The first order of business today in Rome was Vatican City, certainly a must-see for anyone visiting Rome.Though I am not Catholic, it is hard to find the papal residence compelling. After all, Catholicism touches so many people, making Vatican City the spiritual home for millions of people worldwide. I couldn’t help […]

With Tuesday came the first trip on an Italian railroad — Trenitalia. For me, it was one of the moments I was looking forward to on this trip.Several years ago, I rode on a train in Germany. What strikes me about European train travel, when compared to that in America, is how […]

“I love your smile,” the waitress told me on the way out the door. The perfect compliment for the perfect evening.
So far this trip, dinner at Acqua Al 2 was the best meal we’ve had. The food kept coming, the wine was great and the atmosphere was jovial. To top it all […]

Today (thus far) we visited four churches — all with amazing architecture and great history.
We started out at Cenacolo di Ognissanti. The church, which dates to the 13th century, was the parish of the Vespucci family, including Amerigo (America’s namesake).
From there, we went to Il Duomo and climbed 470 plus steps (so […]

Just returned from a day out in Florence. It rained and was overcast, but nonetheless, it was great.We started out the day by going to Trattoria Za Za, where I had ravioli Ricotta filled with Ricotta Cheese and Spinach, complimented by Santa Cristina wine. I must admit that I am not usually […]

We just returned from a pretty amazing day out in Florence.
The night wrapped up with an amazing dinner at Vecchia Bettola. First there was anti-pasta, followed by pasts with an amazing vodka sauce. When it looked like the meal was over came the meat (86 euros worth). It had to be a […]

In less than 24 hours, I will be Italy bound.
Check back in about two weeks to see pictures of my journey.