Tonight, we strolled down the street south of the Vatican after a wonderful day in Florence while listening to an lovely accordian music!We took a guided day tripand enjoyed every minute of it! We could have spent two weeks in Florence alone, but we did our best to see everything. We left at 7.15am sharp and rode a bus through the gorgeous country side, passing vineyards, medievil cities and olive groves. We stopped halve way at an organic farm and had a chance to sample their products. EVERYTHING was delicious! We had a tast of their chocolates, pasta, black truffles, dried tomatos, and champane. After a cappuccino, we continued onto Florence an dhit the groud running when we arrived. First we all hopped out at the ponte vecchio for a panoramic view of the city. Then we was David, Santa Maria delFiore and its wonderful dome, the Baptistry, and Giottos Belltower. We had luch at a great restaurant hidden down an ally way that was quite a lively place!Periodically, a table in the back corner would burst into song and then other tables would start joining in. It was fabulous! I taped some of it, but I think the file is too large to post. After lunch, we walked to Santa Cruce Square an dhad some free time to explore after touring a leather factory, although I do not think the word factory describes it correctly. It was more of a fancy store where they also explained how they made their wonderful purses, gloves, belts jackets an dso on. I am so glad I dont have a credit card because I think I could have spent a LOT of money there! That was a brief overview of our time in Florence. I was a great trip and I am so glad we went!
Im sorry we dont have any pictures today, but we didnt have time to do back to the appartment to get our laptop and this is all I can do! Please excuse any typing errors also! I probably wont be able to post again until we get home so, until then!
Ciao!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Wounded Scarf
A letter to my avid readers:
Good news. Evidently I did so well on my fist blog that I am now required to write something. Now weather this is because Erin really liked my blog or was just tired of typing, I don’t know. I’m not sure if I want to write something everyday, but I don’t know if I really have a choice in the matter.
Fun at McDonalds!
We're almost positive this is the fountain that you have video of, Papa. Do you concur?
Mmmm. Isn't that gelato a work of art?! It was amazing and it got us out of the raind for a while.
A short anecdote:
I am starting the day at the end of the day because, it is the funny part. We went out to dinner around 7:40 pm at a restaurant that we really liked and got a buffet dinner. (We all agree that their potatoes are the best) Again, I am going to skip to the end. We waited a long time because last time they brought our check to the table, but tonight they were really busy with only one waitress. Finally, Mema got up and went to pay. This is the point where Erin always makes an appearance in every story. Just when you think this is not very funny, Erin just pops up out of the blue like a badly timed zit. I probably should have mentioned earlier that, because it was packed, we got a seat at the back next to the fire place. We were jubilant! Fire… : ) Okay, maybe we sould also mention that Erin and I are piromaniacs. Me more than Erin. But, anyways, as Erin was warming herself by the fire before we were going to go, she gets and idea. She takes the scark she is wearing(which she borrowed from me) and warms it right near the fire. She takes the scarf away and now part of it is on the fire. After Mema paid the bill, we quickly left. The question is, will we be welcomed the next time we dine?
Tomorrow we are going to Florence! We are taking a guided bus tour and will be leaving at 6:45 am :O We will be coming home too late to post tomorrow night so, be patient please :)
Until then! Ciao!
Good news. Evidently I did so well on my fist blog that I am now required to write something. Now weather this is because Erin really liked my blog or was just tired of typing, I don’t know. I’m not sure if I want to write something everyday, but I don’t know if I really have a choice in the matter.
Fun at McDonalds!
We're almost positive this is the fountain that you have video of, Papa. Do you concur?
Mmmm. Isn't that gelato a work of art?! It was amazing and it got us out of the raind for a while.
A short anecdote:
I am starting the day at the end of the day because, it is the funny part. We went out to dinner around 7:40 pm at a restaurant that we really liked and got a buffet dinner. (We all agree that their potatoes are the best) Again, I am going to skip to the end. We waited a long time because last time they brought our check to the table, but tonight they were really busy with only one waitress. Finally, Mema got up and went to pay. This is the point where Erin always makes an appearance in every story. Just when you think this is not very funny, Erin just pops up out of the blue like a badly timed zit. I probably should have mentioned earlier that, because it was packed, we got a seat at the back next to the fire place. We were jubilant! Fire… : ) Okay, maybe we sould also mention that Erin and I are piromaniacs. Me more than Erin. But, anyways, as Erin was warming herself by the fire before we were going to go, she gets and idea. She takes the scark she is wearing(which she borrowed from me) and warms it right near the fire. She takes the scarf away and now part of it is on the fire. After Mema paid the bill, we quickly left. The question is, will we be welcomed the next time we dine?
