Five-day Italian Get-away

Italy is a country that’s dear to my heart, partly due to its rich cultural history, food, and endless choice of activities to indulge in, and places to explore. Rome, the Vatican, Tuscany region, and Venice all hold extra special memories, having visited with our young children in 2002. I can still remember our daughter Hailey, age five, strolling around the Roman Forum, seemingly oblivious to the ancient  stones and ruins surrounding her, her glasses literally stuck to the Jack and Annie book in which she was engrossed.

At the end of November, on the way to my regular sojourn with Michael in the UAE, I made a detour to Europe, stopping off in Italy for a mini vacation with mon mari. I flew to Rome via New York and London, and checked into a lovely, unusually modern (by European standards) ‘boutique’ hotel, called Mood44. Michael who would be traveling from Dubai to meet up with me in Rome, had already researched and and made all the necessary arrangements for this hotel.

Mood44 was clean and compact, with just the exact amenities needed. The staff was friendly and helpful, and as is common in most large European cities, employees in the tourism industry are often comfortable comprehending and even speaking several languages, including English. (www.mood44.com)

Next morning we climbed up to the terrace to enjoy a delicious, wholesome, hot breakfast spread, including a variety of breads, fruit, jams and butters, cheeses, boiled egg, salmon, and cold cuts. The view of the city from above was breathtaking. We spent the morning exploring the area of the Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps), and then the Pantheon. Having been to Rome before, we could leisurely stroll about the city with no care for time, place, or our treasured kids.

Early afternoon we made our way to the Roma Termini station and boarded a Trenitalia  for the hour-and-a-half travel time to Florence (Firenze). The Trenitalia website offers discount tickets, up to half price, in the first class coach, if purchased online in advance.

Boarding @Roma Termini (railway terminal)

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Florence is a charming city. It is less hectic, less loud, and more laid back than the hustle and bustle of Rome. We stayed at an Air BnB which offers short and long term rental, called ‘Apartamento Canto Rivolto’. It’s a beautiful, clean home with all the amenities needed for a comfortable, relaxed, worry-free stay. Managed by Gian Paolo and Antonella, two very gracious hosts, and nestled along the narrow, quiet Via delle Brache, it offers easy access to everything and everywhere!  We were within walking distance to food and tourist shopping, parks, museums, restaurants, and walks.  

Highlights – walking past Il Duomo (the famous Medici gothic-style cathedral) two to three times a day, spending an entire morning at the Leonardo da Vinci museum, exploring a plethora of open air markets and shops, many specializing in locally made goods, such as Firenze leather, crossing over the Ponte Vecchio bridge, visiting the Galileo museum, and on our last night, dining at the Lungarno Bistrot, a fabulous restaurant Michael found, boasting great ambiance, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.