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Click any picture for a closer look
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Orvieto
& San Gimignano |
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From
Rome we rented a car. More specifically a Punta. We learned to love the
Punto like a beloved pet or something. We use "Punto" as a verb,
as well motorcycles got stuck behind us on a mountain road. "Sorry,
buddy, you've been Punto'd". But I digress...
Secret
bonus page! Click here to see other freaky little European cars. |
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From
Rome we motored northward on the, ummm, meticulously labeled highways to
the small town of Ovieta. This is the cathedral at Orvieta, featuring
unique twisted pillars. |
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And
then on to the walled mountaintop medieval village of San Gimignano. This
truly looked liked something out of fairy tale, with narrow alleyways and
tall watchtowers.
The
architecture and landscape, as in much of Tuscany, was stunning. Stone
houses with tile roofs, rolling hills and stepped vineyards.
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Of
course the area was not without its kitschy tourist traps and pretty
little shops.
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Pisa
& Florence |
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This
brought us to Easter Sunday, which as we all know means... laundry day.
So, we did what anyone would, drove to Pisa to do laundry. After a nice
drive through the Tuscan countryside and a little while lost in the town
of Pisa, we came upon the famed tower*.
From
Pisa, we hung out on the coast while waiting for laundry, then headed
toward Florence.
*
Dang! Another crooked picture. Luckily, we have photoshop, click here to
auto correct.
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Here
is the central cathedral in Florence, various views. |
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Unfortunately,
our ambitious schedule put us in Florence the Monday after Easter and a
lot of stuff was closed. But we wandered about the town and found a few
nice sites and local flavor.
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Like
this cool park high above the city filled with sculptures and landscaping
and museums. |
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Venice |
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Some
things made a bigger impression on us than others, and Venice was one of
the highlights of the trip. Being there early in the season, it was
neither too hot nor crowded, and the city is a marvel. It's one of those
place that no matter how many pictures we'd seen of it, they just didn't
compare to the experience of being there. |
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| They did, however, seem to be
having a small flooding problem while we were there. But they were
adjusting to it quite well. |
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The masks of carnival,
the glassmakers of Murano, the mechanical clock in San Marco square... |
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...gondolas,
canals, and beautiful walks.
Next
stop, the mighty Dolomites!
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Now,
up into the mountains...
     
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