Welcome to Italy – Pasta, Gelato, and a Vespa
Venice, the City of Bridges and one of the most famous cities in Italy, is where our journey starts. We set out to explore the quaint, narrow cobblestone streets and winding alleys. It didn’t take long for me to realize how beautiful, charming, and fascinating the island city was. From its historic architecture, churches, and museums to its gondolas, pasta, and bread. We decided to take a break on the Rialto Bridge, one of the oldest and most famous bridges in Venice, constructed in 1118 it serves as the prime pedestrian crossing over the Grand Canal. Sydni and I would later get our picture on the Ponte Della Paglia, also known as the Straw Bridge, with the Bridge of Sighs in the background. We strolled through the crowed Piazza San Marco to visit Saint Mark’s Basilica. I would capture an amazing picture of Santa Maria Della Salute atop St. Mark’s Bell Tower. The Basilica of Saint Mary, constructed in 1681, is one of my favorites. The Roman Catholic Church stands on the final stretch of the Grand Canal, over the water from St. Mark’s.
Our quest for the perfect gelato did not happen in Venice. We probably didn’t travel far enough out of the tourist traps to appreciate the country’s famous ice cream. A few days later we jumped on a train and ventured two hours to Florence leaving the historic city behind.
Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany Region and the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Florence was a blast! We found our gelato and ate a ton of pasta, bread, and olive oil. Sydni and I zoomed around the Tuscany Region on a Vespa, my sister Tara, could not figure out how to start or stop the scooter. OMG! She was escorted around with the tour guide in a baby blue love bug. The Italian Food Tour took us off the beaten path to sample the local cuisine.
TBD
