When In Rome...Shira Style

There is so much to say about Rome; its hard to know where to start. For me (Shira that is) it was four jam packed days of sight seeing! Our time in Rome overlapped with Penny, an old time family-friend. It was her first time there as well so we set out to see a handful of the sights together. How cool to rendevux in Rome with Penny. It was a pleasure! Of all the amazing places we saw, there are a few that truly stand out:

1) The Colloseum - it is a wowzer! As soon as I walked in I could imagine everything covered in marble, the seats filled with people and the gladiators fighting for their lives against great beasts. Needless to say I used my imagination, it is quite impressive!

2) St. Peters Basillica - this is by far the largest church I have ever been in (obviously). The ceilings seem to practically touch the sky and there is gold everywhere. It seemed to go on forever. I was blown away at the beauty and grandeur that was oozing out of every inch.

3) Sistine Chapel - after winding through what seemed like miles of the Vatican Museum, Penny and I finally found ourselves entering the Sistine Chapel. Michael Angelo' ceiling was incredible and I stood with hundreds of other people stairing up at it for as long as I could.

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Tuscany Pics

The Beauty of Tuscany

A Poem by Shira:

The sky meets the earth with an explosion of green rolling hills that flow into infinity. The wind blowing gently through the fields of grapes, olive trees, red poppies, lavender, oregano and oak trees, is like breath giving life to all that surrounds you. You drink the wine, you eat the olive oil, you feel the breath in every sip and every bite. You are more alive then you ever have been, accepting you have no choice but to indulge and bask in the beauty that is Tuscany.

Chianti Classico - We'll Take a Case!

Visiting the Chianti Region of Tuscany during our stay in Florence will go down in the books (or should we say blog) as unforgettable! We toured Greve, Montefioralle, Castellina and Monteriggioni, all small towns and villages along the countryside. We went on a tour with a small group of 7 people and were guided by a local Italian man named Demetri. The scenery was gorgeous, but the best part of the day by far was our private tour and tasting at a winery in Castellina Chianti. Anna Rita was our host; she treated us to a home cooked lunch and tastings of the most delicious wine, outside the old monastery (now the main house) that was built in the year 1000. It was completely enchanting and an experience of a lifetime! We want to go back already!!!

One of a Kind

Venice...

Friendly people? Not so much

Easy to get to with 2 months worth of luggage? Not so much

Intriguing, magical, unique and well worth the visit? VERY MUCH SO!

The City is Sinking - While We Are Here

Italy ohhh Italy, we have arrived. Last night we we took a stroll to Piazza San Marco, the main square in Venice, which is also the lowest point. During Aqua Alta (a/k/a high water) it is the first to flood and water pouring into the Piazza runs directly into the Grand Canal. They say this happens roughly 40x per year so we were excited to capture the moment. Very surreal.

Aqua Alta

All Dried Up

Barcelona It Has Been Fun!!

Here we are, our last morning in Barcelona after 5 days of total chaos! It has been jam packed with unforgettable experiences. From La Rambla to the works of Guadi, Tapas, Sangria, the Picasso Museum, visits to the beach and a spanish guitar jam session, here are some highlights from our stay:

La Rambla

1 Mile Walk down this street is mere madness! By some bunnies, maybe a bird and glance at all the people dressed in costumes to earn a euro or two. Hustle and bustle like Times Square; can't do anything but embrace it.

La Boqueria (El Mercat)

A poem by Shira:

The intoxicating energy takes over all of my senses
I am under a spell, hypnotized by the sounds of commerce, transported to an art gallery of fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads, spices and chocolates

Creating a rainbow so vibrant, I have no choice but to indulge in all that seems to be laid out on a platter, just for me

The Beach

Locals and tourists pack themselves on this man made beach smack dab in the heart of Barcelona. Vibrant with sand castles, domino competitions, biking, running, sunbathing (half naked) and of course eating and drinking.

Works of Gaudi

Our pictures do his architectural masterpieces no justice, but we tried!

Casa Batllo

Temple of Sagrada Familia from inside Park Guell

Tapas

Bite size snacks, 1.80 Euro each. Stand, eat, count the sticks and go on with your day.

Sangria

Best white sangria ever - cheers to that and to Barcelona!