Theme: European Christmas Holiday    Country: Italy  Language:  English & Italian  Unit of Currency: Euro   Location: Milan, Rome, & Venice   Year: 2011   Bucket list: Entering Rome’s Colosseum

 

 

DO:  BROWSE EUROPE’S MOST FASHIONABLY PRICED DESIGNER CLOTHES

Milan:

• Exploring the city and setting the scene for creative photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO:  TOUR THE COLOSSEUM

Rome:

• Touring the Colosseum and adventuring into other ruins for the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO:  EXPLORE THE FLOATING CITY

Venice:

• Walking through every nook and cranny that the city has to offer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Lessons: 

A little life lesson I learned– When traveling you have to be flexible. Sure I have an itinerary on the locations and dates that I should be in the following countries; however, you cannot prepare for some hiccups along the way.

After my train from Ljubljana, Slovenia I woke up to find myself missing my train connection in Villach Westbf, Austria and ended up in Spittal – Mattersee, Austria (merely 45 minutes away from my anticipated arrival train station!). At 0300 this was not what I wanted to deal with, but fortunately I was able to get a train back to the original train station in Villach Westbf and later continue my train ride to Venice, Italy! If this was the worst thing that happens to me during this Eurotrip, then I will be grateful!

 

Ventures of Italy:

 

Venice – The city’s labyrinthine network of islands, bridges, pedestrian alleys, and canals made this location one of most unique and spectacular places to visit! If the fact that Venice sits upon a body of water was not amazing enough, the entire city prides itself on the festival where locals wear masks (resembles Mardi Gras).

 

Every shop sold masks; some of the most beautiful and creative pressed paper designs that I had ever seen. And therein lies the beauty of the destination: afternoons spent wandering from palace to piazza, exploring the small art museums, shopping the stalls that line the streets, and encountering a fresh side of Venice, a fascinating amalgamation of influences—Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Italian—every time you round a corner.

 

Venice or as locals acknowledge this city as the perpetual love affair has over 118 small islands that create this watery world of mystery. It was super easy to forget the map and get lost amongst the Byzantine domes and palazzos leading to an amazing slew of mystical possessions and great treats!

 

Milan – the famous location known for the completed works of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” The locals referred Leonardo da Vinci as the “genius of a renaissance man” with compelling captivation of his power, depth, and humanity of his masterpieces.

 

It was evident that along with the great combination of architecture, artists, and a keen fashionable sense, Milan is the perfect example of a place that enjoys the finer things in life. For example, a stroll across its Piazza del Duomo and the endless streets of local shops corroborates the city’s love for fashion, which consequently folded Milan into a city of an epicent of fashion, design, and good living. The Duomo itself captured the city’s creative energy with its size and ornamentation

Rome – Several years past its third millennium mark, the warmest of European capitals was more captivating than ever. Rome’s dramatic physique, from her majestic antiquities to her sinuous baroque curves, had been thrown into even higher relief by a modern trend that had made its presence felt in a major way: in hotels, restaurants, and shops that have adopted a more current, international aesthetic. Traditionalists needn’t worry, however—Rome was still very much enamored of her past, and you can find old-school establishments all over town if you know where to look.

 

While the Colosseum and the Vatican still loom large in the skyline and identity of Rome, you’ll discover the true soul of the city away from the big sights—in neighborhood coffee bars and trattorias, and from riders of Vespas exchanging boisterous greetings while passing on cobblestone backstreets. For a city this stylish and accomplished, Rome’s remarkable accessibility, even for first-time or short-term visitors, is her most generous asset. Not to mention that Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, was a barrier to the visitors of Rome, but home to the residents who pride on this mysterious and intriguing location.

At the time of Christmas Cheer and Good Tidings, the traditional and more decorative Christmas Markets come to light. Romans erect elaborate presepi (Nativity scenes) across the city, from life-size tableaux on the Spanish Steps and before St. Peter’s to countless crèches in church chapels, all populated by papier-mâché or terracotta figurines and most with a pizza parlor tucked between the shops of the Bethlehem backdrop.

 

Market action centers in Rome on Piazza Navona, its Bernini fountains surrounded by stalls hawking toys, handmade presepio figures, carnival games of chance, ciambelle (dinner plate-size doughnuts), and 101 variations on peanut brittle! Talk about a great way to introduce Christmas to the lovely month of December!

 

I could go on forever about the unforgettable time that I had in Italy, but I thought one post would suffice.

 

Next stop: Nice, France!