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The purpose of our blog is to share our journey through life with family and friends while we leave our mark on this world. Our 20's have been very kind to us and as we enter the 30's we are hoping to continue to enjoy our time in this thing we call life. I should have called this blog "Traveling through Life".

Friday, September 30, 2011

Italy Highlights

Our trip to Italy was wonderful and our first time traveling to Europe was very smooth. As always I come back from vacation feeling that our pictures do not do justice for what we actually experienced. As we drove through this small country the scenery would change within the hour.

There are so many beautiful and different things to talk about but I will try to sum it up.


The first stop was Rome where we visited the Vatican and Colosseum. There are no words to describe how beautiful Vatican City was and we were just in awe as we walked around. The highlight for me in Rome was probably the Colosseum because I cannot wrap my head around how this was built in 80 A.D.

(The Colosseum)

We then drove North into Tuscany to visit our first little Italian village called Orvieto. Part of my desire to visit Italy was to experience the very old towns with small streets and the countryside and Orvieto delivered. It is atop a mountain and we had to ride a funicular to get up there.


We had a quick side trip to Pisa and saw the leaning tower, which is the only thing to do in Pisa. We then spent a full day in Florence and went to the Art Museum to see the original statue of David. Florence is beautiful but there really wasn't much to do but walk around and see the sights. We spent the night in a beautiful, quite little town called Montecatini. I loved just walking around this place.


(Leaning Tower of Pisa)


Then we drove to the city I was most excited to visit, Venice! Venice was just as expected. A magical little place that you are suppose to get lost in. It is amazing that they built this city on water.


(Arriving in Venice)



(Beautiful Venice)


The we started to drive to Southern Italy and stopped in Assisi. I know I've said this about every place but this town was beautiful and very picturesque.


(Countryside of Assisi)

(Assisi)


We finally made it to Southern Italy to the Naples and Sorrento region. We visited Pompeii which was destroyed in 79 AD by the volcano Vesuvius. It was amazing to see how so much is still preserved from that town.
(Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius luring over)


Then we hopped on a jetfoil boat and rode to the Island of Capri. This place actually made me feel like we had left Italy and were at a very nice resort. The water was blue and all the buildings were white. We are torn between Venice and Capri being our favorite city.
(Boat Ride to Island of Capri)


(Capri)


(Capri)



On our journey back to Rome our whole group chose to add an excursion to drive the Amalfi coast which is an experience in itself. It is beautiful but the roads and very small and winding so it was more fun to watch your driver then to look at the view.

(Amalfi Coast)



(Amalfi Coast)



I knew I would come back loving Italy but I didn't realize I would have the desire to now see more of Europe. I fell in love with how everything is older and different over there. I feel another trip in my future, besides that's where it all started right...before Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue.


(If anyone wants to see all of my photos leave me a comment and I will e-mail you the album)




3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amanda I have always wanted to go to Europe, I have so many little things i want to see. Send me your pictures please, I would love to see more

Anonymous said...

Dear Anonymous,
Please tell me who you are so I can e-mail you :)

Amanda

Kelly said...

Love these! Can't wait to see you guys and hear the stories.