Location: Pisa, Florence, Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Fuore, Isla de Capri, Pompeii, Rome, Venice
Travel Time: June 30-July 9, 2014
It seemed that after our amazing week in Greece, no place could be as satisfying. Fortunately, we had Italy to look forward to next! While it wouldn’t compare to the happiness we felt at the International Convention, Italy was definitely a close second! We left Athens, Greece that Monday, June 30th. We were able to find a really great flight for $40 directly from Athens to Rome (http://www.vueling.com/en). We took the airport train transfer to get to the Central Rome Termini Station. From there, Tj and I used our Eurail pass to take the high speed train to Pisa. It seemed like a lot of travel but overall the commute was very short. We arrived in Pisa that afternoon with plenty of time to tour. We left our backpacks in a locker at the train station and off we were. Of course our first spot was the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We bought our tickets to climb to the top. There are no elevators so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes; preferably shoes with a grip since the steps are all marble. Even though I am afraid of heights, with Tj’s help, I made it to the top. The view was spectacular. It was shortly before sunset so seeing the colors of the sky over the city of Pisa was picture perfect. Afterward, we did some walking around the city, had a nice dinner at an outside restaurant and of course, ate gelato. It was such a nice, calm experience. It was not overly crowded and there were no pushy vendors around. Definitely a great destination if you just want to relax. When we were done, we grabbed our bags and took next the train to Florence.
We arrived in Florence later that evening. Tj had found a hostel on Trip Advisor named Albergo Losanna (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187895-d235991-Reviews-Albergo_Losanna-Florence_Tuscany.html). It was nice that they allowed us to check in really late. We had our own bedroom with a sink so that came in handy for teeth-brushing and face-washing. The bathroom (consisting of a toilet and shower) was just across the hallway. I will say the decor look rather outdated and I was glad we had our own bed sheets with us. However, we only planned on staying one night so the accommodations worked out fine. We had a good night sleep and woke up the next morning ready to tour the city. Even though we had checked-out of the hostel, they were more than willing to hold our luggage for us. Everything in Florence was within close walking distance. Our first stop was to find some breakfast. Most places in Italy have free wi-fi which helped us a lot. While eating, we were looking up locations to tour. We tried making a reservation to see the Michelangelo exhibit but the line was way too long. So instead, we walked past the Uffizi Gallery and then headed over to the Piazza Della Signoria where there were replicas of the many famous Renaissance statues found in Florence. Since we were on a time crunch, the replicas really came in handy. We also went past the Piazza del Duomo. Again, the line was incredibly long and we only had a day to tour, so we just opted to take pictures outside. Of course, more gelato was involved (I’m pretty sure we had it every day while in Italy). When the day was over, we picked up our bags from the hostel and headed back to the train station. Our next stop was Naples.
That evening, we arrived in Naples. Definitely a busier, more crowded city. The train station alone was packed with people. We took a cab to the Hertz rental car office. He warned us that the crime rate is higher in Naples than some of the other cities we had visited, so for us to use caution. At the rental car facility, Tj handled business while I watched the bags. Once we had the car, we asked the manager where the best place to get pizza was; Naples is known for having the BEST pizza. He said “Pizzeria da Michele. But you can’t go there, not with the rental car.” He was worried that somebody would carjack us. Did we listen? Of course not. Besides, we’re from Chicago, how bad could it really be? So we plugged the address into the GPS and found the restaurant. Tj went in to order the pizza while I sat outside to watch the car. I can admit, there was a lot of activity going on around us. But we did it! And the pizza was SO worth it; definitely the best pizza we have ever had! We got the pizza and off we were, hitting the road to one of Italy’s precious gems: The Amalfi Coast.
Tj had visited Amalfi in 2009 and stayed with a couple, Luca and Carmella, who rent a B&B above their house. However, this time we had 3 other brothers that were meeting us and the couple already had a family staying with them. So we found another B&B not far from their house named Nido Degli Dei (http://www.nidodeglidei.it). This was by far the best B&B we had stayed at our entire vacation. We had a very comfortable room, there was a rooftop patio and she had a full dining room and bar downstairs. There was more than enough space for privacy and the view was unbelievable. She also had her own in-house wine which we definitely enjoyed. That first night, the 5 of us just stayed up talking and taking in the sights. That next morning, it was time to see what Positano had to offer. First, we stopped by Luca and Carmella’s house to say hello. They were so hospitable and offered to have dinner ready for us that night. We left and went to the coast of Positano where we had fresh seafood and spent time on the beach. We also saw the Amalfi Cathedral and did a little bit of shopping. That night, we went back to Luca and Carmella’s where they had a full spread of pizza and wine. Even though they spoke Italian and we spoke English, with a few broken Spanish words here and there we were able to communicate. It really shows how Jehovah’s people are united no matter what language you speak.
The next day, we headed down to Sorrento where we took a ferry to the Isle of Capri. The weather was perfect so we wanted to spend the day outside. When we got off the ferry, there were several locals trying to negotiate prices for private boat tours. We found a gentleman who was willing to take us on a private tour around the island. The price was great so we agreed. He had his young assistant Rico take us out. The tour was only supposed to be 2 hours but we ended up staying out for 4. It was great! We saw several grottos, pulled up along other beaches and did some swimming. The boys even found some steps to a cave that was hidden. We really felt like celebrities cruising around on our private boat. As we pulled back to the island, sunburned and all, we captured the perfect view. We enjoyed some good laughs and limoncello at a beach side restaurant. It was by far the best tour we had done so far. We finished off with some Gelato back on the coast of Amalfi and then called it a night.
