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| Venice |
“Ciao!” Doesn’t everything sound better in Italian?! And everything is better when you are in Italy!
My husband and I took our two teenagers to Italy (summer 2010) wanting to share with them some of the things we experienced ourselves when we were there many years ago.
The trip was truly memorable and our kids learned so much and had a blast. Almost as much fun as our Honeymooners have when we plan their travel there!
So let’s begin our journey with the jewel of Italy – The Amalfi Coast! Located in the south, the jagged cliffs and winding roads that comprise the famous Amalfi Coast consists of several seaside towns and villages. Each one we visited was more beautiful than the one we had just left!
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| Sorrento |
Our first day was spent resting on the pebbly beach at our hotel in Sorrento trying to get acclimated to the time difference as well as soak up some of the local Italian culture and sunshine.
The shouts of the little Italian children playing soccer on the beach nearby sounded like music to my ears. Italian is such a beautiful language. I should have lived in Italy when my kids were babies. It would have made the “terrible twos” so much more tolerable!
In the afternoon we walked the cobble stone streets of Sorrento in search of the authentic “Limoncello” liqueur made from homegrown lemons and discovered the most delicious Italian chocolates and olive oils to bring home.
Deciding what to buy was not a problem. Figuring out how to pack it for the flight home was the dilemma, with all the luggage weight restrictions and all. Then, the gelato (Italian ice cream) was sold everywhere and need I say, it was just to die for! So of course we had to have some and then some…after all, we just had to taste every flavor for the sake of market research of course!
The ruins of Pompeii, just a short train ride from Sorrento, truly moved us, as our tour guide described life during this historic era. We could only imagine the fear the villagers felt as Mount Vesuvius erupted that day and destroyed life as they knew it. Frozen in time, we saw the bodies of the victims this deadly force left behind. Ironic how beautiful they are yet, so sad at the same time. It is a sacred place you should not miss when in Amalfi.
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| Pompeii |
Further up the coast, we fell in love with the lovely seaside town of Positano. Its winding streets along the mountainside where strewn with scented flowering trees decorating fronts of charming shops and restaurants. With so much to see, we spent more time admiring the beauty than shopping!
We ventured off by boat for a day trip to the offshore island of Capri made famous by celebrities but loved by all. What an enchanting isle Capri is! When least expecting it we would encounter breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea along with sweeping views of the Amalfi Coastline.
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| Isle of Capri |
Then we headed off to the capital city of Rome. With guided tours already planned for the Vatican, the Coliseum and the Roman Forum we were not going to miss a thing. Then our spare time could be spent wandering the streets and discovering this bustling and historic city with stops along the way to see the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. And of course we had to “toss a coin” in the fountain for good luck and in hopes of returning again.
Venice! Must I say more? The photos say it all… You forget how beautiful and romantic this sinking city is until you step foot on it again and then you are entranced again by its mystery and rustic beauty. Again, at every turn there was another photo opportunity but the photos only capture a sliver of how charming this unique city truly is.
Then off we were to Lake Como. Yes, George Clooney has a villa here, but unfortunately we did not run into him. The lake region of Italy has a lush landscape that is so peaceful and serene. It was a nice change from the touristy crowds of the previous cities. A funicular ride up the hilltop provided us with amazing bird’s eye views of the lake region and the surrounding towns.Spectacular!
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| Lake Como |
Our last stop was a quick stay in Tuscany. The wine country region is so beautiful and the food and wine is even better! I am still dreaming about the homemade pasta with pesto…
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| Tuscany |
Italy – a wonderful Honeymoon destination for couples seeking romance, culture, beach and some of the best food and drink on the universe!
My daughter got a kick out of this little cow in a shop window in Positano I just had to share it with you…too cute.
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Let us plan your next trip to Europe, it will be a memory to that will last a lifetime…
“Arividerchi!”
