Lisa's Space

We spent about a week in Italy starting in Venice....what a difference from efficient and organized Germany!  We arrived flew in and the sites of canals, islands, and water was beautiful.  We arrived in Pizza San Marca to experience teh rats with wings (pigeons) and the drying of the square - the water levels had just gone down.  It was interesting trying to find our hotel as street signs were a challenge to find but we finally made it.  We strolled around, of course we shopped, and found a wonderful little restaraunt with home cooking - no menu, the chef told us what she made for the evening and we chose our meal!  From Venice we hopped on a train to Florence - boy, what an interesting time in Florence.  We finally found our hotel, directly across from the Baptistry and Duomo.  Our room wasn't ready at 7:30pm but it was finally made available.  After returning home from dinner, I fell fast asleep - guess that's what a few glasses of wine will do!! 

 

Sunday was a day of sightseeing - David was amazing!! We unfortunately waited in line for the Uffizi Gallery for 3 HOURS!!! Spent a little time shopping on the Ponte Vecchio and in the open market.  Next day we spent all our money at the market and at the bridge...we bought so many leather purses, we had to buy bags just to bring them home!!! 

 

We spent an evening/day with my Aunt Arlene and Uncle Albert - they have a home in the Todi area (Umbria) - absolutely beautiful and they have wonderful neighbors too.  I hope to return one day and spend time at their home learning hot to speak more italian from the locals!  From here we hopped on a train and went to Rome - I was absolutely awed by the Colloseum and especially the forum....I can't believe more isn't done to preserve this ancient city...St. Peter's was amazing and the Vatican, well, it's the Vatican - who knew the Sistine Chapel was so small! 

 

I loved it all and can't wait to return and spend time in the hill towns next trip to Italy.  Of course we drank a lot of wine - it was like drinking water.  t was truffle season so I ate a lot of pasta with truffles and muschrooms....mmmmm!!  And of course, we can't forget our daily dose of gelatto!! Sometimes twice daily! :)

We finally made it to germany, what a long flight! and we barely slept /only about an hour, even after taking a sleeping pill!   Spent a lot of time on the train getting to Bacharach for some time on the Rhine River = our hotel was  a little bed and breakfast where our room was located 6 flights up and I do mean stairs!!  Boy, that was a challenge trying to get up the steps with our luggage...hotels have been quaint and we spent time in rothenburg which is such a well preserved walled community....very quaint!

 

Finallz made it to´Munich and caught up with our host, Matt and made our way to Oktoberfest yesterday...wow, those beers are BIG...and I can not believe how many of them that jen and i put back last ´night...we are definitely paying the price today...but it was well worth it 0 the tents are HUGE, as are the beers, and lots of dancing, singing, drinking, and even flirting with everone....such a fun party that everyone should experience!!! 

 

Hopefully tomorrow we will spend some time touring Munich and then friday we are off to venice for a day... 

Ha!  Went to dinner at il Sole in LA area - had dinner with Courtney Cox...better yet, great food -spaghetti just like my mama makes it!  LOVE!!!