Tomorrow we are going to Florence! We are taking a guided bus tour and will be leaving at 6:45 am :O We will be coming home too late to post tomorrow night so, be patient please :)
Until then! Ciao!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A long delayed post
Sorry for the long gap!We have been keeping busy :) Since we last posted we have seen the Trevi Fountain, done a lot of shopping, and been to a Papal audience!
This is at the Goose Cafe where we have been having coffee almost every morning :D Yum! My favorite so far is their latte machiato and Sarah like to get a cappuccino.
As I am sure you can see, this is at the Trevi Fountain! We are going to go back to see it at night :)
"Viva la Papa!" This is at the Papal audience. It was inside this Wednesday because of the weather. Not a very good picture, we should have brought a longer lense. The Swiss guards were amazing! I didn't see one of them move the whole time :O
The Vatican City post box! :O How cool is that?!
And now, a post by Sarah E. Phillips to her avid readers:
Yell loudly and carry a big purse. That was the lesson being put into use that we had the pleasure of witnessing a few days ago. But first you have to understand why the show of outward violence and exasperation felt so satisfying. The first mistake was probably letting Erin use the map. I should have know we would get lost but she hadn’t lost anything so far, so, I thought it was okay. But now that I think about, it’s probably because of me that she hasn’t lost anything…yet. She might have gotten us there if we hadn’t missed our stop and gotten off at a different stop than she had planned. So, she looked at the map and figured out how to get there from this stop inside a McDonalds on a bathroom break. We walked for at least an hour and twenty minutes and as we walked for so long that the memory of another failed expedition to a internet point with her holding a map started to unpleasantly pop up in my mind. Sorry, I forgot to say that we were trying to get to the Trevi Fountain. So right about the point were Erin said we should be there soon, every thing started looking familiar. Not a good sign in my opinion if your going some where you should never had been before. We had walked in a circle and ended up at the bus stop next to the Vatican which is where were we had gotten on. So, we were all exhausted and decided to go home before we tried it again. I will get to the part with a big purse just wait : ) The next time we got off at the right stop and after much wandering, asking for directions, ignoring directions, retracing our steps, and following directions, we made it. Its was breath taking, but by then we were all tired and just wanted to go get on our buss and go to the apartment. Not that easy because it suddenly came to our attention that we had a time limit. (we are usually not good at time limits, we feel they restrict our creatively slow way of walking). The last bus left at six. If we missed it, we would be walking from the Trevi Fountain through the cute little vender lined streets al the way back to the apartment. The streets were starting to look less cute and more lined with uncomfortably, unevenly paved cobble stones and pushy venders. So, again we left with, for some odd reason, Erin in charge of the map. This time she came through and got us very close to a bus stop. Not the one we got off, not even the closest bus stop, but a bus stop. We couldn’t find the sign were we were supposed to wait. Then we spotted our buss, the last bus, the bus that was driving to the bus stop on the street ahead, the bus that was about to leave and this is where our days of training in dangerous traffic finally kicked in. At this moment we passed by the fact that we were stepping into a moving street of traffic without a little green man supporting our decision, and went for it. We got our bus with a few minutes to spare. We sat on the top of the bus that’s outside even thought it was pretty cold and sank into the molded plastic seats that had never seemed so comfortable. This is were the beginning makes sense. After sitting there on the bus waiting for it to leave some people caught our attention on the other side of the street. Not just our attention, a lot of other people were staring too. It was a man and a woman having a heated argument that quickly became something more like an yelling match in Italian. The man turned away, after it was clearly obvious that he was not wanted there, and started to walk away. The woman also started to turn away but it seemed that, after having a stroke of passionate brilliance, she turned around ran after him and lifted her large, red purse above her head and hit the man on the back of his head. He turns around and they start to yell again which is when the bus started to leave, like a curtain closing on a show. Now, your thinking, “why is that funny?” Its not, it was that it just felt very satisfying to see an action of aggressiveness and violence, which was exactly what I was feeling towards the small inconveniently label, look alike streets of Rome, Italy.
-Sarah
This is at the Goose Cafe where we have been having coffee almost every morning :D Yum! My favorite so far is their latte machiato and Sarah like to get a cappuccino.
As I am sure you can see, this is at the Trevi Fountain! We are going to go back to see it at night :)
"Viva la Papa!" This is at the Papal audience. It was inside this Wednesday because of the weather. Not a very good picture, we should have brought a longer lense. The Swiss guards were amazing! I didn't see one of them move the whole time :O
The Vatican City post box! :O How cool is that?!
