St Petersberg Day 2

While I was disappointed that we were unable to wander freely around St Petersberg, I did enjoy all the knowledge our guides imparted to us. The history of St Petersberg is something you should consider learning about while there.

There was no love lost between the family of the Tzars and plenty of drama, but the architecture is something to be admired. The Winter Palace is a prime example of this, which now houses the Hermitage Museum, which in turn houses over million dollars worth of art.

     

We were fortunate to see a folk concert, with an army choir and local folk dancing. Although it was all sung in Russian, the music and melodies were wonderfully emotive. The dancers re-enacted the different kinds of dancing that told stories through the ages.

 You could see the love of the Russian songs by the all-male army choir & band, and the pure enjoyment of the folk dancers. It was an excellent concert and showed the love the Russians have for their land and culture.

     

A must on any agenda is the Hermitage Museum to see the Faberge eggs, also the history of the Babushka dolls and the art on the lid of the renown wooden boxes. Beautiful, skilful art by fabulously talented people. Also, a visit to Peter & Paul's fortress, Peter the Greats and Catherine's resting place allows you to witness the incredible workmanship of the Russians and their love of their Tzar. There are many monuments to Peter the Great throughout St Petersberg that are an example of the way his people felt about him.

Stalin's architecture- stark and uniform & Catherine's resting place - embellished and rich

In contrast, the building Stalin had designed and erected is an entirely different style of architecture.
Its stark architecture feels as oppressive as the time under Stalin's reign.

If you do go to St Petersberg, get your visa and your private guide and do some homework to know what you want to experience. For me, the freedom to explore was sorely missed and of course to have the chance to try the local fare.

St Petersberg

We arrived at St Petersberg for a 2-night stay. The one thing you need to know is that entry into Russia is very tight. If you arrive by ship, you are only allowed off via immigration with your ship organised tour. If you wish to visit on your own, you need a pre-organised visa and a private guide.

We took a night tour and loved the architecture of St Petersberg and the city lights along the rivers and ever so many bridges.  St Petersberg's known as the Venice of the North with all the rivers, canals & bridges. The bridges open and close to allow boats to get through, and can cause havoc in the city at these time with traffic, and with pedestrians trying to get around.

 Catherine's Palace was built by, Catherine I in 1717 and renovated and extended by Empress Elizabeth in 1773, which in turn was completely overhauled again in 1752 to what it looks like now. It is a stunning palace that is slowly being refurbished after the Germans left only a shell when they left at the end of WW2. The German army had left bombs to destroy the palace when they left the Russias were able to find and defuse them before they destroyed the building. It has taken nearly ten years just to bring the ballroom back to its former glory with the all the gold leaf used. There are still many rooms to be brought back to life but what you do see now is the grandeur of the palace and the times and wealth of the Tzars of Russia.

The architecture and design of the Russian churches are quite beautiful and very impressive, the colours and the symmetry is a delight to the eye. Learning more about the history of Russia and St Petersberg, as well as the drama of the Tzar's history shows a turbulent time with a very powerful and competitive family wanting to rule this land.

Baltic Sea Cruise

The day arrived for us to board our cruise ship for the next ten days to explore the Baltic Sea.
We chose to cruise with Regent Seven Seas Voyager a luxury cruise ship that carries approximately 750 passengers. Cruising on the smaller ships allows you to visit ports that the superliners cannot get into, makes disembarking at each port easier and has the feel of a resort where you make new friends easier.
I love the smaller cruise ships, having been on some others up to 3,500 people I found that this size services the traveller who wants to explore places not as often visited and can cater for the serious traveller who enjoys luxury, service and all inclusive prices.

While awaiting to be transferred to the ship from our hotel, I asked one of the crew members that was organising us when we'd be allowed into our cabins after embarkation and was promptly informed 'there are no cabins on this ship, only suites!' Yep, I'd been told! I have to admit that he was right, and you can't call them rooms or cabins they're all too large for that and yes I agree they are all suites.  We enjoyed a penthouse suite about mid range on the cost scale. Being prone to sea sickness and not a good sea traveller I wanted a suite that was high up in the decks, this one was on deck 10 just behind the Captain's bridge.

We had a personal butler, who was friendly and made you feel that nothing you asked for was too much. The Regent Seven Seas is all inclusive from food, alcohol to the tours at our destinations. It wasn't necessary to put your hand in your pocket unless you wanted souvenirs.

