Returning home from our trip, Tom’s blog will now be a work shared by both, stories and pictures from both of our eyes. Our theme became Eat (trying to taste every Italian dish served to us), Pray (Visit and Climb every town’s cathedral and duomo), and Love (Enjoy the time shared between old and new friends).
Our goal was simple: Eat and taste wine through as much of Italy as we could see in the two weeks, while seeing as much as possible and learning a few facts along the way. So we are going to pass along experiences, lessons learned and lots of pictures.
After many weeks of excitement and anticipation, we land in Pisa, Italy on a grey and wet day to join Tom and begin our adventure. We quickly grab a taxi, and Tom is anxious to share with us the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Here’s the fact learned about the Leaning Tower – it started to tilt even before the third story was finished in 1274. As we hurried from the tower and headed up the stairs to catch the train to La Spezia, Rich discovered that his wallet was missing. It appears that in the excitement of our arrival, exhausted from the lack of sleep during the flight, and being the possible target of some gypsy children, Richard was the victim of a pick pocket, losing the wallet with, of course, money, license, and credit cards.
Hint to future travelers is to keep the wallet in a very secure place, keep the passport very safe, and never let your guard down. So our first new word of the day in Italian was “Polizia”.
Once we arrived in La Spezia, we were welcomed by some of the friends Tom has made during his time prior to our arrival. Although he does not speak a word of Italian, Tom had managed to have made friends and had the locals caring for him in every restaurant and trattoria. To the future travelers that will follow Tom, do not miss a visit to Dominico’s Enoteca.
He will treat you with a great glass of wine and unbelievable amounts of antipasti will keep arriving at your table until you can not eat not even one small bit of beautiful parmesan cheese.The plan for Easter Sunday was to spend the day exploring Genoa. As we walked to the train station, Janet did a little window shopping. It was decided she needed one of these, and the glass trunk made it just too cute to pass up.
After a little more discussion we thought it best and financially prudent to continue on to Genoa vice buying a car… boy was that a close call!
Seemed as if much was closed due to the holiday, so we wandered the streets taking in the sites. Capturing the best window shot became a goal through the week, along with great people shots.
We spent a few minutes people watching while sitting on the steps of San Lorenzo in anticipation of the opening of its massive doors. This was our first introduction to a massive building built of white and black marble.
The doors never did open but we enjoyed, as many others did just sitting on the steps of this immense cathedral and being in awe of its beauty, while children climbed on the statues and street musicians played for coins
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| Damn I am in awe... |
Seems that they were celebrating the Basil Festival. Basil was everywhere on the streets, but there was never enough on our entrées. Joke got to be, ask for extra basil, and maybe you’ll get a few leaves. If you are a basil lover, you will need to ask for extra basil on your favorite pizzas.
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| My basil will never see a Margherita Pizza... Never! |
The train ride back to La Spezia may have been one of the best naps ever taken. Naps in the afternoon are good things. They allowed you to rest up for dinners that start at 9.
So here is a picture quiz...
What surprised Tom on Easter Sunday in Genoa?
After many weeks of excitement and anticipation, we land in Pisa, Italy on a grey and wet day to join Tom and begin our adventure. We quickly grab a taxi, and Tom is anxious to share with us the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Here’s the fact learned about the Leaning Tower – it started to tilt even before the third story was finished in 1274. As we hurried from the tower and headed up the stairs to catch the train to La Spezia, Rich discovered that his wallet was missing. It appears that in the excitement of our arrival, exhausted from the lack of sleep during the flight, and being the possible target of some gypsy children, Richard was the victim of a pick pocket, losing the wallet with, of course, money, license, and credit cards. 
