Sunset Over Florence

We'll have to go back to recount our visit to Florence. We didn't post much because we were too busy enjoying it. We absolutely fell in LOVE with Firenze. Everything about it. Except maybe the garbage collection schedule, but that's a whole post in and of itself complete with video.

I sit writing right now from our apartment in Paris. We arrived this afternoon after an incredibly brief visit to Pisa where we took the obligitory photos and headed to the airport. It is absolutely pouring down rain in Paris, so instead of heading out for a night time stroll to learn the ins and outs of our neighborhood I'm sitting at the kitchen table writing. Wait a minute....

I'm writing. In Paris.

Breath.....breath.....breath.....

Which brings me back to Florence (bear with me). 

Here is a video of our last night in Florence as we watched the sun set from Piazzale Michelangelo.  As a want-to-be photographer, this was a dream come true for me.

We made the pilgramage up to the Piazzale to watch this amazing site and quickly found a place that sold beer and prosseco making both of us very happy. I planted myself in a great spot and Dan took the opportunity to walk around and people watch. There were probably 120 people or so doing exactly what we were. We began chatting to the folks next to us and wouldn't you know it, they were from South San Francisco. It was a romantic, stunning way to spend our last evening in this jewel of a city. My heart was fluttering.

Earlier this same day, I found an art supply store that I had heard about and as soon as we walked in Dan said, "I'll go get some more money." He's a smart man, that one. I spent the next 15 mintues or so barely able to breath. I could feel the creative spirits so thick and alive in there. It was all I could do to not buy everything I saw. I restrained myself quite admirably and only ended up with a couple of paint brushes, a pad of paper made in Florence (the city is quite famous for their paper making), and some pastels and watercolor pencils. My heart was fluttering.

Fast forward again to sunset. Once the sun had set, we made our way down the hill on foot. Instead of going down the typical path taken by most, we happened along this little entrance to a rose garden that was leading down the same hill. What a wonderful way to make the journey.

Once down the hill, we walked along a street that parallelled the Arno and found a couple of trendy bars that were serving appertivos (free food during their "happy hour"). One of them was one we actually had on our list of places to go so were were thrilled to find it so easily. I can't say much for the cocktails, but the food in the second place was wonderful. I moved to ordering prosecco. You can't go wrong there.

We then made our way across the city and back to our apartment. We stopped for a while in front of the Duomo to take in the beauty one last time. A couple from Canada on their honeymoon had just arrived in Florence and we talked to them for quite a while giving them marriage and traveling advice. They had just been in Paris and so they gave us a tip on the best place for crepes. Meeting people from around the world has been one of the highlights of our trip.

And while many people would see our first night in Paris with the rain as a disappointment, I am basking in the opportunity to reflect and write in a city where so many amazing writers, philosophers, and artists have done just the same.

My heart is fluttering....again.

Pain, Vin, Fromage - Dinner with friends

As luck has it, our paths will be crossing with some dear friends of ours whilst we are in Paris. We are having dinner together, and perhaps cocktails pre or post manger. A quaint little fondu joint in the 3rd arrondissement came highly recommended from our son's ex-girlfriend's Mom - yes, we have gotten input and recommendations from EVERYONE we've ever known.

Pain, Vin, Fromage is a small place that apparently has some of the best fondu around. It comes highly recommended on TripAdvisor as well. On that note, I highly recommend TripAdvisor as a resource when planning ANY trip, or even if you are just looking for great local recommendations while at home. Invaluable resource.

We'll post photos and a review once we've stuffed ourselves full of cheese and chocolate.

Cocktails in Paris

Dan and I always enjoy a good cocktail. It seems that finding a good place to enjoy such libations in Paris wasn't always an easy task. Wine bars a-plenty, but not so much with the full bar.

We found a great blog called 52 Martinis that helps with the task, however and they recently published a map of Paris with each of the cocktail joints mapped out for your convenience. And if that weren't enough, someone had the fortunate task of trying each of these places and writing a review for the blog. It's a rough job.

We'll be checking out some of these places, I'm sure and will report back on our findings. Work, work, work.

Our Apartment in Paris

While we are staying in a hotel in Rome, we have decided to stay in apartments in Florence and Paris.  Our Paris apartment is located in the St. Germain neighborhood on the left bank.  We found it on VRBO and chose it due to its central location as well as the the fact that 26 of the 27 reviewers gave it five stars (the other one was 4 stars).  Here is the description from VRBO:

Located in few hundred feet from St Germain des Pres,exactly 45 rue de sevres, cross the street from the subway station Sevres Babylone you are in a Quarter Latin, busy at day and quiet at night. This is a spacious all new remodeled studio, 30 meters square, 1100 cubic feet,, Everything is brand new from the floor, wall, ceiling, painting, power, furniture, kitchen, appliance, bathroom, shower, tv,bed, matress the kitchen with fridge, cooking place, microwave, and all you need. 2 adults bed size and a convertible sofa for 1or 2 more person, will allow 2 to 4 people to stay. The place also have a new ac,, The studio is on a second floor with elevator, located on a private court, 2 safety code to go in the building.batroom,toilettes, shower are insuite,,also a smoke detector,, This is one of the best areas in Paris, you are on a front of the famous Bon Marche store who is the older retail store in Paris. One off the most safe area in Paris because we are surrounded by ambassy and gouverment office,,,

Close to St Sulpice Church, Montparnasse Tower, Rodin museum, St Germain Des Pres. Many restaurants and store around. The Luxembourg Parc, the Seine river few minutes away.