This ship has the two main dining rooms, one a la carte and one buffet, plus two speciality restaurants, one French restaurant and one Steak- house and of course, a coffee area with a good Barista, if you're Australian you'll appreciate that, and it served delicious snacks.

Our ship left Copenhagen to arrive in St Petersberg a day & 1/2 later. Being at sea gives you time to relax and explore the ship, enjoy the food, bars, shows and get to know your fellow passengers. The onboard Spa was a hive of activity on an at sea day and the staff are quite gifted in their area of expertise. Not to forget, you can also have a flutter at the casino or end the day at the nightclub. With the ratio of the crew to passengers being 1 to 2, we were taken care of so well.

Copenhagen Denmark

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and a beautiful city. It's so clean and orderly; they have the best bicycle paths and traffic conditions for such a large city, it made an impact on me. The architecture of the buildings is both full of history and filled with modern technology. The Tivoli Gardens area delight to explore and at night, the music plays for you to enjoy. It only runs through Summer, and we caught it on its final night.

The shopping district is a 2-kilometre strip that has every luxury brand well represented. Locals and tourists alike wander along shopping or stopping to eat or drink while people-watching. The one thing that stood out to me about the people was that black is the colour of the day, nearly as bad as Melbourne in winter and that the youth were full of vitality and well groomed.  It's very busy, but you can still find somewhere to eat or have a coffee. Even their public restrooms underneath the centre of the shopping strip should be on your list to see.

We stayed at Scandic Copenhagen hotel with its very modern Danish decor. From the graffiti wall decor to the minimalistic hotel room. The view across the city from our room shot out all the way to the sea and the modern windmills. The concierge & reception staff were extremely helpful and
friendly, Happy to chat while efficiently getting on with the job.

We wanted to experience local cuisine and we were directed to a well known local restaurant  Frk. Barners Kaelder, Helgolandsgade 8A, Copenhagen 1653, Denmark. It had such wonderful meals that we returned the following night to try some other dishes. From the local herring dish (not a particular fan of herring but must say this was good) to their yummy stews, liver& bacon and huge schnitzel to a most delightful traditional berry desert. The dishes are hearty, has a higher fat content than we're used to, but they work well in a country that has the cold weather they experience.

All in all, I would love to return to Copenhagen and explore more of the beautiful city and its countryside. Another to add to my long list of places I yearn to return too, but still so many places I haven't seen yet that if it takes the rest of my life,  I'll get there and enjoy every minute of every adventure.

Following my Travels

My travels through Italy lasted three weeks, where we enjoyed staying out of the big cities and exploring the Tuscan and Lombardian regions of Italy.

Legion of the Accommodation where we stayed.

This a map of our travels, we stayed a minimum of 3 nights at our accommodation so we could get a feel for the area. We drove a maximum of 2 1/2 hours by car to get to our next destination, so we could take our time, stop if we wanted too and arrived in time for check-in.

This trip allowed us to experience the best of the areas in the time we had. With so many picturesque and wonderful regions in Italy, we decided to explore Elba's beautiful seascape, the rolling hills of Tuscany and the lovely lake districts of Lombardia.

I would recommend a trip driving through Italy; you do get a feel for the way the locals drive and start to understand what to do, once you do it's easier than you think. The roads are well signed and GPS works well unless you get one like ours that had no idea how many exits there were in a roundabout! A few u-turns and you're easily back on track.

It would be hard to try to choose which area I liked the most as they all were so different and had great qualities; I loved the views of Lake Como but my taste buds were in heaven in the Chianti region. Looking forward to going back and exploring more of this beautiful country, sometime soon.

The next part of this trip took us to the Baltic sea where we jumped on a plane from Milan and got ready to boarded a cruise ship at Copenhagen to explore Northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Lake Como, Lombardia Provence, Italy

Being our first time to Lake Como, we weren't sure where to stay. We knew that Lake Como, situated in the North of Italy in the Lombardia region, and it is the most popular lake of the three in this area, the other two being Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore.

We didn't want to be in the busiest area but still have easy access to the more popular spots. So we checked out the map and chose Menaggio for its position and its triangle with Bellagio & Varenna.

Menaggio

As mentioned in my previous post, this town is less hectic as Bellagio with a smaller town feel. The locals meet & greet daily over coffee in the piazza, and it has a more relaxed feel. The shoreline is lovely and at the end of the promenade they have their Lido - bathing pool area with a beautiful pebble beach. 

