after a painful rearranging, we were able to stow our luggage, and find out seats.

And we made a new friend too....poor guy was assigned to share a seat w/3 crazy American women!
Off the train....and onto the public water taxi....

And after much effort we found our hotel....

Our last day in Italy, we buzzed all over Venice....just outside our hotel starting off the morning...

On our way over to Murano to see and buy some glass... Lunch was a delicious pepperoni and french fry pizza! Really, it was tasty!

Us in Piazza San Marco, w/St. Mark's church/cathedral/bascilica (who can remember?). I love this photo b/c there is just so much going on....

The Bridge of Sighs....this wasn't the only time we saw Italy sell out to the highest bidder. I think these buildings were actually under construction but this display is quite the opposite of the usual fabric covering that looks like the actual building....

Cruising down the Grand Canal....

Lisa & I wanted to take a picture with the canal and palazzos behind us in this amazing spot...but this gondalier was just hanging out there. So we got in place and then I just turned to him and held out my arm inviting him into our picture. And i am not exaggerating when I say he rolled his eyes, then took one step towards me to get into the picture. Hilarious! But it sure made for a cool photo....

Self-portrait whilst on the steps of the Rialto Bridge....Grand Canal in the background...

When we were in Siena, we talked to a couple who had just left Venice and found themselves in the middle of high tide one night so they had to borrow boots from their hotel. I secretly hoped we would have the same situaion so that we could walk the catwalks which are all over. No such luck with high tide....but lucky for us, the catwalks were still set up....
Grand Canal at night....
Last meal in Italy. :( Sad. At least I brought home a few amazing rings, right? This one is glass...

Farewell, Italia...see you soon (I hope!).

(sigh) Florence...

On this trip, I decided that Paris has nothing over Florence....except the Eiffel Tower of course. But besides that I love Florence as much....maybe more. I love it so much words don't properly explain....and that's the reason for the (sigh).

After a short bus ride (short ride on a bus, not a ride on a short bus) from Siena, we headed to the best B&B in the best location.....Luciano & Luciana (brother & sister)...

The view out our window in one direction: the market....

...and in the other direction we could see the Piazza Della Signoria where there are tons of these....

We headed to the Duomo first things and climbed the tower. I like to do that to get oriented. :)

We looooove graffiti....and 496 stairs!

Yesssss.....we all got the memo about blue day! (gorgeous Florence behind us)

And here it is....the unveiling of the ring that I bought in Siena. Calling it a ring doesn't begin to do it justice.....

Why did we take more pictures climbing up and down than we did of the view???

Damn these steps are small.....good thing I have Shiloh and Lisa in front of me to catch my fall!

So many pigeons....so little time....

I'm home!!!!

I like this restaurant...I don't even care if they are about to kick us out and tell us to go to a pizzaria down the street!

Best pizza on the trip....

And a temporary camera malfunction provided 'world on fire' type of pictures....amazing!

I loooooooove shopping....I even love watching other people shop!

I found the one...and I only had to go to every handbag store in the city 3 times! :)

Here's another shot of Francesca (the ring)....color accent photog by Lisa...

Yes please...I want to come back for Florence someday so I will rub the nose of this frightening boar and throw my penny into the drain...

David....the very one....we sneaked a few pictures despite the fact that the photo lady was on constant alert....however no photo can do him justice and all 3 of my travel companions agreed w/this. Must see to believe!

"I can take this guy"

Yes, Lisa, I'd be happy to take your picture....oops I didn't notice that a light post was growing out of your head....just take a couple steps to the left and lets try again.....

Dangit--I really didn't mean to give you an evergreen headress, I promise! Hmmm what else can we get to grow out of your head....

I call this one "The Biggest Loser Italy." There were lots of times where I could hear Jillian in my head..."you're lazy" or "increase your speed" or "get up" or several other versions w/lots of different expletives. :) This was my ongoing joke though---because the food is too healthy (not as delish as American food, if you know what I mean) and we walked 12 hours a day. :)

There are so many more pics but I'm exhausted so I'm done for tonight...I will end by saying Florence was 3 days of absolute bliss!!!

Siena

When Shiloh & I first started looking into hotels to book, we were considering staying one night in Siena, which is in Tuscany, between Rome and Florence. We found a review of a B&B on (Agritourismo Marciano) on TripAdvisor.com that said it was literally, heaven on earth! So we gambled and decided to check this place out and stay 2 nights.

And even with expectations that high, it faaaaaar exceeded everything! It is truly a place you just have to see to believe!!

This was part of our suite....

And the view out the windows (no screens!)....

The city was built completely on a hill, so everything was either up or down. It was this amazingly old, beautiful city with shops, shops, restaurants and more shops! And not much traffic--mostly all pedestrian streets.

This pic somewhat illustrates what it's like just walking around...

The first night we were there, the staff made us a 5 course dinner....it was one of the best moments of the trip getting to know all these fabulous people....

Il Campo....the main square (photography by Amanda)...

Me & two of my favorite things...

We almost gave up finding the lunch spot we were looking for, but were so glad we didn't because the food was amazing and the scenery might have been even better!

Shiloh, me, Pope....

When we ran into this shop, it was so much to take in we had to just stop and stare for a minute....

And in the end, we all ended up finding some treasures inside (no big surprise). I bought an out of this world piece of jewelry which you will see in my Florence post--which is next after this one...

And then dinner that night, in some sort of an old winery that they now use as a restaurant...
Siena was divine. It was a completely different pace than the other 3 that we went to---so amazing and so worth the detour!!!