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Pizza, palaces, purses and beyond

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What a trip it was! After getting through passport hell, amazingly, I still had energy to get to Minneapolis and board the plane! I’ve been back from Italy for a couple of weeks now and am still unpacking, reminiscing, enjoying the items I brought back such as Italian leather purses, shoes, Venetian masks, glassware and even some chocolate. I admit I went a little nuts and ended up buying an extra suitcase in Rome so I could haul more treasures back. Ya, it cost another eighty-five dollars at the airport, but who cares, I figure it’s a once in a lifetime trip, so what the heck! 

The flights to and from were really smooth. I have a fear of flying, but overcame it, knowing that statistically I was safer up there than in my ‘08 Saturn Vue. I particularly enjoyed the computer attached to the back of the seat in front of me. From there I was able to watch the details of the flight tracker like altitude, travel route, elevation and speed.

To me, interested in geography and process, it was way more interesting than watching a Forrest Gump movie. We traveled up over Canada, near Iceland, across the north Atlantic and United Kingdom. At sunrise, through the soft, orange-tinted clouds below, I gazed down upon the rocky cliffs of Ireland and the green countryside dotted with villages.

  We landed in Amsterdam to switch planes before traveling to Venice, our first destination. At the airport I became aware of different languages, and the features and dress of the people. I was certainly out of Minnesota! Women wearing fitted leggings, lots of boots and very few overweight people. I used Euros for the first time in my life, to buy a beverage. It was great fun looking at all the new product labels and trying to figure out what they were. No counting on words like Unsweetened Tea, Gatorade, Dasani. My senses were on high alert, not having traveled in nearly thirty years. What a great big learning curve I was a part of from start to finish in this adventure.  I ended up asking lots of questions throughout the trip, from where is the toilet to how to use the self-check machines at customs. Complicated and confusing at times, I was glad to have Bill with me so my wits were not at their end.

Upon arriving in Venice we had arranged for a water taxi to transport us to our hotel. It reminded me of riding with a teenage boy, such fast, seemingly reckless handling of the boat. I couldn’t say, “You’re grounded! Give me the wheel!” No lifejackets are worn at all, and as the boats pass one another, swerving and dodging in the busy canals you wonder why you don’t see drowning victims bobbing in the waters! Over the course of two days we explored many of the narrow, brick-lined walkways, crossed over historic arched bridges, dined in quaint bistros where well-dressed male waiters brisked diligently about the business of pleasing their guests. Mothers are honored in Italy and I was called “Mademoiselle O’Haaaara” on more than one occasion.

Menu reading was a daunting task and they often measured about one-quarter-inch in thickness with the various courses in the lengthy process of dinner, which is customary to Italians. The waitstaff generally were well versed in English, so communicating at a first-grade language level was a success. It sometimes reminded me of playing charades with the gesturing and animation needed to get a point across. Another reminder that I was in a different country.

The historic buildings of Venice that line the Grand Canal were amazing to study, with the ornate plaster detail and balconies and terraces decorated with Mediterranean vegetation. They are certainly a testament to the power and wealth of the former Venetian Empire. We spent time in possibly the world’s most famous square, the Piazza di San Marco. The sidewalk vendors lined the walkways, artists were doing portraits and selling their work. Pigeons were everywhere, looking for food and all around me were bustling people, who were also enjoying the great city.

We left our charming hotel in Venice and traveled by train to Florence, passing through dozens of dark tunnels as we climbed to the higher elevation. I noted the farms and fields along the way and was reminded of the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun” that I’d seen a few years back. Such a beautiful landscape.

Upon leaving the station in Florence we took a taxi to our hotel and I was immediately aware of what a clean city it was. The buildings, I later learned from a tour guide, were largely constructed from a local light-colored stone of the region. All of our hotel rooms had bidets, (in addition to the regular toilets), which I never attempted to utilize. After fifty-six years of toilet tissue use, I decided to forgo the rinse and blot experience.

We had two pre-arranged tours in Florence, the first being visiting the Accademia where we viewed Da Vinci’s sculpture David and other priceless sculptures and paintings. Another highlight was touring the Basilica of Santa Croce where many famous men are buried in elaborate tombs which decorate the sanctuary, such as Galileo, Machiavelli, Dante and Michelangelo. We learned about the powerful Medici family of the late fourteenth century and their contribution to the art that made Florence the Renaissance capital.

We didn’t miss hitting the shopping district either, imagine that. I’ve never been in so many beautiful, high end shops. We all purchased nice leather jackets in Florence and Rome. Me, being the shoe-horse that I am, could not see reason to resist adding a few more pairs to my collection. Bill commented after getting back to Ely that I needed to go to “Purse and Shoe Rehab.”

The highlight of Florence was witnessing the vast Gothic cathedral, the Duomo, which stands tall over the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. As we walked around it there were gypsy beggars, acting as if they were lame when in reality we learned they belong to large communes and are far from destitute. I will always vividly remember the young, accomplished violinist standing on the stone plaza playing beautiful music for donations from appreciative passers-by. The strains of passionate song rising up against the magnificent backdrop of the Duomo, to reach the blue skies above.

Following these richly filled two days in Florence, we again boarded the train and went to Rome for the final few days of the trip. We had a couple of organized tours to see the Colosseum, Catacombs, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and the Vatican. I was thankful to have picked up a good pair of Merrell hiking shoes before leaving Ely. My bunions were occasionally in an uproar, but not to the point I missed any sights.

The traffic in Rome was intense. Cyclists jiggled along within inches of fast-moving compact cars and tour buses. I grabbed my “oh crud” handle on more than one occasion in near horror, anticipating fatal outcomes. Most of the food was great. Lots of pasta, few condiments, no butter on the bread because it’s about olive-oil-dipping and balsamic vinegar over there. I tasted some fabulous pastries, gelato and soaked up plenty of what is called blood red orange juice. By the time we wrapped up Rome and our taxi was speeding us to the airport, we were all ready to head back home.

In my opinion, I found the Italians to be a reserved people. I hail from the opposite end of the spectrum and felt lonely for smiles and festivity from time to time. We welcomed meeting up with fellow Americans, Canadians or Australians who lightened the air with familiar cheer and humor along the way as we shared the details of our journeys.

Our plane landed at JFK and by means of cameras mounted under the plane, I was able to watch the take off and landing. Pretty amazing technology. From JFK we flew back to Minneapolis amid some turbulence that was remaining from the recent hurricane in Mexico. I looked at the calm flight attendant and realized there was nothing to be concerned about. No need to flop down the air mask, inflate a life vest; everything was going to be okay.

Italy, with Bill and our young adults, was a grand blast of an adventure. As Carol Burnett would say, “I am so glad we had this time together.” It takes much more energy and alertness to travel abroad and I was way out of my comfort zone on several occasions but found it so invigorating. Being out of my country did bring me a noted appreciation of life here in the U.S. and northeastern Minnesota to be sure.  In conclusion, I think I’ll stick to traveling the U.S. for awhile, but then as one friend reminded me, “Scarlet, you went through hell to get that passport, so you must use it again.”