Our last day before returning to Rome, we opted for the tour of Pompeii. I will say it was incredibly hot so definitely bring a bottle of water and put on your SPF. The ancient ruins were awesome. So much of the city was still in tact despite the iconic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. There was an audio tour you could purchase and a tour map, although I wish we had an actual tour guide. The city was very large so sometimes I would get confused as to where we were. But there definitely was a lot to see! I’m sure there were plenty of things we missed which gives us a good reason to go back. I would also like to go to the top of Mount Vesuvius. There are tours you can take; unfortunately, due to the weather being so hot the tours were closed that day. We took in as much as we could and then it was time to drive back to Naples and return the rental car. We were taking a cab to the train station when we saw our brothers and sisters doing public witnessing right outside the rental car facility! Of course, we had to stop to take a picture. Then it was off to the station. We took the high speed train and next thing we knew, we were back in Rome.
In Rome, Tj and I stayed at the Trinity Bed & Breakfast (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187791-d662916-Reviews-Trinity_Bed_Breakfast-Rome_Lazio.html) which was just 2 blocks from the Manzoni train station. This came in handy when it came to touring the city since you can get pretty much anywhere by train. The room was nice; a king size bed with our own private bathroom and wifi included. Once we were settled, we looked up directions to the nearest Kingdom Hall. We found a location that had a meeting that same night in Spanish so Tj and I went. It was a little stressful at first since the commute was rather long and we could not locate the address. However, after a quick prayer and some help from a taxi cab driver, we arrived just in time for the Service Meeting. Afterward, the friends were very welcoming and even had treats to share. One sister even offered to walk us back to the bus station and wait with us until our correct bus arrived. We were so appreciative. We made it back safely to our B&B and took notice of this nice little restaurant around the corner. It was by far the best lasagna I have ever had! After a long day of travel and commuting, we decided to call it a night so we could be ready for another day of touring.
The following morning, Tj and I decided to see some major sites. Our first stop was the Colosseum. We bought the advance pass that let us cut the line to save on time. The tour included a tour guide along with an audio guide for additional information. There is also a museum inside the Colosseum filled with artifacts of Ancient Rome. Outside the Colosseum, you are a short walking distance from the Temple of Divus Iulius, also known as the Temple of Caesar. After quite a bit of walking, we took a break and had some delicious spaghetti bolognese at a restaurant not far away. We then headed over to see Trevi Fountain. I must admit, I was a little disappointed considering the fountain was under construction. There was no water and the fountain was covered in scaffolding. Hopefully, Terahl and I can return to one day see the restoration complete. We did some more walking and found ourselves taking a break on the Spanish Steps. I think it was at that moment that it finally hit me that I was in Rome. Later that night, we met up with the rest of our group for some nightlife activities. We really had some great laughs that night.
For our last day in Rome, all 5 of us went to the Kingdom Hall to visit the English congregation. To our surprise, there were quite a few other friends who had also attended the International Convention in Athens, Greece. It felt like a mini reunion. We tried connecting with some of the friends later that evening, but with limited cell phone service it didn’t work out. Tj and I went roaming the streets and found ourselves at Lungo il Tevere (http://www.lungoiltevereroma.it/). It. Was. AWESOME! Definitely one of the highlights of Rome. There were so many cool street vendors and different food spots. The way the decorative lights shined over the river was just beautiful. As Tj and I were walking, we ran into our friend Anthony! It was such a coincidence we found each other in such a large city like Rome. The 3 of us grabbed a bite to eat and then stopped for some ‘chocolate shots’: a shot of liqueur of your choice inside an eatable chocolate shot glass. We had so much fun that night. I would highly recommend visiting this area if you are looking for something fun to do in the evening. It was a great way to end our stay in Rome. While the boys were headed back to the United States, Tj and I were on the move again. This time for a little private time and romance. And of course, what better place, than Venice!
We stayed in a hotel named Venice Resorts (http://www.hotels.com/ho319024/venice-resorts-venice-italy/). The room was very nice; very modern with plenty of space, a television and air conditioning. Venice is definitely more laid back. Plenty of places for shopping, eating and enjoying the beauty. For touring, we visited St. Mark’s Square and went to the top of the bell tower. The view was fantastic. We also took a gondola ride through the canals of the city. It was rather pricey but it’s one of those things you feel you should definitely do while in Venice. We then roamed the streets and had some more gelato (of course). We noticed the tide seemed like it was getting a little high. When the street vendors started to pack up their displays, we knew we were in trouble. Sure enough, it started pouring rain! In just a matter of minutes, you could see a slew of people (including us) trying to run and catch the indoor water taxi. It was complete chaos. Tj and I thought we were getting off at the correct stop by our hotel but we were wrong. We ended up completely soaked from head to toe. It definitely made for a funny story later on. The good thing is, when it rains in Venice it doesn’t last very long. Before we knew it, the sun was back out shining again.
As our last location in Italy, we really took it all in. We had an amazing 10 days and couldn’t believe how much we were able to accomplish in such a short period of time. Overall, I would highly recommend Italy to any traveler who is planning to visit Europe. You will not be disappointed. From the scenery to the food, there were no disappointments. I will say the prices were definitely a little higher than some of the other countries we had visited. But if you can learn to budget wisely, you can still have a really great experience. We both would definitely love to visit Italy again in the future. Hopefully our readers have the same (if not better) experience as we did! Alas, it was time to move on. Next up: Switzerland. Ciao!
“And a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn apart.” Ecclesiastes 4:12
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Enjoy the photos!
Agape,
Asia Johnson
Traveling Threefold Cord 