** ITALY WITH FRIENDS JOURNAL PHOTOS**
Best of Italy Tour (September 25 - October 7, 2011)
Gary and Ruth inside the Pantheon.The domed ceiling of the Pantheon.The lively market at Campo dei Fiore.Kicking back at the Campo.Demonstration at Campo Dei Fiore.Crossing the Tiber River at Castel Sant' Angelo.
Our group at the Pantheon as we begin our walking tour of Rome.Deb and Don at the Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona.Yes, its time for gelato!Cindy is brave and tries a fresh drink from the Sunken Boat Fountain.Toasting the beginning of a wonderful trip through Italy.Brad, and Cindy with their son David and his wife Erin enjoy their meal 'al fresco'.
St. Peter's Basilica.Gary and Barbara enjoy a little lunch in Roma.The whole group ready for the 4 mile Vatican Museum tour.Treasures of the Museum.Watching the eyes of Jesus follow you as you pass this Flemish tapestry.Phew! We made it!
A visit inside St. Peter's.Ruth runs into her flight partner in St. Peter's. Al Fresco dinner in Roma.Enjoying a nightcap in the shawdow of the Pantheon.The Roman Forum.Don comtemplates the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
The group with their new friend Julius Caesar.The Roman Colosseum.Gary and Ruth enjoy a visit inside the Colosseum.Deb and Cindy checking out teh Colosseum.Finally time for lunch.Ruth is in trouble with the Gladiators.
Welcome to Tuscany. First stop, Montepulciano.Hayden makes a new friend.Just one of the many cute alleyways in Montepulciano.A stop for wine tasting of the Vino Nobile de Montepulciano.The lovely town hall in the Piazza Grande.See what happens when dare someone after a wine tasting? They did get great views.
Gary gets lucky at the Contucci Cantina. Remember those Prada bags?Enjoying some pici pasta in Montepulciano.The beautiful area around Pienza.Young lovers in Pienza.Waiting around again while the ladies shop.Quaint scene in Pienza.
Time for pizza dinner in Castellina.Yes, Cindy did it the whole calzone. Mama Mia!!A surprise visit from fomer tour member Michelle Mahoney from Michigan.After dinner stroll through the Via delle Volte.Castello Verrazzano tour with Gino.Beautiful fountain at Castello Verrazzano.
Castello Verrazzano.Gino, entertaining everyone with his knowledge of Castello Verrazzano.Barbara and Hayden enjoying Gino's excitement.A great group with a great view.Future Vin Santo or Holy Wine.Taking a tour through the ancient ageing cellars.
Then it was time for lunch and to toast a wonderful adventure.Sometimes you have to use whatever glasses work to read that wine bottle label.Our lunchtime view.Did we really eat and drink all of that food and wine???One last picture at Verrazzano to prove that Gary was still standing. Barbara and Ruth enjoying the roses in the hotel garden.
Avisit to Siena. It was a pretty tight squeeze on those steps.The Duomo in Siena.The magnificent marble floors inside the Duomo.The 550 year old frescos in the Piccolomini library in the Duomo.Barbara and Brad at Il Campo, the heart of Siena.
Fattoria San Donato.Tasting the local Vernaccia white vino.Checking out the wine making process.The hilltown of San Gimignano.Ready for dinner in San Gimiganano.A wonderful Tuscan meal La Terrazza.
Checking out the sights and views in San Gimignano.Hayden and Barbara on the old fortress tower in San Gimignano.Medieval streets in San Gimignano.Barbara and Ruth at the entry gate to San Gimignano.A visit to the exhibit San Gimignano 1300.Medeival costumes in the museum.
A visit to the American Military Cemetery.The many different regiments from the battles in this area of Italy.Learning about the cemetery from Phil.The Renaissance city of Florence. In the Uffizi courtyard.A visit to Piazza Duomo.Everyone loves to see David at Piazza Signoria.
The magnificent Ponte Vecchio.The mirror of the Arno River with the Ponte Santa Trinita.The group and Florence from Piazzalle Michelangelo.Some people are just "wierd".Hayden and the Man.Shop, Shop, Shop.
Beautiful scene from our hotel terrace.The Bay of Silence in Sestri Levante.Yeah, we are at the beach!!!Taking in the shops in Sestri Levante.Enjoying the relaxing pool at the hotel.That is my mohito!!
Sunset over Sestri Levante.Deb enjoying the setting sun on the hotel terrace.Hayden and Barbara ready for dinner.Enjoying our dinner with a view at the hotel.A delicious fish dinner along the sea.Moonlight over the Bay of Silence.
Taking the train to the Cinque Terre.Enjoying the train ride.The Cinque Terre village of Manarola.Our first group shot on the Mediterrenean.Starting our hike along the Via delle Amore.The beautiful scenery along the Via Delle Amore trail.
Brad and Cindy are lovers on the Via delle Amore.Taking a hike to the sea.Brad decides to see how the water feels.Everyone with all of the keys along the Via delle Amore.Hayden and Barbara celebrate their 42 years together on the Via delle Amore by putting their own lock along the path and tossing their keys in the sea.This is where their keys are now and forever.
Along the trail.Yes, it really is that beautiful!Watching a helicopter chasing boats on the sea.The Cinque Terre village of Riomaggiore.Peaceful scene in Riomaggiore.Boarding a boat for a cruise along the shore.
Riomaggiore from the sea.Manarola from the sea.The old town in Monterossa.The beach at Monterossa.Barbara finds her own little jewel.Brad and Cindy in Vernazza.
First boat ride in Venice.Roaming the alleys and canals in Venice.St. Mark's Square and Basilica.In awe of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge.Barbara and Hayden on our gondola ride.The Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal.