Rome

Rome
My absolutely favorite city. I thought Paris would be my city, but its completly Rome that has my heart. We got there later in the evening on day 16 of my trip. and we went straight to the Trevi Fountain. I loved it there. I just wish it wasn't as crowded as it was. I threw my coin in and made my wish :)

Trevi Fountain 

Trevi Fountain

Next was the Pantheon. I cried, the inside was absolutely beautiful. I finally go the same feeling that I did at the Cliffs of Moher. The wonderment and amazement, that i was sitting in a place that had stood the test of time for 2000 years. 

Pantheon

Pantheon

We walked around for a bit and found the Spanish Steps (that were under construction) and one of the Egyptian Obelisks. There are 8 of them, that were brought back when Rome conquered Egypt. One of them is the largest standing and oldest Obelisk in the world. 

Spanish Steps 

Egyptian Obelisk

Egyptian Obelisk

On day 17, I got to see the Colosseum and the Forum. We were supposed to see the Forum first, but due to the pouring down rain, we cancelled it. However we did get to go on the arena floor of the Colosseum. It is crazy to think of all the years this has stood and the things that it has seen. 

Colosseum

This is the stones that held the ropes of the ceiling

Originial stone road

Colosseum

The "basement" of the Colosseum where the fighters and animals would be

On the Arena Floor

Since we didn't get to go to the Forum, I decided ot go there on my own. I got a little lost (I read the map wrong) but I ended up getting to walk around Rome some more and it was amazing. We did make it to the Forum and climbed up a hill. Not the Palestine Hill, but another and honestly I think we had some amazing views. We didn't go down into the Forum, because we decided that the views from where we had climbed were much better. 

This place is where all the important decisions were made. It would be the place that the US democracy would get its ideas from. 

Forum

Forum

Forum

Forum

Then we went walking some more and found what we were told is the Wedding cake monument. It looks much much older than it actually is. We walked some more and found the cat sanctuary. It is where Julius Cesear was killed and they turned it into an area for the cats! I was so happy that I found it since my two kitties are rescue kitties :) 

One of the best things about Rome is that you can walk a few city blocks and find something that is 2000 years old. It could have been anyone's house but it is so amazing to stumble across. 

Wedding Cake monument 

Cat Sanctuary where Julius Cesear was killed

old ruins in the city

The last thing I did was a pasta making class with the group. I wish that I wouldn't have done it. I could have seen so many things in Rome instead. 

Needless to say Rome was one of my favorite places in the world and I can't wait to go back! 

Cinque Terra

This is one of the most beautiful places in Italy! Cinque Terra means 5 lands in Italian and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 5 villages are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. I visited Vernazza and Manarola while there for the afternoon. The 5 towns are only accessible via train or by hiking.
We stopped first at Vernazza and had a lunch by the ocean. It was the best pasta I've ever had in my entire life. Gnocchi Bolognese was superb.

Vernazza

Vernazza

Vernazza

Cave to the ocean in Vernazza

After my amazing lunch, we hopped on the train and headed to Manarola. This is the "crown jewel" of Cinque Terra or at least I believe it is. I got the best photo of my entire month long trip. I would spend an entire week long vacation here if I could. 

Manarola

Manarola

Manarola

Manarola 

Pisa, Florence, and San Gimignaro

After visiting Cinque Terra, we stopped in Pisa for a quick minute before heading to Florence. After a tour of Florence, it was on to San Gimignaro, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited it real quick then did a Wine Tasting in one of the wineries there. I love some kinds of white wine, but was a little disappointed by the wine in tuscany believe it or not. I was more in love with the wine in Germany.

Pisa is not a destination. I'm glad I went and can say that I've been there, but I don't ever need to go again. You can't bring your bus close to Pisa, you have to walk. Its not far, but its about 15 minutes both ways, and it has so many people peddling anything and everything. Be warned and keep your stuff close at hand.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa

First stop on tour was the Duomo. It is stunningly beautiful on the outside. The inside was a little bland compared to the beauty that was the outside. Its another UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can see from the photos why. 

Duomo

Duomo

Duomo

Next we walked to the Ponte Vecchio, which is a medievil bridge that has shops over it. There used to be butchers shops, but now there are jewelry shops.

Ponte Vecchio 

Then we walked under the archways (that used to be a passage from one side of the city to the other for the royal family) to the Piazza del Signoria to see the Statue of David. 

Archways

Statue of David

Carousel on our Walk

After that we did a tour of a leather shop, which believe it or not was super cool. Leather is a huge industry in Florence. I ended up buying a few things including a "promise/puzzle" ring. It is a ring with 4 bands that intersect. It will fall apart if taken off (which is has several times and is currently at a jewelers with hopes of getting back together). 

After that we were on to San Gimignaro in Tuscany. It is called the city of towers, there used be 20-25 towers in the town, but now there are only 12. We had the world's best gelato which is currently fighting with the place just across the Piazza for that title. 

Then on to the wine tasting in tuscany. The place was beautiful and i'm glad that I did it. I can see how people would spend weeks on vacation there. 

San Gimignaro

San Gimignaro

Tuscany

Monaco

I spent an evening in Monaco and this just confirmed that I'm truly supposed to be a Princess. I mean I've always known it, but I'm pretty sure I was Grace Kelly in another life and supposed to be royalty.
We ate at this little cafe directly behind the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried.

Group eating 

Princess Grace greeting her peasants :) 

Cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried

Cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried

After eating and seeing the Cathedral, we walked to the Palace of Monaco, and took some amazing photos. 

Palace of Monaco

Palace of Monaco

Finally it was on to a rooftop bar for some wine and then to Monte-Carlo! I used the Tim Parsons method of only betting 20 euro. I ended up winning back my money plus 30 euro so I can't complain! 

I should have honestly spent the day here. It was truly magical.