ITALY 2005

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0698dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B> <embed src="HTMLobj-292/Funicul_Funicul.mid" autostart="true" loop="true" hidden="true">  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A HREF="http://www.copyscape.com/"><IMG SRC="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-ye-120x60.gif" ALT="Content copyright protected by Copyscape website plagiarism search" TITLE="Do not copy content from the page. Plagiarism will be detected by Copyscape." 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We flew to Philadelphia to change planes for Venice, Italy. We endured a FIVE HOUR layover. We boarded the 767 jet at 6pm and we arrived in Venice on Tuesday, May 24th, at 8:30am. </div> <div> Flying over there we were lucky enough to fly over the Swiss and Italian Alps. Not too far from here is where the Turin Olympics were held this year (2006). Absolutely a breathtaking view that went on forever:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1440bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                                                     The majesty of these mountains are just indescribable.</div> <bR> <div> In Venice there are no cars, no scooters, no bicycles....only pedestrians. The only way to reach Venice is by train or water taxi (expensive.....80 euros) or by Vaporetto. The Vaporetto is the same as a public bus is here in the states. It does get very crowded so to take a Vaporetto with a lot of luggage is just not practical so we opted for the private water taxi. It brought us right to the front door of our hotel.....Boscolo Dei Dogi.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="12396c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is a five star hotel and the staff that we interacted with...Simone, Bettina and Carlo...were FABULOUS !!</div> <div> Here is Simone:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="126c6080.jpg" border=0 width="198" height="264" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Very dashing, very classy, always a wonderful smile and very, very helpful.</div> <bR> <div> Here is the GORGEOUS Carlo:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1280bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  Very sweet and, yes, VERY GORGEOUS !!! Did I want to leave the hotel after seeing him????????? NOOOOOO !!!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="12e0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">View from our suite down the canal Modonna delle Orto</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1300bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hotel gardens</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1320bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jimmy sitting on the hotel dock watching Venice go by. In the distance you can see the island of Murano where the famous Murano Glass is made. We actually went there and watched them make incredibly beautiful things.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> This hotel was a wonderful choice. It was off the beaten path of the tourists, nice and quiet yet easy to get to the Piazza San Marco or the Islands of Murano or Burano.</div> <div> Here are some pictures from the Piazza San Marco ( St. Marks Square):</div> <div> <IMG SRC="12a0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is the Piazza. The church of San Marco is just fabulous with all the details and mosaics. Here is a mosaic over the front doors:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="12c0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Here are just some shots that I took from the sidewalks or the foot bridges in Venice. I also took some from the Vaporetto as we were going to the Piazza San Marco. This is truly what Venice looks like all over. It's just beautiful !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1350bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                       <IMG SRC="1370bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">               <IMG SRC="1390bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1880bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                    </div> <bR> <bR> <div> We took a train from Venice down to Rome. It was supposed to take five hours but took six because of electrical problems. It wasn't too bad. The scenery was beautiful. Almost all the way from Venice was a fence made of concrete alongside the tracks. Here are some of the scenery pictures:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="13b0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                                     <IMG SRC="13d0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="13f0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                                    <IMG SRC="1410bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Then we arrived in Rome.....ahhh....the eternal city.....congested like Manhattan and the traffic (especially the motor scooters) were a  nightmare !! But the ruins were awesome and we were left breathless over them !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1460bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Roman Coliseum. It was unbelievable. You could spend hours and hours there just imagining the events that took place. There has been quite a bit of restoration, overseen by the Italian goverment, but the majority of the ruins are actual from the period.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="15896c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                      <IMG SRC="15a0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                         <IMG SRC="15c0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="15e0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jimmy walking toward the coliseum.  <IMG SRC="160e6c80.jpg" border=0 width="230" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1620bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is a shot I took from the Coliseum. This is an arch built for someone....I can't remember... oh, well !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1b9faa50.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="421" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jimmy and I at the Coliseum.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1480bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Outside of the Pantheon. The size just amazes you !!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="14a0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Straight ahead is the Vatican Wall which surrounds Vatican City.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="14c0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Here is a shot going over the Tiber River in Rome.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="14e0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Inside Vatican City......St. Peter's Basillica. St. Peter's Square is four football fields long and two football fields wide. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1500bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Mass being celebrated inside St. Peter's.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1520bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is an alter before the back alter. This alter is carved from granite and below it is the remains of St. Peter.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1540bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is a view from the steps of St. Peters looking out into St. Peter's square. The obelisk in the middle of the square is egyptian. On the top of it is a cross....embedded in that cross are pieces of the cross that Christ carried.  Amazingly huge !! The canopy you see in the middle right of the picture is the canopy that the Pope sits under when he gives his Wednesday blessing to the audience.</div> <div> More Vatican plus the Vatican Museums. There was absolutely NO picture taking in the Sistine Chapel and NO talking. There were guards all around to enforce that !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1640bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ceiling in one of the Vatican museums.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="16696c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">some of the art....paintings and statues......</div> <div> <IMG SRC="16896c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   The goddess Diana                  <IMG SRC="16a0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">walking through one of the museums</div> <div> <IMG SRC="16c0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">             <IMG SRC="16e0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">             <IMG SRC="1700bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1720bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">         <IMG SRC="1740bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1560bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one and only Trevi Fountain. Our hotel was only two blocks from here so we were at the fountain every night while in Rome.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1760bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I'm standing at the top of the steps leading down to the Trevi Fountain. It's totally different than what is pictured in movies !!! We did. however, throw our coins over our shoulder insuring our return to Roma !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1c3eb260.jpg" border=0 width="235" height="294" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Pam in  front of the Trevi Fountain at night.</div> <div>  <IMG SRC="1c447140.jpg" border=0 width="327" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">As the song says "3 Coins in the Fountain" !!! We kept throwing our coins in the Trevi every night we were there to INSURE that we go back to Rome one day !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1bf89270.jpg" border=0 width="393" height="295" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">At our hotel in Rome someone decided to dress Yoda up as the Pope !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1970bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Of course I shared some American stories with the Rome Polizia. Two very nice guys. Think they're armed well enough?</div> <bR> <div> We stayed in a wonderful hotel, Hotel Residence Barbarini, in Barbarini Square in Rome. We had the top floor penthouse apt with two huge terraces. It was very modern, which wasn't my thing, but the views were amazing:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1950bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is the terrace off the living room</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1990bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is the view from that terrace.</div> <bR> <div> We took the train back to Venice, spent a few more days there and then came home. Our flight home was something flying over so many different countries:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="18a0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">          <IMG SRC="19c0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        Venice from the air  . This is  107 islands joined together by nothing more than footbridges !!                                                                                          </div> <div> <IMG SRC="18c0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It was WONDERFUL having reclining seats and individual tv's !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="18e0bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">flying over Manchester, England</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1900bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">flying over Belfast, Ireland</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1920bc80.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">flying over Greenland</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> All photos and contents on this website are copyright protected. No copying or utilizing content without the express written consent of author/owner of this site.</div> <div> Last updated June 6th, 2005</div> <div> © 2005-2009</div> <div>   </div> </td> </tr></table></body>