Menaggio marina

Bellagio

The town of Bellagio well-known tourist area and home of 'George Clooney', is an easy ferry ride from Menaggio.  The town lined with stores and restaurants that meet all different cuisines and budgets. You can explore the area and keep finding little gems hidden in this city. Having an affinity for water, we always tend to gravitate to areas, accommodation or restaurants that are over the water.

Bellagio has all of this and more, but for us on this trip too many people.

We had heard about a well-known local artist designer of silk scarves & handbags and sought him out. Pierangelo Masciardi designs are unique and in limited editions; his stylish ties have been worn by some the American presidents.

Varenna

Varenna is smaller the Menaggio & Bellagio and has a feel of a medieval fortress, with the heart of the town being behind the port & shoreline.  From the foreshore, you head up to the central Piazza that's towards the back of the neighborhood whereas, with the other places we visited, they were at the foreshore.  The laneways and alleys are narrow and have steps that lead up towards that Piazza. It's nowhere near as touristy yet has some beautiful villas and gardens. Villa Monastero is a must see, unfortunately, the villa was closed the day we went but the gardens where and open and worth a visit on their own.

Views of Varenna

Wherever you stay along Lake Como, you have a feast for your eyes with uninterrupted views of one of the most picturesque lakes in Italy. My recommendation is if you have time and are anywhere near Milan take the opportunity to head to Lake Como and relax over a Spritz (local aperitif) and enjoy the views.

Mennaggio Lake Como Italy

Driving from Tabiano to Menaggio took about 2 1/2 hrs via the Autostrada.  We took the scenic route along Lake Como after bypassing Milan.

Menaggio
Taking in the stunning views of mountains that dive into a beautiful lake with towns and villages perched on its edge made the drive enjoyable.  The road was narrow but comfortable to drive with stop lights in tight spots to allow one-way traffic.

Having decided to go to a less touristy town than somewhere like Bellagio but that was still a short ferry ride away, we chose Menaggio. There are quite a few different options in Menaggio, but we liked the look of the Grand Hotel Victoria Via B. Castelli 9/13 22017 Menaggio, Lago di Como Italia.

The Grand Hotel Victoria built in 1890 for travellers Summer vacation by the lake.  It encompasses a grand old style of class from yesteryear but still has all the modern facilities of this century. The onsite bar and restaurant have breakfast and dinner daily. The breakfast was an ample buffet selection, whereas the dining restaurant is a la carte. The meals were good but just lacked the Italian authenticity of the other local Italian restaurants.

Menaggio is a town on the western banks of Lake Como in the Lombardia Provence. It forms a triangle with Bellagio & Varenna across Lake Como.  The ferry regularly leaves for either passengers or car & passengers to cross. Tickets are easy to purchase at the ferry dock and can be bought per passage or day.

The Food
There are a few restaurants in Menaggio's piazza area that seem to rotate the days that they close. You can go from a top end restaurant to an osteria or a pizza/pasta place. We tried most but had to return to the Osteria Il Pozzo for their home style cooking.  After having many lovely dishes on our travel, we were looking for something simpler and asked even though it wasn't on the menu for a light pasta dish with Alio & Olio (oil & garlic). They were happy to oblige and brought us an excellent hand made pasta of Spaghetti Alio & Olio with a hint of chilli.

The Verdict

The Grand Hotel is a hotel of yesteryear with many British guests as it's on one of the Britain;s premier travel sites that caters for package deals around the world. Therefore, I found the hotel to be geared more towards that particular type of guest.

Menaggio is for the person who enjoys a quieter and more relaxing town with a lovely lake front and the convenience of being able to visit some lovely mountains for views, excellent hiking and Lugano Switzerland (a beautiful lake town) with ease. You can visit Bellagio, Varenna and some other cities quickly with the ferry, as well as get to Milan by train in an hour from Bellagio. A beautiful place to relax and yet be a short distance to the hustle and bustle of larger towns and cities.

Qantas - Emirates Business Class

After travelling the long hauls to Europe, we've finally got to the point in life where we can choose comfort over price.  Still we love to check out the sales, so happening upon a great deal from Qantas, we decided to fly Business class with Qantas to Rome. This flight is a code share flight with Qantas to Dubai and Emirates from Dubai to Rome. Both legs with each carrier were on the A380 so I was able to do a direct comparison.

