We have arrived !!!
Trip Start
Jan 01, 2009
1
10
Trip End
Jan 13, 2009
Florence,
Italy
Friday, January 2, 2009
We are here in our favorite place on earth !!! We are in Lidia's atore, Gioia Chiara, on via della Scala. It took us about 16 hrs to get here, and we are very tired,however, we shall not go to sleep until later, because if you don't, you give in to jet lag and everything gets crazy. Lidia took us to a great place for lunch and we had excellent spaghetti ragu for breakfast. Lidia told us that the economic conditions here are awful, and we, of course, blamed it all on George Bush, which made lunch just a bit more enjoyable. Italy loves Barak !!!!! Laura and I are going out now for some culture, shopping, and to find an ATM. I will probably duck into my favorite churches, Ognissanti, Santa Trinita, and Santa Maria Novella to see the great mid to late 15th century painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio. His self portrait appears in the fresco cycle in the Sassetti Chapel of Santa Trinita. So everything will be perfect after that viewing. Tomorrow we have reservations for the Uffizi.
Hope everything is well and progressing nicely towards the beginning of the new era on Jan 20.
Love
Laura and Alan
Comments
BUONGIORNO!
How wonderful that you are once again in Italy! We thought of you as we were toasting the New Year in Palm Beach style with the Goldbergs and Weinbroms - wish YOU could have been there, too... but then you were on your way across the pond... sigh...
Please give our love to Lidia. She must be thrilled to see you guys. Also, our best to Lucca at the hotel. Where are you going in Tuscany? We had an incredible wine tasting in Montalcino at the Fortezza with a cool woman named Jenna. Also, remember to catch the gregorian chant at Abbazia di Sant'Antimo - if you can - really special.
I dream of returning and doing northern Italy - the lakes and Dolomites... have to wait for the economy to improve. HAVE A TERRIFIC TIME! Can't wait to hear from you again :) Kathy and Mark
happy new year!!!!!
thanks for keeping in touch....we love knowing about your adventures!!
have a fab trip and we look forward to seeing you in '09!!!!!
love, Jane and Jerry
Greetings!
Happy New Year to Alan & Laura. Happy to see you enjoying your trip. We are all okay here.- Jaime.
Nee Hao! Oh Wait, Wrong Country.
Hi Guys - We just got back from China where you followed our adventures and now it's our turn to follow along with you. Have a great time and Happy New Year.
Re: Nee Hao! Oh Wait, Wrong Country.
We enjoyed your blogs, sounds like you had a wonderful time. China sounds fantastic !!!! Can't wait to see your pictures. Love, us
Happy New Year
Alan and Laura,
Your trip and Italy sounds wonderful. I can't wait until we can go back. Cinque Terra is one place I can't wait to explore. Keep good notes
Love to you both
Lenore