** ITALY WITH FRIENDS JOURNAL PHOTOS - CONTINUED
Rome to the Renaissance Tour (June 3 - June 9, 2011)
Julie and David inside the ancient Colosseum.Our welcome meal in Roma.Donald and Cynthia with their new friends.The magnificient Pantheon.The fountain of the four rivers at Piazza Navona.Crossing the Tiver river at Castello Sant' Angelo.
Toni on the terrace of the Vatican Museum with the dome of St. Peter's.Enjoying a tour through the ancient galleries of the Vatican Museum.Emily and Rhonda with the god of wine Bacchus in the Vatican Museum.A visit inside St. Peter's Basilica.The magnificient dome of St. Peter's.Emily rubbing the feet of the ancient statue of St. Peter.
Enjoying a night out at a Roman club.Yes, Ryan is so cool in Rome.
Cynthia at our first stop in Tuscany in Montepulciano.Ryan and David climb the city hall tower in Montepulciano.Ryan and Emily in the hotel window overlooking the Piazza Cisterna in San Gimignano. The same one they overslept in.Everyone ready for our dinner with a view in San Gimignano.The magical streets of San Gimignano.Rhonda and her new friends at the pain and torture museum.
Rhonda and Emily at Castello Verrazzano Winery.Enjoying the castle tour with Gino.The beautiful estate of Castello Verrazzano.Toni in the ancient ageing cellars.Everyone enjoying a delicious meal and wine tasting.Donald, Cynthia and Emily after the 3 hour feast. "Did I really eat and drink all of that?"
One last photo at Castello Verrazzano.Shopping on the streets of San Gimignano.Ryan's 20th chocolato gelato cone.Rhonda, Emily and Ryan at the Fountain of Joy in Siena's Il Campo.Julie and David at Il Campo in Siena.The group at the Duomo in Siena.
Ryan and Julie pose for a photo in the tiny village of Monterriggione.Donald checking out the beautiful view at Monterriggione.Enjoying, well sort of, some Lemoncello in Monterriggione.Emily and Ryan enjoy the views in Castellina.Holding up the ancient vault in Castellina.Ryan gets his Adkins size pizza in Castellina.
Visiting beautiful Brolio Castle.Donald helps Rhonda look for treasures.Wow, what a great looking group.The former model in Rhonda coming out. We sure missed you Rich.Cynthia and Donald with beautiful Tuscany in the background.Now we get to learn how the wine is made from Silvia at Badia a' Coltibuono.
The production facility for Badia a' Coltibuono.We even got to visit the vineyards.Thanks Silvia, for a wonderful visit.Tony finds a new friend in the Vineyards.Then it was time for lunch at the Badia a' Coltibuono restaurant.Inside the San Lorenzo chuch at Badia a' Coltibuono.
The lovely garden at Badia a' Coltibuono.A rainy tour of the gardens.A wine tasting in the private cellars. Ryan and some wine from his birth year.A visit to the American Military Cemetery.The only medal of honor winner buried here happens to be an Aggie. Rhonda finds a familiar name on the wall of the missing.
Beautiful words for our fallen heros.Toni, a former member of the army.Time to visit Florence and the Piazza Duomo.Emily checking out the Prada store across from the hotel.If these are your parents, please help them!Enjoying some yummy gelato in Florence. Yes, Ryan did have chocolate again.
Our first group shot at the Renaissance stairs leading to Capital Hill.Trying out the fresh spring water at Il Nasone.Toni at the Roman Forum.A visit to the Colesseum.Ryan and Emily finally make it to Italy.Emily and Rhonda have fun with the gladiators.