Back from Italy, with loads of pics!

[LaurenThePartier]

Hi all . . .

First of all - how has everyone been? Have I missed any babies being born, or weddings I need to know about?

Weston and I had an amazing time in Italy, although, we discovered 2 weeks was probably too long for us. I know, I was surprised, as well. It was probably just the weather, though. We had snow one morning at Castello di Gargonza, a quick drive from Arezzo.

So, where do I start?

I think I''ll start with my favourite part of the trip, Positano. What an amazingly beautiful place.

Situated on the peninsula south of Naples, the roads along the Amalfi Coast are terrifying, at best, but the view. It''s so worth it once you arrive.

We stayed at Le Sirenuse, which is perhaps one of the most amazing hotels I have ever stayed in, and W and I plan to go back for our 5th anniversary and just do Positano, Amalfi, and maybe Ravello.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

The room was lovely, but the bathroom - OMG, the bathroom!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

And the view from the tub. . .

 

[LaurenThePartier]

And the impossibly blue Tyrranhian Sea.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Our first glass of champagne in Italy.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Our balcony.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

And W and I enjoying our balcony.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

On our walk the next day.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

And more.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I used to have a Jazz Blue VW Cabrio, which was probably my favourite car - ever. It was sadly totalled 3 years ago, but anytime I see a Jazz Blue VW, I take a pic of it.

It was next to impossible to take pics of all the Jazz Blue cars we saw while we were there, but this Lupo was just parked on the road, so we caught it.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Inside the church at Positano - I think it was Santa Maria.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

So, now we''re backtracking, since we did Rome first.

What an amazing location we had. We stayed at the Hotel Emmaus, which is literally 100 metres from San Pietro. It was awesome to be awoken by churchbells, and to be able to walk to Palm Sunday Mass at The Vatican.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

With the Swiss Guard . .. sort of. They didn''t seem to be the "Sure, I''ll take a pic with you" kind of guys.

Their little outfit was designed by Michaelangelo - not one of his finer works, IMO.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

The Square, set up for Palm Sunday mass.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Inside San Pietro.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Again.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Beautiful pictures, and you are a beautiful couple! Glad you had a great time.

 

[scarlet16]

Lauren- your pictures are GORGEOUS! And it looks like you guys had an amazing time. Remind us again what the itinerary was.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

The crowd, literally spilling out of St. Peter''s Square.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 4/1/2008 11:38:48 AM
Author: scarlet16
Lauren- your pictures are GORGEOUS! And it looks like you guys had an amazing time. Remind us again what the itinerary was.

Thank you - a lot of them didn''t turn out well, but some of them came out pretty nicely.

We started in Rome.

Then off to Positanl for 2 nights.

Then off to Castello di Gargonza near Arezzo for 3 nights.

Then off to Castello di Montegufoni near Florence for 4 nights.

Frankly, I could have replaced Gargonza with 3 nights in Amalfi. It was so beautiful there!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Castel de San Angelo - it has a starring role in Angels and Demons as the fabled Illuminati lair and the entry point to Il Passette, the passageway that connects to the Pope's private library in San Pietro.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

We walked, from Saint Peter''s Square, to the Colluseum. I think I lost an entire pant size on this trip.

Roman Forum.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

More ruins.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

More.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Palatine Hill.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Our next stop was Castello di Gargonza, near the small town of Monte San Savino. The restaurant at Castello di Gargonza had some of the most amazing food, including a dish I just recreated last night with Modena Balsamic and duck breast. Yum!

The view.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

The castle walls.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

One more. The building clinging to the hill below it was the restaurant - with windows on the entire wall on both sides. Great view!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Day trip to Arezzo.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

We ended up with such a nice day.