Last Christmas, Joe and I gave everyone one gift: a wooden
chest (one for Nicholas & Lauren, one for Jonathan & Caroline, and one
for Timothy). Here was what was inside: details for a family trip to Italy! Along
with a detailed itinerary of our trip, we also included imitation airplane
tickets and train tickets (purchased from Etsy to represent the real tickets), hotel/lodging
information, a list of booked excursions, and vouchers for a special activity (for
Timothy, a chance to drive a Ferrari; for the couples, a gondola ride).
A Novajosky Family Trip to Italy! It was happening!
And six months later, it did.
Following is a recap of our trip (posted over several
days) organized into four parts: Rome, Florence, Verona, Venezia.
Day 1: Arrival Rome (Friday, May 15)
It never fails, but whenever I land in Italy the tears come.
So many emotions! After all the planning and excitement and packing … it all coalesces
to wheels on the ground. And with this comes the reality that I have arrived,
this time with my entire family (as opposed to a girls’ group). Here. We. Are.
In Rome.
So yes, there were tears.
But not for long because … Security! Passport Control!
Baggage Claim! By now, most of Europe has switched to the biometric Entry/Exit
System (EES) for non-EU travelers. Despite hearing tales about long lines, we
sailed through with no problem. Once you are in the system, it makes security
very streamlined; in fact, when we departed from Venice two weeks later, security
involved a quick facial scan and fingerprint analysis. That’s it. Very easy.
We exited the airport, stood in line for a taxi (two for our
crew), and 30 minutes later we checked into our hotel. Well … sort of. The
rooms were not quite ready, so we stored our luggage and went in search of a restaurant
because someone (Timothy) was starving.
We found a restaurant (i Vascellari) and enjoyed our first
meal in Rome! Most of us ordered pasta because—hello!—we were in Itay!
After lunch our rooms were ready, so we officially checked
in to Hotel Santa Francesca Romana (a former convent). This was our second time
staying in this hotel because … location, location, location! We were in the
heart of Trastevere—turn left out of the hotel, walk along the Tiber River, and
you arrive in the Vatican area; turn right at the end of the street and you arrive
at the Colosseum.
After a little nap during a thunderstorm, we freshened up
and headed out to dinner. We explored the charming Trastevere neighborhood streets
until we found a pizzeria in a quiet alleyway. Our first pizza at Ristorante La
Canonica! Molto delizioso!
A litte later … our first gelato at Fior di Luna! Which, it
turns out, was one of MANY. Go figure 😉
Then it was time for bed because we were TIRED!
Tomorrow: ancient Rome.
Buona notte!
Day 2: Ancient Rome (Saturday, May 16)
This morning I woke up to the smell of baking bread wafting
through our open bedroom window. Is there not a more heavenly smell?
There is not, and it made me hungry.
We convened in the breakfast room and fueled up for the day.
Breakfast for me was a cappuccino and an apricot cornetto. I also had some
mortadella and fruit just so I could say I had some protein. And fruit. But my
main focus was the cappuccino and cornetto.
Today was all about ancient Rome, so after our hearty
breakfast we headed to the Colosseum.
Along the way, we stopped at the portico of Santa Maria in
Cosmedin so we could channel our inner Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck from Roman
Holiday and take a photo in front of la Bocca della Verita’ (Mouth
of Truth). Truthfully (see what I did there?), I don’t think any of my guys
have seen the movie, so I am not sure they appreciated the reference.
Then we walked, climbed a hill, turned a corner, and there
it was …
The Colosseum.
It doesn’t matter how many times you have seen it, that
first glimpse of the Colosseum is always, always breathtaking. We took a lot of
photos.
We then turned our attention to the Roman Forum. Originally,
we had thought of strolling through the forum, but it was very crowded so we
just looked at it from above. We were all okay with that decision.
Afterwards Lauren, who actually studied abroad in Rome, led
us to the Curia of Pompey which is where Julius Caesar was assassinated
on the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BC. I am not sure what was more
appealing: the historical significance of Julius Caesar’s murder, or the fact
that there was a cat sanctuary situated at the archeological site. Either way, we
saw both.
By then we were hungry, so we headed to Piazza Navona. Because
we were going on a walking food tour that evening, we decided on a lighter
lunch. Panini for all! On focaccia bread. With Mortadella. So, so good. We ate
our panini while walking around Piazza Navona.
In the Piazza, I purchased a painting from an artist, and
during the negotiation he said he would also include a free silhouette of
Timothy, Nicholas, and Lauren. So, he pulled out a black square of paper and,
one by one, cut out their silhouettes. When he was doing Timothy’s, he grinned
and said in a low, dramatic voice, “Oh, oh! Spartacus!” We all had a good
laugh.
Energized from both the panino AND a gelato from Gelateria
Tre Fontane, we walked to the Spanish Steps. Nearby was a McDonald’s, so we
decided to go inside because of its historical significance: it has been voted
the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world AND it was the first McDonald’s to
open in Italy (with the ensuing outrage launching the Slow Food Movement).
Truthfully, we went to McDonald’s for the bathrooms. Public
restrooms in Italy require strategic planning. I could write an entire post on
the public bathroom situation in Italy, but let us leave it there … in the
bathrooms of the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world.
By late afternoon we were back at the hotel to rest and
freshen up for our Walking Food Tour.
In planning our trip, I had booked several activities ahead
of time and this walking food tour was one of them. Best. Decision. Ever. Organized
by a company called Eating Europe, our Twilight Trastevere Food Tour involved
six stops with food and an alcoholic beverage at each stop. As we walked from
place to place, we learned some history of Trastevere and watched street
entertainment. We basically ate and
drank for two and a half hours. It was one of the highlights of the trip.
At the end of the day, we were ready for bed. And because it
was interesting to note, here were our stats for the day: we walked 32,393
steps (16.5 miles)!
Food Tour Menu
and Stops
Carciofi alla
giudia, a Jewish-style artichoke (twice fried but not greasy) and
Prosecco at da Enzo
Two types of pasta—Amatriciana,
Cacio e Pepe—with wine at Trattoria de Gli Amici
Suppli
(classic Roman street food) w. beer at Checco Er
Carettiere
(also called suppli’
al telefono because of the “telephone wire” effect when the melted
mozzarella stretches when you take a bite)
Bruschetta w/
buffalo mozzarella accompanied by an Aperol spritz at Culto
Maritozzi, a soft
brioche bun filled with cream. Comes from the word marito, or husband. According
to Roman folklore, suitors used to hide engagement rings or small gifts inside
the buns to propose to their future wives.
Gelato at Fior di Luna
