Italy 2015 – Kat Wiggins

05 MAY 2015, 10:18 AM – At the airport

Today is the day. I awoke at 3:30 and couldn’t wait to get to the airport. We leave at 12:05 and got here before 10:00. We decided to eat at the airport Columbia. Now we wait for the plane to arrive…

05 MAY 2015, 01:41 PM – In the air

Heading towards JFK. Robin is in the seat in front of me and Curtis is behind me. I am sitting next to a young man who wants to sleep but is fidgeting. The pilot said 2h 13m in air.

Our adventurous trio on their plane to Paris

05 MAY 2015, 03:51 PM – JFK Airport

Sucked! We had an hour but had to walk forever in 90 degree heat to get on the Dante Express (a bus with no AC, and seemingly the heater control stuck on max), then walk outside to another building THEN get in a line that was in the edge of the earth for security. It did move fast, but the hour that we had from landing to take off was wasted walking. Now, sitting on our plane to Paris waiting to push off.

06 MAY 2015, 12:12 AM – Paris Airport

We have about an hour before our last flight into Venice. The flight here was very nice although I think my chair was broken on the foot rest. The tv was good with lots of things to watch, and they served dinner and breakfast. We all slept very little but we did get some rest.

06 MAY 2015, 04:53 AM – We’re in Venice!

We rented a private water taxi (speed boat) and got to the hotel around 10 am. Then headed out on a water bus to Rialto. Stopped in Piazza San Marco for lunch. After lunch, as we were heading to Rialto, we stopped for the long awaited gondola ride. No strike like last time! Then finally back to the hotel, shower and rest.

After a great nap, we headed out to have dinner at the Three Gruff Sisters (Trattoria Ai Cugnai), where we ate all those years ago. The sisters have been retired for over 6 years, but the name remains the same and the food… Amazing!!! Heading to San Marco to see the sunset (which we missed) but there was the Pegasus in a boat. And then San Marco at dusk.

Next morning I overslept until 8:15 and we quickly got ready to meet Robin for breakfast. We went back upstairs to pack and check out. Before hopping the waterbus, we did a little shopping. We then headed off to Rialto Market, Robin was in heaven. Then we browsed the Rialto Bridge shops and headed to see the San Marco church and Doge’s Palace.

The palace was an interesting place to see where the Senate came to decide the fate of things. We walked over the bridge of sighs, properly named for prisoners heading to their cells. It was the last view of Venice before being thrown in jail. We decided to stop for a light lunch and a coffee at Cafe Florian. Legend says it’s the first place coffee was served in Europe. After the church, we bought some souvenirs, grabbed our luggage and hopped a train to Rome.

Sala del Maggior Consiglio, Doge’s Palace

07 MAY 2015, 04:32 PM – Rome, baby!

We made it! Checked in around 10:00 pm and went straight to dinner. Tomorrow is ancient Rome with our private tour guide (Drivers Guide Service). 9am, Ivano, our tour guide, and he is amazing. He is taking us to places most people don’t go. He took us to a local cafe for espresso. His family has history in Rome so he speaks personally about different places. Lunch was at a local restaurant, a beautiful vineyard, Ivano has “friends ” there. Afterwards we explored the Catacombs and drove by the Coliseum. Then back to the hotel for a quick rest and change then off to the Vatican.

The Vatican was not as crowded as last time (it also wasn’t a free Sunday), but St. Peters was closed and we did not get to see it again. If we have time, we will go. Robin insisted on a taxi to take us to Trevi Fountain, but sadly, it was under construction. Coins were thrown nonetheless. Then off to Spanish Steps where we sat on the steps. Dinner and bed.

Sorry folks, fountain’s closed (Trevi Fountain)

Sculpture of Neptune in the Vatican Museum

Our travelers resting at the Spanish Steps

The Obelisk on top of the Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza Navona

Perseus with the Head of Medusa, Vatican Museum

The Martyrdom of St. Alexander of Bergamo, Vatican Museum

Ostia Antica — tavern to the right, apartment building to the left

09 MAY 2015, 08:29 AM – Ostia Antica, Colosseum

This morning we went to see the ruins at Ostia Antica, a port for Rome. What an amazing place. Much like Pompeii there are still many things that you can see and imagine the way of life. We saw the marketplace, where merchants would come to trade. Mosaic tiles in front of each booth, so even illiterates would know where to go. A pub, with the menu still on the wall. Apartments, houses, palaces and a whore house (we think), across from the baths. Capitolium (Capitol Hill) and Forum and even an amphitheater where concerts are still held. Lunch at a local place in Ostia then to the Colosseum.

Our tour of the Colosseum took us where the “public” was not allowed. It took us to the main floor, which is now finished, unlike last time when it was scaffolding. It took us to the underground and it took us almost to the very top. What an amazing place, design and all around fabulous stadium. It was a good day in history! Tonight, we enjoyed drinks on the roof top of the hotel.

One of many merchant booths, market square

Reconstruction of a trap door in the arena floor

The Colosseum as seen from the third level

One of two main entrances to the Colosseum

A square arch underneath the arena floor

10 MAY 2015, 09:01 AM – Angels and Demons

We decided that Pompeii was just too hard after yesterday and we thought Ostia Antica would be very similar, so, we changed our plans. We decided to follow the “Path of Illumination” that Robert Langdon followed in Angels and Demons (Dan Brown) and find the four “Alters of Science”. It’s been an easy day, no hurry, no schedule, just enjoying our last day in Rome. We decided to explore Castel Sant’Angelo as the final destination of our Angel and Demons tour.

The Chigi Chapel inside the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, notice the statue on the right

Bernini’s Habakkuk and the Angel, we know it as the “Alter of Earth”

The obelisk in the center of St.Peter’s Square is actually a giant compass

The “West Wind” marker near the base of the obelisk, part of the compass, also our “Alter of Air”

Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa, inside the Santa Maria della Vittoria, this is our “Alter of Fire”

Back at Piazza Navona, the Fountain of the Four Rivers is the “Alter of Water”, the dove atop the obelisk points to…

… our final destination, the Castel Sant’Angelo

11 MAY 2015, 12:30 AM – Going home

It’s 6:30 am Rome time. I have been up for an hour so I took my shower and packed. Waking Curtis up soon and our taxi will be here at 7:30 am to take us to the airport. Arrivederci Italy. Thanks for the great memories. The hotel’s (Radisson Blu) car service took us to the airport where we caught our first flight to Paris. Paris to Detroit, where they had thunderstorms and the airport had been shut down. We circled several times and then was told to land. Got through customs easily and headed to our last gate. Back on Florida soil, our car service was waiting to take us home. What a great trip and wonderful memories.

I have to thank everyone at home who made it possible for us because of the horses and cats. Erin Baxter, Windy Matthews, Stacey Kinard, Avery Baxter, Robert Matthews, Nora Baxter and Buddy Matthews. Without these amazing people, this trip would not have been possible. I am attaching some interesting photos I took along the way that did not make it into the daily journal. I have enjoyed sharing my trip, I hope you have enjoyed the experience too.