The Travelin' Redhead

Santa Maria del Fiore  Walking through Florence is like taking a walk through the Renaissance. The streets are cobbled, the doors are massive, the buildings are works of Renaissance art and the churches will take your breath away. On Saturday we took a three-hour train ride from Pordenone to Florence. Once we came out of the train station, it was only a short walk to some of the major sights of the city. We passed one dome on the way and wondered if it was the Duomo everyone was making such a fuss about. Even though it was very impressive, it wasn’t the mother of all Renaissance domes. Just a short walk further and we came upon Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. We literally let out an audible “wowwwwwww.” Its white, green and pink marble façade is almost unbelievable. Virtually every nook and cranny on the outside of the church has an ornate statue.  The front door is so massive, you could fit the body of a large jet airplane through it. The church towers above the surro...

Hang gliders float off the mountains. Towering above Northern Italy, the Alps and Dolomites are a majestic fixture on the horizon. Today we drove up the Alps on roads that were so curvy, they resembled spaghetti. With each climb in altitude, the temperature dropped. At the foot of the Alps the temperature was in the 70s. High in the mountains, the temperature dropped to the 50s. Stopping at the first scenic vista, we weren't alone. Hang gliders were there enjoying the view from an extreme vantage point. They towered above the fertile farmland below. We were so close, we could hear them yell to each other as they soared thousands of feet above the ground. It looked crazy, but it also looked like a lot of fun. The next stop was an Alpine lake so clear you could see all the way to the bottom in shallow areas. We even spotted fish gathered together in one small corner of the lake. The water, fed by snowmelt, was ice cold. In the shallow areas, it was a vibrant emerald color. I...

April and Stephanie hit the streets of Sacile with me for the colorful bounty of market day in the city center.  This is the Italy I had been waiting for. We discovered a casual version of Italy where everyday life looks beautiful--full of color, sweet smells and personality. Market Day It was market day in Sacile and the town's streets and squares were full of fresh produce, specialty foods and an amazing selection of discount shoes, clothes, purses and home goods. To the locals, it's just the day of the week for the shopping done all on foot in the center of town. But for three American girls, it was an adventure for the senses with a discovery around every corner. The sweet smell of cheeses filled the air near one stall while the fresh smell of flowers filled the air near another. Hearty salami hung casually on display next to a colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables. Senior-aged men grouped together in small huddles in the center of the cobblestone street...

The Fiat rental and its able driver. It is a good thing my friend April can drive a stick shift. With her at the wheel equipped with her brave driving skills, we have the freedom to drive to the many small towns of Italy. With this little silver Fiat, we can blend in with the hundreds of Fiats on the road here. This one has a sun roof and is actually a pretty smooth ride -- just don't sit in the backseat where you'll be crammed in like a sardine. Downtown Pordenone has cobbled streets. Driving the country roads of Italy is like a game of guess and check with semi-helpful signs along the way. When driving into town, the strategy is to follow the blue signs with the town's name. Blue arrows also point you in the right direction. If you make it to the next town, you can have a small celebration ... but don't call it a complete victory yet. Getting into the center of town where no cars are allowed and pedestrians walk freely is a whole different story. The "c...

The golden staircase glimmers at the palace. As if the golden staircase leading up to the Doge's apartment didn't give it away, the elaborate rooms with extremely ornate and detailed ceiling frescos, carvings and paintings would have. The Doge of Venice lived a nice life. The Doge's palace is our version of the White House. Some of the rooms for the Doge's personal use featured huge marble fireplaces -- some that were made in the 1500s. The Palazzo Ducale AKA the Doge's Palace was my favorite tour. It has multiple rooms for the Doge's use and also court rooms for administering law and order. One of the rooms for the nobles to gather was the largest room in Europe at the time and features the longest canvas painting in the world. Prisoners saw this on the way to a cell. The Doge's Palace is also connected to the prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Back in those days they would be convicted in one of the court rooms, then whisked away to the prison...

Who can come to Venice without noticing the architecture?  Architecture From a seat on the Alilaguna water bus from the airport to the hotel, the city seemed to float on the water. Walking through Venice was even better. Each little canal seemed so picturesque. The architecture was gorgeous. Palaces line the streets, cathedrals tower over the skyline and you can almost imagine the city as it must have looked in the 16th century. Alleys were more like fun mazes and we got lost in a few. Bars and cafes are everywhere and orchestras play live music in the streets and squares. Being lost is not so bad in Venice, because of the cute little side streets that seem to last forever.  Pigeons I kicked a pigeon today. Well, almost. Piazza   San Marco was beautiful--it's a big square surrounded with beautiful buildings, live music and crowds of people just taking it all in. The square is also home to a ridiculous number of pigeons. People were fee...

Unfortunately, the field of medicine doesn't leave my husband a lot of time for vacation. So, in an effort to share my upcoming travels with my beloved Dr. Science, I'll be blogging from Italy.   I really invited myself along on this trip, though I claim I am coming to my best friend's rescue. The plan was to save her from her boredom while her husband works in Europe. Almost as soon as the word "Italy" came out of her mouth, I began to dream of the quaint towns, the ancient ruins and the Renaissance art. With the husbands hard at work--one in the U.S. and one in Europe--I'll be spending eight days living "la dolce vita" in Italy.  To my husband: Don't worry, I won't be going anywhere alone or talking to strange Italian men. I fully intend to make friends with nuns, learn Italian and improve my knowledge of European history so I can beat you in Trivial Pursuit. Yes, I will probably be getting my fill of Italian pasta, wine and gelato. ...