In addition to the reviews and location, the queen size bed, elevator, free internet and long distance calls were all things that helped sway us to select this apartment.  Click Here to be taken to the VRBO Listing.

We will write a review after our trip.

Directions from Orly Airport...for our documentation purposes:

Orly Train to RER B Anthony Station
RER B train towards downtown Paris
Exit Port Royal Station
West on Bd du Montparnasse
Right on Bd Raspail
Left on Rue de Sevres
Apartment 1 block down

Valentine's Day in Paris

 Although we won't be in Paris for Valentine's Day, we will be there on our 22nd wedding anniversary and I'm finding some great posts on romantic ideas. While a visit to the Eiffel Tower is the obvious suggestion, there are many other things to do that sound absolutely wonderful.

Here is one from Le Best of Paris that details some walks and some chocolate shops. I especially like the idea of walking the side streets of Montmartre and visiting the Sacré-Coeur to share a bottle of wine.

The New York Times recently did an article on the same topic. Their contributor recommends the Bar Hemingway at The Ritz "which is pricey but has inventive drinks, some with orchids and roses hanging from them." As you would guess, this bar is named after Ernest Hemingway who, it is told, ordered a drink at the Ritz Bar while gunfire from retreating Nazi soldiers was still audible in
 the streets (1944). This bar is located at 15 place Vendome, 1er.

A cruise on the Seine, a walk in the Tuileries Gardens....come to think of it, there isn't much you can do in Paris that wouldn't be considered romantic!

One of my favorite finds is what happens at Le Pont des Arts. It also happens at various places all over Italy and in other countries from what I gather. It is is the practice of two people declaring their love by affixing a padlock on a fence with some declaration of their love written on it (like "D+K"). Last year the city had to remove almost 2,000 love padlocks (candenas d'amour) to make way for more! It really is the city of love.

Where is this?

Well I know generally where it is, but need specifics. Enjoying a bottle of champagne and strawberries looking out at that view would be amazing. Must Find.

Off to Europe...but where should we go?

Well I guess the title of the blog kinda gives it away but here's how we got there.

My wife Kris and I have talked about going to Europe for years but just never pulled the trigger. We never really even got close until a couple years ago. After considering going in 2011, our friends invited us on a 14 Mediterranean Cruise in 2012. We were all in and ready to go. We had saved up enough frequent flyer miles to go first class both ways and just were not going to put it off any longer.

The cruise started in Barcelona and ended up in Rome after stops in Monte Carlo, Greece, Turkey and other exotic ports of call. It sounded like a great first trip to Europe, giving us the ability to see many cities and countries without us having to do a lot of planning. We researched the fares and started looking at different things to do in each city and were very excited.

Somewhere along the way we started to get less excited. Not about seeing Europe, but about seeing Europe on someone elses schedule. Drink, eat, sleep....Ok, 8 hrs in Rome...GO GO GO GO GO!. I mean how do you get a feel for a place like Rome or Athens in 8hrs. The thought of running from tourist attraction (ie. Historical Landmark) to tourist attraction just didn't sound all that appetizing. What about the neighborhoods...the cafes....the gelato...the wine...let alone the actual PEOPLE. Both of us realized that this was not really the way we wanted to visit Europe.

The cruise was out, but we still really wanted to go to Europe. Historically my wife and I have enjoyed traveling to more tropical places like Hawaii, Cabo or even just a tropical Las Vegas pool. I mean what's not to like about drinking cocktails in the water surrounded by bikini clad ladies and handsome pool boys??? Well there we go....Amalfi Coast and Greece...it's perfect. We get to do all the things we like and still be in Europe. Let's do it.

Not so much...been there done that here. While I am sure we will do that trip someday, it is not what we really wanted to experience this trip. We wanted to see the amazing history of a European city. We wanted to sit at an outdoor cafe with a baguette and some cheese and watch the world go by. We wanted to see the countryside, the beautiful old castles and the amazing art. Italy has always been the country we talked about seeing first. How can you truly live and not see the Colosseum or the Vatican? Italy it was going to be.

The Amalfi Coast was out....we will eventually do that on our beach trip through the Mediterranean. The two places that we both agreed topped our list in Italy were Rome and Tuscany. Rome with it's ancient history and Tuscany with it's more relaxed pace and natural beauty and Renaissance Art were must do places for us. We discussed hitting Venice as well, but after looking at the flights we had available to us we decided that another fantastic European City was available to us....Paris. We could not fly directly out of Italy with our miles on the dates we wanted to go and the best other option was Paris. Well why don't we just spend a few days in Paris on our way home??? There it was, out itinerary was set. We are going to see Rome, Tuscany and Paris in September of 2012.
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LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!!!!!