And now, a post by Sarah E. Phillips to her avid readers:
Yell loudly and carry a big purse. That was the lesson being put into use that we had the pleasure of witnessing a few days ago. But first you have to understand why the show of outward violence and exasperation felt so satisfying. The first mistake was probably letting Erin use the map. I should have know we would get lost but she hadn’t lost anything so far, so, I thought it was okay. But now that I think about, it’s probably because of me that she hasn’t lost anything…yet. She might have gotten us there if we hadn’t missed our stop and gotten off at a different stop than she had planned. So, she looked at the map and figured out how to get there from this stop inside a McDonalds on a bathroom break. We walked for at least an hour and twenty minutes and as we walked for so long that the memory of another failed expedition to a internet point with her holding a map started to unpleasantly pop up in my mind. Sorry, I forgot to say that we were trying to get to the Trevi Fountain. So right about the point were Erin said we should be there soon, every thing started looking familiar. Not a good sign in my opinion if your going some where you should never had been before. We had walked in a circle and ended up at the bus stop next to the Vatican which is where were we had gotten on. So, we were all exhausted and decided to go home before we tried it again. I will get to the part with a big purse just wait : ) The next time we got off at the right stop and after much wandering, asking for directions, ignoring directions, retracing our steps, and following directions, we made it. Its was breath taking, but by then we were all tired and just wanted to go get on our buss and go to the apartment. Not that easy because it suddenly came to our attention that we had a time limit. (we are usually not good at time limits, we feel they restrict our creatively slow way of walking). The last bus left at six. If we missed it, we would be walking from the Trevi Fountain through the cute little vender lined streets al the way back to the apartment. The streets were starting to look less cute and more lined with uncomfortably, unevenly paved cobble stones and pushy venders. So, again we left with, for some odd reason, Erin in charge of the map. This time she came through and got us very close to a bus stop. Not the one we got off, not even the closest bus stop, but a bus stop. We couldn’t find the sign were we were supposed to wait. Then we spotted our buss, the last bus, the bus that was driving to the bus stop on the street ahead, the bus that was about to leave and this is where our days of training in dangerous traffic finally kicked in. At this moment we passed by the fact that we were stepping into a moving street of traffic without a little green man supporting our decision, and went for it. We got our bus with a few minutes to spare. We sat on the top of the bus that’s outside even thought it was pretty cold and sank into the molded plastic seats that had never seemed so comfortable. This is were the beginning makes sense. After sitting there on the bus waiting for it to leave some people caught our attention on the other side of the street. Not just our attention, a lot of other people were staring too. It was a man and a woman having a heated argument that quickly became something more like an yelling match in Italian. The man turned away, after it was clearly obvious that he was not wanted there, and started to walk away. The woman also started to turn away but it seemed that, after having a stroke of passionate brilliance, she turned around ran after him and lifted her large, red purse above her head and hit the man on the back of his head. He turns around and they start to yell again which is when the bus started to leave, like a curtain closing on a show. Now, your thinking, “why is that funny?” Its not, it was that it just felt very satisfying to see an action of aggressiveness and violence, which was exactly what I was feeling towards the small inconveniently label, look alike streets of Rome, Italy.
-Sarah
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Last night we ate out at a lovely buffet style place that was amazing! (I am eating the lefts overs in the apartment right now as I type this.) After dinner Sarah and I had cappuccinos. We didn’t care that cappuccinos are strictly morning drinks in Italy, they were delicious! Hands down the best coffee I have ever had. After that we were brought a complimentery after dinner drink that is supposedly good for the digestion. It looked like a shot to me : O It was kind of lemony and not sweet AT ALL! I almost wanted to spit it back out but I finished it just for the experience. Your know, “When in Rome…”
Today we got three day passes to a hop on- hop off buss tour and went to see the Vittoriano, a monument to the first king of a unified Italy, and the Colosseum. It was awe inspiring! They are simply enourmous :O
Mmmm... good times :)
This mesage has been aproved by Sarah E. Phillips
I didn't get to write anything yet( Erin woulden't let me touch it.) but expect a daily instalments by me to this blog soon.
Today we got three day passes to a hop on- hop off buss tour and went to see the Vittoriano, a monument to the first king of a unified Italy, and the Colosseum. It was awe inspiring! They are simply enourmous :O
Mmmm... good times :)
This mesage has been aproved by Sarah E. Phillips
I didn't get to write anything yet( Erin woulden't let me touch it.) but expect a daily instalments by me to this blog soon.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Day 2!