The Seats

There are major differences in the way the planes are configured, in business class. Although they both have flat beds and good amenities, the amount of space difference is quite substantial. 

Qantas has a configuration of 2-2-2 seats directly behind one another( 2 window - 2 centre - 2 window) with plenty of space between the seat in front & behind. They have less ledge space to put your items on compared to Emirates but still sufficient for your needs.

Courtesy of YouTube.com

Emirates has configured theirs in a tighter pattern of 2-2-2 (2 window - 2 centre - 2 window) with the seat configuration doing an inner - outer type of design. Thus restricting the space when getting up or moving around. It is more restrictive with the way the seating's designed, but there is more ledge space, and you have your personal mini bar at your fingertips.

Both airlines have flat beds, but whereas the Qantas seat reclines entirely into the flat-bed the Emirates seat joins an existing area at the back of the seat in front of you to form the flat-bed. Does this make a difference to your comfort? No, not really. For me, I prefer the extra space of the Qantas seats, made it easier to get in and out for bathroom breaks and stretching your legs.

The Extras
Qantas supplies you with a turndown service and Pj's, which I must add aids in looking less crumpled in the morning.  The bathrooms have a window and are more spacious than usual, therefore, feeling less closet like.
The tighter Emirates configuration gives Business class a bar/ lounge area where you can stretch your legs and enjoy a chat if you're not interested in getting some sleep. Having this area might just be worth the tighter configuration of the seats. It's a pleasure to be able to move around on a plane and have some great surroundings and comforts to take away the monotony of the long-haul flights.

The menu for both airlines was decent in size and the meals enjoyable. The cuisine on Qantas is a Neil Perry - Rockpool inspired menu. Both airlines served foods that are a representative of the regions from where we embarked. The selection is ample, and it covers all the bases. The wine and beverages list is pleasing. Most passengers on the long-haul trips are more about a good sleep then the food; I've noticed. So there's the 'all flight dining' that gives you a chance to get some rest without the thought of missing out when hungry.
The flight's late departure time makes sure that most passengers will get plenty of rest before you reaching Dubai.

The Verdict

Both Airlines have something I like more about them than the other. Qantas for its ample space and comfort, but I do enjoy the novelty of Emirates bar/lounge, although I typically limit drinks when flying due to dehydration, just to be able to move out of your seat and socialize is one big plus for Emirates.

Fabulous Italian Food

        While travelling through Tuscany, we had some wonderful experiences of regional food.

       We enjoyed local produce and fabulous tastes. Our taste buds rejoiced with what we ate.

      The simplicity of the dishes yet the tantalising aromas followed by the real taste of home grown          produce make just about every meal delightful.

      The food didn't need any of the elaborate sauces or jus in the cuisine that is so popular now, the           simplicity of the ingredients and the hand -made egg pasta was divine.

     The pizza was simple yet so tasty. The traditional thin base had the perfect crispness and the                 quality ingredients made it a joy to eat. All  I can say is yum yum yum!

              The only thing that made these meals more enjoyable was the wonderful locally produced 

                Chianti Classico we had with it.

Modena (Tuscany) Italy

Modena is about an hour by car from Tabiano.  This smaller medieval city is known for being the birthplace of Lucian Pavarotti, where Balsamic Vinegar originated and of course, the Ferrari museum.

Ducal Palace of Modena

Modena has some stunning architecture, the Ducal Palace of Modena is a great example of this local architecture and now housing a military facility. The centre and old part of town is beautiful to experience, the local food and craft markets lined the streets and being a Saturday all the locals were out for a walk and meeting up for a coffee, which cost less than 2 euros, less than other cities we had visited. Modena is a city not frequented but hordes of tourist as its neighbouring large cities such as Bologna and Parma are more sort after, but it has charm and is becoming well known for its culinary expertise.

Enzo Ferrari Museum

Modena is also well known for the Enzo Ferrari Museum a place you don't want to miss if you're into any cars at all.  Although the entry isn't cheap, I would say it's worth it. You can discover Ferrari and Maserati's intertwined history through the years at the museum. How it began for Enzo Ferrari and his love of cars to how he started the Ferrari empire.

 Modena is easy to get to, has great undercover car parking and small enough to see most of it in a day. Experience the cuisine, people watch, stop for a coffee in the piazza, enjoy the architecture and if you're fortunate to arrive on a Saturday, go and check out the markets, both the open-air craft market and the food market where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy some fresh produce.

