Italy

Dying of heat in front of the Colosseum.

Our first stop in Italy was Venice. The flight from Portugal was diverted to Bologna until the storm cleared which meant we missed the last boat taxi from the airport to the city. There were no actual taxis at the airport, we were just standing around hoping for one to show up, then Aaran spotted a taxi phone booth. It ended up being the most terrifying car ride of our lives! We were in a small van with three other people and the taxi driver was going WAY over the speed limit while smoking and talking on his phone. We were dropped off at a small port and waited for the night ferry which passes hourly. When we finally got to Venice, the place was deserted. We only saw one other person (and a rat) while we were walking around trying to find our hotel. 

Venice might just be one of the most beautiful cities we have visited. It has such a unique look and charm that you can't find anywhere else. We spent most of our time roaming the small streets (trying to avoid the sun) and admiring the canals. While it's easy to spend a lot of money in a city like this, we were able to entertain ourselves on a budget. We found free art exhibits all around town, each representing artists from different countries. We tried to visit as many of these as we could. Not only were they free, but the rooms were all air conditioned. I'm not sure what it is about the sun in Italy, but it somehow pierces through your skin. 

The peaceful canals of Venice.

One of several free art exhibits around Venice.

Why is it so hot?

Enjoying an early morning gondola ride through the canals of Venice. 

From Venice we took a train to Bologna. We were greeted on the platform by a smiling Neil (my cousin). For the next few days, he showed us around the city and fed us delicious food. If I could only eat food from one place for the rest of my life, it would be Bologna. I couldn't get over how perfect the pasta dishes were, not to mention all the amazing cheeses and cured meats. To burn all the food off, Neil took us to the San Luca Arcade, one of the longest arcades in the world. The walk is 3.5 kilometres, starting in the city and ending on top of a hill at San Luca Church. 

Welcome to Bologna drinks with Neil. 

A courtyard connecting a network of seven small churches. 

A rainbow of fruit being sold at a small street stall. 

The view of Bologna from the top of the hill. 

Walking back down the hill to the city. 

We made a quick stop in Florence on our way to Rome. Our main interest in the city was the museums. We decided to visit a temporary Salvador Dali gallery and the Galileo Museum. There were so many other attractions in the city, but we found everything was so expensive. 

Dali's portrayal of Dante's Inferno. 

An old globe displayed at the Galileo Museum. 

The Galileo Museum had a huge collection of scientific instruments from around Europe.

Next, we headed to Rome. We only had a couple of days there so we dropped our bags off at our hotel and went directly to the Vatican. We weren't surprised to find a long line of people waiting to buy tickets for the museums. Once inside, the place was packed with people. It was actually hard to move around and see what you wanted to. The whole complex is a series of museums all stuck together. It really is incredible the amount of paintings, sculptures and artifacts they have collected from all over the world.

The next  day we went to the Colosseum. I read somewhere that you can avoid the huge lines by buying your ticket at the ruins across the road instead of at the Colosseum. This helped us skip a line that was over an hour long in the hot sun. Once inside it was nice and cool, and surprisingly not too crowded. It's incredible that they were able to restore the structure well enough that hundreds of people can safely walk around. 

Inside the Vatican Museums. Walking very slowly with the crowd. 

A painting on show inside one of the museums. 

The best thing about Rome is the amazing water. It's free and best of all, it comes out icy cold. 

Inside the Colosseum. 

Our last and most important stop was Palermo, Sicily. We were greeted once again by Neil, who had a week off work, and went immediately to the beach. During our week long stay in Sicily we stayed with my Aunty Sharon and the rest of her DiSalvo clan. We were treated to home cooked meals and daily tours around town and the island. Aaran quickly became recognized as a big eater and was fed constantly (every Sicilian mother's dream). It was great to travel around with a local to get the best Sicilian experience. Neil set out to show us the poetry of the island, and he succeeded. The breathtaking views, the refreshing sea, the ancient ruins, the fresh produce.. what's not to love about this place?

Brian, Shaun, Aunty Sharon, me and Neil

Visiting ancient ruins with tour guide Neil.

Beautifully restored ruins in Sicily.

The beautiful and refreshing sea.

The grand Palermo Cathedral.

Neil drove for hours to show us these great ruins. 

The seafood in Sicily was the best we've had. It's so fresh and incredibly tasty. 

Italians love pastries. So do we.

We had an incredible time in Italy. The food alone is enough to put it in our top 3 list. But it's not just the food. Italy has so much history and personality. Travelling from North to South we really got to see the change in lifestyle and culture. There is so much variety in the food and the way of life throughout the country. There was also something magical about being surrounded by family. After months of constantly interacting with strangers it was very comforting to be with people we knew.