I'm in love with my blue rain coat. -Sarah
"L" means she loves me ;D -Erin
This morning we went for a three hour walk. After I got Sarah out of bed :P She slept the whole night, had no trouble with the time change, and still I had to drag her out of bed. Once she was half way awake, she started mumbling about what she would wear. This is where Mema came in with a brilliant response. Papa, you would be so proud of your wife’s spontaneous song writing skills :) Here are the lyrics, “Wear what you want, wear what you want, just get off your but and wear it.” The tune is even more amazing! :D We went to the Vatican first which was having some big event for emergency response workers. We crossed the street to the Vatican and found ourselves in a sea of EMTs, paramedics and other people in reflective jumpsuits. We then continued down Via Dei Conciliazone to the Castel Santi Angelo. On the way back to apartment we stopped for a little gelato :) I had hazelnut and chocolate, Sarah had lemon, and Mema had tiramisu. They were all simply scrumptious, but I must say that MINE was the best ;-) However, our best find on the way back to the apartment was toilet paper! We were paying for some apples and diet coke when I spotted the toilet paper behind on a shelf next above the counter. Our short supply was about out and we had no idea where to find any so, naturally we were ecstatic :D Our next mission is to buy buss passes and try to make sense of the buss routes :P Wish us luck!
Ciao!
First day in Rome!
We had a good first day in Rome! We were more tired than I thought we would be and ended up not following our “itinerary” at all :P We were picked up from the airport and taken to the apartment which is so cute and tiny :D First we unpacked and then walked down the street to a little snack shop and had sandwiches and Mema found diet cokes. “Hooray!”(in the coolest cans! -SARAH hi I’m here too:D) We then came back to the apartment and took a wee nap for FIVE HOURS :O … yeah we were tired. After we were rested up we went exploring. We found lots of little shops and pizzerias and bought some postcards. Then we went to the Vatican square which was beautiful! We are definitely going to go back in the sunlight though for a better look tomorrow. Then, on the way back, we stopped for dinner.
So, that was our first day!
Ciao!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Here we go!
I am writing this at 4:06 am :O It is crazy early! Just thought I would ask for your prayers for a safe journey and post this Welsh traveler's prayer.
"Father, you have called us to a pilgrimage of faith. The light of your truth summons us, and the call of faith is a constant challenge on our journey. We give thanks for the desire to seek you: we give thanks for the voices from the past that offer guidance, for signposts pointing to the next stage, for companions who share the journey, for footsteps in the sand of pilgrims before us, for the conviction that, unseen but not unknown, you are with us. Father, keep us faithful to the vision, steadfast on our pilgrimage so that the distant goal may become a reality, and faith at last lead to sight."
Isn't that beautiful? :)
Alright then, off we go, Arrivederci!
"Father, you have called us to a pilgrimage of faith. The light of your truth summons us, and the call of faith is a constant challenge on our journey. We give thanks for the desire to seek you: we give thanks for the voices from the past that offer guidance, for signposts pointing to the next stage, for companions who share the journey, for footsteps in the sand of pilgrims before us, for the conviction that, unseen but not unknown, you are with us. Father, keep us faithful to the vision, steadfast on our pilgrimage so that the distant goal may become a reality, and faith at last lead to sight."
Isn't that beautiful? :)
Alright then, off we go, Arrivederci!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Plan
My papa had promised my mema that he would take her back to Europe to see Italy when my mom was an infant and for one reason or another, they never made it back. And so, knowing that my sister, Sarah, and I longed to go to Italy so much, he decided to send us with her instead :) That is how we ended up on this amazing, once in a lifetime trip!
We will be staying in Rome for exactly two weeks in THIS lovely apartment. I still can't believe it! :o
And here is our tentative plan for our first day in Rome!
Friday the 5th: arrive in Rome at 7:45am, walk to the Vatican, locate all of the important things like, the bank, a coffe shop, gelato :D, attend Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls at 4:00pm, eat dinner at the Goose Restaurant, and then go see the Trevi Fountain by moon light!
We will be updating this blog with lots of pics and stories during our stay here in bella Roma so, check in often!:)
Ciao!
We will be staying in Rome for exactly two weeks in THIS lovely apartment. I still can't believe it! :o
And here is our tentative plan for our first day in Rome!
Friday the 5th: arrive in Rome at 7:45am, walk to the Vatican, locate all of the important things like, the bank, a coffe shop, gelato :D, attend Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls at 4:00pm, eat dinner at the Goose Restaurant, and then go see the Trevi Fountain by moon light!
We will be updating this blog with lots of pics and stories during our stay here in bella Roma so, check in often!:)
Ciao!
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