Tuscany - Antico Borgo Di Tabiano Castello

Staying in places like this make travelling an awesome adventure. Antico Borgo Di Tabiano Castello, via Tabiano Castello 4, 43030 Tabiano, Italia.

Antico Borgo Di Tabiano Castello

Our room was on the top floor of this lovely castle. As the property is an original old castle there was no lift (something we were getting use too!) The gardener/jack-of-all-trades assisted us with our luggage to our room. Our room was quite spacious and enjoyed a lovely view across the countryside, through cute low-line period windows with original wooden shutters.

View from our window

The Property boasts an outdoor pool which is set behind the Spa building, which again takes in a lovely view. The Spa has a Turkish bath, and has a long list of treatments available for the guests. I managed to enjoy a 1/2hr massage and it relieved all the aches & pains of travelling. It has a lovely restaurant that features rustic styled and regional cuisine. There is also an independently run Locanda that serves local fare on the property, if you want an alternative.

The property and restaurant.

The staff we're very friendly and helpful with the ins and outs of our stay and what to do in this area.
The castle sits high on the hill on its own, as most castles do but we we're an hours drive from Modena and close to Parma. The reception desk issued great travel maps and brochures of the available activities in area.

The Verdict. This beautiful castle allows you to get away from the major cities after a exploring during the day or taking some time out between cities. I would certainly recommend a stay here and enjoying the facilities as well eating at the restaurant to taste some regional food.

Visiting the Chianti region

Siena is a central Tuscan city with a fan shaped piazza - Piazza del Campo where all roads seem to lead. It's not as busy as the major cities but still has numerous tourists. The history of the city with its medieval brick buildings and the Palazzo Pubblico which dominates the piazza is well worth visiting.
It still has a medieval feel to the city and you can still get a sense of what it must have been like to live there in those times.
The symbol of Siena is the she-wolf that suckles the two infants, it is rumoured that the 2 sons of Remus stole that statue after their father was killed in Rome and ran to Siena. They were also said to have ridden a white & a black horse thus having Siena's flag with the white and black band.

Castello Di Verrazzano is a stunning winery in Greve, the heart of chianti country between Siena and Florence. The castle is over 1000 years old and still holds all its land. It has been recorded since 1150 as making wine. Held in the same family until 1958 when the last descendant passed away.

The wine tour is excellent, the information on the history of the castle and how the wine is made, following regional rules and historic traditions is wonderfully told by your tour guide. After the tour though the wine producing area and the cellars you are invited to learn the techniques of wine tasting.

This tour and winery is a definite must do and if you have time book the restaurant and enjoy the views and wine as well.

Antica Macelleria Falorni, Greve is a treat to your taste buds. If you want to taste some of the local cold meats and cheeses this well know butcher/deli is the place to go.  You can sit outside in the piazza or inside the store and enjoy a number of delicious options. We chose two different tasting boards to sample with of course a glass of Chianti classico, which proved to be as good as its reputation. Enjoying the beautiful afternoon will indulging in local produce proved to be a must on our list.

We were fortunate to be in Greve on the weekend of the wine-tasting & competition amongst the local Chianti region winemakers. The D.O.C.G (is the highest classification for Italian wines. It denotes controlled production methods and guaranteed wine quality) was judging the competition. 

A great way to sample the local wines amongst the many, many enthusiasts that attended.

This area was one of the highlights of this trip for me and I will return to explore the region more.

Tuscany - Chianti region.

Our Stay in the Tuscan Chianti region, was at a lovely Villa Il Pioggiale Dimora Storica via Empolese 69,San Casciano in Val Di Pesa.  Just 15kms outside of Florence this lovely historic villa is set in the rolling hills of Tuscany with a gorgeous views across it's estate.

   

The property is beautiful, it features a pool and spectacular scenery to sit, relax and enjoy after visiting the nearby cities like Siena or Florence. The outside area for the restaurant has a beautiful view across the valley. In the warmer months the outdoor area is used for both breakfast & lunch.

The Villa prefers to use its own produce for their restaurant and the produce has so much flavour it is has your taste buds dancing. The grape tomatos were so sweet, they could have been candies. The local region's produce is also utilised in their meals. They have a more rustic styled cuisine typical of the local region. They also have local wines and the Chianti Classico's on their list were delightful. 

The rooms are quite spacious and ours boasted a kitchenette in a multi level room, although we had views of the courtyard, the rooms proved to be very comfortable. 

