This is the last installment to The Great European Escape (Apologies for the delay in Posts), this time Its on to Florence, Tuscany and Rome. We start off with a mini flip book we made while wasting time for the train to Florence!
1:30 p.m.
Arrive Train Station
Train Departs at 2:16 p.m. ( 3 Hours and 23 Minutes )
2nd Class Ticket $52.20
www.Trenitalia.Com
1:00 p.m.
Jenny Departs for Malpensa Airport
Check in for American Airlines Flight
The Interior of the train from Milan to Florence. We arrive on time, with our Friend Matteo to Greet Us.
5:39 p.m.
Arrive in Florence
Take Car to Corto Moletdo’s Home
Our First Day in Florence, Partly Cloudy.
The Famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence
Gorgeous Views from our Hilltop Lunching Spot! Yummm…. More Pizza Please!
Like a Kid at heart, Running through the Square chasing Birds! Hahah!
Gilli Restaurant
39 Piazza della Repubblica
Firenze, Italy 50123
One Morning we found a heavenly little restaurant, Gilli! At this place I discovered these orgasmically amazing Italian donuts, called Bombolonis, filled with Nutella or Custard! I made a habit of starting every Morning off with two and a fresh squeezed Orange Juice! Definitely a vacation free of counting calories.
Taking in a gorgeous sunset view from the terrace were we stayed. Then it was off to Cocktails and Dinner with our lovely Florence Friends, Matteo and Giulio
Giulio, Veronica, Myself and Matteo… “Carry The Princess Home Please!”
End of the Night Photo Shoot before Bedtime!
Me, Matteo and Sophie…. Rarrr!
Random Statue while sight seeing around town!
Sophie’s last day with us. Sophie and Veronica walking to Breakfast at Gilli. Now it’s just me and Veronica for the Remainder of the vacation.
11:00 a.m.
Sophie Departs for Airport
Check into East Jet, Flight 2695
Departs Milan at 1:20 p.m.
Veronica and I play around town, Checking out Museams and getting lost in Florence.
Veronica and Miss Taryn stirke a pose with our Ice cream Gelatos!
While in Florence Matteo Introduced us to the owners of the Great company Florence Town. They arrange everything from bike tours to Italian cooking classes in Florence. So when we meet them, we jumped at the chance to take a proper cooking class. These photographs were taken outside their offices on the Company Bicycles.
Lets Bike around town! Yeah Right… In that heat!
5:00pm
Meet at Florence Town Offices
Via de’ Lamberti
Firenze, Italy 50123
Cooking Classes $60.00
All of the freshest ingediants from the Local farmers market needed to make homemade Spaghetti Bolognese and pasta from scratch! Yummy!
I Roll out the dough for the homemade pasta.
Veronica Cuts Pasta Dough with our Chef and Instructor.
The Owners of Florence Town stops by the Kitchen to see how were doing and sample our delicious food!
The Finished product of Spaghetti Bolonesge. Honestly the best pasta I have ever had, making the pasta noodles from scratch makes all the difference in the world! We also made Caprese Risotto, Gnocci with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Chicken avocado over fresh Greens, and Banana Rum Flambe.
Thursday, August 6th
9:00 a.m.
Pick up Hertz Rental Car
Amerigo Vespucci Airport
Florence, 50145
Drive to Tuscany
Estimated Drive Time 3 Hours
Drive to Montebelli Agiturismo and Country Hotel
Localita Molinetto Caldana
58020 Grosseto
Farm House Room
6:00 p.m.
Horseback Riding, 1 Hour 25.00 Euros
Veronica struggles to ride English style.
Me on my stubborn Italian Horse
This ended up being a very interesting sunset ride through Tuscan Wine Country, as our instructor didn’t speak a lick of English and spoke on her cell phone and smoked ciggerettes the entire time! Booo… No Tip for Her!
Its a Heart! Hahaha!
Friday, August 7th
11:00 a.m. –
Check out of Hotel, Drive to Rome
Estimates Drive Time 3 hours
While driving out of Tuscany we stopped for a photo op in a beautiful sunflower field. They just make me smile!
Dropping the Car off… One photo just to prove we made the Drive from Florence to Rome in one peice. It started off Rocky when our Neverlost died and wouldn’t charge 30 minutes into our mini road trip. Since we don’t read Italian, speak Italian or know where on earth we are…. This Left us to fend our way back to Hertz based on our sense of direction alone! Scary! Also not used to driving in Europe… Illegal U Turns, Running red lights, driving on a sidewalk, Complete Disaster! Hahah! Finally after wasting an hour getting lost, we managed to make it back to Hertz, switch out our defective Neverlost and hit the great Prada outlet on the way to Tuscany! Aye Aye Aye!
2:00 p.m. –
Arrive in Rome
Drop off Car at Hertz
Ciampino Airport
Rome, 00040
3:00 p.m. –
Check into Hotel
Villa Laetitia Roma
Lungotevere Delle Armi 22/23
I’m Strong like Bull!
The Spanish Steps!
The best Gelato I had in Italy! Favorite Flavors Chocolate and Fresh Mixed Berry!
Giolitti Gelato
40 Via Degli Uffci del Vicario
Roma, Italy 00186
The Colosseum
Me Taking a Guided Tour through the Colosseum
After Dinner we stopped at a Random Crepe stand by the hotel. The Perfect Late night snack!
Me posing…. Pictures for Crepes Please!
The Exterior Entrance to our Hotel in Rome, Villa Laetitia! This was the most beautiful little hidden oasis Hotel! Just off the beaten path, with quant rooms and lovely personal staff! I highly recommend this place to anyone staying in Rome.
The Exisite Courtyard and Doors to the Hotel.
Beautiful Entrance to the Residences at Villa Laetitia
Sheets at Villa Laetitia.
Our Room at the Hotel complete with upstairs loft and Garden Terrace. It was so girlie and shabby chic. Perfect for two frilly girls on the road.
On our last night I found “Classic Music in the Park,” We were serenaded under the stars to beethoven and other classics. So cheesy, But a charming way to spend our last night in Italy!
THE END!
Our Room at the Hotel complete with upstairs loft and Garden Terrace. It was so girlie and shabby chic. Perfect for two frilly girls on the road.
1 comment so far ↓
nothing beats a train ride around italy
great photos
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