The Diva Chronicles : An Italian Sampler (Part II)

By MzTravelDiva ⋅ February 26, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Our last day in Rome was truly a sight-seeing marathon. We had to mark off as much as we could on our “Must See” list….Due to our late night salsa partying, we got off to a later start than anticipated. We hopped on the Metro, and headed to Vatican City. The Vatican Museum is another site that is a must for comfortable shoes, as you will be led down hallway after magnificent hallway filled with the most exquisite wall and ceiling paintings that you will ever see. Of course the grand finale is the legendary fresco paintings in the Sistine Chapel illustrated by Michaelangelo.

After grabbing some lunch at a nearby pizzeria, and some ‘frada’ bag shopping, we hopped on the Metro again to the Colosseum. Because we were on a time crunch, we opted for an independent tour of the Colosseum, but guided tours were also available.

The days are shorter in Italy in November. It began getting darker a little after 4pm, and we knew we only had a little more time left one more attraction - the Trevi Fountain. Legend has it, if you toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you shall return to Rome. Consider that a done deal!




After some final shopping in Rome, we tucked in to prepare for our train ride to Venice the next morning. We boarded our train, traveled through the beautiful Italian countryside, and five hours later approached the enchanting city of Venice.

We stayed at the nice and cozy Hotel Abbazia. This hotel was also conveniently located a few steps away from the Venice train station. This close location was key to a relatively easy transport back to the airport. Because Venice is a city of canals and no roads, this isn’t always the easiest (or cheapest) thing to do…so make sure you’ve looked into ground transportation options with your hotel prior to your departure, especially if you have an early morning flight.

Venice is such a charming place that’s best taken in slowly. Our time in Venice was less fast-paced compared to our visit to Rome. We didn’t have an extensive ‘to do’ list, so we able to leisurely explore the winding walkways and bridges over picturesque canals.

Some our favorite places and things in Venice:
Murano glass
Venetian masks
Fat and greedy pigeons in San Marco Piazza
Gondola ride down the Grand Canal (the more the merrier….and cheaper!)
Gelato, gelato, gelato
Street vendors at Rialto Market
Vaporettos (Waterbuses)

Good Eats in Venice:
Cafe Brek
Great little spot for a cappucino and one of their delicious sandwich wraps.
AeOche
Cute little American-style pizza chain. Good for a quick bite. Ever had a fried olive stuffed with mincemeat? Well here’s your chance.

Italy was an incredible trip. There is definitely so much more to explore in this beautiful country. Our sampler was definitely an appetizer, and can’t wait to come back and experience the full course!
For more details on our Italy vacation check out the discussion board at our JetSet Globetrotter Community