A Moment's Escape

Looking back at pictures is currently the best remedy for treating my travel obsession.

Really does help ease a challenging day or stressful week sometimes.

View from Riomaggoire, Cinque Terre, Italy

Oh how I love you, Italian Cuisine.

Pizza My Heart, literally.

The pizza guys at Gusta Pizza made my pizza in the shape of a heart.

I would have married him instantly.

The Canals of Venice

Venice in Pictures, Pictures of Venice.

Siena

Siena was a half-day trip from Florence.

Apparently it was Florence's greatest rival.. until it lost.
The plague wiped out over 1/3 of Siena's population and the city never recovered.

Siena is split into 17 parts, each represented by a colorful storybook-looking flag.

When I visited there was a traditional parade, complete with young men in velvet outfits and tights.

I ate Siena's typical pastry, paneforte.

Siena felt slightly like a fairytale.

Florence

Florence is beautiful. I think I heard more English than Italian spoken and I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the city's residents are expats and visitors... but the city is a dreamy and peaceful treat that embodies the Renaissance like none other. Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, and Botticelli are three Florentine Renaissance men that inspired me. Highlights included the Santa Maria del Fiore (and Brunelleschi's incredible Duomo), the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo, the statue of David, the Ufizi Gallery, plenty of piazzas, Gusta pizza, the Boboli gardens and walking along the river and across Florence's famous Ponte Vecchio.

Rome: The Ancient City

Roma, Roma, Roma! 

As short of a visit as it was, it was fabulous. But I had this feeling, this sensation, 

that the city was falling apart before my eyes... that the city is constantly falling apart. 

It also seems like a slow moving city... Their metro system consists of only two lines, 

and any attempt to expand upon it fails because they dig deep and-of course-find more ruins! 

Well, that complicates the process now doesn't it? Arriverderci!

Ciao!