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Italy, June 2007 - La Dolce Vita
Day 1 Friday, July 13th 2007
The day has finally arrived. I'm headed to Italy to meet my wife, Tricia, who has been studying jewellery design in Firenze for the past 3 months.
I wake up at 4a.m, unplug everything at home and head to Dubai International airport. Had a nice flight, reached Rome and took a train to Rome train station. To my bad luck, I took a local train that took 3 agonizing hrs to reach Firenze which would have otherwise taken 90 mins. I can't wait to see Tris and this is getting frustrating. I finally reach Florence, my heart pounding in excitement and in a crowd of travelers, Tris spots me. My reason for coming to Italy was done…the rest is a bonus. After 3 long months, we were back together and hugged like teenagers. We then headed to Lugina's house (walking if u please…something my wife was alien to) where Tris was staying for 3 months. Lugina made us a 3 course meal and then we headed for a walk to the squares. I couldn't imagine how beautiful this city was. Instantly I saw a change in my wife who was a confident, positive & bold person. We had a couple of Mojito's in Santo Spirito and headed home.
Day 2
Saturday, July 14th, 2007An early start to the day. It was a day out in Chianti in the hills of Tuscany to a wine & olive oil estate. The drive was winding up narrow lanes on hills till we reached the Grignano estate. Steve (our guide) explained the process of making the wines and olive oil in Chianti. We then headed inside for a wine tasting session with bread and olive oil. It was turning out to be a fun day with the other tourist - Jim, Jill, Healy, Jonas, Ryan, Dawn & Joanna. We all clicked as a group and the fun started. Steve then drove us to Marco's estate for lunch where we had a chillout session on the terrace with wine while the others made lunch. Lunch was amazing and a lot of fun with Dawn (an American tourist) unleashing her wild side. Later that evening, after the day in the hills, we headed to Michelangelo's square and finished off the day with a pizza in Santo Spiritzo.
Day 3 Sunday, July 15, 2007
We took our time to get out of bed…walked towards the Ponte Vecchio and then headed to the Duomo. After getting our pictures, we walked to San Lorenzo sq and had a nice lunch at one of Tris' regular haunts, café Zaza. Did a bit of shopping and then met Dawn and Joanna for dinner. This was Tris' last night in Firenze and she suddenly felt connected to this wonderful town. We ended the night on a bridge overlooking the Ponte Vecchio with 2 bottles of wine and memories of Tris' time in Firenze. She always wanted to sit on a bridge with a bottle of wine. We did just that and it was a perfect way to say CIAO to Firenze. We left the next morning for Venice
Day 4 Monday, July 16, 2007
All packed, bye-bye's to Lugina get very emotional, and the bags seem heavy….I was thinking of the next few days and the bags seemed heavierJ Trust me - 3 months of a woman's stuff can break u. We enter a mini bus full of people with 3 suitcases and 2 handbags, get to the station and we are on our way to Venice. On reaching Venice, we get off the station on to water…No cars..water busses, water taxi's, water water water. Head to our stop and a 15 minute walk to the hotel. That evening we walked to San Marco Square which made us feel like we were on a stage with the cathedral as a backdrop. IT IS AN EXPERIENCE. Tris topped the evening by picking up a bottle of wine and a snack overlooking the gondola's.
Day 5 Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TOURIST DAY Out. Head to an Island called Murano which is world famous for its glassware. We saw a maker at work create a glass horse with silicon powder. The showroom exhibition was jaw dropping and our eyes hit a set of 6 champagne flutes…HOW MUCH?? 3600 euros. Hmmmm…maybe next time. Walked around the island, did some souvenir shopping and headed back home. That evening we walked to the Ponte Realto and went for the most romantic Gondola ride where GINO took us through the back lanes and canals in Venice for 30 mins. Wine & dinner by the steps of the water was the agenda for the night. Tris couldn't be happier with the Italian Gondolier's freshening up not too far away. We headed for Capri the next day.
Day 6 Wednesday, July 18, 2007
By far the most exhausting day of the trip. Up at 5 a.m. and head to Venice airport for a flight to Naples. Reached Naples (which was a mad house of traffic, chaos and confusion) and got into a bus to head to the port. Remember 3 bags and 2 handbags?? Yes, they are still being tugged along. Get to the port and took a jet to Capri. I was glad to get out of Naples. Now in Capri, beyond a point u have to walk as the lanes are too small. So we get off a cab and the walk to our hotel was a nightmare. Mr. Costanzo (the gentleman who we lived with) couldn't believe the sight of 3 big bags down over 300 steps and narrow lanes.We finally reached, freshed up and headed to the beach for a meal. We were famished and polished 2 huge delicious pizza's overlooking the yatch's, sail boats, and swimmers. Ended the night walking around the town square with a drink at CAPRIS BAR.
Day 7 Thursday, July 19, 2007
TOURIST DAY OUT…Picked up our daily bus tickets and headed to Anacapri (the old town). Took a chairlift ride to the islands highest point and back. Then headed to the GROTTA AZZURRA or blue Grotto's. We will explain the experience the experience to you if you need to know…something's can't be expressed in words. Let's just say it was truly BLUE. After lunch we went for a swim in Marina Picolo. We relaxed by the pool wih a German couple and chatted for a bit before ending the night with a ice-tea, beers & a Pizza from a restaurant Costanzo recommended. I forgot to mention that the view from our room was overlooking the marina with yatch's docked. It was sinful to leave the island in 2 days. Silently we both wished we had a few more days on this postcard island. Maybe next time.
Day 8 Friday, July 20, 2007
Depart to Roma for the last leg of our wonderful yet rushed holiday. Got the hotel and after relaxing for a bit, we headed out in the evening towards the Trevi fountain. Soo many people…the square seemed cramped with the sheer size of Italy's largest fountain. Each of us threw a coin over our left shoulders and sat there for a bit before having the best gelati's ever. 2 bottles of wines and back to the hotel. We were getting used to a bottle a day (of wine that is)
Day 9 Sunday, July 22, 2007
Rome is not complete without a trip to the Vatican. On getting to the Vatican Square, 2 big screens were set up for the angelgis at 12 noon. The pope was on his annual vacation so a recording was kept ready. We walked through all the tombs in the Vatican and the crowd around Pope John Paul's tomb confirmed that he was loved by all. We said a prayer before walking towards the souveniour shops where we posted post cards and got rosaries for the family. We took it easy for the rest of the day.
Day 10 Monday, July 23, 2007
All out bags are packed, we're ready to go. The taxi cab was waiting and we were on a jet plane back to Dxb. We had the morning to ourselves so we walked to the Santa Maria chapel and fittingly, we went to the mouth of truth. We are good people so all 10 fingers were intact. This was it….A wonderful Italian holiday was over. This was just a holiday for me but a life experience for Tris. This was an experience that she will keep for the rest of her life. Its something I will always be proud (very proud) of her for…3 months of hard work, new friends, happiness, loneliness, new cultures & an experience sure to change her forever. I for one saw it instantly and I'm convinced that it's a matter of time before her dreams comes true.
If you don't go when you have to goWhen you end up going, you find you're already goneSir Anthony Hopkins, The World's Fastest Indian
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