The main salon is decorated of the period and well maintained. The Villa has little extras like a honour system bar.  The only draw back was their isn't a lift, so if you happen to have one of the rooms in the higher levels bringing your luggage up can be taxing. Fortunately I know how to pack well & light as it's part of my what I teach.

The Verdict, if you want to stay in the heart of the chianti region without being to far from the major cities, enjoy great local produce and wines while relaxing over spectacular views. I would definitely recommend this Villa. Just remember to travel light!

   

Isola D'Elba Italy

The car we rented at the airport was a black Alfa Giulietta diesel. Diesel are the most economical and are driven by most Europeans. We left our castle and headed to the coast line.

The Isle of Elba is an island of the coast of Mainland Italy. During the 10 months of Napoleons brief exile, he left behind a significant heritage. He may have been exiled there but he was still the sovereign of Elba.

The island is a tourist mecca during summer with Italians and other nationalities frequenting it's lovely coast line and enjoying the beach life. It has a mild climate year round and is the 3rd largest Tuscan Island.

Elba is accessible by ferry and the drive from Rome took about an hour . The ferry crossing starts at Piombino and can take between 1/2 - 1 hr depending on the sea conditions. There are plenty of places to buy your ticket for the crossing but it can be quite expensive. For us  - 2 passenger and our car it was around €150 return.  Our trip to Elba was quite windy but nonetheless a pleasant trip across.

Ferry ride across to Portoferrario

We chose to stay at Hermitage Hotel localita Biodola S7037 Portoferraio. With its own private beach. We had breakfast included but found out at arrival they did half Pensione. A great option as dinner is 3 course plus buffet salad and dessert. Well worth the extra €42 per night.

We enjoyed the outdoor restaurant with views over the pool and the ocean at lunch. There were choices from wood oven pizza to 3 course meals. I must say we never had a bad meal, it was all delicious typically Italian fare...a joy to the tastebuds.

The wood fired Italian pizza's were delicious!

Our room was very spacious with a balcony overlooking the sea and beach.

The beach at Hotel Hermitage is a stretch of white sand, with clear blue water. Surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas. This Hermitage resort included the use of lounge chairs if you stayed there. Further along the beach there were lounge chairs to rent or if you can find a spot somewhere, to put down your towel.

Being there in September, we were at the tail end of the season so although they were quite busy, it's not as crowded as peak season (July/August). Although they have many long weekenders till the end of October.

Portoferraio the Iron Port, began its boom during the exile of Napoleon when he made Elba a territory fit for an Emperor.  Elba became one of the largest iron mills exporting to the mainland.
Portoferrario has a great history and its a melting pot of cultures due to the migration of wealthy people during Napoleons reign. The Port area itself is a step back in time especially in the old city and the museums and its all well worth a see.

What I enjoyed seeing in Rome

Sight seeing

If visiting Rome you have a number of areas to sight see. I personally loved the ruins. To see the way buildings were built and their design, and being able to see the way things worked in these buildings, gives you an insight into life in ancient times.  I love this and for me it's a wonderful experience.

It's amazes me how the ruins are all below ground and have to be dug out. Did they build on top of other buildings or does time build up the soil and cover the buildings?  Apparently it was both, Roman architects ripped of roofs and filled in buildings to make strong foundations for their next building, also over 2500 years silt gathered and rose the ground level.

Some other places to visit. 

Piazza Venezia is a stunning building, it's sad that it's surrounded by a high fence but once inside the fence it's a beautiful building to see, but don't try and sit on the steps! They'll let you know in no uncertain terms that that's unacceptable!

Piazza Venezia

But if you do want to sit on some steps try the Spanish Steps, that is if you can find them under the sea of people sitting there. To get there you can go along Via Condotti where all the luxury brand shops are all gathered.

Spanish Steps

                    

The Trevi fountain was under renovations during our visit. The $2 million renovation is being funded by Fendi, and the Trevi fountain will be re-opening soon. If you were wondering about what happened to all the coins thrown in the Trevi, the coins are collected every night and monies go to charities.

Although I love Rome city the amount of tourists can be ridiculous...it's not a restful city but it is a city not to be missed. The history alone is a marvel and to stand where most of our ancestry began, or where the conquerors came from that acquired an such an extensive empire, is completely fascinating.

Panoramic views of Rome Skyline from Villa Borghese